Vietnam
Last checked:
- Capital
- Hanoi
- Currency
- VND · Vietnamese dong
- Languages
- Vietnamese
- Plugs
- Type A, C, F · 220 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Ha Long Bay · Quang Ninh (from Hanoi)
Thousands of limestone islands, usually seen on an overnight or day cruise.
- Hoi An Ancient Town · Hoi An
Well preserved trading port with lantern-lit streets, tailors and nearby beaches.
- Hanoi Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake · Hanoi
Dense historic streets, street food and the capital's main lake.
- Hue Imperial City · Hue
Citadel and royal tombs of the Nguyen dynasty along the Perfume River.
- Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta · Ho Chi Minh City area
War-era tunnel network and river life, both common day trips from Saigon.
Getting around
Ride-hailing app
Grab
Cars, motorbike taxis (GrabBike) and food delivery in all major cities. Fixed price before booking; pay cash or card. The UK government recommends Grab or Xanh SM over street taxis.
Ride-hailing app
Xanh SM
Electric car and motorbike fleet run by Vingroup's GSM; drivers are employees. Often slightly cheaper than Grab with newer cars. Also has its own green taxis you can hail.
Ride-hailing app
Be
Vietnamese ride app, sometimes cheapest for motorbike rides; fewer English options.
Taxi
Mai Linh / Vinasun
The more reputable metered taxi brands. Fake look-alike taxis exist, so check the name, logo and phone number exactly, or book in the company app.
Public transport
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Metro
Hanoi has lines 2A and 3 (partial); Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien) opened in December 2024. Cheap but coverage is limited.
Trains
Vietnam Railways (Reunification Express)
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City via Hue and Da Nang. Sleeper berths are comfortable; book on the official railway site or reputable agents.
Buses
Sleeper and open tour buses
Cheapest way between cities and to Sapa, Ha Giang and Ninh Binh. Book directly with the company where possible; hostels add markups.
Money and cash
Currency: VND · Vietnamese dong
Cash is king for street food, markets, small shops and tips. Cards work in hotels, malls and many mid-range restaurants, sometimes with a 2-3% surcharge. Notes have many zeros and the 10,000 and 100,000 (and 20,000 and 500,000) notes look alike: count carefully. Bank ATMs (Vietcombank, BIDV, TPBank and others) are widespread but fees and limits vary.
Tipping
Tipping is not traditional in Vietnam and is never required, but it is increasingly common in tourist areas. Small tips for good service are appreciated: 5-10% in sit-down restaurants, or round up. Higher-end places may add a service charge.
| Restaurants | Local eateries and street food: not expected. Mid-range and upscale: 5-10% if no service charge, or leave small notes. If a service charge is listed, no extra tip is needed. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Not expected; leaving the small change is fine. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Not expected. Rounding up is a nice gesture. Grab and Xanh SM let you tip in the app. |
| Hotels | Optional: about 20,000-50,000 VND for porters or housekeeping in tourist hotels. |
| Tours and guides | Common for guides and drivers on day tours and cruises, often around 100,000-200,000 VND per person per day for the guide and less for drivers (varies). |
| Food delivery | Not expected; can tip in the app. |
Service charge: what’s true
Higher-end restaurants and hotels may show '++' pricing: a 5% service charge (sometimes more) plus 8-10% VAT added to menu prices. It must be disclosed on the menu and appears as a separate line on the bill. There is no clear rule on how it is shared with staff (varies by business). Most local restaurants do not add a service charge.
Pressure tactics to watch for
Sources report that staff in tourist zones (Hanoi Old Quarter, District 1, Hoi An) increasingly hint at tips from foreigners, and some card terminals prompt for a tip. Tips are optional, especially when a service charge is already on the bill. A smile and 'cam on' (thank you) is enough if you do not want to tip.
Useful phrases
- Tính tiền (tinh tien) The bill, please.
- Đã gồm phí phục vụ chưa? (da gom phi phuc vu chua?) Is the service charge included?
- Không cần thối lại (khong can thoi lai) Keep the change.
Etiquette
- Remove shoes before entering homes and some temples and pagodas; look for shoes left at the door.
- Cover shoulders and knees at temples, pagodas and Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, where silence and no photos are enforced.
- Use both hands or the right hand to pass or receive things, especially money and business cards.
- Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice; it is associated with funerals.
- Keep calm when negotiating or complaining; shouting causes loss of face and rarely helps.
- Bargaining is normal at markets and with cyclos; agree the exact price and currency before any service.
- Avoid criticising the government or politics in public.
Scams and how to handle them
Fake Grab driver at the airport
Where: Noi Bai (Hanoi) and Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) airports
How it works: Someone shows a phone screen or claims to be your Grab, leads you to an unmarked car, cancels your booking and overcharges.
How to avoid it: Check the plate, car and driver name in the app before getting in; only go to the car shown in the app.
Cyclo price switch
Where: Hanoi Old Quarter, Ho Chi Minh City District 1
How it works: Driver agrees '100' for a ride, then insists at the end it meant 100 US dollars or 1,000,000 VND, sometimes with threats.
How to avoid it: Write the full amount and currency down before starting, or book through a hotel or reputable operator.
Shoe shine and shoulder pole photo trick
Where: Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Saigon backpacker areas
How it works: A shoe shiner pulls off your shoe and starts work, or a vendor puts a fruit pole on your shoulder for a photo, then demands far too much money.
How to avoid it: Do not let anyone touch your shoes or put things on you; say 'Khong, cam on' and keep walking.
Fake or rigged meter taxis
Where: Airports, bus stations and tourist areas
How it works: Look-alike taxis copy the colours and names of Mai Linh or Vinasun but use fast meters or demand fixed fares.
How to avoid it: Use Grab, Xanh SM or book through the official company app; check spelling of the company name.
Banknote switch
Where: Shops, taxis and markets
How it works: A seller claims you paid with a 10,000 VND note instead of 100,000, or 20,000 instead of 500,000, which look similar.
How to avoid it: Count out notes slowly and say the amount aloud when paying.
Motorbike rental damage and passport deposit
Where: Hanoi, Hoi An, Da Nang, beach towns
How it works: Rental shops keep your passport and claim damage on return.
How to avoid it: Photograph the bike first and avoid leaving your passport as collateral where possible.
Job offer trafficking
Where: Online job ads, Mekong region
How it works: Foreigners are lured with high-paid jobs, taken across borders, and forced into online scam work.
How to avoid it: Check any job offer independently; be very wary of offers that pay for travel.
Safety
- Bag and phone snatching by thieves on motorbikes is the most common crime in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Hold bags on the side away from traffic and do not use your phone at the curb.
- Pickpocketing increases around Christmas and Lunar New Year (Tet) and on overnight trains and buses.
- Traffic is heavy: cross streets at a slow, steady pace so riders can steer around you.
- Drink spiking and methanol poisoning have been reported, including in licensed bars. Buy your own drinks and avoid cheap spirits.
- Use Grab, Xanh SM or reputable taxis at night; assaults have been linked to unlicensed drivers.
- Motorbike riding needs a valid licence; most travel insurance does not cover unlicensed riders.
How widely English is spoken
Good in hotels, tour companies and tourist restaurants in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An and Da Nang; limited with older people, drivers and in rural areas. Ride apps and translation apps help a lot.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Vietnam, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Vietnam
- Vietnam Tourism: Do you tip at Vietnamese restaurants?
- Vietnam Tourism: Common scams in Vietnam
- Vietnam SIM: Grab, Xanh SM and Be compared
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.