Documents
- Passport valid for 6 months from arrival, with at least two blank pages.
- Your e-Visa, printed and saved on your phone, or a visa-on-arrival approval letter.
- Proof of onward or return travel, which some airlines ask for at check-in.
- Travel insurance that covers medical care and motorbike riding if you plan to ride.
Money
- The currency is the Vietnamese dong. Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants, but markets and street food are cash only.
- Tell your bank you are travelling and withdraw from ATMs inside banks or malls.
Phone and apps
- An eSIM, installed before you fly, so maps and messaging work the moment you land.
- A ride-hailing app for fixed prices on taxis and motorbike rides.
- An offline translation app and an offline map of the cities you will visit.
Packing
Vietnam uses 220 volts with two-pin sockets, so most travellers need an adapter. Pack light, quick-dry clothes, a rain jacket, sun cream and mosquito repellent, plus a layer for cool evenings in the north. Bring something that covers shoulders and knees for visiting temples and pagodas.