Previously, I did the most detailed guides in the Philippines and Thailand, and now it’s turn to Vietnam. Moreover, I am very sympathetic to this country among the countries of Southeast Asia. At least because of the divinely delicious fruits there!

Vietnam visa

With a visa in Vietnam, everything is very simple, no special problems. Russians do not need to do anything in advance, because you can stay in the country for 15 days free of charge. But for Ukrainians and citizens of other countries, you need to order a special voucher (invitation), only it will be allowed into the country. This is something like a visa. The prices are different. The minimum period for which such a voucher can be obtained is 30 days, and it costs $ 8.

If the Russians need to come to Vietnam for more than two weeks, then you can get the above voucher in advance, or you can extend the visa directly in Vietnam.

Read more about vouchers and Vietnamese visas.

In general, Vietnam has a huge plus in terms of visas - there are no restrictions on visa extension. For example, in the Philippines, you need to leave the country every 16 months (then re-enter), but here you can renew your visa as much as you want. Price - around $ 50 for 3 months. Moreover, you can make extensions in this way - give your passport to the courier from the agency and in a few days get it back, already with a visa. Very comfortably!

You may also need information on how to get a visa to Thailand in Vietnam. Therefore, read how we got it in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Where to go to Vietnam and what time of year?

In the south of Vietnam, the rainiest months are the autumn-winter months - October, November and December. The hottest months are summer, slightly cooler ones are winter.

It is best to go to Nha Trang during the period from February to September (it is undesirable to go in winter, there will be a lot of rain), and strong waves already begin in September. At first, you can still swim in them, but be careful, because the wave will twist you like linen in washing machine and it can hit the bottom painfully, and then in the following winter months the waves will be so strong that swimming will be prohibited.

Travel to Phan Thiet from January to April (as well as August and December).

But with the Mui Ne resort, not everything is so simple, in winter and spring, namely from November to April, there is no rain, dry season, every day sun and clear skies. But at this time the winds are blowing in Mui Ne, and therefore there are quite strong waves in the sea, which interferes with swimming, and often even dangerous. And from May to October in Mui Ne is the rainy season, but you can swim, because no waves, the sea is calm. If you are aiming at Mui Ne and your goal is swimming, then it is better to go during the wet season, especially since it rains there not all day long, but they are short-lived, after which the sun peeps out again.

It is better to go to Da Nang from January to August, it is a dry and sunny season, and also at this time the sea is calm, without waves. But from September to December in Da Nang there is a rainy season, and rains can be both frequent and short-term, and prolonged and powerful, even with typhoons.

Dalat has a good dry season from December to March, and rainy in summer and autumn, but even during this period you can still come here, because it is warm and good here, and there is not much rain.

Earthquake, tsunami, floods, typhoons

Typhoons and floods sometimes occur on the east coast of Vietnam. Where the resorts of Nha Trang, Da Lat, Da Nang, etc. are located. So it's best to go there in a good dry season. But Phu Quoc Island is located very well and is protected from any natural disasters.

How to get to Vietnam

There is a direct flight from Moscow to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), from Sheremetyevo Airport (Transaero, Aeroflot and Vietnam Airlines). If you are flying from other cities, then the easiest way is to first fly to Bangkok (or Beijing), and from there to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), or to Hanoi, if you decide to start your journey from the north of Vietnam and Halong Bay. Between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, it is better to travel by plane, because to go there by bus, to put it mildly, very long, not one day. The same goes for other resorts in Vietnam - each of them has airports. But if your goal is to save money, then there are buses for this.

Lufthansa, AirAsia, Thai Airways International, Turkish Airlines, VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines fly from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City.

From Beijing, Air China only.

VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc.

From Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi - VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific Airlines.

Where to temporarily stay in the cities of Vietnam?

In Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), you will need to stay at any of the many hotels along Pham Ngu Lao Street. This is the central street around which all the sights and the fruit market are concentrated. For example, at Hoang Phi Hotel, where we stayed. There is a fruit market (Beng Tang) just a 10-minute walk from this street. Read more about where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

In Hanoi, I advise you to stay in the area near Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword | Hoan Kiem Lake). This is also the very center of the city, where everything interesting is located. For example, in a hotel. It is inexpensive, comfortable, tested by us. There are fruit stalls nearby and a large fruit market within walking distance. For other options where to stay in Hanoi, see.

See where to stay in Fukuoka. For the first time, you can stay at Long Beach.

What to see in Vietnam? The most important sights and places of interest.

First, I advise you to see Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the largest city in Vietnam. A very interesting town, for example, we liked to walk around it and make the very first acquaintance with Vietnam. Read about how we spent our first day in Ho Chi Minh City (and the next).

Just keep in mind that it is very scary to cross the road in Ho Chi Minh City! Cars and bikes rush at a crazy speed, do not pay attention to road signs and there are a lot of them. More on this.

After Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), which is worth spending 2 days, head to the Vietnamese resorts. Choose whichever you like best and don't forget to see where the good season is. Everywhere in Vietnam there is an opportunity to rent bungalows and guesthouses on the seashore.

