This guide is best viewed on a desktop computer and pertains to the tour listed here:

https://www.creativephotoadventures.uk/photo-workshop/vietnam-photography-tour-workshop/

Vietnam rewards photographers who come prepared. The light is glorious, the street life is constant, and the north in particular, from Hanoi's Old Quarter to the terraced hills beyond Sapa, offers some of the richest observational photography anywhere in Asia. This guide pulls together the practical essentials, visas, vaccinations, safety, money, weather, and what to pack, so you can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time behind the camera.

This guide reflects information available as of July 2026. Visa rules, health advice and prices can change, so always check the official sources linked throughout before you travel.

Visas

Rules differ depending on your passport, so check the table below and then confirm directly with the official Vietnam e-visa portal (evisa.gov.vn) or your embassy before booking flights.

UK passport holders

• Visa-free entry: British citizens can stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days without a visa, for tourism or business.
• Longer trips: if you need more than 45 days, apply for the 90-day e-visa online in advance.
• Re-entry: leaving and re-entering Vietnam does start a fresh 45-day period, but immigration officers can refuse entry if they suspect the exemption is being used to live in the country long-term, so do not rely on this as a way of extending a long trip.
• Watch the overstay penalty: even one day over your permitted stay can mean a fine, a scramble to arrange a visa before you are allowed to leave, and possible future entry restrictions. Double-check the exact date stamped in your passport on arrival.

US passport holders

• No visa exemption: Americans are not on Vietnam's visa waiver list, so a visa is required for every visit, whatever the purpose.
• E-visa is the easiest route: apply online at evisa.gov.vn for a single or multiple-entry visa valid up to 90 days. Processing typically takes 3 to 7 working days, so apply at least two weeks before departure.
• Visa on arrival: an alternative for last-minute trips, but it requires a pre-approved letter from a licensed agency before you fly and only works for air arrivals.
• Extensions: tourist e-visas generally cannot be extended inside Vietnam. The usual solution for a longer trip is a short "visa run" to a neighbouring country and back with a fresh e-visa.
• For help with Visa applications watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smGC5W_LV6s
• First night hotel: The Chi Boutique Hotel, 13-15 P. Nhà Chung, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam.
• Entry / Exit port: Noi Bai International Airport

Applying for the e-visa

• Apply only through the official government portal at evisa.gov.vn (or thithucdientu.gov.vn) to avoid inflated third-party fees.
• You will need a clear passport photo page scan and a portrait photo, plus a card for online payment.
• Enter your intended entry and exit points carefully. Your e-visa is tied to specific ports and mismatches can cause problems at the border.
• Print two copies of your approved e-visa to carry with you, as airlines and immigration may ask to see a physical copy.

From 1 July 2026, Vietnam has introduced a health declaration requirement for many international arrivals, which may ask for proof of vaccination. Check the current requirements on the GOV.UK Vietnam travel advice page or with your airline shortly before you fly, as this is a new and evolving process.

Update 03/07/2026 - I have read that the Health Declaration is not mandatory and only implemented with specific disease outbreaks. But this may change, so do check just before travelling.

Vaccinations and health preparation

Vietnam does not require any specific vaccination certificates for UK or US travellers arriving directly from home (a yellow fever certificate is only needed if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is present). That said, a proper travel health consultation is genuinely worth the time, ideally four to six weeks before you fly, since some vaccines need time to take effect or involve more than one dose.

Commonly recommended

• Routine boosters: make sure tetanus, diphtheria, polio and MMR are up to date.
• Hepatitis A: recommended for all travellers, spread through contaminated food and water.
• Typhoid: recommended, particularly if you will be eating a lot of street food and travelling outside the main cities

If you in the UK, all of the above vaccines can be provided free of charge by the NHS at your registered GP Practice.

Worth discussing with a travel nurse

• Hepatitis B, if there is any chance of medical treatment, tattoos, or extended close contact with the local population.
• Japanese encephalitis, particularly relevant for rural or rice-growing areas and longer trips.
• Rabies, worth considering if you will be spending time in rural areas, trekking, or are simply likely to be around street dogs while chasing a shot. Vietnam has a genuine rabies risk and post-bite treatment needs to be sort within 24 hour and may not always readily available outside major cities.
• Malaria, a low risk in most tourist areas but present in some rural and forested regions. Ask about antimalarial tablets if your itinerary includes remote areas.

