SKINNY ON ‘NAM -

I actually did not make it over to ‘Nam when I was teaching and touring SE Asia in 2015-2016, but I have been in a job for the past couple years where I support a manufacturer outside of Ho Chi Minh City (YES, of course that played a factor in me accepting this job!!!). I’ll talk about doing business in SE Asia in another post, but I have been lucky enough to be able to have work pay for my ticket to ‘Nam, add on to my work trip and explore some of the country. I still have many parts to see as Vietnam is over ONE THOUSAND miles long!

In 2018, my babes joined me in our first adventure to Vietnam - specifically Northern Vietnam (& his FIRST adventure to SE Asia)! We flew into Hanoi and spent 2 weeks bumping around: Hanoi —> Ha Giang (famous motorbike loop which was ahhhhmazing!!!!) —> Sapa —> Cat Ba for Ha Long. See my posts HERE about the various areas of 'Nam we explored! I've spent some time in South Vietnam as well, but more for work, and less for fun.

I transform when I’m in SE Asia. There is a certain calm about it, likely because I spent a large stint of time here, but also because of the slow, yet chaotic pace of the Asian culture. I call myself “Asian Jen” when I’m touring SE Asia - I hop out of my reality and into a more peaceful reality :) Vietnam felt that same way. Broken down by some essential categories, see my perspective and experience in Vietnam, specifically.

budget -

This is based on our spending in Northern Vietnam - daily averages come to just over $100 for 2 people, $50 for a single person. Without accounting for the Ha Long Bay bust (see more in the ‘Entertainment’ section), it came to ~$35 pp - & this is one of the reasons I LOVE SE Asia <3 Your dolla-dolla bill goes a LONGGG way in these countries.

NORTH VIETNAM - 14 DAYS, 13 NIGHTS

Note: I don't count money I spent for work travel here because I don't find it a true "representation" or parallel to the way I actually travel when traveling for personal reasons.

transportation -

As SE Asia always goes, you think you can do WAY more than you can actually do due to the pace of the people, the transport, the culture, the everything. Idk why I always think I can “figure it out” and beat that system. You live off public transport which is offered in abundance, but always late, slow, and the city’s mail carrier - it’s just how it goes & you must accept it. Whether you are traveling short or long distances, there is no shortage in options for getting around!

Buses (day & night) - I have had great experiences on the buses in 'Nam! Especially the sleepers - the ones I went on were actually beds and not seats at all. The one you see in the photo had a very "disco" theme - colored lights and all! Aside from the un-timeliness of them, I recommend overnights always. Other pros are you don't have to book a room for that night (as you are on a bus) and you wake up at your next destination! The ones that are <6 hours are a bit trickier and you have to be more strategic about - it gets a little tough when buses arrive in cities any time before 5AM. If you do this, I recommend you book accommodations ahead of time, so you have a place to go when the city is sleeping. If you want to bypass paying for that night of stay, many will let you drop your stuff off or sleep on an open bed or hang in the main space! They are also affordable on a travelers budget. LOCAL buses - as always, you get what you pay for with the local buses. Ensure you have plenty of time to spare, don’t mind sitting in aisles, and are okay with plenty of discomfort including too many people, extreme heat, and stops every 2 minutes. I always recommend people try them, but maybe not for an 8hour trek. We did take a local bus to Sapa - it was an experience :)
Tuk-tuks - for short distances of course. These are EVERYWHERE, Asia famous, and always available. This is a very cheap option for anything under 10 miles I would say. Typically cost only a couple dollars to go on a short ride around town! Watch for the swindling though. You do, likely, look like a tourist. Sometimes there is just no way to hide it :)
Taxis - also available in main cities in 'Nam. I only utilize this option to get to my work site or to/from the airport. About an hour drive and costs around $25. They will be available in big cities!
Motos - such a fun way to get around, but can also be very dangerous. If you are new to scooters, give yourself some time to mess around in a less busy street or city instead of heading straight down Ho Chi rush hour. Prepare to undergo EXTREME ANXIETY. We rented a moto for 4 days for the Ha Giang loop, see post here, and had a blast! Jake has a moto at home, but advice - GET AN IDL and don’t let the loop be your first time riding a moto!! Just don't do it. I've seen too many travelers fully bandaged from moto accidents. Note that there are also THINGS on the road in unconventional ways - like cows, and dogs, and children.