Accommodation in Vietnam

Vietnam has become a very popular holiday destination, there are many tourists here, almost as many as in. Therefore, there is a huge amount of housing here, for any choice. Moreover, there are a lot of options on the very coast of the sea, and for many it is very valuable. There are very cheap options (there are especially many of them in the most popular resorts like Nha Trang), but in Fukuoka there is a higher price plan.

It is best to book accommodation via the Internet (through booking.com, agoda and others), at least for the first time, and there, if you wish, you can find something else on the spot.

Read about housing in Fukuoka.

Scooter

It is as easy to rent a scooter in Vietnam as it is in Thailand. There are agencies at every step offering you different models of scooters and bikes. Nobody asks for your rights, so if you don't have them, you can still rent a scooter and ride without any problems.

Even in low-tourist Fukuoka, scooter rental is well developed ().

By the way, if in Nha Trang and other similar resorts it is possible to do without a scooter, for example, if girls cannot drive it, then in Fukuoka there is nothing without a scooter, because public transport is not developed there, and fruits are sold only on the market.

How to travel around the country and within the country?

You can travel from one point of Vietnam to any other by buses, but this is a very long time ... Especially from the south of the country to the north, for example, from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and vice versa.

It is much faster and more comfortable to travel around Vietnam by airplane. Just 45 minutes or an hour and you are in the right place. There are airports in Fukuoka, Dalat, Da Nang, Nha Trang, etc., almost everywhere.

Like fruit in Vietnam

Vietnam is no less fruitful country than Thailand. And maybe even more fruity! Here you can find all the same fruits as in Thailand, only one more plus, etc. And in Vietnam everything is very, very tasty, whatever you try. Check out all.

And here not only tropical fruits are available, but nectarines, peaches, plums, persimmons, grapes, oranges, melons, apricots, mulberries - all this is not imported, but Vietnamese, from the northern parts of the country. From imported fruits in Vietnam, there are delicious New Zealand apples, chic Australian oranges

In Vietnam, not only fruits are good, but also vegetables. it tastes much better here than in the Philippines and Thailand. And in general, by tropical standards, they are very good. They are being transported from Dalat. Delicious greens - arugula, lettuce, iceberg, dill, parsley of two varieties - regular and “curled”: quality vegetables - zucchini, cauliflower

Prices in Vietnam

Closer to Thai.

Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi average 17 dollars per day.

Accommodation in resorts on average $ 35-50 per day | 300-500 $ per month.

Scooter rental - $ 5-6 per day.

Electricity is cheap, 3 times cheaper than in Thailand, in terms of rubles, about 2-3 rubles per kW / h, a progressive scale - spend less, each kW / h is cheaper). This is especially beneficial for those who like to use air conditioners.

Internet - 30 Mbps costs RUB 1,500 / month; and 3 Mbps is ADSL about 450 rubles / month.

Approximate prices for fruits:

mobile connection

The three most popular mobile operator in Vietnam - MobiFone, Vinaphone, Viettel. The "mobiphone" has more profitable calls within the network, and the 3G Internet is much more expensive than the others. In any case, you can count on the cost of calls $ 0.1 / minute, SMS $ 0.03 / message, Internet $ 2 for 50-100Mb / month (and $ 5 for 1GB, there are more).

Locals

Vietnamese people are very different. You may get caught the nicest people, smiling, good, kind, sympathetic, or they may be impudent, who will easily slap you on the hands if you touch their fruit, or will swear rudely. However, some Vietnamese can report fruit for free upon purchase. In general, how lucky. In general, you yourself will rather attract certain people to yourself, depending on your inner state, your thoughts, your mood and behavior. Someone will see in the Vietnamese wonderful people, and someone - unpleasant.

However, it should be borne in mind how the Vietnamese can deceive tourists - in more detail.

By the way, still small interesting fact about the Vietnamese - they eat geckos, sea stars and other animals (). And once before, they ate dogs and cats.

Read also the reviews of people who have been to Vietnam -.

Is bargaining relevant in Vietnam?

Everywhere on the Internet you will find information about bargaining with Vietnamese. However, having arrived in Vietnam, you will be convinced from personal experience that this is something unreal. The Vietnamese do not drop the price at all. Only in very rare cases. For example, if you pick up more than 10 kg of fruit in one place, especially if one type of fruit, or buy an expensive painting, which does not have a price tag. In general, in Vietnam, it is really possible to bargain only if you know the local language at least a little. Those who have lived there for a long time can bargain. And if you have just arrived in Vietnam, you are unlikely to succeed.

In the most touristy places of the country it is generally useless to bargain, even if there are inadequately high prices - after all, the Vietnamese have long been accustomed to selling at such prices.

A small note on whether to bargain with the Vietnamese,.

Knowledge of English

Very bad. A very, very small part of the Vietnamese can speak English and understand you ... You need to be ready for this and be patient.

By the way, Vietnamese speak very original way. In their own language, in a sense. Listen to this speech.

Sockets

Classic Vietnamese rosettes - in the form of two sticks, as in Thailand, the Philippines and many other countries of Southeast Asia. In many hotels and houses, universal sockets are installed, suitable for both European and Vietnamese-Asian connectors.

Traffic

In Vietnam, right-hand traffic, as in Russia.

Money

Vietnam's currency is dong. Large amounts with three "extra" zeros. 1,000 Vietnamese dong = 1.5 rubles. 10,000 dong = 15 rubles. 100,000 dong = 152 rubles. Etc. Read more about the currency of Vietnam.

