Vietnam travel tips: 20 things to know before you go

• The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). Notes have many zeros: check carefully, as the 10,000 and 100,000 notes look similar.
• Cards work in hotels, bigger restaurants and shops, but street food, markets and small cafes take cash.
• ATMs are everywhere in towns. Many charge a fee per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often.
• Bargain politely in markets; prices in shops and restaurants are usually fixed.

• Grab: The Grab app works like Uber for cars and motorbike taxis in all major cities, with fixed prices shown up front.
• Crossing the road: Traffic rarely stops. Walk slowly and steadily without sudden changes, and let motorbikes flow around you.
• Domestic flights: Hanoi to Da Nang or Hue and Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City take about 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 20 minutes, and save long road or rail journeys.
• Trains: Scenic for short stretches such as Hue to Da Nang, but the full north to south journey takes more than 30 hours.
• Motorbikes: Many travel insurance policies will not cover you unless you hold the right licence. Consider a motorbike tour with a driver instead.

• Drink bottled or filtered water. Ice in restaurants and cafes is usually made from purified water.
• Busy street food stalls with a fast turnover are usually safe and delicious.
• Use insect repellent, especially in the Mekong Delta and during the wet season.
• See a travel doctor before you go about vaccinations for your route.

• Cover shoulders and knees in temples and pagodas, and remove shoes when asked.
• Ask before photographing people, especially in hill tribe villages around Sapa.
• Avoid touching people's heads and pointing with your feet.
• Keep calm in a dispute. Raising your voice causes loss of face and rarely helps.

• Taxi meters: Use Grab or a reputable taxi company rather than unmarked cars at airports and stations.
• Shoe shine and fruit seller photos: A friendly offer can end in a demand for money. A polite, firm no is fine.
• Fake visa sites: Apply only on evisa.gov.vn. See our visa guide.
• Cyclo rides: Agree the price, the currency and whether it is per person before you set off.

Local SIM cards and eSIMs are cheap, with plenty of data, and available at airports. Wifi is common in hotels and cafes. Vietnam uses 220 volts; sockets take two flat pins or two round pins, so a universal adaptor is handy.