Vietnam Travel Advice

Direct flights from London Heathrow to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are available from Vietnam Airlines. Indirect flights are also available. Thai Airways fly via Bangkok to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and other airlines including Emirates, Malaysian, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways travel via their regional hubs.

Direct flights take around 12 hours. Flights with stops en-route take around 16 hours.

Vietnam is +7 hours ahead of GMT.

Visa-free travel for stays of up to 45 days. For holidays longer than 45 days, you can apply for an e-visa that allows a 90-day stay and multiple entries.

It is illegal to import, transport, use, store or sell vapes or e-cigarettes in Vietnam. This ban applies to both visitors and locals. If found in possession of a vape or e-cigarette the device will be confiscated and a fine, or more significant penalty, enforced. We strongly advise not to bring or use any vape or e-cigarette during your stay in Vietnam.

Whenever entering someone's house make sure you remove your shoes.

Ensure you do not point your feet in the direction of other people as this is considered very rude.

The national currency in Vietnam is the Dong. ATMs are plentiful and credit cards are widely accepted. Although US Dollars, British Pounds and Euros are all often taken, it does depend on the particular vendor and their chosen exchange rate at the time. Whatever currency you are using, make sure the notes are well-kept and not torn, otherwise they will not be accepted.

You will not be expected to tip in most places in Vietnam, yet when you do it is very much appreciated. If you liked the service you received then a generous tip is most appreciated. A guideline for tipping drivers and guides will be advised prior to travel.

Rice, noodles, fresh vegetable and herbs all play big roles in Vietnamese food making it one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. You will find that each region tends to have its own range of specialities although as a general rule southern dishes contain more spice than their northern counterparts. Whereas the bulk of the restaurants are based in the major cities, smaller vendors and stalls can be found virtually anywhere. And no matter where you go, everyone drinks the national beverage at all social gatherings – green tea. There is still a strong French influence in Vietnam’s cuisine, baguettes and patisseries are readily available, and there are numerous French restaurants.

The general standard of accommodation across the country is high, so no matter your budget, Vietnam will cater for you. Eco lodges, homestays or simple local hotels with basic facilities are typical in rural and remote parts of Vietnam where the focus is on experiencing the location rather than where you are staying. In contrast, cities and towns offer a whole range of accommodation with a selection of impressive high-end luxury and boutique hotels similar to the rest of Southeast Asia. Vietnam is known for its breadth of cruises and vessels vary in size, standard and style. At Ha Long Bay cruises take place in small to medium-sized junk boats whilst in the Mekong Delta smaller sampan-style boats are used for exploring the narrow tributaries and larger cruise boats for extended upstream expeditions to Cambodia. Throughout the coast between Central and South Vietnam you will find many beautiful boutique spa hotels perfect for a luxury beach holiday.

With countless street markets, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to handicrafts ranging from lacquerware to textiles. Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An especially offers excellent value for money when it comes to tailored clothing, fine cotton goods, hand embroidered fabrics and various jewellery and shawls.

The usual good sources of information, such as Bradt and Footprint, are always helpful. If you want a more visually appealing guide to Vietnam, then Nguyen Van Huy's ‘Vietnam: Journeys of Body, Mind and Spirit’ carries a number of stunning photographs from journeys through the heart of the country. ‘Vietnam: A Traveller's Literary Companion’ is interesting and Qui Doc Nguyen's collection of stories by various local writers allows you to get an insight into the country's culture through its own folklore and literature. We would also highly recommend a couple of books by Pam Scott, namely 'Vietnam: Hanoi Stories' and 'Life in Hanoi'.

Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.

For current information on Vietnam the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.