i visiting Vietnam , any advice?

Answer 1

this site gives good advice!
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Vietnam/TravelGuide-Vietnam.html

Answer 2

Get ready to have your heart ripped out. There are so many beggars, especially children beggars. At some of the restaurants, children would come clear off the tables and eat whatever we left behind. If you gave any of them money, you would be surrounded by 15 more, each one holding out their little hand. You have harden your heart.

Know how to count your money. Some people can be very corrupt and will take advantage of you. And the government officials, police and such are the worst. At the airport I refused to pay the screener $20 so he ripped open all my boxes and sent me back through the line. Pay the $20 unless all you have is a back pack.

Foreigners pay more than natives. My family paid 50 cents, I paid $5. This was everywhere we went- amusement parks, museums, zoos...

It's hot in the South and cold in the North, especially in the mountains. Pack for the region.

Lower your standards of hygiene. Pooping and spitting in the street where pretty common sights. Although I heard they are trying to crack down on this. (very bad for tourism.)

More later

Answer 3

be prepared to take things a little slow , be flexable in your plans, things will not always go your way.. but thats ok.. "plan B" often turns out to be more fun ,ineteresing, or exciting.[ just have a plan B] look at viet nam as an adventure. dont be afrain to meet and talk with the people: the vietnamese of course, but also other travelers and expatriots from around the world. dont be afraid to explore the back allyes, take time to sit on the street and drink "bier hoi" [ tap beer served on the street] a great place to meat others. go on a tour or 2 but do some exploring on your own. easily done by get a motor bike driver to take you around for the afternoon.. they are easy to meat , most are great guys, and they will often suggest "off the beaten path "places to go. the food is great and cheap... but stck to restuaunts, and dont eat too much "street food".... although viet nam has a pretty cool night life, dont stay out all night , everynight partying . get up and out on the street early, viet nam comes alive VERY early in the morning and you should see it a cpl of times. see sai gon, see nha trang, the rest is opptional, but good choices are ha noi and the surrounding area [ sapa, ha long, mai chau]. da nang[ china beach and hoi an] da lat, phu quoc island, 2-3 days in each place is usually enough.. nha trang.. ,maybe 5 days stay at the dong phuong on nguyen thien thuat street.. cheap safe and a great "jump off" location... be flexable , be adventurous and enjoi... for lots more ideas click on "discover, resolved questions " at the top of this catagory and check out similare questions asked over the past few months. PS the guy below me is a flat out lier, you will get treated just fine at the air ports and anyplace else you go in viet nam

Answer 4

Just don't end up dead over there in some rice paddy like the U.S. soldiers did.

Answer 5

no