Also read about how much money can be withdrawn from ATMs in Vietnam.

You can open accounts in local Vietnamese banks, receive funds on them from foreign banks, without overlapping. PayPal works fully, including for withdrawal to an account in a local bank. Difficulty can arise only if you need to transfer a significant amount of money from Vietnam, apparently local banks are not very interested in this. But such difficulties arise in all countries of Southeast Asia.

Airlines flying to Vietnam

The following airlines fly to Ho Chi Minh City:

From Moscow - Aeroflot, Transaero Airlines, Vietnam Airlines

From Bangkok - Lufthansa, AirAsia, Thai Airways International, Turkish Airlines, VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines

From Beijing - Air China

From Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) - AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Vietnam Airlines

From Cambodia - Cambodia Angkor Air, Qatar Airways, Vietnam Airlines

From Hong Kong - Cathay Pacific, United Airlines

From Dubai - Emirates

From Abu Dhabi - Etihad Airways

From Doha - Qatar Airways

From Singapore - Jetstar Asia Airways, Lion Air, Singapore Airlines, TigerAir, Vietnam Airlines

From Indonesia - Lion Air, Vietnam Airlines

From Turkey - Turkish Airlines

From January 2014, WindRose Airlines plans to fly from Kiev to Ho Chi Minh City.

The following airlines fly to Hanoi:

From Moscow - Aeroflot, Vietnam Airlines

From Bangkok - Qatar Airways, AirAsia, Thai Airways International, VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines

From Beijing - Vietnam Airlines

From Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) - AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Vietnam Airlines

From Indonesia - Vietnam Airlines

From Cambodia - Cambodia Angkor Air, Sky Wings Asia Airlines, Vietnam Airlines

From the Philippines (Manila) - Cebu Pacific

From Hong Kong - Dragonair, Hong Kong Airlines, Vietnam Airlines

From Doha - Qatar Airways

From Singapore - Singapore Airlines, Silk Air, Tigerair, Vietnam Airlines

Shopping in Vietnam

There are shopping malls in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Hanoi, but I didn't really like them. There are Diamond Plaza, Vincom and others malls in Ho Chi Minh City, but none of them impressed me. For example, in the capitals of other Asian countries I liked shopping more - in Manila (), (), in Malaysia,.

Insects and other animals

As in other tropical countries, in Vietnam there are mosquitoes, and ants, and spiders, and geckos, and cockroaches, and beetles, and flies, and frogs, and toads, and caterpillar worms, etc. If you live in a bungalow by the sea, then you cannot do without this living creature inside your home. You can familiarize yourself with all these comrades in more detail.

Education

There are many higher educational institutions here. In cities there are a LOT of schools focused on quality education - Australian, Korean, etc. There are also a lot of language schools. There are universities, branches of prestigious foreign universities, such as the Australian Polytechnic. In general, there are no problems with education in Vietnamese cities.

Medicine

There is no problem with this in Vietnam. There are clinics for locals, where you can get quality service for a very low price, but you need the help of an interpreter (it's good to have a Vietnamese friend). There are elite medical institutions focused on foreigners, where everything is in English, and for the appropriate money they provide a royal welcome.

Kitchen

Vietnamese love rice! Like all Asians, however. They use spices and additives similar to Thai, which is why Vietnam often smells like Thailand. They love spicy dishes.

Security

Vietnam is a fairly safe country. However, in big cities you need to be careful. No matter how safe the country is, in capitals and big cities there is always a big risk that a bag may be stolen or jewelry may be pulled from the neck, etc.

What to take with you on your trip to Vietnam?

See the complete list of things to do in Vietnam.

What to bring with you from Vietnam?

Vietnamese hats, beautiful paintings, shells, souvenirs from them, natural coconut oil, a variety of musical instruments, anything from fruits (mangosteen, rambutans, longans, etc.)

Vaccinations and health insurance

You don't need to take any health insurance or vaccinations before traveling to Vietnam. More on this.

Vietnam is famous for its paradise beaches, and go there primarily for their sake. However, this paradise will also appeal to diving enthusiasts - diving here is one of the cheapest in the world, but at the same time it is perfectly organized, and there are interesting dive sites, and you can dive all year long, just by changing resorts.

Those who like sightseeing vacation will appreciate the wealth and safety historical monuments... There are medieval imperial citadels, French colonial quarters, and guerrilla catacombs during the Vietnam War. And the natural nature of such a small country amazes with its grandeur: the giant Mekong delta, the largest cave in the world, Shondong, the bay of 3000 Halong islands. An excellent seasoning for holidays will be local kitchen with a pleasant French accent.

Vietnam tours

Popular resorts

Vietnam on the map is stretched along the meridian by a winding line. Above, in the north, is the country's capital -. In the center is the ancient capital of Hue, popular with fans of sightseeing holidays.

Beach resorts begin a little further south, in Nha Trang, the most famous and popular of them. Further south are followed, especially suitable for surfers and kiters. Below begins the Mekong Delta, as well as the "Paris of the East", an industrial and tourist center -.

