Time zone
UTC+7 (Indochina Time) nationwide; single time zone; no daylight saving time
Wikipedia — Time in Vietnam · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Vietnam · Review edition
Vietnam, checked fact by fact.
Only sourced, verified records are shown. Every item includes who published it and when we checked it.
1 · At a glance
Capital / largest city
Capital: Hanoi. Largest city: Ho Chi Minh City (still widely called Saigon)
Wikipedia — Vietnam · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Official language
Vietnamese (tiếng Việt) is the official and national language; English is the most widely taught foreign language
Wikipedia — Languages of Vietnam · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
3 · Visa & entry
Singapore passport — entry to Vietnam
Visa-free for stays of up to 30 days (bilateral/ASEAN exemption, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs exemption list). For a longer stay, use the 90-day e-visa
Travelfish — Vietnam eVisa, visa exemptions & border crossings guide (summarising the MoFA exemption list) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Malaysia passport — entry to Vietnam
Visa-free for stays of up to 30 days (bilateral/ASEAN exemption, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs exemption list). For a longer stay, use the 90-day e-visa
Travelfish — Vietnam eVisa, visa exemptions & border crossings guide (summarising the MoFA exemption list) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Passport validity requirement
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry and have at least 2 blank pages
Vietnam Visa Exemption 2026 — entry requirements summary · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Repeat visa-free entries (old 30-day gap rule)
The old rule requiring a 30-day wait outside Vietnam between two visa-free entries was abolished in 2020. Caution: some guidebooks still print the old rule and border practice reports vary — if your itinerary depends on back-to-back visa-free entries, confirm with the Immigration Department first
Emerhub — Vietnam Visa Exemption 2026 · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Official e-visa portals (the only official ones)
Apply only on the Vietnam Immigration Department's government portals: evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn — both end in .gov.vn and the department has run the service on both domains since November 2024. Any site ending in .com, .org or a similar suffix, however official it looks, is a commercial agent or a scam, not the government
Vietnam Immigration Department — e-Visa FAQ (official portal) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
E-visa (90-day, single/multiple)
Open to citizens of all countries and territories since 15 August 2023 (Resolution 127/NQ-CP); stay of up to 90 days, single or multiple entry — choose on the form, it cannot be changed afterwards; apply before travel; the portal's published standard processing time is 3 working days
Vietnam Visa by BDA — Vietnam Visa Policy 2026 (instruments per Resolution 127/NQ-CP and the Embassy of Vietnam in the US) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Official e-visa fee
US$25 for single entry, US$50 for multiple entry, paid by card on the official portal; the fee is not refunded if the application is refused (fee schedule set by Ministry of Finance Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC, unchanged from 1 April 2026). Any site charging more than this is adding its own service fee
Vietnam Visa by BDA — approval letter & fees guide (fee as stated on the state e-Visa portal) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
E-visa entry/exit points, incl. land borders
The e-visa is accepted at 83 checkpoints: 17 international airports, 27 land border gates and 39 seaports (Resolution 389/NQ-CP of 2 December 2025 added 41 gates; the new Long Thanh and Gia Binh airports count only once they open). For overland entry or exit — from Cambodia, Laos or China — the gate you use must be on this official list
Vietnam News Agency (VNA) — Vietnam adds 41 new entry points for e-visa holders · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Phu Quoc special visa exemption
All nationalities can enter Phu Quoc visa-free for up to 30 days — but only if arriving directly from abroad by air or sea (or transiting a Vietnamese international airport without leaving the international transit area), holding an onward ticket out within 30 days, and staying on the island. The exemption does NOT authorise travel to mainland Vietnam
Wikipedia — Visa policy of Vietnam (Phu Quoc exemption) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Pre-Arrival Information declaration (SGN, PQC, HAN, DAD)