General health notes

• Dengue fever is a year-round mosquito-borne risk. Whilst a vaccine is available it does not appear to be widely  recommended for typical UK or US travellers, so bite prevention (repellent, covering up at dawn and dusk) is your main defence.
• Tap water is not safe to drink - avoid even cleaning your teeth with tap water or getting it in your mouth when showering. Stick to bottled or properly filtered water, and be wary of ice in less established places.
• Bring a basic travel health kit: rehydration sachets, anti-diarrhoea medication, plasters, antiseptic, insect repellent (see below), insect bite cream and sun cream.
• If you take regular prescription medication, carry it in hand luggage with the prescription and a covering letter. Vietnam has strict rules on medicines classed as addictive or psychotropic (including some common anxiety, sleep and pain medications), limiting quantities to a 7-day supply without special paperwork, so check this in advance if it applies to you.
• Travel insurance with proper medical cover is essential. Vietnam's private hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are good, but care in more remote areas is limited, and medical evacuation is expensive without cover.

Methanol Poisoning

In Vietnam, methanol poisoning happens when people drink fake or poorly made alcohol mixed with industrial methanol. This chemical is highly toxic to the human body. Drinking just a small amount, like 30ml (about one shot), can kill a person or permanently blind them.

What to avoid

Steer clear of homemade rice wine, moonshine spirits sold in unlabelled bottles, and suspiciously cheap branded spirits, especially in backpacker bars or from street stalls. Free shots, jugs, cocktails, or "buckets" at bars are a common source, since these get mixed from whatever's cheapest. If a bottle looks like a well known brand but the seal, label, or cap looks off, don't risk it. Beer, wine, and sealed premixed cans are much safer bets since they're harder to adulterate.
Vietnam does carry an active UK government warning for methanol poisoning, so this isn't a theoretical risk. There have been confirmed tourist deaths linked to homemade spirits, including a case in Hoi An involving homemade limoncello.

Symptoms

This is the dangerous part. Early symptoms look just like ordinary drunkenness or a hangover, meaning nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and poor coordination. The difference is timing: symptoms of methanol poisoning often don't appear until 12 to 48 hours after drinking, sometimes after the person feels like they've already "slept it off."

The warning signs to watch for are:

Blurred or dimmed vision, sensitivity to light, tunnel vision, or seeing static or snow like an old telly. Confusion or agitation beyond normal drunkenness. Difficulty breathing. Abdominal pain. Seizures.

Any visual disturbance after drinking should be treated as a medical emergency, not a hangover.

What to do

If you or someone with you shows any of these symptoms, get to a hospital immediately. Don't wait to see if it passes, since delay is what kills people with methanol poisoning. If possible, keep the bottle or note what was drunk and where, as this helps doctors and can help warn others. Treatment exists (an ethanol or fomepizole drip, plus dialysis in severe cases) but it only works if given early.

General precautions

Stick to licensed bars, restaurants, and shops. Buy spirits with intact factory seals. Be wary of very cheap drinks or free pours. If a group has been drinking the same thing and several people start feeling unusually unwell, treat it seriously rather than assuming a bad night.

Full details can be seen here: https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/spiking-and-methanol-poisoning/

Important: This is general guidance, not personal medical advice. Book a proper travel health consultation (a GP, pharmacy,  travel clinic, or private travel clinic in the UK, or your doctor and the CDC's Traveler's Health advice in the US) so recommendations can be tailored to your own health, itinerary and how long you are staying.

 

In the UK visit https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/240/vietnam

Insect Repelent

The best mosquito repellent for Vietnam depends on whether you bring it from home or buy it locally. For maximum protection against mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever, opt for a formula with 20% to 50% DEET or 20% Picaridin.

Top Options to Bring from Home

High DEET: Products like Pyramid Trek 50 (50% DEET) - Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4w2QoaC

or Jungle Formula Extra Strong (50% DEET) provide hours of heavy-duty protection in the tropics - Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4eWrKCq

Picaridin: For an option that works as effectively as DEET but leaves less residue and lacks a harsh chemical smell, try Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent - Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4vmHK5t

Top Options Bought in Vietnam

Remos: This is the most common and widely trusted brand in Vietnam. It contains Picaridin (often branded as "Diethyltoluamide-free") and is highly effective, inexpensive, and easily found at any local pharmacy or convenience store (like Circle K or Vinmart).