In the extreme south of the country, the sea gives way to the Gulf of Thailand. In it, on the very borders of Cambodia, the largest island of Vietnam is located. Paradise beaches with white sand and coconut palms are to be found there, on its western coast.

Hotels

The level of service of hotels in Vietnam is very high: even hotels of the category "3 stars" in their comfort and quality of service are close to the European "four". And local "fours" and even more so "fives", especially when it comes to historical hotels, is already a real luxury.

Animation for children, kids clubs and special entertainment programs are not yet available in every resort hotel, information about them needs to be clarified in advance. Also, not all hotels operate in the all-inclusive format, which, by the way, is not so much in demand. In Vietnamese resorts, you don't want to sit around the clock in a hotel, when there are so many interesting and tasty things around.

You can come to Vietnam without even booking a hotel in advance. In large tourist centers, you can always find free rooms right on the spot.

Vietnam tours

The prices are for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with a departure from Moscow

Weather

Currency

The national currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong. Its cost is such that as a "small change" you should have banknotes of 50,000 and 20,000 dongs in order to pay off a cycle rickshaw ("Cyclo") or buy a glass of freshly squeezed juice. The largest bill is half a million dong.

It is best to take on a trip with you U.S. dollars: here you can pay with them as freely as with the national currency. Euro does not have such circulation.

Visa

Vietnam visa need not for Russians who are going to come for a period of up to 15 days.

Those who plan to stay in the country longer need to get a visa. It can be single or multiple, but in both cases it is issued for a period of 1 or 3 months. To obtain a visa, you must collect a package of documents and contact the consular department of the Vietnamese Embassy. The visa is issued within 5 - 7 working days. However, you can apply for a visa upon arrival at any of the main airports in Vietnam. It is both faster and easier.

Round-trip flights to Vietnam

These are the ticket prices for 1 person departing from Berlin

What to bring from Vietnam

Even by the standards of Southeast Asia, prices in Vietnam are very low, so no one comes from here without souvenirs. Russians often bring tropical fruits, medicinal artichoke tea and coffee from Vietnam, including such an exotic and expensive variety as "kopi luwak": it is also cheaper here than, for example, on. Snake wine and medicinal tinctures on snakes, scorpions and other poisonous animals have become classic souvenir classics. Men consider them beneficial for their health.

Women love Vietnamese island pearl jewelry and silk clothing. On vacation, many even order from local dressmakers the national women's aozai costume, which consists of a long silk shirt and trousers. The traditional conical palm-leaf hat is perfect for him.

So, I went in February, the ticket is economy class.

What you need to know in advance:

1. Don't take a lot of things with you. Economy class allows you to take 20 kg of luggage and 5 kg of hand luggage per person (business class - 30 and 10, respectively), excluding winter clothes... For an overweight you will be asked to pay at the rate of 15 bucks per 1 kg. The less you carry with you in your luggage, the more gifts, fruits, things you can take out of Vietnam on the way back. Among the obligatory things are comfortable, proven, open summer shoes (slates, flip flops), tanning products. From warm things: such as a turtleneck with a throat and long sleeves, do not take, for a trip to Dalat, "winter" things, in which you flew out, will do.

2. Be prepared for the fact that upon arrival you will have problems with digestion, stock up on medications for this case. There is nothing wrong: the local cuisine, climate change, an abundance of fruits are doing their job. It's not for long. Wet wipes are also indispensable in this case, to wipe your hands before eating!

3. If you love (will) walk, chances are that even the most comfortable shoes will rub your feet. Take a patch with you. Scuffs must be disinfected. I used iodine and softened the corns with coconut oil.

4. If you want to travel further than the tourist quarter, know that the further you go, the worse people understand Russian. And in English too. Download yourself a translator or use Google translator on your smartphone, just be sure to download the Vietnamese language so that it is available without the Internet.

What you need to know on the spot

1. WiFi is available almost everywhere - in a hotel, in any cafe, salon, on the beach (but bad), do not hesitate to ask the staff for the password. I put my phone on "on the plane" and communicated via WhatsApp. Those interested can spend money on a local SIM card. I didn't see the point in this.

2. Be sure to take your hotel business card at the reception. It is good to show it to a taxi driver if you get lost. Will take you without further explanation.

3. The guys from the Russian Information Center (RIC) will answer almost any questions. Moreover, it's free. They even gave us a card reader and access to a computer so that we could save the memory card from the camera.

And remember, we are tourists there, that is, people on whom the local population, by definition, makes money. Do not bargain for every thousand dongs, bargain within reasonable limits! Moreover, the Vietnamese have not yet learned to cheat and do not break the price for the Russians too much.

And now the particulars.

Hotel. We had Indochina, 2 stars. Neat, 6 floors, elevator. If you do not like the room, it is easy, if available, to change to another one. The rooms overlook either the courtyard (pluses - silence, minuses - a view of the building), or onto the street (pluses - a balcony, a good view, cons - very noisy with early morning till late evening).

View from the hotel balcony to the street

The room has air conditioning, a refrigerator with drinks for some money, a TV with Russian Channel One. Combined bathroom - toilet, shower, sink. In that order, counting from the far wall. The room is cleaned every day, you can leave the laundry in the basket, for some money they will wash it for you. The price of washing depends on the quantity and type of clothing. Personally, in my room I only went to the shower and slept at night, the rest of the time - on the street.

