Vietnam is a beautiful country that has captivated my heart. I was fortunate enough to travel there for 3 weeks and will forever cherish those memories. When I came back, someone told me that I had changed, something about me was different. And that’s true. I feel like Vietnam was a very healing trip that allowed me to truly experience Asia for the first time.
- The Basics -
I traveled in late June and came back home in mid July. Many people avoid visiting Vietnam during the summer because it is considered rainy season, however, I found that it rained about a total of 4 times during a 21 day stay. The enjoyable aspect of going during rainy season was the absence of tourists. Many places I traveled to were free from tourists, and if there were, there were limited amounts. Research on the internet told me that I could be traveling during all the rain and when all the tourists visited, and I felt that it truly wasn’t the case.
Sadly, I booked flights late (less than 2 months before my trip). This caused my roundtrip tickets to be incredibly expensive. If you are booking roundtrip flights to Vietnam, book your tickets ahead of time! Don’t wait until the last minute. I would have saved $2,500.00 had I booked ahead of time.
I recommend booking your flights through a third party organization, as they can find it cheaper. I booked my flights with Expedia, but don’t recommend it. I had checked my flight and it said it was cancelled. Expedia denied this and said that it was still on. I ended up having to drive to a city four hours away to get onto a flight to Atlanta to make it. I’ve booked with Expedia before and have never had major problems like this. It’s your decision what you would like to do.
To prepare for Vietnam, I researched a lot. Here is some advice for you to follow:
- Water: Most of the water is not clean. You will have to purchase bottles of water from the store. The issue with this is that most of the bottles you will purchase will have been previously used. To avoid any potential infections, I recommend purchasing a purification water bottle. It is also advised that you do not use the tap water for your toothbrush. At first on the trip, I followed this rule and as time progressed, I used the tap water. Nothing happened to me, likely because I wasn’t swallowing the tap water. The decision is ultimately up to you and you can decide based upon the situation.
- Crime: There is very little violent crime in Vietnam. Pickpocketing, bag snatching, and other petty crimes are common, especially in the bigger cities. In Hanoi, I purchased a purse and asked the employee if I could use the purse in the city. She responded by saying I should keep away at all times. There have been many instances where people on motorbikes, the most common mode of transportation in Vietnam, snatching people’s belongings as they pass.
- Unwanted Photographs: This is something I was not expecting or prepared for at all! All of my research online told me that I would likely by stared at for being a foreigner, but I didn’t know that meant people would takes pictures of me. I went on this trip with my mom and we were on a excursion where the driver grabbed his phone and just took a picture of her, he wasn’t even trying to be discrete about it. We asked around about why this was occurring, as it happened quite frequent to both of us. We were informed that it was because we were very pretty. Just be prepared for the potential to get photographed!
- Clothing: Blogs across the internet mention to dress conservatively for Vietnam, and they aren’t necessarily wrong. Many Vietnamese will wear clothing that covers their knees, and at least mid-thigh. There were a few times when I purchased dresses that exposed the shoulders, and it was not an issue. This does not mean wearing very revealing clothing wouldn’t draw a large amount of attention. Wearing conservative clothing shows respect for the culture and religions when entering a pagoda or a religious location. As well as being respectful, in general, to the Vietnamese. Bringing breathable clothing that protects you from the sun is a must. Vietnam has a “color system.” People that have darker skin are assumed to be farmers, fisherman, etc. and are seen as lower. People with fair and pale skin are seen at a more superior status. Many women will wear long sleeves or use umbrellas to protect against the sun’s rays.
- Dislike for Americans: This was not something I noticed a lot as the Vietnamese are very kind and considerate people. There was one specific tour guide that was not fond of Americans. He had fought for the Americans during the Vietnam War and felt that they had abandoned him. Another person’s father had a strong dislike for Americans following the Vietnam War. From what I encountered, the older generations that were alive during the Vietnam War are more likely to dislike Americans than the younger generations.
I visited a total of 13 cities during my trip. Many of these were via day trips, however I physically stayed in 8 of them. I traveled North to South and ended my trip back in Hanoi, the capital.
Transportation in Vietnam was incredibly nice and well-run. There are definitely a few options for getting around!
- Public Transportation – Buses
- Car Rental
- Airplane
- Private Chauffeur
- Grab
- Organized With Tours
Check out this post for more detailed information and tips:
I booked activities via TripMasters and Expedia. TripMasters was a great option because I could also book my hotels through here and it allowed me to plan everything perfectly. Check out The Bucket List Activities Of Vietnam.