Soffell: A widely used Japanese-manufactured cream that is highly popular across Southeast Asia for being gentle on the skin while effectively keeping mosquitoes at bay.

One tip for DEET products is to clean hands after use as the chemicals can attack and perish plastic and rubber.

Weather in the north: mid to late September

September in northern Vietnam sits right at the tail end of the wet season, and mid to late September is genuinely one of the better windows for photography. The heaviest rains of high summer have usually passed, the countryside is lush, and in Sapa and the northern highlands the rice terraces are turning gold ahead of harvest.

What to expect in Hanoi and the lowlands

• Humidity remains high, so it will feel warmer than the numbers suggest, especially at midday.
• Rainfall is tapering off through the month. Expect roughly 4 to 6 rainy days, mostly as short, sharp downpours or thunderstorms rather than all-day rain, and the second half of September is typically noticeably drier than the first.

Sapa and the northern highlands

• Notably cooler than Hanoi: daytime around 23 to 25°C, dropping to as low as 15 to 17°C at night, so evenings genuinely need a layer.
• Rain is much reduced compared with summer, and late September is considered one of the best times of year here, with golden rice terraces and clear morning light for landscape and village photography.
• Mornings often bring mist rolling through the valleys, beautiful for photography.

Practical implications for shooting

• Golden hour light after rain can be spectacular, so staying flexible and chasing the weather rather than sticking rigidly to a shot list.
• Pack a proper rain cover for camera bodies and bags, not just a bin liner. Sudden, short heavy downpours are common even on an otherwise dry day.
• Humidity and heat drain batteries and fog lenses when you move between air-conditioned interiors and the street. Give kit a few minutes to acclimatise before shooting, and carry silica gel in your bag.

Currency and money

Vietnam uses the Vietnamese Dong (VND). There are no coins in circulation, only notes, and the number of zeros takes a little getting used to. A rough mental shortcut: 100,000 VND is a little under £3 or US $4, but always check current rates before you travel, as these move.

In the UK, find best rates at https://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/

Your tour includes most meals and entry fees, so only a small amount of cash is needed. Perhaps bring around £100 worth of VND in addition to tips (listed below).

Cash versus card

• Cash is still essential for street food, markets, motorbike taxis, and rural areas. Carry a mix of small denominations, since vendors often cannot break large notes.
• Cards work well in cities for hotels, malls, established restaurants and tour bookings, usually Visa and Mastercard. Expect a surcharge of around 3 percent on some card payments.
• ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist areas, dispensing VND only. Withdrawal limits are typically 2 to 10 million VND per transaction depending on the bank, plus a small ATM fee. Always choose to be charged in VND rather than your home currency if offered a choice (decline any "dynamic currency conversion").
• Tell your bank you are travelling to Vietnam before you leave, to avoid your card being blocked for suspicious activity.

Practical money tips

• Avoid exchanging money at the airport, where rates are poor. Banks and reputable gold shops in town generally offer better rates than hotels or street changers. Our local guide can help with this.
• Count change carefully. Some notes look similar at a glance (the 500,000 and 20,000 VND notes are both blue, for instance), and this mix-up is one of the more common low-level scams.
• Tipping is not traditional in Vietnam but is increasingly appreciated for guides, drivers and good restaurant service. It is not expected or obligatory.
• On this trip, nearly all food is included so you only need to budget for extras, snacks, drinks, tips and personal purchases.

Tipping

Safety, crime and common scams

Vietnam is, by most measures, one of the safer countries in Southeast Asia for visitors, and violent crime against tourists is rare. The realistic risks are petty theft and low-level scams rather than personal danger, so a bit of street sense goes a long way.

General safety

• Petty theft, particularly bag-snatching from passing motorbikes, does happen in busy areas of larger cities. Wear cross-body bags on the side away from the road, and keep phones and cameras held firmly, especially near kerbs.
• If a bag or strap is grabbed, let it go rather than holding on. Injuries from being dragged are far worse than losing the bag.
• Traffic is the single biggest everyday hazard. Crossing the road takes nerve the first few times: walk slowly and predictably, do not stop or run suddenly, and let the traffic flow around you.
• Helmets are legally required on motorbikes.
• Keep the bulk of your cash, spare cards and passport in a hotel safe, and carry only what you need for the day.

