Just Landed in Vietnam? Your First 7 Days

Mobile data is cheap, fast and near-universal: 4G covers cities and most rural areas, and 5G is live in the major hubs of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang. eSIMs work on modern phones and can be bought before you fly, but a physical SIM is inexpensive to buy on arrival and must be registered against your passport. Home fibre broadband from Viettel, FPT or VNPT is fast and cheap, and most rentals include it.

Typical cost: Around 100,000-300,000 VND (roughly 4-12 USD) per month for a generous data package with plenty of high-speed gigabytes; large monthly data bundles are the norm rather than tight allowances.

Vietnam is heavily cash-based for daily spending, though QR-code payment via VietQR bank transfers is now genuinely widespread in shops, cafes and even many street stalls. Cards work in malls, hotels, chains and larger supermarkets but rarely at wet markets or with street vendors, so you always need some cash on you. The dong has a lot of zeros, so double-check you are reading 100,000 and not 1,000,000.

Opening an account: Foreigners can open an account with a temporary residence card or a long-stay visa plus proof of address; VPBank, Techcombank, TPBank and international banks like HSBC, Shinhan and UOB are used to foreign customers. Without a residence card, options narrow and vary a lot by branch and by the individual officer, so it is worth calling ahead or asking your employer's HR to introduce you.

Cash: Carry a mix of small notes, as vendors, drivers and small shops often cannot break a 500,000 VND bill. Prices at markets and with street vendors are negotiable and tourists are often quoted more, while supermarkets, chains and malls have fixed prices displayed.

Tipping: Tipping is not expected and is not part of local culture, so there is no obligation in ordinary restaurants or taxis. Rounding up or leaving small change is appreciated at tourist-facing restaurants, spas, and by hotel staff, tour guides and delivery drivers.

Foreigners do not register themselves in person as such, but every stay must be reported to the local ward police by whoever hosts you. Hotels and serviced apartments do this automatically as part of check-in; if you rent privately, your landlord (or you on their behalf) must submit the temporary residence declaration for your address, either online or in person at the ward police station. Keep the confirmation, because banks and immigration may ask for it, and a missing declaration can complicate visa extensions and work permits.

Deadline: Generally within 12 hours of the foreigner arriving at the accommodation, extended to 24 hours in remote administrative areas.

Where: The commune or ward police (Cong an phuong/xa), usually handled by your landlord or hotel, or via the online temporary residence declaration portal.

Motorbikes dominate everything, and most people get around by motorbike taxi, Grab or a private bike, with cars a smaller share of traffic. Public buses are cheap but hard to use without Vietnamese and route knowledge. Metro lines now run in both cities, including HCMC Line 1 (Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien) and Hanoi's elevated and underground lines, and they are clean, cheap and air-conditioned. Crossing the road takes nerve: walk slowly and predictably and let the traffic flow around you rather than dashing.

From the airport: From Tan Son Nhat (HCMC), a Grab or fixed-price taxi (Vinasun, Mai Linh) to District 1 costs roughly 150,000-250,000 VND and takes 20-40 minutes. From Noi Bai (Hanoi), the ride to the Old Quarter is around 350,000-450,000 VND over 40-60 minutes; Bus 86 is a cheap alternative into central Hanoi if you travel light.

Serviced apartments and rooms are plentiful and often come furnished with utilities, wifi and cleaning included, which suits newcomers who do not want to buy furniture or set up accounts. Facebook expat housing groups, the Chotot and Batdongsan listing sites, and local brokers are the main ways to find places; brokers are common and usually paid by the landlord rather than by you. Viewing in person before paying anything is essential, as photos can be dated or borrowed.

Typical rent: A furnished one-bedroom in central Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi runs roughly 8-18 million VND per month (about 320-720 USD); serviced studios in prime expat areas cost more, while rooms and apartments further out are noticeably cheaper.

Deposit norm: Typically one to two months' rent as a deposit, with rent often paid one to three months in advance. Get a written contract and a signed receipt for every payment, and photograph the flat's condition on move-in to protect your deposit.

Public hospitals are cheap but crowded and often language-limited, so most expats use private hospitals and international clinics for quality of care and English-speaking staff. Pharmacies (nha thuoc) are everywhere and sell many medicines, including some that are prescription-only elsewhere, over the counter and cheaply, though you should still bring any specialist medication you rely on.

How to access it: For non-emergencies, book directly at an international clinic or hospital such as FV Hospital, Family Medical Practice, Raffles Medical, Vinmec or City International Hospital; many have English-speaking front desks and same-day slots. In an emergency, call 115 for an ambulance or, often faster, take a Grab or taxi straight to a private hospital, as ambulance response can be slow and crews may not speak English.

Insurance: Private international health insurance is strongly recommended, as the state health insurance scheme mainly covers those on local employment contracts and reimburses at public-hospital rates. Keep enough cash or a working card for upfront payment, because private hospitals usually require a deposit or payment before or at the point of treatment and then bill your insurer.

• Remove your shoes before entering homes and many guesthouses, temples and even some shops and cafes.
• Dress modestly at pagodas and temples, covering shoulders and knees, and take your hat off inside.
• Use both hands when giving or receiving something to an elder or in a formal setting as a sign of respect.
• Avoid public displays of anger; staying calm and letting people save face keeps disputes from escalating.
• Greet and address older people first, and use a small nod or slight bow with a smile rather than expecting handshakes everywhere.
• Accept food, tea or an invitation graciously, as hospitality is important and a flat refusal can feel like a snub.
• Ask before photographing people, especially street vendors and elderly residents, rather than treating them as scenery.

• Never photograph military sites, checkpoints, personnel or anything that looks official and sensitive.
• Agree a price before every ride, market purchase or service that is not metered or booked on an app.
• Carry tissues and expect squat toilets and no soap or paper in cheaper and public facilities.
• Be careful discussing politics, the government or sensitive history with people you do not know well.
• Do not touch someone's head or point your feet at people or altars, as both are considered rude.