Vietnam's Immigration Department now runs a Pre-Arrival Information declaration at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn: required for arrivals at Tan Son Nhat (SGN) from 15 April 2026, extended to Phu Quoc from 1 June 2026 and to Noi Bai (HAN) and Da Nang (DAD) from 15 June 2026. Complete it online before departure if your arrival airport is covered
Travelfish — Vietnam eVisa & border crossings guide (SGN requirement); rollout dates per Immigration Department reporting in agent guides · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Duty-free allowances (per adult, 18+)
Choose one option per category (Decree 134/2016): alcohol — 1.5 litres of spirits at 20% ABV or more, OR 2 litres of drinks under 20% ABV, OR 3 litres of beer; tobacco — 200 cigarettes, OR 20 cigars, OR 250 g loose tobacco; other goods duty-free up to VND 10,000,000 total value. Travellers under 18 have no alcohol or tobacco allowance
T-Island — Vietnam Customs Rules 2026 (quoting Decree 134/2016 and Vietnam Customs) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
E-cigarettes / vapes — banned
E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products have been fully banned in Vietnam since 1 January 2025: production, trade, import, storage and use are all prohibited (National Assembly Resolution 173/2024/QH15), with no exception for personal use. Devices are confiscated at customs and, since late 2025, users can be fined VND 3–5 million. Do not bring a vape
SoloNomads — Vietnam Visa & Customs guide · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
4 · Money & FX
Currency
The Vietnamese dong (VND, symbol ₫), issued solely by the State Bank of Vietnam, is the only lawful means of payment inside Vietnam — prices are quoted and settled in dong
Vietnam Visa by BDA — Vietnam Laws for Tourists · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Banknotes in circulation
12 banknote denominations are legal tender. Polymer notes (the ones used daily): 10,000 / 20,000 / 50,000 / 100,000 / 200,000 / 500,000 dong. Cotton-paper notes (small change): 100 / 200 / 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 dong. Five coin denominations remain legal tender but are effectively never seen. Every banknote carries Ho Chi Minh's portrait on the front
State Bank of Vietnam statement via Vietnam Government Portal (vietnam.vn) — banknotes in legal circulation · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Denomination confusion trap (20,000 vs 500,000)
The classic cash trap: the 20,000-dong note (dark blue, Hoi An's Japanese Covered Bridge on the back) and the 500,000-dong note (blue and bluish-purple, Ho Chi Minh's childhood home on the back) are both blue polymer and are routinely confused — a 25-fold difference. Read the printed numeral, not the colour, before handing a note over
Remitly — Vietnamese Dong guide (SBV denomination table) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Cash declaration at the border
Declare to border customs if you carry foreign-currency cash over US$5,000 (or equivalent) OR Vietnamese-dong cash over VND 15,000,000 — on entry and on exit. The two thresholds are separate and count banknotes only; cards, traveller's cheques and savings books are excluded. Leaving with more than you declared on entry requires a bank confirmation certificate or State Bank approval
Vietnam Government Portal (vietnam.vn) — cash and gold carried on entry/exit (SBV Circular 15/2011/TT-NHNN) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Changing money outside licensed points is an offence
Since 9 February 2026 (Decree 340/2025/ND-CP), buying or selling foreign currency at an unlicensed place is an administrative violation: a warning plus confiscation below US$1,000 equivalent, and fines from VND 10–20 million at US$1,000 and above. Change money only at banks or licensed exchange points
Vietnam Visa by BDA — Vietnam Laws for Tourists (reporting Viet Nam News on Decree 340/2025) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
4 · Money & FX
Price anchor — Grab fare table (operator-published)
From Grab Vietnam's own published fare table (updated 8 July 2026): a Hanoi GrabBike starts at VND 13,255 for the first 2 km, then VND 4,222 per km; a 4-seat GrabCar starts at VND 28,473 for the first 2 km, then VND 9,818 per km. Fares include 8% VAT
The Only Vietnam Guide — Grab and Taxis in Vietnam 2026 (fare table read from Grab, 3 Oct 2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Price anchor — Viettel tourist eSIM (operator price)