Common scams to watch for

• Taxi and motorbike-taxi overcharging: the most consistently reported issue, especially around airports and major landmarks. Use ride-hailing apps (Grab, Xanh SM or Be) for a fixed, upfront price, or stick to well-known taxi firms such as Mai Linh (green) or Vinasun (white), and insist the meter is running.
• The "meter is broken" line: if a driver claims this and quotes a flat fee, get out and find another taxi.
• Money switching: a driver or vendor takes a large note and, through sleight of hand, returns change as if from a much smaller one. Pay with small notes where possible and count change before walking away.
• Forced shoe shining: someone grabs a shoe and starts cleaning it before you can object, then demands a large fee. Do not stop walking if approached.
• Fake Halong Bay or Sapa tour agencies: particularly around Hanoi's Old Quarter. Book through established, well-reviewed operators rather than a shopfront that looks too good to be true.
• Hotel switch scam: a taxi driver insists your booked hotel is closed or full and offers to take you somewhere else (for a commission). Don't fall for it!
• Photo and "carrying basket" scams: a friendly vendor places a traditional shoulder pole and baskets on you for a photo, then demands a large payment. Agree a price, or simply decline, before any prop touches you.

Emergency services in Vietnam

Ambulance: 115

Fire: 114

Police: 113

National search and rescue: 112

Emergency numbers in Vietnam are operated in Vietnamese only.

Take a translator with you if you need to report a crime to the local police. Always get a police report when you report a crime.

None of this should put you off. The overwhelming majority of interactions in Vietnam are warm and genuine, and most visitors travel the length of the country without incident. A little awareness simply removes the sting from the handful of scams that specifically target tourists.

Food and drink

Vietnamese food is one of the great pleasures of travelling here, and street food culture is central to daily life, which also makes it wonderful territory for observational photography.

• Choose stalls and restaurants that are busy with local customers, a good sign of fast turnover and fresh ingredients.
• Stick to bottled or purified water, and be cautious of ice from less established places, though ice from reputable restaurants in tourist areas is generally made from filtered water and considered fine.
• Food that is cooked fresh in front of you, at a rolling boil or high heat, is generally a safer bet than food that has been sitting out.
• Pack basic rehydration sachets and anti-diarrhoea tablets. A mild stomach upset in the first few days is common as your system adjusts, even for careful eaters.
• Vietnamese coffee, condensed milk sweetness and all, is superb and very much worth the calories. Egg coffee (cà phê trứng) in Hanoi is a genuine local speciality worth trying.
• If you have allergies or dietary requirements, learn a few key phrases or carry a translated card, as ingredient lists are not always obvious from a menu.

What to pack

Clothing

• Lightweight, breathable, quick-drying clothing for the heat and humidity of Hanoi and the lowlands.
• A packable rain jacket or poncho. Downpours can be sudden and heavy even in the drier back half of September. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4eSXF6O
• A warmer layer (a fleece or light jumper) in Sapa or the northern highlands, where evenings and early mornings are genuinely cool.
• Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes with decent grip, useful for uneven pavements, wet market floors and any trekking around rice terraces.
• Modest clothing (shoulders and knees covered) for temples and pagodas, along with a scarf or sarong that doubles as quick coverage if needed.
• A hat and good sunglasses plus sun screen. The sun can be strong even under a hazy sky.
• A money belt or under-clothing pouch for passport and spare cash, alongside your everyday bag for cameras and daily cash. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4wzdGVp