Breakfast (buffet) is included in the voucher. The menu changes within such a list: hot stew (meat / fish / chicken with vegetables, vegetables), fried rice or noodles, something fried in breadcrumbs (fish / chicken / tofu), soup (there were 3 types in two weeks), Russian salad (like Olivier), vegetable salads, just sliced ​​cucumbers and tomatoes, juice (2 types) and tea or coffee. All sorts of sauces. Plus a watermelon or a banana. It is possible to eat on the balcony from which you can see the sea.

The hotel is located in good location(second street from the sea), near the night market, Russian Information Center, cafe "3G", shops, at the entrance an inexpensive fruit point.

The construction site opposite is breaking the idyll. But this is the current misfortune of the whole of Nha Trang, the coastal zone is being actively built up.

Sea and beach... The sea (24 degrees and above) is a 5-minute walk from the Indochina hotel. We went to meet the dawn. By the way, until 6 in the morning on the square near the beach, exercises and dances are taught for free. The sea is not transparent, they say, the water is muddied by the river, which flows into it nearby. The beach is open from 9:00 to 17:00, sun beds are paid - 40-50 thousand pieces, an umbrella is attached.

Come with yours - roll around for free. Was strong wave, I floundered with pleasure, but many did not risk it. On the beach there is coarse sand, which, when leaving the sea, is skillfully clogged by a wave wherever possible. If you want a calm, transparent sea - go to Zoklet or the islands.

Money. It is better not to change the entire amount at once: it is inconvenient to wear and it is difficult to track expenses. 100 bucks is about 2 million, 700 thousand dongs, zeros dazzle in the eyes. On the first day, it is enough to change two hundred and it is advisable to be stingy until you get comfortable with the prices and find cheap points of sale.

There is a safe at the reception where you can keep money. They are sealed in a bag with scotch tape to sign and give you a receipt. The most profitable money to exchange is the new $ 100 bills. Better to change in jewelry "Angora's Treasure" and "Princess", as well as in the "Russian Information Center".

They didn't change at the bank, maybe it's even more profitable there. At the hotel reception - an underestimated rate. To understand “how much is it in rubles?”, Drop three zeros from the price tag, and multiply the rest by three.

For example, a kilo of mango costs 25,000 dong: the zeros were thrown away, 25 * 3, and we got 75 rubles. I could not get used to the bills themselves in 2 weeks: 100 thousand, confused with 10 thousand, and 50 thousand with 200 thousand, candy wrappers, what to take from them. Banknotes from 10 thousand and more - plastic. With them you can swim in the sea (in a secret pocket), nothing will happen to them.

Food. Remember the main thing - wash your hands before eating or wipe with wet wipes! Around a bunch of restaurants with fresh seafood. For lovers there is Chinese, Indian, Mexican cuisine, sushi, steakhouse (expensive place), pizzeria and burger king. But I would recommend exactly Vietnamese cuisine. Fresh shells, squid, shrimps, fish, etc., pho soups, salads. The food is neither spicy nor sour.

A huge plus is the frequent breakdowns with fruits. Here you can not only buy something exotic, but also order a smoothie. Any fruit will be whipped right in front of your eyes and served in a glass with a straw. For me, the best local smoothie is mango.

BBQ buffet: choose what you cook and eat

Type, sit at the table, in the center of which is a pot of coals and a grate on which you cook yourself. Have eaten - go for a new batch of fresh meat. Alcohol - for separate money. Also try small eateries on 4 lines, they are inexpensive and local flavor.

Prices. Don't buy anything serious for the first couple of days. Go, see the prices, look for where and what is cheaper. From personal experience, the cheapest stores are the Sapphire chain. But in them there is a difference for the same goods: ointment in one costs 17 thousand, and in the other - 20. The further from the first line, the more the cost of lunch in restaurants falls. The price tag strongly depends on the Chinese New Year, at this time Nha Trang is full of Chinese, prices are increased for them.

For all the seemingly cheapness, keep an eye on the money. They can melt before our eyes. That is why I do not recommend changing all the dollars at once.

Transport. It is easier to walk around the block and around. In the Russian information center, you can take a map of the area for free, ask where what is located. They will be happy to answer you.

Buses. They are used by conductors who do not know foreign languages ​​well, and the ticket price depends (as far as I understand) on the distance of the trip. It's one thing when you go to the beaches of Zoklet - it's the final stop, it's another thing when you decide to drive a couple of blocks. It is very difficult to explain to the conductor where you are going. But you can.

Taxi. There are several companies that differ in the color of the car. Each firm has its own price range. In different cars landing - from 4 to 14 thousand. The rest of the price depends on the mileage and does not differ much. See the price tag either on the dashboard in the cabin or on the side of the car. Here are the three most inexpensive price tags:

The most inexpensive taxis in Nha Trang

There is a regularity - the larger the car, the more expensive the price of the trip. The most inexpensive are small silver cars. It is easier to get around by taxi, show the driver the location on the map (even on your phone) and he will take you there. If you agree without a counter, you can try to bargain and throw 5-10 thousand from the declared amount. But based on personal experience, even without trading it will be cheaper than using the counter.

I didn’t ride rickshaws, I don’t like to exploit a person like a horse.