Many places in Vietnam will not accept credit or debit cards. Always have cash on you in a secure place where pickpockets can’t grab it.
- The Essentials -
On The Bucket List
Day 0: Arrival
Vietnam
I arrived at Noi Bai Airport, in Hanoi, at 11:00 pm. It took me one hour to get a Grab car to take me to my hotel. Sadly, I set up my Grab with the credit card option. DO NOT DO THIS! Drivers will not pick up people using the credit card payment because they lose money in the transaction fees. Instead, always use the cash option when using Grab in Vietnam. I didn’t know this and stood outside of the airport trying to book a Grab car. My mom got a Vietnamese taxi driver to book a Grab for us and we finally left the airport. The Grab driver realized we weren’t the ones who booked the Grab so he kept increasing the price of the ride. During this ride, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with the Grab app. I thought I needed to buy a Vietnamese SIM card to use the app. I later found out it was because I was using the credit card.
I finally got to my hotel after getting cheated out of my money. I was beyond amazed by the generosity expressed by the hotel attendant. He organized for us to get a car the next morning for us to get to our pickup spot for Sa Pa.
The way that my flights were set up resulted in me having a 24 hour layover at Incheon International Airport. I was really excited about this, I started to research different things to do. I found tons of articles that mentioned a movie theater, gyms, a butterfly garden, etc. Basically, all the super cool things that you wish you could find in an airport in the city that I live in. After flying for over 13 hours, we finally get to the airport. Since we didn’t stay in South Korea, we weren’t required to take a PCR test upon arrival (keep in mind, I traveled during COVID-19 times). We couldn’t figure out which terminal to go to, and randomly chose one. Lucky guess because we chose the one that had our gate but also the one that had nothing to do. The airport terminal hotel was slightly more pricey than we had hoped so we only booked a 12 hour stay there. After the next morning, we had to grab all of our bags and walked from one end of the terminal to the other. Aside from walking to kill the time, there were a lot of highlights of the experience. I do recommend watching something at the Korean Traditional Culture Experience Center. They sell a variety of different trinkets and souvenirs that are ingrained in Korean culture. At different time intervals, various performances occur that illustrate traditional music, outfits, and dance, as well as depict scenes from Korean history. Another great part of the airport experience was the food. Typically airport food doesn’t taste very good, at least in my experience. However, the Korean food here was delicious. I only ate breakfast and lunch because the portions were so big and I didn’t have space for dinner, although, I regret not going back and grabbing something.
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Experience
Incheon International Airport
The airport is absolutely beautiful, with real flowers spread all around the terminals. Orchids line the rows of the gates and there are trees and shrubs surrounding a fountain. They also have a piano with this large wooden space to lounge. Many of the shops are duty-free and there are machines that will allow you to get your tax money back. Sadly, the stores that I purchased from weren't included in this. However, many of the stores provide high quality items and they also sell Korean skincare products. I recommend splurging a little bit if you don't plan on staying in South Korea, but if you are, the prices will likely be cheaper outside of the airport. Currency exchange may also be slightly difficult as they only provide popular currencies. I had to wait until I arrived at my hotel in Vietnam to exchange my USD to Vietnamese đồng.
Food
Incheon International Airport
The best food I've ever had in an airport, hands down. I ordered from the Garden Cafe area, which is right across from the Airport Terminal Hotel (located on the second floor). They have many different options here, including Korean and Chinese food. The food comes with different sides, all of which taste delicious. Some of the food can be on the spicy side (i.e. kimchi, soup). If you can't tolerate spicy foods very well, try to go for the 자장면 - Jajangmyeon (black bean noddles) or 탕수육 - Tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork).
Korean Traditional Culture Experience Center
Incheon International Airport
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Day 1: Sa Pa
Vietnam
The first day of my trip involved getting up early and finding my way to Cafe La Mensa to get picked up for my Sa Pa 2 Day, 1 Night Trekking Experience. If you are taking a Sa Pa trip, which I highly recommend, pack lightly! One couple on the bus I was traveling on brought a very large suitcase that they had to drag around with them. I booked this experience through Trip Masters and loved how they organized the transportation, homestay, and guide for trekking.
We made our way to Cafe La Mensa and boarded our sleeper bus. A typical rule of thumb for sleeper buses is that you have more privacy and the ability to adjust the angle of your seat on the top row and more space on the bottom row. Read about sleep buses here! It takes about six hours to get to Sa Pa from Hanoi. The bus will stop two or three times at stations where you can buy snacks or get drinks. There are also bathrooms at these stops, however, you will have to pay for the toilet paper. It costs less than $1 USD but make sure you have cash on you! Another note for the sleeper buses, you are not allowed to wear your shoes on the bus. Instead, you must place them into a plastic bag and walk barefoot on the bus. You are provided with one bottle of water and one blanket during each ride.
