Must Know Before Coming to Hanoi, Vietnam | 7 Essential Travel Tips

[@williamle1498]

The best exchange rate is almost always the ATM, provided you have a bank card that waives/rebates transaction fees.

[@hellowinnie]

Couldn't agree more! That's the best way to do it.

[@brendangiddens3349]

Flying in on the 2nd November!

[@hellowinnie]

woohoo, have a safe trip and have a blast in Vietnam!!

[@OrpheusO]

Very informative video, I am going to Ho Chi Minh next week!

[@hellowinnie]

haha, we may run into each other :)

[@antoniomorais1503]

Great vídeo! How far is Old Quarter from the airport ? Thank you for the great tips.

[@hellowinnie]

About 45 min drive by car from the airport

[@NguyenThiKimTai]

helo you like đăng ký kênh bạn ok 😊😊😊

[@andrewloi5320]

Xin chao, will be in Hanoi early January 2023 (less than a month from today & pretty excited too!!! 😄). I heard that the train street is closed, not sure to tourists or due to some works/maintenance/repairs going on and for how long. I wonder if you have updated and solid information to share. I would appreciate that very much. Cam on!

[@hellowinnie]

Xin chao, I asked my friends in Hanoi and they told me the train street is shut down back in Sept due to security concerns. It’s very sad news for the local neighborhood there. There was history of shutdown in the past, like in the end of 2019 and it was open again, just don’t know when it will happen this time. I will be in Hanoi during Christmas and may go check out the situation myself.

[@andrewloi5320]

@@hellowinnie thank you for the information. I heard it was shut down following an accident or something like that. If you see what's the latest during Christmas, do let me know. That information will be very valuable to me come January 2023. God bless and cheers!

[@hellowinnie]

@@andrewloi5320 I went there yesterday. They put out the gate to block people from coming in but I see some people was in there taking pictures on the train track. I also see police officers there. If you snap a quick pic and walk away, you should be fine. Sadly, no coffee shop opened. You will see some locals offer to take you (for a negotiable fee) to another part of the train street (1km away) and he claimed it's not block there, but I believe there's only 1 or 2 coffee shop there. Hope this helps

[@andrewloi5320]

@@hellowinnie Xin chao. Your information is very helpful and thank you. Appreciate it very much. I may make a quick stop there since I shall be spending about a week in Hanoi. Thanks again and God bless. Merry Christmas too!!

[@ahladninoy]

Hi Winnie. Going there in few months. Any good recommendation on a nice hotel that is close to Old quarter and a nice one to stay, please ??

[@hellowinnie]

I recommend the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. This historic hotel offers luxurious accommodations and closed to the Old quarter. There are many options for 4 and 5 stars hotels near by depend on your budget.

[@antoniomorais1503]

I loved your vídeos. I am planning to come to Vietnan in December/January. What is the best area to stay in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Mi ?

[@hellowinnie]

Hi Antonio, thank you! Best place to stay depend on your travel preference, I like to stay in old quarter Hanoi near Hoan Kiem lake because of the old town charm mix with modernize shops. If you like fancier area, I suggest West Lake. Da Nang is by the beach for me. I love crossing a street and there I am by the ocean, enjoy a Vietnamese coffee at the pier is the best way to start the day. HCM is the most chaotic of all, to save time, stay around Q1 and Q3 for convenience, Q2 is the expat heaven. Hope this helps!

[@antoniomorais1503]

@@hellowinnie Hi Winnie. Great tips. Exatly what I am looking for. Thank you so much !

[@saifulazam6108]

I'm going to Hanoi on 15-18 April 2024

[@hellowinnie]

that's a great time to go, before it gets too hot and school ends. Have a blast!

[@kathyduong8927]

Do you have a recommendation for budget hotels that are a little quieter at night? Thank you.