Photography kit

• A versatile walk-around lens (something in the 24 to 70/105/120mm range, or your camera's equivalent) will cover the bulk of street and travel work without drawing too much attention.
• A longer lens such as 70-200mm for candid, unobtrusive portraits and market life from a comfortable distance.
• There are some occasions where we will be shooting an interior with our subject at close range. A lens wider than 24mm may be an advantage, so if you have perhaps a small 14-24mm lens, it may be a good idea to bring it.
• A weather-sealed body and lens combination if you have one, or a good rain cover if not. Sudden showers and high humidity are a fact of life in September. I often carry the small disposable plastic shower caps you find in hotels bathrooms. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4vI3E3D
• Plenty of memory cards and a robust backup routine (portable SSD or laptop), since you will likely shoot more than expected.
• Spare batteries and a compact charger. Heat and humidity reduce battery life, and reliable power sockets are not guaranteed everywhere.
• A light weight travel tripod will be essential. If you don't have a light weight travel tripod, some of the best currently available are reviewed here: https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-travel-tripod. Another tripod I have been looking at which is not reviewed here is the Benro Cyanbird travel tripod - Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/4yg0ZR0If you are on a low budget then the travel tripod form K&F is a good option: https://www.kfconcept.com/KF09.161_63-lightweight-travel-camera-tripod-phone-holder?tracking=6a522dd26537f
• Silica gel sachets or a small dry bag to protect kit against humidity, particularly overnight in non-air-conditioned guesthouses. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4eSXhFo
• Filters: I'm expecting little need for any long exposure filters such 3, 6 or 10 stop, but if they do not take up much space then they may come in handy. A polariser will mostly likely be used when shooting water and the rice fields.
• A lightweight, quick-access bag rather than an obviously expensive camera backpack, both for comfort in the heat and to keep a lower profile. I tend to bring my usual backpack with all my kit within, plus a smaller sling bag for day to day wandering.
• Lens cloths, as dust and humidity both take a toll on optics here. Instead of using dedicated lens clothes, I found these glass polishing cloths to be far superior. They are highly absorbent (perfect for cleaning stray rain off the lens) and treble the size of most lens clothes, plus they are cheaper than proper lens clothes. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3SUHgpV
• A universal travel adaptor. Vietnam generally uses 220V 50hz with a mix of two-pin round called Type C (same as euro sockets), 2 flat pin sockets called Type A (similar to US sockets) and, less commonly, three-pin sockets. In some hotesl you may see multi type style sockets that allow UK and European plugs without adaptors, but to be safe I would bring a Type C euro adaptor. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/44TseDp

Luggage

Please travel light and stick to two bags only: one camera bag and one piece of luggage. Your bag will move across multiple vehicles, airports, minivans, and hotels throughout the trip, so it needs to earn its place. Choose something solid and robust that can handle being loaded and unloaded regularly. A hard-shell case with good wheels or a sturdy wheeled holdall works well, as it's easy to roll through airports and stations and tough enough for the journey.

As the weather will be hot, mostly lightweight clothing is all you need, which helps keep your case light and manageable. The less you bring, the easier the trip will be, so pack with a firm eye on what you'll actually use rather than what you might need "just in case."

Ensure that you DO NOT have any kind of tools or pointed or sharp objects in your hand luggage. Even small things such as a hex or allen key for a tripod can be confiscated.

Sim cards and data when travelling

For instant, hassle-free connectivity, eSIMs are ideal and let you bypass airport kiosk queues. However, local physical SIMs are cheaper, come with a local phone number for calls, and offer superior coverage, especially in remote areas.

Local Physical SIM Cards

If you want the cheapest rates, a local phone number, and a generous data allowance, a physical SIM is your best bet.

Best Providers: Viettel has the best overall coverage and speeds, especially in rural areas. Vinaphone and Mobifone are also good, reliable alternatives.

Where to Buy: Official stores like Viettel Store or independent retailers like TheGioiDiDong (Mobile World) offer the best selection and setup. You can also buy them at the airport, but kiosks often mark up prices.

Cost: Typical 30-day tourist packages cost about 150,000 to 300,000 VND (~£5–£10), providing large daily data caps and local calling minutes.

Travel eSIMs

If you are flying in from the UK or elsewhere and want to be connected the moment your plane lands, a travel eSIM is the most convenient choice.

Best Providers: Platforms like Sim Local or Airalo are popular and allow you to purchase and activate plans before you travel.

Considerations: These tourist eSIM packages are strictly data-only, meaning you won't get a Vietnamese phone number to easily make local restaurant reservations or use delivery services like Grab.

Cost: Prices generally range from £8 to £25, depending on the data limit and validity period you choose.