Export of fruits... In hand luggage, you can carry no more than 5 kg per person. To be honest, we did not weigh our carry-on luggage. But rumors speak of the incredible cruelty of the Cam Ranh airport employees: "One guy was forced to eat 2 extra mangoes!"

I took separately in the package "winter" and a fruit basket, which contained exactly 5 kg of fruit. Since I took 8 kg of luggage to Vietnam, on the way back I managed to stuff 3 kg of passion fruit into my suitcase. Therefore, once again - do not take a lot of things if you want to take out more from Nha Trang: 5 kg can be in hand (no one will count +/- half a kilo), plus the remaining weight in luggage, which can be safely taken away for fruit. And the main thing in the fruits from Vietnam - they are sold out with a bang, he treated everyone a little bit and the basket is empty.

Places to remember:

Cafe 3g (somewhere here ) - not far from the hotel, good assortment, cheap beer "Saigon" (9 thousand dongs a bottle), in the evening the owner can treat him to moonshine.

Zoklet beach... White sand, shallow sea, small wave. One minus is to go far: by bus a little less than an hour and a half (200 thousand for four). But it was a pity for a taxi (750 thousand dongs for four round trip).

Long Son Pagoda - lying and sitting Buddha. A functioning Buddhist temple. Please note that admission is free.

The Buddha, of course, is a remake, but it looks all the same - cool!

We got to the service (or whatever it’s called). Impressive.

Catholic cathedral... Catholic saw for the first time. Made solidly. Believing Christians can check themselves whether they are well versed in the New Testament: behind the cathedral, in sculptures, the last path of Christ is told, if you go from the right side, it looks like the path to Calvary.

The path of Christ to Calvary is represented in sculptures

Local tours / excursions. Tours are offered by anyone: the operator who brought you (with us it was Pegasus), the Russian Information Center, what smaller offices, such as "Pineapple-tour" and a hotel in the republic. Do not take the latter in any case! Having grabbed it, afterwards we did not dare to go either with "Pineapple" or with the RIC. However, even beginners can go to Winperl or Zoklet themselves, without tours.

In general, a resolute and courageous tourist will definitely find a reason not only to relax, but also to have fun. In Nha Trang there are also evening clubs, various attractions, numerous tours that you can go to yourself.

Have a nice holiday.

Hello everyone! Why in Nha Trang, you ask? And because Nha Trang is not only the most popular resort in Vietnam among Russian-speaking travelers, but also because this city has a very favorable geographical location. All the main attractions can be reached on their own within one day.

We were in Vietnam three times, first on a voucher, and then two times went to Vietnam on our own. We drove almost the entire country from the very south and almost to the north. We were in Fukuoka, Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Dalat, Hoi An, Da Nang and Hue. In this article, we will share all the necessary information that we managed to find out and verify in practice on our own.

We leave for Nha Trang on our own

What is better, take a voucher or go on your own to Nha Trang?

In the current situation, when travel agencies are bursting one after another, it is safest to organize your vacation yourself. For the first time we went to Vietnam on a voucher for 7 days and paid about 25 thousand rubles per person. Now I understand that we did not know the country at all in such a short time.

The second time we decided to go to Vietnam on our own and for a longer period. We saw and learned much more about Vietnam, while our expenses were about $ 800 per month. But, this amount does not include air tickets, since we came from Cambodia, and left for Laos. It turns out that if you fly to short term 7-14 days, then it will be more profitable to take a ticket, since air tickets from Russia and back are not cheap. But then there remains the risk of bankruptcy of your travel agency.

Holidays in Vietnam are savage. All beaches are public and free

To Vietnam without a ticket? Easily!

So, if you decide to go to Nha Trang on your own, then read on carefully, I will briefly tell you all the main details of organizing a trip by a savage. I will not be sprayed about the advantages of independent travel, I will write only the main points to which you should pay attention. All of the following recommendations are based on our own experience living and traveling in Vietnam. We traveled half of the country on buses, flew on planes with local airlines, went by taxi, lived in Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Da Nang, saw Dalat, Ho Chi Minh City and Hue.

Standard Self-Travel Plan:

• Find free time for the trip
• Buy air tickets
• To book a hotel
• Get insurance
• Exchange money
• Leave to enjoy your vacation

In principle, any of these points can be excluded. You can even do everything If you have remote work, then you don't have to carve out free time, you can work via the Internet, which in Vietnam is available in every hotel. You don't have to buy tickets, but go by land transport or hitchhiking - an option for hard-core travelers who have a lot of time. It is also not necessary to book hotels, you can always find something on the spot if it is a tourist city.

Do you need travel insurance? Let everyone decide for themselves whether it is worth the risk. But insurance is not a requirement to enter this country. Money can be kept on a card, withdrawn from ATMs or paid in stores.

Something like this. See for yourself what can be excluded, but for now I will write in more detail about all the nuances of an independent trip to Nha Trang.

An independent trip to Vietnam may be more interesting than a package tour

Where to buy tickets

We buy on the Internet - this is the most profitable and easiest way

Now the life of travelers has become much easier. It is no longer necessary to knock the thresholds of any agencies or air ticket offices. Now it's enough just to go to the online ticket search engines, for example, Aviasales, find the most convenient flights and buy e-ticket by paying by credit card. It is not necessary to print such a ticket; at the counter at the airport, registration is carried out using a passport. Just in case, you can take a picture of the itinerary receipt on a tablet.

