First-Timer's Guide to Vietnam (2026): Everything You Need Before You Fly
How to structure your first trip to Vietnam: 45-Day Visa-Free for 13 Countries (UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, JP, KR, etc.) & 90-Day Official E-Visa ($25 Single / $50 Multiple at evisa.gov.vn — Only Official Portal!), Vietnam Railways (Đường sắt Việt Nam) Reunification Express (SE1/SE2, SE3/SE4, SE19/SE20) & Chapa/Lotus VIP Sleepers, Grab App, Hanoi Airport Bus 86, VND (₫) payments, and critical booking windows.
1. Entry Rules & Passport Requirements for Vietnam
45-Day Visa-Free for 13 Countries (UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, JP, KR, etc.) & 90-Day Official E-Visa ($25 Single / $50 Multiple at evisa.gov.vn — Only Official Portal!) Always verify your passport validity (at least 6 months beyond your planned departure) and keep digital copies of your return ticket and first hotel confirmation in Hanoi & Ninh Binh or Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba.
2. Getting Around: Vietnam Railways (Đường sắt Việt Nam) Reunification Express (SE1/SE2, SE3/SE4, SE19/SE20) & Chapa/Lotus VIP Sleepers & Grab App, Hanoi Airport Bus 86
Travel seamlessly across Vietnam on Vietnam Railways (Đường sắt Việt Nam) Reunification Express (SE1/SE2, SE3/SE4, SE19/SE20) & Chapa/Lotus VIP Sleepers. Compare walk-up fares against advance promotional tickets and regional passes in VND (₫). For urban and regional transit in Hanoi & Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba, and Hoi An Ancient Town, pick up or activate Grab App, Hanoi Airport Bus 86 (1) Download the Grab app before landing and link your foreign Visa/Mastercard—every GrabCar and GrabBike ride locks in a fixed upfront VND price with zero cash haggling. 2) At Hanoi Noi Bai Airport (HAN), walk out of Terminal 2 to the orange Bus 86 Express (45,000 ₫ / $1.80, free Wi-Fi & luggage racks) straight to Hoan Kiem Lake & Hanoi Old Quarter. 3) BANKNOTE ALERT: Polymer 500,000 ₫ ($20) and 20,000 ₫ ($0.80) notes are both blue-green—keep 500k notes in a separate zipper pocket!). Use our interactive Vietnam Railways Calculator to compare point-to-point tickets against multi-day passes.
3. Money, Cards & VND (₫) (₫ VND)
The official currency is the VND (₫) (₫, VND), trading at roughly 1 USD ≈ 25000 VND (1 EUR ≈ 27000 VND). Always choose to be billed in VND on card terminals to avoid 5–8% Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) markups.
4. Cultural Etiquette & Tipping Norms
Not expected at street-food stalls; round up 20,000–50,000 ₫ ($0.80–$2.00) at sit-down restaurants, spas, and for Grab drivers, or 100,000–250,000 ₫/day for private guides and Ha Long boat crews. Do NOT drink tap water in Vietnam; drink sealed bottled water (La Vie / Aquafina, 6,000–10,000 ₫) or boiled hotel water. Tipping norm: Not expected at street-food stalls; round up 20,000–50,000 ₫ ($0.80–$2.00) at sit-down restaurants, spas, and for Grab drivers, or 100,000–250,000 ₫/day for private guides and Ha Long boat crews.