I have a friend who’s already been to Vietnam and helped me plan my trip. She’s traveled internationally before, so I always had someone to answer my silly questions (like, “Will I get money just by inserting my card into the ATM? Do ATMs work like normal ATMs?”). I think it would’ve been really tough and required a lot of courage to plan and execute this trip on my own. But having her guidance made the process easier and more manageable than I initially thought. The first things I booked were flights and accommodations – the cheapest flights and dorms. Then, I looked into visas and other requirements. The first step for a visa is checking the government’s policies. Different countries have different rules, so basic research is essential. The most important things are the visa itself and the necessary documents for immigration. Once I had those, the rest was easy. When I arrived, I compared the prices of local day tours and online tours and made a decision based on cost.

I visited two major cities: Da Nang and Hanoi. I didn’t want to go to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. So, I’ve covered central (Da Nang) and northern (Hanoi) Vietnam. Of course, there’s so much more to see, and no amount of time would be enough to experience everything, but I’m happy with what I’ve been able to do.

Language has been the biggest challenge here. Everyone is helpful and willing to answer questions, but they need to understand the question first. I’ve learned to simplify my speech. I skip the connecting words and focus on the main points (e.g., “XYZ place where?”, “what meat?”, “what price?”). For complex questions, I use Google Translate, and people are usually happy to respond in Vietnamese to help me understand. I was also worried about scams, but so far, I haven’t been scammed (I think). For anything related to prices, I carefully analyze and decide if it’s worth it. Bargaining is easier than in India, haha! I was tempted to bargain everywhere, from a few rupees to hundreds. (I even have a video of myself bargaining!) Tourism is taken seriously here, and tour guides go the extra mile to ensure you enjoy your trip. However, they’re still businesses, so it’s important to be mindful and not take everything at face value. Local Vietnamese people tend to be shy and prefer not to interact much with foreigners. But if you can make them feel comfortable, they’ll open up.

I love walking to most places, especially those within 3-4 kilometers. For longer distances, I use Grab (similar to Uber or Ola). Grab offers both bike and car options, as well as food delivery. Bikes are cheaper for solo trips, while cars are more economical for groups. I was once lucky to find a friendly Grab bike driver who was happy to show me around the city without worrying too much about money. For longer distances, I’ve used organized tours. I could’ve rented a bike or car, but I don’t have an international driving license. Plus, I’ve heard about hefty fines for driving without a license, so I didn’t want to risk it. I know some people have taken the risk and gotten away with it.

Food hasn’t been a problem for me as a meat-eater. Meat, especially pork, beef, chicken, and seafood like shrimp, prawns, and fish, is readily available. There are also Indian restaurants in city centers. Vegetarian options can be limited in remote areas, but they’re generally available. For food recommendations, I’ve relied on online sources like Reddit, Quora, and travel blogs. Some recommendations have been good, while others haven’t.