Our Sky Journey Tours team has helped over 5,000 Indian travelers visit Vietnam. After years of pre-trip WhatsApp conversations, airport pickups and on-trip support calls, we know exactly what Indian first-timers struggle with and what nobody tells them before they go. These are the tips we share with every client personally — the real insider knowledge from people who live here.
Visa and Entry
1. Apply E-Visa 7 Days Early — Not 3
The official processing time is 3 working days. But during peak seasons (December-January, Indian school holidays May-June), servers slow and some applications take 5-6 days. Apply at evisa.gov.vn minimum 7 days before departure. Sky Journey Tours handles visa assistance free for all tour bookings.
2. Print Your E-Visa Approval
Vietnam immigration at main airports accepts phone screens, but a printed copy eliminates any possible delay. Always have a print. Carry it throughout your trip — some hotels and tour boats ask to see it.
3. Select the Correct Entry Port on Your E-Visa
When applying, you select a specific entry airport (Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City etc.). You must enter through the port you selected. If your flight connects through a different Vietnamese city, your entry airport is where you clear immigration — not the connecting hub.
Currency and Money
4. Never Exchange Currency at the Airport
Airport exchange rates in Vietnam are 8-15% below market rate. On ₹10,000 you lose ₹800-1,500. Instead: withdraw Vietnamese Dong from a Vietcombank or Techcombank ATM in the city center. Fee is approximately ₹300-400 per withdrawal. Withdraw larger amounts (₹6,000-9,000 equivalent) to minimize transaction fees.
5. The Zeros Will Confuse You
Vietnamese Dong has many zeros. 100,000 VND = ₹330. 1,000,000 VND = ₹3,300. Before handing over money, do a quick calculation. Quick mental shortcut: divide VND by 300 to get approximate rupees. 300,000 VND ÷ 300 = ₹1,000.
6. Bargain at Markets — Not Restaurants or Hotels
Bargaining is expected and appropriate at souvenir markets and street stalls. Start at 40-50% of asking price. Never bargain at restaurants, shops with price tags or hotels — it is considered rude and will not work.
Transport
7. Grab App Is Non-Negotiable
Download Grab (Vietnam's Uber) before leaving India. Set it up with your Indian phone number. Every transport need in Vietnam is met by Grab — car from airport to hotel, city rides, even food delivery. Car from Da Nang airport to beach area: approximately ₹250-350. Using random taxis at tourist areas is the most common way to overpay.
8. Crossing the Road — The Vietnamese Technique
Heavy motorbike traffic does not stop at crossings. The correct technique: start walking slowly and steadily into traffic. Do not run, do not stop suddenly. Motorbikes observe your speed and flow around you. Stopping or running makes you unpredictable. Walk at a consistent slow pace and traffic parts around you. Frightening for 2 minutes until you understand the system — then completely natural.
9. Use Internal Flights — They Are Cheap
Vietnam's domestic airlines (VietJet, Bamboo Airways) are very affordable. Hanoi to Da Nang is 1 hour 15 minutes and costs ₹2,000-4,000 one way booked in advance. The alternative (train: 14 hours, bus: 12+ hours) makes little sense when flights are this cheap. Book internal flights simultaneously with international tickets.
Food and Water
10. Tap Water Is Never Safe to Drink
Always buy sealed bottled water — 1.5L costs ₹25-40 at Circle K and GS25 convenience stores (everywhere in tourist areas). Ice at good hotels and restaurants is made from filtered water and is safe. At street stalls, skip the ice.
11. "Không Cay" = No Spice — Learn These Words
"Không cay" (pronounced "khong ky") means not spicy. Say it when ordering. "Không thịt" means no meat for vegetarians — though Vietnamese chefs sometimes add fish sauce to vegetarian dishes. Inform your guide and they ensure genuine vegetarian preparation.