Ticket Search Sites:

Aviasales

Skyscanner

Search these sites or use the following form to search for tickets for the dates you need:

How to book a hotel in Nha Trang yourself

Hotels and guesthouses in Nha Trang are literally at every step. From $ 10-15 per night, you can find a small, but more or less decent room. A spacious room in a good 3-4-star hotel with a pool and breakfast will cost at least $ 30-40 per day.

To independently book a hotel in Nha Trang via the Internet, you do not need to search for hotel sites. Here, too, everything is very simple. We go to the hotel search engine (for example, Booking) and book with a bank card.

Payment will be made directly at the hotel, and your card acts as a guarantee that you have booked a room and will arrive at it on the appointed day. Reservations can be canceled or dates changed if booked in advance. It is no longer possible to cancel a reservation 1-2 days before arrival.

Search for hotels on these sites:

Booking.com →

Agoda.com →

Airbnb.com →

In Vietnam, hotel prices are lower than the Asian average. For $ 10-12 per day, you will have a small, clean room with air conditioning, TV and refrigerator, perhaps even with a balcony and sea views. See our selection -. When renting for a long time, you can try to negotiate with the owners and get a discount. But even without a discount in Nha Trang, you can rent a hotel room for a month for $ 300-350.

In Nha Trang, you can rent an apartment for daily rent. To search for housing, use search engine Booking.

Rental housing in Nha Trang costs an average of $ 300-400 per month

Insurance in Vietnam

An insurance policy is now also easily issued via the Internet. Cost from 500 rubles per week. To get insurance - go to insurance search site Cherehapa... There, just enter your travel dates and country, click calculate. The system will show the cost of insurance in various insurance companies. Pick the best one for the price and then click Buy. Also, insurance can be ordered on services Compare.ru and Tripinsurance.

If you are going to drive a moped, ride a jet ski, fly with a parachute, etc. - choose the type of rest - active. Please also note that no insurance is valid if you are intoxicated!

Whether to make insurance or not is up to you. But it's better to do it, it will be calmer. In our last article, we have already discussed with readers whether insurance is needed, read it.

Vietnam visa

Russians 15 days without a visa. That is, they just flew in, went through passport control and received a stamp for 15 days. You don't even need to fill out any immigration cards.

Ukrainians, Belarusians and residents of other CIS countries need to get a visa. Read on the internet for more information on this topic.

IMPORTANT! If you leave Vietnam on your own to another country (to Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, etc.), you cannot go back without a visa. You won't be allowed on the plane! This is because a new stamp for 15 days can only be put in a month.

What to do? Order an invitation or apply for a visa at the Vietnamese consulate in another country. More details.

What money to take to Vietnam and how much?

Dollars, euros, Asian currencies (Hong Kong and Singapore dollars, ringgits, Thai baht, yuan, rupees). Do not carry rubles or hryvnias, it will be difficult and not profitable to change. If only on the map.

The currency of Vietnam is Dongs (VND). All calculations are carried out only in dongs. On rare occasions, hotels, travel agencies or tourist shops may accept dollars. But according to the law, you cannot do that.

In Nha Trang itself, you can exchange dollars for dongs at any bank or street exchanger. Never change money from random people on the street, on the beach, in the market (divorce).

I will not write the rate to the ruble in the article now, it is constantly changing. For the current exchange rate, see the currency converter on the right. The rate of dongs to the dollar is $ 1 = 23,000 dongs. For convenience of calculations, consider that the dollar is equal to 20 thousand dongs.

Prices in Nha Trang are quite low. The main items of expenses are flights, accommodation and excursions. On average, food per day can go from 15-20 dollars per person, depending on where and what to eat, in simple cafes or in restaurants for tourists.

Money in Vietnam

Traveling around the country, buses, trains, taxis

Public transport in Nha Trang, and throughout Vietnam, is well developed. There are no problems with getting around in Nha Trang. Small buses run around the city, the fare is 7000 VND. There are several routes, so in Nha Trang you can easily get to anywhere in the city on your own.

Also in Nya Chang, taxi drivers are on duty around the clock in modern air-conditioned vehicles. Grab taxi and Uber apps work. Can order a taxi via the Internet... There are no usual Asian tuk-tuk in Vietnam, but you can use the services of motorbike taxi drivers.

Taxi in Nha Trang
City bus in Nha Trang
Vietnamese long distance sleeper bass

Excursions in Nha Trang are sold at every turn

Also, almost all excursions can be taken independently. On the central streets of Nha Trang, there are many travel agencies with Russian-speaking employees. The most famous is the Russian Information Center. There you can order any excursions, buy a SIM card, change money or simply consult.

Now I will not describe in detail what to see in Nha Trang. The main attraction of Nha Trang, perhaps, is the island of entertainment - Winpearl. Excursions are sold on it, but you can easily go yourself. Also in the city itself there are several interesting places that you can easily see on your own:

Also, from Nha Trang, tourists go on excursions to neighboring cities - Dalat, Hoi An, Hue. If you plan to explore everything in Nha Trang on your own without guides and excursions, then you can also easily get there on your own. For example, you can independently get to Dalat from Nha Trang by bus in just 2-3 hours, which is half the price of paying for a tour. Can be ordered private transfer Nha Trang - Da Lat... It takes longer to go to Hoi An and Hue, you have to spend the night in a sleeper bass. If you go in this direction, be sure to take 1-2 days to explore, which is located just between Hoi An and Hue.

