Tips for travellers to Vietnam

I will try and list some observations and tips in alphabetical order:

ALCOHOL: In common with many Asian countries good quality whisky and other spirits and beer are available cheaply on the streets. Wine is expensive and usually fairly ordinary. You’d be well advised to take your duty free allowance in wine – perhaps a good quality cask of Aussie plonk purchased at your local supermarket – not at the airport.

BARGAINING: Market sellers etc didn’t seem to have the flexibility in pricing I have encountered in other places. I’d still start with an offer of 50% of the asking price but was lucky to end up with 20% off the price, even when I didn’t want to buy. Perhaps I am getting weaker in my old age?

BEDS: We stayed in 3 to 5 star hotels but the beds ranged from solid to very hard. If you really can’t sleep on firm beds you have a problem – maybe take a camping mat ( the thin compressed foam roll up type)

BEGGARS: You will come across some pretty disturbing people begging on the streets and may be moved to help. Social Welfare is pretty scarce in Vietnam. I used to put a few 5000 and 10000 dong notes in my left hand pocket – so I didn’t need to take out my wallet – to hand to them. These notes represent less than 40 and 80 cents respectively but are worthwhile amounts for the recipients.

CLOTHING: The old adage of packing what you think you need and then leaving half at home was never truer than on our trip to Vietnam. I took four shirts and came home with fourteen. I also took three pairs of slacks. Shorts and tee shirts were the order of most days. Next time I will take one shirt and pick up tee’s and other quality shirts cheaply and easily as I travel. One pair of slacks was all I needed for the odd dress up night, visiting Ho’s mausoleum etc. Big sizes are no problem.

INSECTS: Only one of the hotels we stayed in had an electrical plug in insecticide gadget. All of the hotels had mosquitoes in the rooms (including on the tenth floor of the sealed window Nikko). We had trouble communicating with staff that we wanted the rooms sprayed and insect spray was not easy to find. I suggest a small electric insecticide pad heater (with an adaptor) or a can of spray would be a useful addition to your gear.

A number of our group suffered from insect bites, particularly when in the Mekong Delta – take and use personal insect repellant.

IRONING: Hotels in Asia don’t have irons and ironing boards. They do have pressing services which take a minimum of fours hours. If you are like a mate of mine and won’t go out without a freshly ironed shirt a traveling iron would be in order.

SELLERS: You will be under siege from street sellers with post cards, sun glasses etc and kids with many ploys on many occasions. The rule is don’t engage with them unless you enjoy saying no! or you want to buy something. Although I did undertake some transactions with kids probably the best way to make a contribution is through KOTO (see report)

TEA & COFFEE MAKING: Hotels in Asia generally don’t have electric jugs. There will be thermos bottles you can have filled with hot water but sometimes this involves a wait when you are looking for a quick cuppa. If this is an issue for you you might consider a traveling immersion heater. You may also have to buy UHT milk.

TUMMY TROUBLES: I usually have some problems wherever I travel and Vietnam was no exception, although low key rumbles were more the order than out and out eruptions. Take some Lomotil or similar.

TRAFFIC: You will get plenty of warnings and advice about crossing roads. Take heed.