[@hellowinnie]

Hi Kathy, I will be honest, some older hotels and hostels may not be the best when it comes to sound proofing. I have stayed at "luxury" apartment and I could hear my neighbors loud and clear at 2 am thanks to the paper thin walls. I would suggest hotels outside of the old quarters as the buildings were older there, Westlake area is newer and not too far from all the fun. I would choose hotel in small alleys instead of busy roads and perhaps bring earplugs as backup.

[@Irishman8787]

Question if I go to Vietnam when do I exchange my money do I do before I leave the USA do I do it at airport when I arrive in Vietnam or do I do it outside the airport in Vietnam?????

[@hellowinnie]

@@Irishman8787 hi, i would prefer doing it once you get to Vietnam, as the dollar is a favorable currency there so the exchange rate could be better. Between the airport vs outside the airport, it’s a matter of convenience. You can find better rate outside but if you feel comfortable having cash on hand the minute you arrive, airport is a great option.

[@Irishman8787]

@@hellowinnie thank you that's nice advice appreciate it I'm sure 5000$ USD will , be enough for me to vacation a month in Vietnam lol for me myself and I !

[@hellowinnie]

@@Irishman8787 that’s why more than enough if you already book your stay. An option i would recommend if your bank allow you to withdraw money overseas with a small fee. It would be safer and more secure than carrying a large sum of cash. Have fun!!

[@pranticksantra6650]

What is the timing of the train crossing?

[@hellowinnie]

Look like the train street is open again in early Jan of 2023, it was close since Sept of 2022. The time table could change, the best way is to check with the local coffee shops. Monday - Friday: 19h15, 20h00, 21h15, 22h00 · Weekend: 6h00, 9h30, 11h30, 15h30, 16h30, 18h00, 19h15, 20h00, 20h45, 21h15, 22h00.

[@livelife1899]

how many days do you recommend staying in Hanoi? Which Hanoi hotel is your favorite? :)

[@hellowinnie]

There are many nice hotels in Hanoi, i suggest hotels in the old quarters area for convenience. I recommend minimum 3 nights, that gives you 1 days to take a day trip to Ninh Binh if you are a nature lover. I would add an overnight cruise trip to Ha Long Bay if your schedule allows. Check out my Ha Long Bay video

[@livelife1899]

@@hellowinnie Thanks so much! I just booked my Ha Long Bay overnight cruise today :) I am super interested in the 1 day Ninh Binh tour. If you have any recommendations there, I would appreciate it. I will also continue watching your videos

[@tloyou]

Does klook reliable how did you book ??

[@hellowinnie]

Hi, i booked with Klook all the times and it’s very reliable, i haven’t come across an irresponsible vendors. I always compare prices and i find Klook is more competitive compared to get your guide and Viator in Asia

[@zhenghemei]

Try not to take the VietJet Air. It's really a bad experience and it'll be the same to you

[@jimcysiah4193]

100 dollar not gold backed. Better 20 dollar note

[@anhbui1100]

lol what ? u can just smile and walk away they not gonne chase u lol

[@fillthegaptozero7890]

Some of them do

[@TamHoangTran]

Where r your origin? What a ravishing girl!

[@hellowinnie]

Chinese Vietnamese 😄

[@rc....]

If you don’t know why the take new $100 hill and not old ones, you aren’t worth my time…

[@hellowinnie]

Thank you for letting me know by taking time to express your thought 😊

[@mynk_coatz]

Vietnam Thailand Cambodia - make sure you hv new clean bills and bring your passport-they won’t exchange the money took me a while to exchange my dirty American money 😂

[@hellowinnie]

@@mynk_coatz right? Even Uncle Sam faces rejection 😆

[@Hunzagojalvalley]

hello

[@hellowinnie]

Hi 👋😊

[@JasonAe-zo9nc]

Nice video,but let me give a more better tip , for transportation no need to do advance booking u can use Grab the southeast Asian Uber. For exchange rate best is change at your own country ,if u think the 275k difference because I think going to holidays no need to calculate so much as not that we are changing 10 of thousands For SIM cards I agreed with u

[@mrc6182]

I'll be in Vietnam from August 28 to September 8, 2023 - my third trip there in the past year. i hit Hanoi, Hoi An/Da Nang, and HCMC. You covered everything very nicely. Further, all your tips are good to know no matter where your travel in southeast Asia. Major downside of Vietnam for me now is the amount of price gouging going on now that tourists are arriving in droves post-COVID. Place I stayed in Hanoi in November, '22 and February '23 was about $110 a night USD. Same room now, six months later, $160/night.