food & drink -

Nuff said. I likely don’t even need to go into detail here, right? Tell me you know about how big of a deal food is in Vietnam?!? Food in ‘Nam has a hype associated, all for the right reasons. I have a few absolute fav dishes of course - you can never start a meal without a spring roll. I even wandered Ho Chi Minh for 2+ hours trying to find a restaurant that claims to be "home of the best spring roll". Honestly, they were amazing. As you read, the south and the north are known for some different dishes as well. Here are some foodie pics to get your mouth watering!!!
1. Must have dishes - bun thit nuong, spring rolls, bun bo nam bo (more north), PHO (probs my least fav dish in 'Nam actually, but most famous in America)
2. & then there is the COFFEE - Vietnamese coffee is of course famous, but it wasn't until we were on a coffee tour in Costa Rica that they mentioned that Vietnam one of the largest coffee producers in the world! So that’s what the people scaling sides of the mountains were doing….the coffee is not only in abundance in drinking form, but famous for the way they serve it. Participate in this every day, multiple times a day; because if you try to replicate it at home, I say good luck.

communication -

I was surprised at how little English Vietnamese people spoke. However, I couldn't tell if they really didn't know English actually or just didn't care to talk to me. Have a map (maps.me or offline google maps) and use visuals when asking someone a question about how to get somewhere. Most menus have pictures too #blessed :D

TIPS: Sing chow - hello; Gamon - thank you; Yo - cheers!; Knong - no

monies -

Currency in 'Nam is DONG; what a graceful word! It's really big numbers, but not really worth a lot. You are a true millionaire in Vietnam, a DONG millionaire - GO YOU! Exchange at the airport at withdraw at the ATMs.

Conversion TIP: from USD- 100,000 = $4 (25k = $1). Remove 3- 0s and then divide by 25 (remember that 4 quarters make up a dollar, wink wink).

TIP: carry and use cash - some places do take card, but if you want street food (which you do), you want cash.

entertainment -

Markets - I love me a good Asian market. Night markets are probs my favorite and I love going and getting food from the vendor stands. Of course visiting a market doesn’t cost money and there is typically something fun happening at them. Be prepared to be drug into various stands for “real leather” and “Gucci sunglasses”. You can of course find day markets, bargain markets, fish markets, nut markets, sunglasses markets, jewelry markets, ANY kind of market, I'm sure they have. OH, and expect little surprises around some corners - see our friend at the fish market bleow. :D

Misc tours/shows -

Circus show - FOR THE WIN! One of the coolest shows I've ever seen. If you are amazed by acrobats and people doing crazy shit in a very obscure ways, you will love this. It's called the Ao Show and is performed in Ho Chi at the Opera House. Again, not the cheapest thing, but these are truly talented professionals that know how to capture a crowd. 10/10 - especially when on a work trip and looking how to kill a couple hours <3
Ha Long Bay cruise - blahhhh, don't get me started here. This was one of the most disappointing spends of money in Vietnam. It also makes up 95%+ of our entire entertainment category :0 In all honesty, it was not worth the money and I wish we booked with a local guide and went out on the bay for the day in a much more private group. This was one thing we researched heavily that everywhere suggested to book in advance. We wanted to treat ourselves, but it was a VERY touristy experience & not fitting for the way we travel. It was also extremely scheduled and rigid with an "appointment" every 15 minutes. Now we know for next time :)
Other - some day tours are worth it. I did one from Ho Chi that brought you out to the river and around the delta. There is a lot of unique farming, but I honestly prefer to travel with a smaller group in a less "tourist" way. However, tours can be good if you are traveling alone as hiring a private guide can be much more expensive! If you have a group though, it's often the same or cheaper and you get a more personalized, free flowing experience.
TIP: talk with the tour guides! This was one of my only real interactions with a local. She taught me a LOT about Vietnamese culture, education, government, etc.

accommodation -

One of the best parts about SE Asia, SO much accommodation options and for very cheap. For work, I stay in a very "Western" hotel area where rates are over 300USD / night (hence why I say this is just a bit “different” than the way I personally travel). I always SMH because we stayed in pretty nice hotels (basic, but nice) in 'Nam for $10-20 / night!!!! Hostels are even cheaper, of course. We stayed at some hostels, but typically got a private room. I like the option to cook at hostels, but honestly, in Asia, it's not really worth cooking unless you have some western cravings due to the price of food. I suggest Booking and planning the day before you plan to go to the next place :) We are big fans of the “book the next night tonight” to allow us freedom to plan on the fly and extend our stay if we are lovin’ life!

TIP: home stays are pretty wonderful and in abundance in Vietnam as well; I suggest at least one that offers family dinners as well. :)