Viettel's own tourist eSIM packs, sold at its airport counters and registered to your passport, are priced at VND 60,000 for 7 days and VND 150,000 for 30 days, each with 5 GB of data per day (operator listings, December 2025). Airport resellers charge several times more for comparable bundles
DanangOi — Vietnam SIM registration & Viettel tourist eSIM prices (operator pages) · verified 2026-11-09 · operator
5 · Payments
Cash dominance
Vietnam is still cash-first: street food, markets, small shops and many local services are cash-only or strongly cash-preferring, while cards are accepted at malls, hotels, chains and larger businesses in the big cities. Carry small notes (10,000–50,000) — drivers and small vendors often cannot change a 500,000 note
Phong Nha Explorer — Is there a Grab in Vietnam for foreigners? (cash practices) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
6 · Power
Plugs, voltage, frequency
220 V / 50 Hz. The standard wall socket is a hybrid that accepts Type A (two flat pins) and Type C (two round pins); Type F appears in newer buildings and Type B occasionally. Singapore and Malaysia Type G plugs do NOT fit — bring a universal adapter, and check chargers are rated 100–240 V
About.travel — Vietnam power plugs, sockets and voltage · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
7 · Connectivity
Mobile networks
Three networks dominate: Viettel (the largest, with the strongest rural and mountain coverage), VinaPhone (VNPT) and MobiFone. 4G covers cities and tourist areas nationwide; 5G operates in major cities
Best eSIM for Vietnam — carrier network summaries 2026 · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Local SIM registration (passport rule)
A Vietnamese SIM must be registered to its real user (Decree 163/2024/ND-CP): foreigners register in person with a passport valid for their stay, and since 15 April 2026 carriers also run a facial check against the immigration database (Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN). Non-compliant numbers are cut in stages — notice, one-way block, two-way block, termination. Airport kiosks are resellers, not carrier stores: a SIM they hand over pre-activated, or without photographing your passport and face, is registered to someone else or no one, and can die mid-trip. Buy at the carrier's own counter and watch them register it to you
DanangOi — Vietnam SIM Registration for Foreigners: Passport Rule (Decree 163/2024 text) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Travel eSIM vs local SIM
A data-only travel eSIM roams on a local network with no Vietnamese registration — but it gives you no +84 number and no local SMS/OTP. If you need a Vietnamese number, buy a local SIM or the carrier's own tourist eSIM registered to your passport
Fizen — Why your Vietnam airport SIM died after two weeks (2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
8 · Internet access & VPN
Internet restriction level
Freedom House rates Vietnam Not Free for internet freedom (Freedom on the Net score 22/100). Blocking is real but targeted: dissent, human-rights and independent Vietnamese-language media (for example the RFA, VOA and BBC Vietnamese services) are routinely inaccessible, while mainstream social media and communications apps were not blocked during the 2024 coverage period
Freedom House — Vietnam country profile (Freedom on the Net score) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Social-media account verification (Decree 147)
Since 25 December 2024, Decree 147/2024 requires social-media accounts in Vietnam to be verified against a Vietnamese phone number or personal ID. The rule targets people posting from local accounts; it does not affect ordinary tourist browsing or roaming/eSIM data use
Human Rights Watch — Vietnam: Repeal Harmful Internet Laws (Decree 147 summary) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
9 · Ride-hailing & transport
Grab (main ride-hailing app)
Grab is the default ride-hailing app — GrabBike motorbikes, GrabCar (4/6 seats), food delivery — and works with an international phone number and foreign Visa/Mastercard. Grab's own fee notice adds a 4% processing fee (via payment partner Moca) when paying with a foreign-issued card; paying cash avoids it. There is no Uber in Vietnam
The Only Vietnam Guide — Grab and Taxis in Vietnam 2026 (reading Grab Vietnam's published fare & fee table, updated 8 Jul 2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Green SM (formerly Xanh SM) and Be
Green SM — renamed from Xanh SM in April 2026 — is the electric alternative: its own VinFast EV fleet with salaried drivers, bookable in the app, on hotline 1555, or by flagging a car; it operates in 34 provinces and cities. Local app Be (beBike / beCar / beTaxi) is the third option. For a metered street taxi, the established brands are Mai Linh and Vinasun