I have used Airalo before and they have worked fine. I have a special deal with Airalo. Use my discount code for £2.50 off your first purchase: STEVEN3101

Go to link https://airalo.go.link/2TJjq

General extras

• A portable power bank, useful for long shooting days away from charging points.
• A local eSIM or SIM card for data on arrival, which also makes ride-hailing apps far easier to use.
• A printed copy of your e-visa and travel insurance documents, alongside digital copies stored securely online.
• Earplugs. Vietnamese cities are lively at most hours, and hotel rooms in the Old Quarter in particular can be noisy. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4wQ1sYr
• Mosquito net. Hotels will generally have these but it can be a good idea to bring your own. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4ykLs2i
• Medications you may need plus pain killers, antihistamines, diarrhea treatment, rehydration treatment.
• A small first aid kit including antiseptic cream, plasters, simple dressing, bite cream, etc. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4pphFkV
• Anti-bacterial gel or hand wipes. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4waIYlx

Group Dynamics & Approach to Shooting

Leading groups on tour after tour has taught me what actually works: keep things fair, keep things moving, and make sure everyone leaves happy. I'm not a strict taskmaster. I want you walking away with photos you're proud of and a trip you enjoyed.

Space and time are sometimes tight at the locations we visit. Before we go into each one, I'll talk the group through what to expect, and if it makes sense, I'll split people into smaller groups or give everyone a set time window to shoot in.

Rather than chasing every possible shot, I'd rather you came away with 2 or 3 really strong images from each location. That means taking a moment to think about what we've covered instead of rushing to capture everything.

When the group does split, both halves get equal time with me. No one gets shortchanged.
Some sites can change access with little warning. That's just part of doing this kind of photography, so a bit of patience goes a long way.

I used to build a fair amount of teaching into tours, but I've found people prefer a steer on how to approach a particular scene, followed by regular check-ins as they shoot. If you'd like more guidance than that at any point, just ask.

Street photography is about shooting things as they happen. If one photographer spots a great character or scene, others in our group may notice and want to join in. If this happens, please shoot from a different angle or distance rather than crowding in. A subject (and the original photographer for that matter) can quickly feel overwhelmed if six or more photographers suddenly turn their cameras on them, and that's usually when the moment, and the spontaneity, gets lost. Please be patient and respectful.

At the end of the day, it comes down to this: good photos, a good group, and a great appreciation for Vietnam.

A photographer's note on photographing people

As with any of our tours, ask before photographing individuals where practical, particularly at markets, in rural villages, and around religious sites, and be sensitive with children. A smile, a gesture towards the camera and a moment's pause goes a long way, and it is far more in keeping with the observational, relationship-led style of street photography we encourage. Some people, particularly street vendors in heavily touristed spots, may expect a small payment for a portrait. That is a fair exchange, not a scam, and worth agreeing beforehand if you want a considered shot rather than a snatched one. A small tip of 20,000 VND is usually good.

A final note

None of this is meant to make Vietnam sound daunting, quite the opposite. It is a genuinely welcoming country with extraordinary light, colour and street life, and the practicalities above are simply the groundwork that lets you relax into it once you arrive. Sort the visa and vaccinations, pack sensibly for heat, humidity and the odd downpour, keep a normal level of street awareness in busy tourist areas, and the rest of the trip is really just about being present with the camera.

A Quick English to Vietnamese Phrase Guide

A handful of useful words and phrases, with a simple pronunciation guide, to help you get by and make a good impression along the way.

You do not need to speak Vietnamese to travel here, but having even a few words ready goes a long way. People generally light up when a visitor makes the effort, and it opens doors, quite literally, in markets, homestays and roadside food stalls that a purely English conversation would not. This is not a full language course, just the practical basics.

Before travelling I always ensure I have Google Translate installed on my phone and download the Vietnamese language pack for off line use.

Of course we will have our own dedicated guide and driver through out the tour, but being a little independent always helps.

A quick word on tones

Vietnamese is a tonal language, which means the pitch and shape of your voice changes the meaning of a word, not just the spelling. There are six tones in northern (Hanoi) Vietnamese. You will not master these from a page, and nobody expects you to, but it helps to know they exist so a flat, "English" pronunciation is only ever an approximation.

Do not worry too much about getting tones exactly right. Vietnamese people in tourist areas are generally very used to foreign accents and will understand you from context, especially if you point, smile, or use hand gestures alongside a word or two.

Greetings and basics

Numbers

Prices are often quoted in thousands of dong, so a market vendor may just say "hai mươi" (twenty) to mean 20,000 VND. If a price sounds surprisingly low, that is usually why.

Getting around

Food and dining

Money and shopping