[@hellowinnie]

Yeah, I’m not surprised that’s happening everywhere especially summer time. I was in Europe in July and the price of hotel was a shock to me.

[@muhammadnoorbinrohani39]

IndoChina Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia.

[@trauden7684]

I will be in Hanoi in March. My wife and I are originally from Saigon and she has not been back to VN for over 40 years.

[@hellowinnie]

Definitely will experience some culture shocks but be amazed by the changes at the same time.

[@mynk_coatz]

@@trauden7684 look into the Hu Long bay cruises. it was awesome well worth the money.

[@donareyta325]

where did you stay in Hanoi? hotel recomm pls.

[@mmessick]

I’m going to Hanoi in 2 weeks

[@duongnhdn]

About exchanging your currency, the best rate you can get is from Gold shops, they dont ask for your papers, they dont want to know where you got your money from, it's quick as hell. But, most of them arent licensed to do so, and you might get caught and face some consequences by exchanging currency illegally so there's that.

[@hellowinnie]

Haha, i guess the secret is out and you are not the first person who mention this. I’m gonna make some modifications to the video and add a couple trusted gold shop in the description box.

[@Sylnail]

what is the name of hotel did you stayed at in Ha Noi old quarter? my family will be traveling to Ha Noi and all the places that you mentioned in your video.

[@hellowinnie]

Hi there, my hotel is called Hanoi Brilliant Hotel and Spa. There are so many options in the area, pick the best that fits your need.

[@travelislovetravelislife3272]

Very nice tips! Great video! I rly wanne go to Saigon, but cant go on the best time between desember-march. Is it ly bad going in October, or is it ok? Found some "cheap" tickets for 850$ from Norway-Saigon. Doesnt it just rain heavily for 1-2 hours, then it stops? I travel for food only! I love food!!! food all day! So I will just eat, then relax in a nice hotel. Thinking of 14 days in Vietnam =) Never been in vietnam before, but i speak the language

[@hellowinnie]

Oct is great actually since you avoid the busy summer tourist season and the rain and storm tend to end toward the end of Sept. You are right about the rain, it’s short rain due to high humidity. The heavy rain are all because of storms. I love food to and I’m goin to Saigon in 2 weeks also for food. Maybe I could do a video about must try food in Vietnam 😂

[@aleksadmir2532]

OMG, glad I'll only be there for five days.

[@lifethroughasia]

Did you feel it was necessary to get the rabies vaccine? I will be in Hanoi for 7 days

[@hellowinnie]

Hi there, I think it's a personal preference it that give you peace of mind. I didn't get one before travelling to Vietnam and other Asian countries. I would be mindful and refrain myself from petting local animals.

[@kleh8160]

Thanks for sharing your tips. I'll be in Hanoi in December.

[@hellowinnie]

That awesome, I honestly love Hanoi and the nearby provinces so much that I'm considering going back again

[@laraross2701]

We will be flying to Hanoi on November 16. Excited!!!

[@hellowinnie]

Yay!!! I’m excited for you, it will be an adventure 😁

[@christopherking4217]

Hi where going Hanoi 8th of march can I use American dollar

[@hellowinnie]

you can exchange US dollar to local currency. I wont bet on local shops accepting your dollar, if they do, they tend to accept it at a higher rate than exchange.

[@muhammadnoorbinrohani39]

1 Asean.

[@muhammadnoorbinrohani39]

Viettel.

