Travel Guide

About Vietnam

Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful countries, attracting travellers to its lush mountains, bustling cities and golden sand beaches. Despite rapid modernisation in Vietnam’s urban centres of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, time-honoured traditions remain intact amongst the locals. There are numerous ancient landmarks and colonial structures that have survived throughout the bumps and scrapes of history.

Buddhist shrines can be found next to towering skyscrapers, where you can experience vibrant festivals and ceremonies dating back hundreds of years. Long, sandy beaches are home to luxurious resorts and fine-dining venues, making them ideal romantic getaways, while expansive rice terraces on the hills make for excellent hiking excursions. Whether you’re planning a historical tour of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, a relaxing beach break or simply want to escape the bustling city life, our Vietnam travel guide caters to just about any holiday preference.

Population: 97.4 million (2020)

Capital City: Hanoi 8.1 million (2020)

People: 53 ethnic minorities

Language: Vietnamese

Currency: Vietnam Dong (VND)

Time Zone: GMT +7 Hours

International Dialing Code: +84

Got Questions about Travelling in Vietnam?

Great, cause we’ve got the answers! Check here as we’ve put together some commonly asked questions (FAQ) to give you more information about “Vietnam Travel” and the cover we offer. If you don’t find the question and answer you’re looking for here, please don’t hesitate to contact us! 

Passports & Visas

Passports should be valid for six months from the date of entry into Vietnam. Friends Travel Vietnam recommend you make a photocopy of your passport & visa and keep it somewhere separate, or scan it and keep it in an accessible email account.

Visitors must have a visa before entering Vietnam, and a visa on arrival can only be obtained with a letter of approval. A visa on arrival is granted to many nationalities for stays 15 days or less. Friends Travel Vietnam can arrange this for you, click here for more info. Otherwise, you must apply online or at the embassy for all 30-90 day single or multiple entry visas.

Phones & Internet Services

The Vietnamese postal service is reliable and there are also courier services widely available. Do not put postcards into letter boxes; give them to your hotel to post or go to a post office or it's possible to give them to us at our office in Hanoi and we love to take care about it.

Telephone connections to the rest of the world are widely available, however they aren’t cheap. A Vietnamese SIM card is a less expensive way of calling other countries. However, your phone will need to be unlocked in order for it to work. 200,000VND ($10) worth of phone credit can last for up to 45 minutes to the UK.

Internet access is available in all major hotels and WiFi can be found in most cafes in developed areas.

Index Vietnam Information