1. Best time to visit
- The North: The best reasons are from April to the end of May and from October to the end of December.
- The Centre: The best time is from April to the end of August. Note: The hurricane season is from September to November.
- The South: The South has a rainy and a dry season. If you’re the sun-person, time between November to April would be perfect. If you play for the rain team, then May to the end of October would definitely be your choice.
- Money exchange
There are money exchange booths at the airports and ATM machines, which accept Visa and MasterCard. To get a better exchange rate, go to the gold and jewelry shops around central area. Besides, some ATMs in Vietnam has a cash limit of $100/transaction. In order to avoid additional fees for multiple transactions, go to a Citibank ATM, which allows a withdraw up to $400/transaction.
- Street Food
Even though street food is the signature feature of Vietnamese cuisine, a careful precaution is always recommended to prevent any stomach sickness. For soup dishes, make sure the broth is boiled. For other street snacks, ask for the ingredients to avoid any food allergy.
- Bargaining Culture
Bargaining has become one particular feature of Vietnamese shopping culture. It doesn’t matter if you are buying fruits, souvenirs or clothes. Even when booking hotel, you can bargain for additional services. Just ask nicely and be friendly.
- Tipping Culture
There is no tipping culture in Vietnam. Normally, when using services such as restaurants, spas, hotels, a service fee of 5% on the total amount is already included. However, giving extra for exceptional services is always welcome.