[@isabellejoly541]

Looking for a place to stay down town Hanoi, any suggestions?

[@hellowinnie]

Hi there, the best place to stay depend on your travel preference, I like to stay in old quarter Hanoi near Hoan Kiem lake because of the old town charm mix with modernize shops. If you like fancier area, I suggest West Lake, that's the expat area so you can find a nice mix of western and vietnamese food there

[@tloyou]

What cheap and nice hotel would you recommend ??

[@hellowinnie]

There are many options for 3 stars hotel ($20 - $40) in the old quarter area which is closed to many attractions.

[@alvlim1504]

Thank you for the helpful tips. My family and I are travelling to Vietnam in Dec. Do you have advice on moving about in Hanoi?

[@hellowinnie]

Hi Alv, I say Grab is your best friend for moving around in the city, download the app and register an account. super simple. Another good app is BE (the logo is 2 blue stripes with yellow background.) They are the Uber for Southeast Asia, you can pay the driver cash directly (prefer method) or with Visa or Mastercard if your card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee or you don't mind the fee. I would avoid the public bus since you are traveling as a family, it gets chaotic in there.

[@nguyenhuyhoang1010]

Chào, đi chơi du lịch công viên và vườn bách thú ở Việt Nam. 🇻🇳 1. Công viên Hồ Tây 2. Công viên Thủ Lệ 3. Công viên Thiên đường Bảo Sơn 4. Thảo cầm viên Sài Gòn 5. Vinpearl Safari Phú Quốc.

[@geraldhogan1980]

I'm coming in November 2024 🎉 Not sure which part I need to visit 1st ? North or south

[@hellowinnie]

@@geraldhogan1980 i would go from North to South as the north side is a bit colder so you slowly acclimate to the weather before heading south. The north side has more old charm, history and character compared to the south

[@geraldhogan1980]

@@hellowinnie Thanks for sharing 👍

[@GreatCityAttractions]

Nice video Winnie - good information . - Hanoi looks amazing

[@randolphwilhelm668]

Your lovely has made me decide on coming for a visit what’s the best time to travel and still heard cov19 is around there?

[@hellowinnie]

I’m happy to hear, avoid the hot and humid summer months June July and August and you should be good

[@gachaqueen8033]

After watching all the other Channel by far , your video is on point to guide first time visit. Thank you

[@hellowinnie]

Thank you so so much!!! Your comment made my day.

[@eiidii2328]

The ancient city still has many features of France

[@hellowinnie]

Very true and schools here offer French classes to young kids beside English

[@mohamadkamalzadeh3797]

thank you for great tips. do you know any good cruise for Ho lang bay with a fair price? appreciate

[@hellowinnie]

I recommended Lily’s travel agency. I used them to book 3 tours and the price is fair and they can customize trip for you if you have any special request. This is their site, lilystravelagency.com/ you can reach out to them via WhatsApp from there. Remember the price for Ha long bay cruise is per person with double occupancy, so bring a friend or you will pay a bit more to have the whole room to yourself.

[@misbaahmed9783]

Which month is the right time to visit Hanoi?

[@hellowinnie]

@@misbaahmed9783 oct to May is the best time to visit, summer is hot and humid, rainy season

[@MukeshSahu-mn2ps]

I will be in hanoi after 2 weeks, can you tell me some chill out places for night .

[@hellowinnie]

@@MukeshSahu-mn2ps if you are in the old quarter then check out Hoan Kiem lake area at night, the locals are out and about, small vendors selling local crafts and street food. Near by there’re many local bars you can check out. They have some cool speakeasy. I’ve been to the player cocktail bar and enjoyed the drinks there, chill lounge vibe

[@MukeshSahu-mn2ps]

@@hellowinnie thanks for your reply 🙏

[@CultureDrift]

This is so useful! The tip about avoiding pickpockets is definitely something I'll keep in mind. Have you tried any local dishes that you’d recommend? I’m always on the lookout for new food adventures!

