Tips for first-time visitors to Malaysia

Taxi passengers must negotiate the fare in advance and should pay attention to their dress code when visiting areas with a large Muslim population.

Here is some basic information you need for your first trip to Malaysia.

The right time

Tourists can visit Malaysia at any time of the year. As a tropical country, Malaysia has a warm and sunny climate all year round, suitable for island trips and eco-tourism.

In addition, winter is the time when many people choose to come to Malaysia because of the year-end and Christmas sales of many fashion brands. However, this is also the rainy season and there is a lot of smoke and dust due to fires spreading from Indonesia, so tourists need to pay attention.

Moving to Malaysia

Airlines operate many routes to Malaysia with daily flights. Most travelers choose Air Asia or Vietnam Airlines... If you travel by low-cost airline, you will stop at Kuala Lumpur Airport 2, while Kuala Lumpur Airport 1 is for national airlines.

It will take you more than 3 hours to fly from Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur and more than 1 hour if departing from Ho Chi Minh City. Round trip ticket price is about 5 - 6 million.

A pedestrian street for tourists near the more than 100-year-old central market in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Minh Duc

Accommodation

If you are traveling to Malaysia for the first time and are independent, you can save money by choosing dorm rooms which cost between RM30 and RM55 depending on the city. Single rooms cost around RM75 and double rooms cost RM100 in medium-sized hotels.

If you are in Kuala Lumpur, you can choose to stay near Petaling Street (Chinatown) for convenient sightseeing.

Means of transport

Buses and trains are the two main means of transportation in Malaysia. In the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, the fare is around RM5-11 for a train ride. Taxis in Malaysia do not usually charge by the kilometer, so bargain before getting in and know where you are going to avoid being taken in circles.

Eat and drink

The cost of eating in Malaysia is not too expensive, ranging from 4 to 11 RM for street food. At medium-sized restaurants, the price is around 7 - 20 RM. Famous dishes you should not miss when coming here are Bak Kut Teh, Chee Cheong Fun, Char Noodles, Nasi Lemak, Sate, Roti Canai, Teh Tarik...

Main activities for tourists

Visitors should experience scuba diving at Perhentian Island, conquer Kinibalu - the highest mountain in Malaysia, explore the unique culture of Sarawak Island, admire the natural world, go white-water rafting or learn about Malaysia's colonial history through UNESCO-recognized heritage sites.

Tourist attractions

Tourist attractions in Malaysia are spread across the country, the most famous are in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Penang in the North, Kota Bahru city, Pulau Langkawi island, Johoh city. If possible, you can visit the two states of Sabah and Sarawak on the side of Borneo island.

Note

Try to bargain as shops in Malaysia often charge quite high prices to tourists.

If you are visiting Malaysia for the first time, you should pay attention to your dress code. With a country with a large Muslim population, you should choose neat and discreet clothing when visiting mosques or Muslim communities.

It is not advisable to buy alcoholic drinks in Malaysia as their prices are much higher than in other countries.

Malaysia uses the left lane, so if you want to drive, get used to the way of driving first.

Located in the +8 time zone, activities in Malaysia are 1 hour ahead of Vietnam. Malaysians also have the habit of sleeping late so you don't have to worry about lacking places to have fun at night.

Exchange rate: 1 Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is about 5,000 VND.

According to VnExpress