Helpful Tips

📶 Organise an E-Sim

While you can purchase a physical SIM card in Vietnam (this is what we did as we were there before the days of an e-sim) I would highly recommend purchasing an e-sim before your trip. They are so much more convenient, and you can activate it as soon as you land in Vietnam.

We have used Airalo eSims in the past and they have worked great for us!

🚗 Download the Grab App

Before you leave home, make sure to download the Grab app as you may need it for when you arrive.

Grab is the most widely used ride-sharing app in Vietnam and the easiest way to make short-medium distance trips while travelling. While in major cities, Grab will offer you a variety of rideshare options from scooters to sedans to vans in a matter of minutes from your location, all at a great price. You can even use the app to have food or drinks delivered to your accommodation while the kids are sleeping as a bonus!

💬 Download WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a common way to connect with operators and Airbnb hosts in Vietnam. If you don't have it already, make sure to download it before your trip.

💬 Google Translate

In all honesty we found we never needed to use google translate in Vietnam. We found that most of the Vietnamese had great English and communication was always quite easy. However, if you're going to some of the more remote areas this might be useful, particularly then.

📱 Download Accommodation & Tour Apps

Having apps such as booking.com Klook & 12Go Asia already downloaded on your phone makes it easy to manage your bookings and make any changes as needed while you're there.

✈️ Visas

Before travelling to Vietnam you should make sure to check the visa requirements for your home country. Australian's are required to apply for a Visa, which is usually approved within 3-7 working days.

Bonus tip:

📱 iPhone Calculator as a currency converter (VND ↔ AUD)

Simply enter the amount in VND into the calculator and the iPhone Calculator will automatically convert the amount to AUD (or your chosen currency). This only became an option after our trip, but would have been super handy when on the go!

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