[@hellowinnie]

@@CultureDrift i recommend bun cha in Hanoi, it’s a Northern pork vermicelli dish that’s different from the version you get in typical Vietnamese restaurants cause they serve the southern version.

[@lennygerman7631]

Hi how to apply visa going to vietnam?

[@hellowinnie]

Hi there, I apply for e-visa since I'm a US citizen, this is the official website, chech the list of countries allow evisa there evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt

[@muhammadnoorbinrohani6711]

Hanoi, North Vietnam 🇻🇳.

[@linhvan6775]

U need come back hanoi again :D now evething change

[@hellowinnie]

Oh, I’m definitely coming back

[@poorpolarbear]

how much dolars do you need per day or for a week?

[@hellowinnie]

Depend on your spending habits, if you don’t take into account the hotel, $50 a day is plenty for street food, restaurant meals, sightseeing tickets, souvenir shopping.

[@karan8015]

I will be in Hanoi from 19th February

[@hellowinnie]

I’m exited for you!! Have a blast

[@karan8015]

@@hellowinnie thanks. Hope the trip would be good

[@Whohah-s2p]

i wanna visit soon but i heard vietnam visa policy is no more than a monthly visa post pandemic has there been any changes oh ps youre really beautiful women you do your nations proud

[@hellowinnie]

Yes, current visa is 30 days only for tourist, they used to have 3 months visa but not at the moment

[@trauden7684]

Not sure where you live but you might want to find a local Vietnamese travel office. They normally sell tickets for traveling to Vietnam. Things might've changed now but I got a 5 year visa sticker on my passport by one of these agencies. They take your passport and after a few days you get it back with a stamp allowing unlimited entries for up to 5 years.

[@haduong96353a]

Yeah, right place. Cause North Vietnam is the root and the original of Vietnam and the ancient Vietnamese people. ❤ All real traditional Vietnamese culture and real Viet foods start from here, the Northern Vietnam. Nice trip! Congratulations

[@hellowinnie]

Hanoi is such a beautiful city, I miss it!

[@anthonysantos2901]

Good Day Miss. Thank you for making this video :) sure this will help me with my upcoming visit to Vietnam. May I ask you if you know any Currency Exchange in the City of Hanoi except the one's from the airport? Thank you :)

[@hellowinnie]

There are many currency exchange places in the city with fair rate, you can always double check the rate online. You can also exchange at local banks, like Vietcombank, TP bank, etc.

[@trauden7684]

You can generally exchange at many street markets. You will see a crowd passing hundred dollar bills thru the glass window (LOL). Be careful as it will be the perfect opportunity for pickpockets. Another safe option is any jewelry store. You get higher rates for new $100 bills so make sure you have new and unfolded bills.

[@erwinleonardi]

Will fly to Vietnam soon. Thanks for the tips. Do you still keep the copy of the paper you got from hotel?

[@hellowinnie]

Hey, thanks for watching and have a wonder trip. Unfortunately, I didn’t keep a copy, I took a picture instead

[@SimpleX84]

It’s better to exchange at gold store

[@hellowinnie]

you are not wrong lol, and you even get better rates. Although not all gold shops are certified, I know a few that's pretty good, maybe I can add a call out in the video and list them out in the description.

[@HenryWrideExplores]

I went to Hanoi for 2 days and ended up staying for two weeks! Such a great city!

[@tloyou]

What hotel would you recommend ?

[@HenryWrideExplores]

@@tloyou We stayed in a few! My favourite was probably a place called “Camellia” because the area had a local feel to it and also there were nice food and coffee spots nearby. Just depends where you want to stay really! We stayed in the old town for a few nights too but it’s a bit too loud and tourist heavy for our liking.

[@HenryWrideExplores]

maps.app.goo.gl/B8LjQMJdY3m8BJtJ9?g_st=ic This is Camellia 🙂

[@tloyou]

@@HenryWrideExplores thank you for the tips..

