8 tips for traveling to Vietnam in British newspapers

The famous British travel website Rough Guides recently released 8 tips that backpackers learned during their trip to Vietnam.

Vietnam is a country with impressive landscapes, beautiful coastlines, vibrant cities and delicious cuisine. The number of tourists to Vietnam has doubled in the last 10 years.

The S-shaped country is also changing at a dizzying speed. Roads are being expanded and upgraded, public transport services such as trains and buses are being invested in and developed, and are beginning to reach remote areas.

The tips given also partly reflect foreign tourists' perspectives on Vietnam - a country with a tourism industry that is growing every day.

1. Be careful when booking a tour

Many hotels offer affordable itineraries. However, in many cases, the tour prices can be high and not well organized. Ask people who have traveled to Vietnam for advice and do your research before you go.

2. Always ask “how much”

Many dishes, especially those at street stalls, often have no specific prices, are not listed on the menu, or are only priced in Vietnamese. Ask for the price before ordering, otherwise you risk paying an exorbitant amount. Pho – one of the most typical dishes of Vietnam – usually costs around 30,000 VND, equivalent to 1 EUR or 1.3 USD at street stalls.

3. Sit on a plastic chair

Street food may not look appealing, with small tables and plastic “kiddie” chairs sometimes spilling out onto busy streets. But it is these sidewalk eateries where visitors can enjoy some of Vietnam’s most popular dishes at rock-bottom prices.

You will see the owner preparing the food right in front of you in the bustling atmosphere of the street. At the same time, visitors can also somewhat guess the quality of the food based on the number of customers gathered there.

4. Train journey

Trains are more expensive than buses and the journey takes longer. However, travelling by train gives you more than that. You will avoid the crowds and jostling on the streets of Vietnam, especially during rush hour. You will also have the opportunity to see the peaceful countryside on the train journey and make new friends.

Night trains usually have to be booked 2-3 days in advance with sleeper compartments that are quiet and comfortable.

5. Forget everything you ever knew about crossing the street

To cross the street effectively and safely in Vietnam, especially in urban areas with high traffic density, you need to stay calm and alert, then cross the street slowly but confidently.

6. Go beyond the limits

Vietnam welcomes around 8 million tourists a year, and the numbers are growing rapidly. Deserted and quiet beaches were the image of 10 years ago. To escape the crowds and enjoy something different, find places that are not so popular on the tourist itinerary.

7. Drink coffee

Vietnam is the second largest coffee exporter in the world. Drinking coffee here is also an art of patience. Among them, Weasel coffee with extremely high caffeine content is considered one of the best coffees in the world.

8. Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island

Ha Long Bay is Vietnam’s top tourist attraction. Most visitors take a day or two trip from Hanoi to visit this natural wonder of the world. However, if you want a simpler trip and can save a few million VND, Cat Ba will be a perfect choice.

According to Hanoi Moi