TRAVELING TO VIETNAM? WHAT to BRING & WHAT to KNOW....🇻🇳

[@expatnam]

Some quick tips and information on what to bring to Vietnam on holiday. If you've travelled here before what's the one thing you wish you'd brought with you?

[@seattlecoffee23]

Great tips and suggestions as usual! Just one thing, if bringing your own currency into Vietnam make sure the notes are pristine or in very good condition, no wrinkles, crinkles or torn notes, they are likely to not be accepted when trying to exchange them. 👍

[@expatnam]

Great tip! They definitely seem to have a thing for 'new' notes here. Even at the atms the notes are always new.

[@Roaming_Empire]

I owe you a beer. Ive been here nearly two months, and had been struggling to minimize bank costs. You mentioned that VP bank ATMs give foreign cards considerably more than the usual 3 Mil Dong limit. I get 5 free ATMs and no overseas fees with ING bank, and i took out 12 Mil today no probs. ....Keep up the good work.

[@expatnam]

Awesome! VP is the only one that's seems to work no limits/no fees for foreign cards...

[@leonevergreen]

This video comes in the right time! Thanks, man 👍

[@expatnam]

Glad to hear it!

[@kushal809]

Very informative video 🔥🔥 Thanks for sharing 😊 helpful video 🔥🔥👍

[@expatnam]

My pleasure

[@VietnamSteve]

Good call on TP Bank - I use that one - cleanest ATMs and I just grab 5m every couple of weeks.

[@NQTrung397]

Welcome to viet nam 🇻🇳

[@VietnamSteve]

I think you will find in a hospital you will still pay up front first and then claim back from insurance later - insurance largely irrelevant if you can’t stump up the necessary Dong to get stitched up.

[@expatnam]

Depends on the policy-when i had Liberty it was amazing, just hand over the card and they would direct bill for everything it was very convenient.

[@jasonbourne3869]

Wow.....this video just put away my worries re cash money using international MC @ VP bank, many thanks Nam! Huge HELP!

[@expatnam]

You're welcome!

[@paramasengupta9976]

What are the common vegetarian food we can try or ask for please suggest?

[@expatnam]

Have a look for 'an chay' this means vegetarian in Vietnamese.

[@vfgreen]

Thanks for the informative video! I'm planning to move to Viet Nam (Ho Chi Minh City) in November. I'll definitely be looking into health insurance. Do you know if the health insurance plans offered by schools for English teachers are adequate, or should I expect to have my own policy in addition? Also, I'd be very grateful to know if chlorthalidone and atorvastatin are available there. And I've heard that you can get medications without a prescription. Is that true? Sorry for the bombardment.

[@expatnam]

It depends a lot on the schools-some my cover for in patient but not out patient for example, and many won't provide any cover. In theory you should be able to use the gov hospitals if the school is legitimate and pays your social insurance. the reality of this is murky though. Luckily those meds are available here and cheap to buy without prescription.

[@msbrownbeast]

For visitors who visited other countries and made some pricier purchases in those countries - e.g. Japan (that is above the max limit of the Vietnam duty allowance) prior to arriving in Vietnam, and where those items would are meant to be taken back home in America, what should the traveller do? Is the visitor obliged to declare the full value at Vietnam customs and risk paying duty on something that would not be staying in Vietnam?

[@edrunge4582]

Good advice. Riding a motorcycle is dangerous, I had to ride to my factory every day for three years. Tet holiday is awful, all grocery stores and most restaurants closed for up to 4 days straight.

[@expatnam]

In the cities at least over the last few years more and more places have stayed open during Tet. But i never travel during any holiday here, it's crazy busy. Check out the pictures of Vung Tau beach during any national holiday....

[@Skater21Loverboyz]

it's not awful, Tet is an important holiday!

[@gregorygannon1365]

I have had five neck surgeries back in 2010 and 2013 unfortunately I still suffer from severe pain. My pain doctor back in the US prescribed 60 mg of morphine per day. I am in Thailand now and have no problem getting it from my doctor at the hospital here. if I were to come to Vietnam to stay for a month or two and brought my own medication would that be a problem. it sounds like if I went to the hospital and needed medication I would be out of luck please let me know your thoughts..