[@jpzamora143]

What time was that train?

[@hellowinnie]

@@jpzamora143 the schedule changes from time to time. Closer to the time you go i would google “Hanoi train street schedule today” to get the latest from recent blog posts. Sometimes the street is closed to local residents only for safety reasons

[@AnnieVlog1988]

hi what time train pass by?

[@hellowinnie]

Here's the timetable I find quite accurate. Please keep in mind train time can change in the future. It's best to check with the local coffee shops as they have the most up to date time. localvietnam.com/blog/hanoi-train-street/

[@AnnieVlog1988]

@@hellowinnie thank you so much! I plan to travel hanoi too on 24😊

[@onyekailoba7280]

Thanks for the video tips, I plan on visiting Hanoi by the months end.

[@hellowinnie]

that's awesome!! You will love this bustling city and many beautiful attractions are just a couple of hour away, like a day trip to Ninh Binh or Ha Long Bay

[@saleemcoira4287]

Buddah Blessings . En el nombre del padre del hijo y del espiritu santo. Bismilahir Rahmani Rahim.

[@joyjoy534]

Other countries also don't take old US$100 bill or less than perfect new ones. The old one is too easy to counterfeit.

[@luisar7126]

Enjoyed your video. Can you recommend a reputable travel agent in Vietnam? Thanks!

[@hellowinnie]

yes, I used Lily's Travel, they are very sweet and helpful, even customize my Sapa trip for me. here's their site, and you can reach them through WhatsApp from there. lilystravelagency.com/

[@luisar7126]

@@hellowinnie that is awesome! That’s exactly what I wish to do…visit Sapa :) Many, many thanks!

[@hellowinnie]

@@luisar7126 check out my Sapa video for more tips, I wish I were better prepared

[@luisar7126]

@@hellowinnie will do. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@tietan867]

I know you mentioned order the taxi via Klook, what is the taxi name or company? I am planning to visit Hanoi in December, 17. Thanks

[@hellowinnie]

HI there, I don't remember the company name. Klook gave me a couple options (different companies) and I usually pick the smallest car and the cheapest price since it's just me.

[@hector9286]

congrat to all vietnamese for such a beautiful country today GBU guys

[@o-carolina]

Thanks for sharing. I am going in March. Can you tell me brand of fanny pack you use. Also the shuttle bus 86 from airport into old town - is there only one stop at the end or will it stop any my pre-booked hotel. thanks! C

[@hellowinnie]

Hi, my fanny pack is a no brand bag from Amazon, the selection is endless. ☺️ i don’t wear any bags of value which i hope reduce my chance of being targeted. Bus 86 has a few stops with one being in old town area, near Hoan Kiem lake. You should check the bus route for the stops to find out which stop would be closest to your hotel. Also check the last departure of the day and plan accordingly based on when your plane arrives.

[@tietan867]

Hello Winnie, I am planning to visit Hanoi in December. Do you know any local tour Guide? Thanks

[@hellowinnie]

Hi there, I personally don't know a local tour guide. I suggest you reach out to lily’s travel, they help me pick the right tours based on what i wanted, so I think they may be able to recommend a trusted local tour guide. lilystravelagency.com

[@stewarthomemadecook]

I only got 4 days in Hanoi and Ho Long. So what you suggest to stay hotel in hanoi the cheaper, clean and nice place to stay and convenience to visit . The Ho Long sure I stay in the ship for a night? Cab you pls give me how to arrange when I reach at the airports.

[@hellowinnie]

If you have 4 days 3 nights then i would suggest stay the first 2 nights in Hanoi old quarters, you can take in the old town charm mix with modern day architecture. Check out train street for sure and some historical landmarks if you want. Book a cruise for 1 night on day 3. They will generally pick you up around 9 am to go to Ha long bay for your cruise, stay a night and come back on day 4 around 12. Make sure you give yourself time to get back to Hanoi (2 hours drive from Ha Long) to get to your next destination, i would choose an evening flight for example

[@jesuoas]

hi how to plan for domestic flight from ho chin minh to da nang? i may need to collect luggage from check-in...so time to plan..2hrs buffer??