Other ways to get to Sa Pa:
- Book a train or bus with 12 Go Asia. I booked most of my buses with12 Go Asia and was able to compare the prices and dates. Click here to go to the website!
- Book via a tour with pickup in Hanoi. You can find many tours on Trip Masters, Expedia, Viator, Trip Advisor, etc. that will pick you up from your hotel or a central location in Hanoi. I recommend booking with Sa Pa Sisters, an all female group that will organize the transportation for you.
- Book a private car. This is normally the most expensive option, however, you will have a private car with air conditioning (and most likely WiFi).
We finally arrived in Sa Pa town around 1:00 pm. We disembarked from the bus and met with our guide. She took us to a restaurant in the town and then we proceeded to start our trekking. As we started walking, three other women joined our group (other women will walk with the trekking group so that at the end they can get you to buy things). Another important thing to note before booking a Sa Pa Trekking Experience is where you will be visiting. My excursion was set to visit three villages and we would spend the night in the last one. Some of the other tourists on the bus had scheduled ones where they solely walked around Sa Pa Town, it all depends on what you would like to do. I recommend trekking through the jungle and the rice fields because it is a truly incredible immersive experience. Our guide was a member of the Black Hmong Tribe and was so knowledgeable. She taught us about dying clothes with indigo and the importance of farming for the Vietnamese people in Sa Pa.
At first, you must walk out of Sa Pa Town along a road to get to the farms and rice fields. After that, you walk through the jungle and through corn. Trekking in Sa Pa requires a lot of physical strength and endurance. If you get tired easily, this might not be the best option.
As you walk through the rice fields, you get to learn a lot about the Vietnamese culture and how to farm rice, dye with indigo, herd animals, and so much more.
Sa Pa Recommendations:
- Bring comfortable walking shoes! This is a must. I brought Vessi shoes that were super comfortable, waterproof, and overall amazing. Except! They aren’t amazing for hiking. I got blisters so bad of both feet that I was bleeding as we were walking to the homestay. I also couldn’t get a grip on the rocks with the soles of the shoes.
- Mosquito Repellant is another must have. Instead of bringing a spray, I purchased No Bug Zone tags that I hung around my neck. They were incredibly effective in preventing many mosquito bites.
- WATER! Do I really need to explain this one? I bought Greyal Water Purification Bottles that purify your water by pressing down on it so the water flows through a filter. The bottled water is safe in Vietnam, however, the bottles are often reused once thrown away. To prevent any other possible illnesses, I bought these water bottles as an extra layer of protection.
Should I Spend The Night In Sa Pa?
YES! You should absolutely spend the night in Sa Pa if you can. Sa Pa town has hotels, but if you want the true experience, I recommend booking a homestay. The owners of the homestay I stayed at were members of the Giay Tribe and told me about their culture. When tourists stay at a homestay, the owners often make a large family-style meal for all of you to eat. Sa Pa is a truly beautiful place and it is one of the best places to stay overnight. If you aren’t a fan of staying in a small wooden house in the middle of rice fields, you can stay in a hotel in Sa Pa. These hotels are very beautiful, but can be a bit pricy because they are in the prime location. If you are taking a trip to Sa Pa, I recommend going for at least 2 days and 1 night. Just be careful to book it when it’s not forecasted to rain! The second day of trekking, it rained and we weren’t able to take the scenic route to the waterfall, instead, we had to walk along the road (the less desirable option of the two!).
Day 2: Sa Pa
Vietnam
The first day of my trip involved getting up early and finding my way to Cafe La Mensa to get picked up for my Sa Pa 2 Day, 1 Night Trekking Experience. If you are taking a Sa Pa trip, which I highly recommend, pack lightly! One couple on the bus I was traveling on brought a very large suitcase that they had to drag around with them. Also, be cautious that there is a possibility for it to rain. I got rained out my second day which sucked because we couldn’t go via the nature path.
Day 3: Hanoi
Vietnam
The first day of my trip involved getting up early and finding my way to Cafe La Mensa to get picked up for my Sa Pa 2 Day, 1 Night Trekking Experience. If you are taking a Sa Pa trip, which I highly recommend, pack lightly! One couple on the bus I was traveling on brought a very large suitcase that they had to drag around with them.
Hotel