The Only Vietnam Guide — Grab and Taxis in Vietnam 2026 · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Driving side
Traffic drives on the right
Travel Risk Atlas — Vietnam country indicators · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Driving licences and IDP (SG/MY trap)
Vietnam recognises only the 1968 Vienna Convention International Driving Permit, carried together with your home licence (Vietnam joined that convention on 20 August 2014; Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT). IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention — the version issued in Malaysia, and also in the US, Australia and Canada — are NOT recognised. Separately, the ASEAN mutual-recognition agreement means a Singapore or Malaysian domestic licence is in principle valid to drive in Vietnam without an IDP, but rental shops and police checkpoints do not always apply this in practice, so you may be asked for an IDP in a version your country cannot issue
Expat Focus — Vietnam Car Rental guide (1968-only rule; 1949 IDPs incl. Malaysia not accepted; ASEAN licence list) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
10 · Airport to city
HAN — Noi Bai Airport to central Hanoi
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) lies about 27–35 km north of central Hanoi — roughly 35–60 minutes by road to the Old Quarter. There is no airport rail link; every transfer is by road
Wherebest — Getting from Noi Bai Airport (HAN) into Hanoi 2026 · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
HAN — Airport Express Bus 86
Bus 86 (Transerco) links Noi Bai T1/T2 with Hanoi Railway Station via Long Bien and the Hoan Kiem / Old Quarter edge, running roughly every 25–45 minutes from early morning to about 22:15, in about 50–60 minutes. Most listings give a flat fare of VND 45,000 paid in cash on board, but the airport's own transport page has listed VND 50,000 — carry 50,000
CleverTourists — Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi Old Quarter (fare conflict noted from the airport's own listing) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
SGN — Tan Son Nhat Airport to District 1
Tan Son Nhat (SGN) sits inside the city, about 7–8 km from District 1 — 25–45 minutes by road, longer in rush hour. Check your terminal before travelling: international flights use T2, and most domestic flights moved to the new Terminal T3 (opened 2025), with some domestic services still at T1
KissTour — Getting from the airport to the city in Vietnam (2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
SGN — airport buses 109 and 152
Two city bus routes link SGN with the centre: route 109 runs to the Ben Thanh / Pham Ngu Lao area and route 152 runs to Ben Thanh, both through the day from early morning. Routes and stopping patterns were adjusted after Terminal T3 opened, so check the stop signage on the day
KissTour — Getting from the airport to the city in Vietnam (2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
DAD — Da Nang Airport to city and Hoi An
Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is unusually central: about 3 km from the city centre (a few minutes by car) and about 30 km / roughly 45 minutes from Hoi An. The local yellow Bus 1 runs from the airport area to Hoi An in about 60–90 minutes; most other travellers use Grab or a taxi
KissTour — Arriving at Da Nang Airport (DAD) 2026 · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
12 · Time zone & holidays
Tet 2027 (Lunar New Year)
Tet Day falls on Saturday 6 February 2027 (Year of the Goat). The approved public-sector holiday runs 7 days, Thursday 4 to Wednesday 10 February 2027 (Ministry of Home Affairs Notice 11483/TB-BNV, approved 2 October 2026); private employers choose one of three 5-day patterns around the same dates. Expect business closures, full trains/flights and peak prices nationwide
GoMayu — When is Tet in Vietnam? Tet 2027 dates (checked against MoHA Notice 11483/TB-BNV) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Public holidays 2027
Vietnam has 12 public holidays in 2027; the longest break is Tet, 4–10 February
Global Holidays Calendar — Vietnam Public Holidays 2027 · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
13 · Weather & seasons
Climate — north (Hanoi)
Four seasons. January is cool and drizzly: average high 20.0°C, low 14.6°C, about 28 mm of rain. June is hot (average high 33.8°C) and the rains peak in August at about 335 mm. Unheated buildings make winter feel colder than the numbers suggest