The famous tree hotel in Dalat
Temples in Hoi An can also be seen on your own without a tour
Self-guided tour in Hue
Linh Ung Pagoda in Da Nang. We arrived ourselves and saw

The language of communication

In tourist cities - English. In the wilderness - sign language.

In Nha Trang, in all tourist areas, we did not have any problems with communication. In places of mass gathering of foreigners - Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, Sapa, all the locals speak fluent English. If you know English, then there will be no language barrier. At souvenir markets, massage parlors, travel agencies and tourist shops, they can even communicate in Russian. The farther from the tourist spots, the more difficult it is with the language. In the wilderness, no one understands English. And not only in the wilderness, for example, we had difficulties with communication even in and out, we had to express ourselves with gestures.

In local markets, communication most often occurs only by gestures.

What to eat

There are a lot of cafes and restaurants in Nha Trang for every taste and budget. All tourists in Vietnam rely on cheap seafood (lobsters, shrimps, mussels, fish) and exotic things - snakes, lizards, frogs. Directly in Nha Trang there are several Russian restaurants where you can eat the usual dishes - borscht, potatoes with cutlets and dumplings.

If you want to save some money, then do not hesitate to eat at the local cafe. They do not look very presentable, but at prices everything is 3-4 times cheaper. Many travelers eat in such eateries with small plastic chairs.

Morning beach in Nha Trang

Security in Vietnam

During our stay in Vietnam, we noted that the country is quite safe for life. Vietnamese are not aggressive. The main thing is to follow the standard precautions:

• There are cases on the Internet when motorcyclists snatch bags from tourists, so do not carry any valuables or money with you to the beach. It will be safer to take a small backpack and put it on both shoulders.
• Theft in hotels, as in any country in the world, is possible. To minimize risks, just don't leave money, valuables, phone, tablet in sight and everything will be fine.
• Do not show large amounts of money, jewelry, or other valuables to hotel staff or landlords. Just in case. Applicable to any country.
• In case of conflict situations, you should not raise your voice to the Vietnamese or engage in assault, as the police will always be on the side of the locals.
• Do not walk alone at night in dark deserted alleys, illuminating the road with your iPhone. Most likely nothing will happen to you, but it's best not to risk it.
• Are insects, spiders, snakes, predators found in Nha Trang? Currently, there are no dangerous insects, snakes, and even more so predators in cities. Of course, no one is immune from mosquitoes and cockroaches, including large flying ones, but they are not dangerous and are rare.

Rent a bike in Vietnam

Taking a scooter for independent movement in Vietnam costs about $ 5-10 per day. International law does not apply in Vietnam, but tourists can secretly drive a moped without a license. The main thing is that there is a helmet and the rules are followed. Do not leave your passport as a deposit, look for rental offices that will agree to a photocopy. Do not drink alcohol, otherwise the insurance will not work in the event of an accident.

Storm in Nha Trang

Useful links for organizing your own trip

A selection of links for more information:

• Flights to Vietnam- search and purchase of air tickets
• Hotel rentals in Nha Trang from $ 8 or in any other city
• Find an apartment or room for rent for a long time
• Travel insurance- in this section you can find out the cost and order an insurance policy
• - a useful article about visas, our experience.
• Transfers and taxis- online ordering a taxi in Nha Trang

Vietnam is endless sandy beaches, amazing picturesque South China Sea, mysterious tropical jungle, as well as a high level of service and sincere smiles of local residents.

And also, Vietnam is convenience and comfort. Starting with the comfort of modern hotels, ending with a visa-free regime for holidays up to 15 days.

That is why so many newlyweds, married couples with children and lovers of water sports rest here.

However, first things first. Today I will tell you about….

WHEN AND WHY it is worth going to Vietnam

You can relax in Vietnam all year round, the main thing is to correctly compare the season and the desired vacation spot. The thing is that climatic conditions in the south, north and central part of the country they differ markedly.

For example…

Climate in the South of Vietnam(,) is customarily divided into dry and wet. And if you are planning a vacation between December and May, the south is what you need! This is the most favorable dry season.

The most "tasty" velvet season, here are considered January and February, with an air temperature within + 33C.

The "wet" rainy season here lasts from May to November. And winter and spring are ideal months for a holiday in the south of the country.

In the central part of Vietnam(and this is Hue,) from February to August, the temperature here is kept in the region of + 30C + 35C. At this time, sunny clear days are in the center of Vietnam, and intermittent rain is a rare phenomenon.

It rains here in autumn. But in winter, spring and summer in the center of Vietnam it is always warm and sunny!

Shopping in Vietnam- this is a real paradise for those who like to wander around the markets and supermarkets.

Do you know why? Shopping here is quite cheap by Russian standards.

Judge for yourself: in this country you can buy a decent shirt or, for example, a T-shirt for only $ 5-6. And for $ 50, even completely change your wardrobe!