Vietnam Travel Notes
An airport stop on my travels.
- Languages
- Vietnamese · Some English
- Currency
- Vietnamese Đồng · VND
- Cash
- Essential For Local Food And Markets.
- Cards
- Usually Yes At Larger Venues.
- Tap To Pay
- Usually Yes At Larger Venues.
- WiFi
- Available. Quality Varies.
- Mobile Data
- SIM Or eSIM · Check Coverage
- Small Shops
- Varies. Keep Cash Handy.
- Tipping
- Optional. Tourist Services Differ.
What To Wear
What To Pack
My Vietnam stop was an airport connection. Keep a layer in your hand luggage. If you plan a future landside visit, the north and south have different seasonal weather, so use the destination’s forecast.
Money And Payments
Cash And Cards
Cards are useful at hotels, supermarkets, and larger restaurants. Keep dong for small eateries, market stalls, local transport, and tips. Do not treat a local bank QR code as proof that your foreign card or phone wallet can pay it.
Travel Cards
A travel card does not automatically make Vietnamese bank QR payments available. For any permitted landside stop, keep usable dong for small purchases.
Tipping Culture
Local food stalls do not normally expect a tip. A small cash thank you for guides, drivers, and hotel help is appreciated. An airport coffee or local food stall does not need an automatic tip. If entering Vietnam and choosing to thank a porter, use a small dong note based on the effort, not foreign coins.
Getting Around
Getting Around Locally
Check whether your itinerary stays in international transit. A domestic onward flight, terminal move, or bag collection can require immigration. Confirm the exact transfer with your airline.
Traveling Between Stops
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are different gateways. A permitted city tour is not a transfer between them. Do not build a connection around changing airports without a full entry and transport plan.
Staying Connected
Using T Mobile In Vietnam
Vietnam is listed for international roaming on eligible T Mobile plans. Data allowances, speeds, and call charges depend on your plan. Check before you travel.
Mobile Data For This Trip
Download onward tickets, the transfer route, and visa documents before arrival. Airport WiFi may be enough for an airside layover; arrange mobile data if you have confirmed a permitted city stop.
Where To Stay
Choosing Your Area
Before booking a layover room, check whether it is airside, landside, or outside the airport. I have no personal Vietnamese city hotel review here; a convenient looking airport address can still require entry.
Before You Arrive
Before You Fly
Use the airline’s transit checker and official Vietnamese visa guidance for your passport and routing. Staying airside and entering for a hotel or tour have different requirements.
Sources And My Visit
Practical information was researched and checked on 22 October 2026. My reviews describe my own visits. Area comparisons are planning advice, not hotels I claim to have inspected. Entry advice must match your passport, residency, route, and travel date.
