Vietnam Travel Guide: E-Visa, Grab & Street Food
🛂 E-Visa & Entry
- E-Visa ($25, 90 days, multi-entry) for ALL nationalities
- Apply at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn - official site only
- Processing 3 working days - print approval
- Phu Quoc: 30-day visa-free for ALL by international flight
🚲 Getting Around
- Grab app ESSENTIAL - cars, motorbikes, food, fixed prices
- Sleeper buses connect cities (12-18h) - cheap $10-20
- Domestic flights (VietJet, Bamboo) cheap $25-60
🍜 Street Food Paradise
- Pho: national dish ($1.50-3). Hanoi style simple, HCMC sweeter
- Bánh mì: French-Vietnamese sandwich ($0.75-1.50)
- Egg coffee (cà phê trứng) invented in Hanoi - $1.50
- Bia hơi: beer 5,000-10,000 VND ($0.20-0.40) on tiny stools
🏙️ Hanoi vs HCMC
- Hanoi: traditional, 1000+ years, Old Quarter 36 streets
- HCMC (Saigon): modern, fast-paced. District 1 downtown
- Hoi An: lantern-lit UNESCO town - custom suit $60-100
- Ha Long Bay: 2-day cruise ($100-200) - day trip too rushed
🏛️ Central Vietnam
- Hoi An: lantern-lit UNESCO, tailoring, cooking classes
- Hue: former imperial capital - Citadel, royal tombs
- Hai Van Pass: Top Gear coastal road - motorbike or jeep
- Golden Bridge (Ba Na Hills): giant hands - go 7am
- Da Nang: My Khe Beach, Marble Mountains, Dragon Bridge
⛰️ Northern Vietnam
- Sapa: terraced rice fields - Sep-Oct harvest golden
- Ha Giang Loop: 3-4 day motorbike - most epic scenery
- Ninh Binh: Ha Long Bay on land - boat through caves
🏖️ Southern Vietnam
- Mekong Delta: floating markets (Cai Rang early morning)
- Phu Quoc: visa-free island - Sao Beach, night markets
- Cu Chi Tunnels: 1.5h from HCMC - crawl through tunnels
💡 Quick Tips
- Cross road slowly and predictably - motorbikes go AROUND you
- Cash is king - count zeros carefully. 500K VND ≈ $20
- Grab shows fixed price - always use over street taxis
- Dress modestly at temples - shoulders and knees covered
- Vietnamese iced coffee strong, sweet, addictive
- Eat at busy stalls with high turnover - hot fresh food is safe
- Obama + Bourdain ate Bun Cha in Hanoi - pilgrimage site
⚡ Pro Tips
- Book Ha Long Bay through hotel - not street kiosks
- Learn Bao nhiêu tiền? (how much?) - locals appreciate
- Phong Nha caves world largest, less touristy than Ha Long
📋 Summary
Vietnam offers ancient traditions and rapid modernization at backpacker prices. The food alone is worth the trip. Grab solves transport, e-visa opens the country.