12. Buddhist Vegetarian Restaurants Are Excellent for Indians
Look for "Cơm Chay" signs — Buddhist vegetarian restaurants serve completely plant-based food prepared freshly daily. Quality is excellent, prices very low (₹100-200 per dish). Indian vegetarian travelers consistently love them. Da Nang, Hoi An and Hanoi all have good options.
13. Indian Restaurants — Know the Good Ones
Da Nang: Ganesh Indian Restaurant near An Thuong Beach (North and South Indian, thali, vegetarian menu). Hoi An: Baba's Kitchen on Phan Chu Trinh Street (genuine Indian family cooking, proper rotis). Hanoi and HCMC: ask our team for current recommendations based on your hotel location.
Health and Safety
14. Pack Your Own Medications
Bring paracetamol, ORS sachets (essential for hot weather hydration), antidiarrheal tablets and any prescribed medicines with 10-day surplus. Vietnamese pharmacies are good but familiar Indian brands are better.
15. Mosquito Repellent — Essential at Dusk
Apply DEET-based repellent before any evening outdoor activity. Dengue exists in Vietnam — prevention is simple and important. Buy repellent before you go as brands in Vietnam may be unfamiliar.
16. Sun Protection Every Day
SPF 50 sunscreen, hat and UV sunglasses are essential. Vietnam's tropical sun is intense even on cloudy days. Apply before leaving the hotel, not after arriving at the beach. First-day sunburn ruins trips.
Technology
17. Buy Viettel SIM at the Airport
Available at all major international airports immediately on arrival. Cost approximately ₹200-300 for 7GB data valid 30 days. Viettel has the best coverage including in mountain and rural areas.
18. Download Google Maps Offline
Download offline maps for your Vietnam regions before landing. Works in areas with poor signal (inside caves, on Ha Long Bay). Small files, invaluable when you need them.
Culture and Etiquette
19. Remove Shoes at Temples and Traditional Houses
Always remove footwear before entering Vietnamese temples, pagodas and traditional houses. Watch for the pile of shoes at the entrance. At Hoi An's ancient houses, shoe removal is required as you are entering a family home still lived in today.
20. Cover Shoulders and Knees at Temples
When visiting temples and pagodas, cover shoulders and knees. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi is strictly enforced — no shorts, no sleeveless tops, no hats inside the building. Many sites provide sarongs to borrow. Always dress respectfully — it is a genuine spiritual site, not a tourist attraction.
Common Scams to Avoid
21. The Unsolicited Shoe Cleaner
Someone approaches and starts cleaning your shoes without asking, then demands payment. Walk away immediately if someone approaches your feet — do not let them start.
22. Fake Tour Operator Signs
In Hanoi Old Quarter and Hoi An, shops display fake signs for reputable cruise companies. Always book Ha Long Bay and major tours through your hotel or established tour operator. Prices 40-50% below normal indicate very poor quality.
23. Cyclo Rides Without Agreed Price
Always agree on a fixed price before getting into a cyclo (bicycle rickshaw). Better: use Grab for practical transport and take a cyclo ride only as a deliberate tourist experience with clearly agreed price.
24. Airport Taxis Inside the Terminal
Drivers approaching inside the arrival terminal are unlicensed overchargers. Always go outside the terminal doors and book a Grab car from there. Significantly cheaper and 100% safer.
25. Your Tour Operator Is Your Insurance
The single most important tip: have a trusted local contact throughout your trip. Sky Journey Tours team is on WhatsApp 24/7 for all clients during their trip. Flight cancelled? We rebook. Hotel problem? We call the manager. Got sick? We arrange the doctor. This safety net is worth more than any travel insurance.
WhatsApp our team before your Vietnam trip — even just to introduce yourself. Knowing someone is there makes the whole trip more relaxed and enjoyable.
The single most common regret Indian travelers share with us after their trip: "We should have planned one more day." Vietnam always leaves people wanting more. If you are choosing between 7 days and 9 days and budget allows — choose 9. The extra 2 days in Vietnam cost less than you think and deliver memories that last decades.