[@expatnam]

Morphine and opioids are very hard to get here. They tend to be used for palliative care and cancer patients only. Very stigmatized unfortunately. A private hospital might prescribe for you but it would be costly.

[@boarsnest4844]

My relative is very Ill with a complicated hepatitis case over there now. I feel they can not handle her case where she is located, as she was told there is nothing more they can do, She s

[@expatnam]

Sounds very serious, I hope that they can get the right treatment and help. There are good Drs here, you just have to find them sometimes!

[@boarsnest4844]

She is in Da Nang in ICU. Complicated hepatitis, maybe from malaria when living in Africa. 57 old Canadian. Needs a liver transplant.

[@brucewayne2773]

Having health insurance is important, but I honestly don't think anyone buys it while they may only stay less than 30 days. I have never purchased health insurance for all my travels in the past. Luckily I never needed it. Does having insurance in the states cover it?? or booking with my major Credit card for travels to cover it? if I do rent a car, I always buy insurance for the vehicle.

[@expatnam]

I'm confusing health/travel insurance here-just some sort of insurance is advisable that covers you for accidents and things like that. Your card might cover you it depends on the card. Mine don't unfortunately.

[@markholland6657]

dunno if its changed since but I used to always be able to take out 5Mil at a time from either HSBC or Korean Bank ATM's down in PMH... couple of them in one go would do me for almost a month for petty cash!

[@expatnam]

Yes HSBC & ShInhan used to be higher but they seem to have dropped again and charge a fee. VP should let you withdraw without any charges as well as no limit so that's my go to.

[@guyhamilton479]

Hi Taff, I'm flying with Vietnam Airlines from London to HCM via Ha Noi. Transit time at Ha Noi airport less than 3 hours. My question is ,do I go through Immigration at Ha Noi or HCM. Also when I apply for evisa do I put point of entry as HCM or Ha Noi. My destination is HCM. Just need clarification. Any updates on 3 month tourist visa ?

[@expatnam]

Hey Guy, good question, not 100% sure but i'm guessing you'll go through immigration at Hanoi as you will be transiting to a domestic flight from an international one. For the evisa i would double check with the airline but i'm guessing as your point of entry to the country is Hanoi (then onwards domestically) your evisa should read Hanoi. VN airlines are pretty responsive through things like facebook messenger so i'd give them a quick msg perhaps.

[@gtd65]

Good to hear you mention the ATM situation. There's a UK bank called Starling which has no ATM withdrawal fees. That's what I was planning to use upon arrival. I'll need to find out where the local VP branches are in HCMC. I'll certainly need the sunblock with my fair Scottish skin! 😉

[@expatnam]

Starling should be fine, Revolut also a popular option here as well. Safe travels!

[@gtd65]

@@expatnam Just got my work visa through today. Looks like I'll be staying initially in District 1, while working in District 2. Then the apartment viewing shall commence! Arriving on Tuesday afternoon.

[@expatnam]

Great news! if you're working in d2 i'd think about staying there as well, Thao Dien and An Phu are nice areas with plenty of bars and restaurants. Also don't be scared to negotiate the prices, i still think it's a renters market here

[@gtd65]

@@expatnam I've got a week in a hotel, before moving onto a local allowance for accommodation. I have to say, compared to other parts of the world that I've lived and worked, it sounded extremely low. Watching a few of your videos, it appears that it's going to be sufficient. I had a chat with the chap who facilitated my position in HCMC and he recommended a local HSBC account. I'm already an HSBC customer, from my time in Hong Kong, so that would be a familiar bank but it might be their charges are higher than Vietnamese banks. I watched your local banking video so that also provided some good info. I'm fairly easy on my apartment needs but would like a pool and gym and for it to be quiet while sleeping!

[@expatnam]

@@gtd65 HBSC aren't' too bad-they do have a few charges though and you'll need to keep a 'minimum balance' in there otherwise you'll get hit with a monthly fee. Quite a common feature of the international banks here.

[@williamnelson9332]

dont come till they change the visa thing enjoy

[@Skater21Loverboyz]

you can get a 5 year visa!