OneWorld24 — Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City seasons (WMO World Weather Information Service / Vietnam MHA normals, 1991–2020) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Climate — south (Ho Chi Minh City)
Two seasons only, hot year-round. Dry season roughly December–April: January averages a high of 32.0°C and a low of 23.4°C with about 12 mm of rain. Wet season roughly May–October brings heavy, usually afternoon, downpours; September is the wettest month at about 273 mm
OneWorld24 — Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City seasons (WMO World Weather Information Service / Vietnam MHA normals, 1991–2020) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Climate — central coast (Da Nang / Hoi An)
The central coast runs on the opposite calendar to the north and south: its rain peaks in autumn — Hoi An averages about 445 mm in October alone — and the typhoon and flood season runs roughly September to December, just as the north and south enter their driest, most comfortable months
WeatherSpark — average weather comparison, Hoi An (monthly rainfall) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
14 · Safety & scams
Crossing the street / pedestrian risk
Pedestrians are at particular risk: pavements are often unusable, so people walk along the roadside, and scooters commonly ride against traffic and on pavements. Look carefully in all directions before crossing — even at a marked crosswalk with a green walk light, and even on a street you believe is one-way
UK FCDO — Living in Vietnam guide (Pedestrian risks) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Road travel and motorbike risk
Compliance with road laws is poor and motorbike accidents are common; UK official advice calls riding a motorbike in Vietnam much riskier than in the UK and says not to hire one unless you are an experienced rider. A helmet is legally required for rider and passenger, drink-driving is zero-tolerance (any alcohol in your system can bring a fine and possible imprisonment), and driving without third-party insurance is illegal
UK FCDO — Vietnam travel advice: Safety and security (Road travel / Motorbike safety) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Bag-snatching
Bag-snatching by thieves on motorcycles is common in tourist areas. Hold bags in front of you or on the side away from the traffic, stay aware of motorcycles approaching as you walk, and be prepared to surrender valuables rather than risk injury in a struggle
UK FCDO — Vietnam travel advice: Safety and security · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Unofficial taxis
Take only genuine metered taxis or app-based ride-hailing such as Grab, which UK official guidance describes as generally reliable and safe; many unofficial taxis are in poor condition and may not have seatbelts
UK FCDO — Living in Vietnam guide · verified 2026-11-09 · official
15 · Tipping & etiquette
Tipping
Tipping is not a normal part of Vietnamese culture and is never obligatory — the national tourism authority's position is that there is no set rule. In practice, small cash tips are customary for private tour guides and drivers and in spas, and many mid-range and upscale restaurants add a service charge of around 5%, so check the bill before adding anything. At street stalls, the listed price is the whole price
Tipping in Vietnam guide (quoting the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
16 · Emergency contacts
Emergency numbers
Police 113 · Fire 114 · Ambulance 115 · Search and rescue 112. Operators are Vietnamese-speaking first and English support is limited — keep your hotel's name and address written in Vietnamese
UK FCDO — Vietnam travel advice (print edition) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
17 · Health & water
Tap water
Do not drink the tap water. Drink bottled or filtered water, which is cheap and sold everywhere; ice served in city restaurants and cafes is generally factory-made from purified water
Next Stop Anywhere — Vietnam travel tips 2026 (health section, following FCDO advice) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Dengue and mosquitoes
Dengue is endemic and is the main mosquito-borne risk: Vietnam reported about 116,000 cases in January to early September 2026 (WHO data), roughly 73% of them in the south, and the US CDC carries a Level 1 dengue travel notice for Vietnam. There is no preventive tablet — use repellent through the day and at dawn and dusk
Travel Clinic NY — Vaccines & health for Vietnam (WHO/ECDC/CDC data, updated Oct 2026) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
eSIM for Vietnam
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