[@hellowinnie]

Hi, plan for dropping off luggage at check in so arrive 1 hour before your flight, if it’s busy season then account for long line so maybe give yourself 30 more min. When i arrive in da Nang it was a short wait for luggage, within 30 min

[@lyingnguyen113]

Thank you

[@hellowinnie]

Thank you for watching ☺️

[@ThanhPham-fx6eb]

Tip for crossing street in Vietnam: Many tourist foreigners scared of traffic in VN . Don’t worry about it! The rule to win this fear is keep routin slowly walking when you across the streams of motobike! motor-bykers knows how to avoid you themself in chaos-order! remmember do not run and stop suddently , accident immidiatly ! Don’t be affraid off and do it if you want to be safety in the crazy- traffic in Vietnam.

[@hellowinnie]

Yup, face your fear and it will become normal lol

[@sirapasayami3633]

is january/feb good time to visit vietnam? will it be too crowded and expensive at that time? when is the tet festival? and is it a good time visit during the festival cuz heard that everything gets closed.

[@hellowinnie]

It’s the best time to visit because of great weather. Check for lunar new year day for 2024 and that’s when they celebrate Tet. Price may go up a bit during tet as people have time off to travel. A lot places are closed but not the tourist attractions.

[@kanchikanchi1556]

Hi!im visiting hanoi on dec12 to dec15 is it cheaper to book a tour via klook or thru the hotel?

[@hellowinnie]

I would shop around. the price is very comparable, the tour maybe slightly different in the itinerary so that may impact the price, also the amenity such as smaller luxury van vs. a big bus, the restaurant for lunch etc. If you usually have a lot of questions then booking with a real life agent can give you better reassurance.

[@robertborg4934]

Thank you dear for your video Yes I am interesting to go there. I like city life where is the best to stay in the central pls

[@hellowinnie]

There are 2 options, west lake has a lot of expats, new and modern accommodations. I personally like the historic old quarters area, mix of history, culture and city madness

[@dariellopez7941]

greetings from Honduras 🇭🇳 Vietnamese brothers

[@hellowinnie]

Greetings!!

[@patrickmonteith-gy8fs]

I like your video about vietnam I come from the uk and i'm planning to go to Hanoi Next year When i'm hanoi How will I get my money changed? I've been in Thailand. It's quite easy there to get my Money changed edit the same in vietnam could you let me know please.

[@hellowinnie]

You can exchange money right at the airport, that's the most convenient way and the rate is pretty solid. There are many money exchange spots in the city so you can exchange more whenever you need. I find it best to withdraw money directly from the ATM since my bank will reimburse all ATM fee. Some people will say gold shop will give you the best rate but it's hard to know whether the shop has proper license to buy foreign currency, so don’t risk it.

[@patrickmonteith-gy8fs]

@@hellowinnie Thank you for your help.

[@gmantexas]

I will be in HN in April. I left Vn 40 years ago. Looking forward to it😊

[@hellowinnie]

love it! The food will take you down the memory lane but you will never get used to the noise on the street, at least that how it was for me :)

[@samp9953]

Hi, I just discovered you. your simple and clear vlog is beautiful. I'd like to ask you these questions: Can you confirm that exchanging money at the airport is convenient? (not in Thailand), are exchanges available in the city or is it difficult? - I thought booking the taxi was expensive but, I will follow your advice finally, I booked 5 nights in Hanoi and 5 in Danag from January 12th, I don't want to do the domestic flight, what do you recommend yes or what? Thank you and happy 2024❤

[@hellowinnie]

There are many money exchange shops in the city so if you’d like, you can exchange some at the airport so you have local changes on you. The best rate is ATM assuming your bank don’t charge you any fees and exchange rate. Honestly, if you want to maximize your time, flying is the quickest. If not, consider looking into sleeping train or buses. Bus is definitely the cheapest but it will take around 15 hours and if you get car sick easily, that may not be a pleasant ride.

