Vietnam is one of the most rewarding places you can visit, but you need to be aware of these 17 Do’s & Don’ts when Visiting Vietnam. From the frenetic cities of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), to the UNESCO Hoi An, to the capital city of Hanoi, the beach side town of Nha Trang, the mountain city of Dalat to the rural hillside Sapa tribes and a lot more; Vietnam will be a sensory overload of the very best kind.

Updated, March 2019

To maximise your visit to this intriguing and beguiling country, these are  the

17 Do’s & Don’ts when Visiting Vietnam

 

The Do’s when Visiting Vietnam

 

1.  Dress appropriately

Dress conservatively, especially for female travellers. The Vietnamese are quite conservative about their dress, and it would be disrespectful to wear skimpy clothing in public.

2. Respect at temples

When visiting temples and pagodas – keep your arms and legs covered. A sarong is very handy, and make sure your knees are covered at the very least. It is again disrespectful to go to such places if you do not observe these

3. Remove bling

Do remove unnecessary jewellery, as it shows that you have money, and could make you a target for petty theft.

4. Keep you bag safe

Do hold your bag in front of you wrapped around your shoulder so that you are not a victim of a drive-by bag snatcher. Unfortunately, you need to be vigilant as bag snatching is a big problem, even at temples and pagodas.

5. Know where you live

Do make sure that you have a hotel business card from the reception desk. This will make your return to the hotel in a taxi or motorbike much easier.

6. Negotiate and get a fixed price.

Always firmly negotiate the exact price before you get into a taxi or on the back of a motorbike.

7. Buy legitimate bottled water

Do buy bottled water, but not any bottled water. I have seen people on the streets filling water bottles from the taps, and then with a little machine, sealing them. You will need to drink a lot of water because of the humidity, buy from a convenience store of some repute. As beer is cheaper than a bottle of water, you could just drink beer, but remember you do need to stay hydrated with water.

8. Ask before you shoot

Do ask permission before you take a photo of people. Many – particularly in the picturesque UNESCO town of Hoi An will expect payment before you take the photo. Pay it. It is not a lot of dongs, the currency of Vietnam.

9. Keep toilet paper with you

Do carry some toilet paper with you at all times. While there are fewer squats in urban areas, there are still many in rural areas.

10. Use chopsticks correctly

Do us your chopsticks correctly. Sticking them upright in your bowl of rice, for example, is considered unlucky, as this is the symbol of two burning joss sticks used for funerals.

11. Do eat local food in Vietnam

Do enjoy the local Vietnamese food, which is some of the best in the world. Consider doing a food tour on the back of a motorbike to get to some of the hidden gems in the back streets of Saigon for example.

 

The Don’ts when Visiting Vietnam

 

12. Don’t end up in jail

Don’t take photos of any military installations and equipment, it is a breach of national security and you could end up in jail, and you do not want to spend your vacations …and a bit … at a Vietnamese jail.

13. Don’t mention the war

Don’t bring up the topic of the Vietnam War which the Vietnamese call the “American war.”

14. Watch your tootsies

Don’t sit with your feet pointing towards a family altar if you are staying at someone’s house.

15. NO PDA’S

Don’t publically, kiss and cuddle. Here is a guide to kissing etiquette around the world. These personal displays of affection are not considered appropriate in Vietnam. Holding hands is ok, particularly as you cross the manically busy roads.

16. Don’t stop when crossing a road

Don’t stop as you cross the busy roads. Frightening as it can be, just keep walking. The traffic will avoid you. Pick a spot across the road, stare at it and keep walking, no matter what.

17. Be respectful in ethnic minority villages

Don’t take video cameras into the ethnic minority villages. They are considered to be too intrusive by many local people. If you do, always ask permission first.

These 17 Do’s & Don’ts when Visiting Vietnam are mostly common sense, but it always pays to be prepared when visiting the most amazing country of Vietnam.