[@samp9953]

thank you, you were very thorough, my bank definitely asks for change but does the ATM take charge for give money? in Thailand yes

[@hellowinnie]

@@samp9953 yes, i believe all ATM that’s not from your bank will charge a fee. I’m also lucky my bank refund me the changes at month end. Sometime they will ask for a conversion fee of a small percentage, don’t accept those, your bank will make the conversion, that’s their sneaky way to get more money from you.

[@ihadadream7508]

Did hanoi dangerous or safe city thanks

[@hellowinnie]

Overall I feel safe there, they are especially friendly with you if you are foreigner. However, there are pickpocketer, tourist scam (rarely) around. As long as you keep an eye on your stuffs, book your tours through a trusted agency, you are good. The street in VN can seem chaotic so brace yourself for that.

[@tavinderchana8437]

Thinking of coming next year mid March. 8 days in ho chi,4 days in hoian, 8 days in danang and 8 days Hanoi including 2 nights in healing. What do you think. Weather?

[@hellowinnie]

March is a great time to go before it gets super hot. I like your plan, that’s plenty of time for each city, that way you don’t have to rush and it gives you a lot of time to take day trips from the main city. If i could, i would suggest less time in Ho Chi Minh and more time in Ha Noi area. There are more scenic destinations near Ha Noi, you could do Ninh Binh day trip, overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay, trekking in Sapa and bike through the Ha Giang Loop.

[@tavinderchana8437]

@@hellowinnie Thank you for you advice. Was thinking of 2 night cruise in ha long bay.

[@hellowinnie]

@@tavinderchana8437 that’s a great choice. Make sure to book early to find the right cruise that fits your dates. There are more one night cruise than 2, so they get booked up fast.

[@tavinderchana8437]

@@hellowinnie Thank you for mentioning Ninh Bing. Looked up and looks really nice. Going to book Emirates flights this week.and then internal flights. and then hotels and cruise. So 6 days in ho chi, 3 nights in hoian, 3 nights in Hue, 7 in DaNang, 9 in Hanoi out of which 2 in ha long bay cruise . We like beach holidays and thus 7 in danang. Emirates to ho chi and return to uk from Hanoi. Thank you

[@kane012499]

Hi. Is there a big difference of exchange from airport compared to gold shops?

[@hellowinnie]

Hi, the short answer is no. Gold shops can give you a better rate as they are family run shops so they usually don't charge any fee and you can try to negotiate for a better rate. If you are exchanging a lot of money, then the difference can be signification. Btw, gold shops prefer US dollar and Euro, if you have other currency then money exchange is better. The gold shop may not take it.

[@musicful7036]

I think Exchange at gold shops is illegal if a person get caught, because it's sort of money laundering as the gold shops don't report to the government. I'd do it at the local bank to avoid legal issues while abroad. Only a few cents difference.

[@hellowinnie]

@@musicful7036 you are right. The key is the shop needs to have a license to buy foreign bills and not to sell and you can't trust what they tell you about their legitimacy. the best way to get money is via ATM for me. As my bank reimbursed all the ATM fees that other banks charged.

[@DonzFedora]

Please don't try to bargain, man. Let them make some profits. Even without bargaining, prices are still cheaper than in other developed countries.

[@hellowinnie]

Haha, or just do like 10% from the price they offer you, that way you feel like you get a deal and they still make a good sale. Seriously, depend on how you look, I noticed they say a much higher price to my foreign friends compare to the locals. As long as you are happy with the price and good sold, that’s all it matters 😉

[@ronbill9959]

In Ho Chi Minh they were ripping you off with western prices.

[@anomad6314]

WHAT IS HER OF??!