Vietnam for Digital Nomads
I had heard of many nomads who chose Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon as their base. Personally, I was a bit hesitant to go there because I’m not a big fan of big cities (except from Singapore, New York, and Rio de Janeiro). But then I saw a House Sit there and thought that this would be the perfect chance to check it out. I ended up staying 6 weeks and coming back a few times afterwards. It’s still not my favorite country, I have to say. I prefer Singapore, Chiang Mai or Bali. But Vietnam is definitely worth trying out.
Facts About Vietnam
Vietnam is a long, narrow nation shaped like the letter s. It is in Southeast Asia on the eastern edge of the peninsula known as Indochina. Its neighbors include China to the north and Laos and Cambodia to the west. The South China Sea lies to the east and south. The mountains of the Annam Cordillera rise over most of the western side of Vietnam, while a thousand-mile (1,600-kilometer) coastline dominates the east.
Japan took control briefly during World War II, and when the war ended with Japan’s defeat in 1945, Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the Vietnamese Communist Party, declared Vietnam an independent nation. French attempts to retake Vietnam led to war with the communist Vietnamese, called Viet Minh. Fighting ended in 1954 with the partition of the country into communist North and non-communist South Vietnam.
In 1973 a “third” Vietnam war began—a continuation, actually—between North and South Vietnam but without significant U.S. involvement. It ended with communist victory in April 1975.
Information About Entry and Departure
In order to enter Vietnam, you will need a valid passport with at least six months validity remaining and a Vietnamese visa, a visa exemption document, or a written approval letter for a visa upon arrival. You may obtain a visa or a visa exemption document from a Vietnamese embassy or consulate prior to traveling to Vietnam.
Some countries are allowed to stay visa-free for a certain amount of time. For Germany, it’s 15 days. Check if your country of origin is one of them and you might be able to get into Vietnam without a visa. But bear in mind that you will then need a return ticket to prove that you will leave the country in time.
If you are planning to leave Vietnam and re-enter from another country, be sure that your visa is multiple entry. If it is only single entry, you will have to obtain another visa prior to returning to Vietnam.
Safety
Vietnam is a relatively safe country for visitors, including women travelling alone. In fact, given the country’s recent history, many tourists, particularly Americans, are pleasantly surprised at the warm reception that foreign travellers receive. That said, petty crime is on the rise though in a small scale and shouldn’t be a problem if you take precautions. Generally, the hassles you’ll encounter will be coping with pushy vendors and beggars.
Money
The currency in Vietnam is called Dong (VND). One USD is approximately worth 23,000 VND.
Banks and airport money changers can change your money at a high cost, so it pays to ask around before trading dollars for dong. You’re certain to find an ATM to withdraw from in any of Vietnam’s major cities. Cash rules in Vietnam, though credit cards are accepted in many restaurants, hotels, and shops in Vietnam’s big cities.
WI-FI
Internet and wifi is widely available throughout Vietnam. Something like 98% of hotels and guesthouses have wi-fi, only in very remote places (such as national parks) is it not standard. Wifi is almost always free of charge. Many cafes and restaurants also have (free) wifi. Connection speeds are normally good. Internet cafes are also available costing 3000d to 8000d per hour.
Vietnam’s average internet connection speed clocked at only 5.1 megabits per second, ranking 64th globally and near the bottom in the Asia Pacific region.
Mobile Internet
A Vietnamese SIM card can be found anywhere on the streets on carts, at any phone shop, credit kiosk and at the airport on arrival. The most common networks are Viettel Mobile, MobiFone (my network) and Vinaphone.
It should cost no more than 100,000 VND (5 USD) for a prepaid SIM. Data packages also cost around 100,000 VND and give you enough Gigabyte to get by. During my last stay I got a promotion package for 100,000 VND, which gave me 6GB per day for 10 days. Just ask around and you will find the package for your needs.
MiFi
Another possibility for mobile internet access is a MiFi device, which creates a WiFi network for you. I have tested the GlocalMe device and think it’s a really useful addition of my travel equipment. You can either use it as an ordinary wireless router with up to two SIM cards (very useful if you work with mobile TANs, you want to be available on your local number or if you want to use the social networks with a 2-factor authentication) but you can also use it without a physical SIM card but with the built in cloudSIM technology (which is of course more expensive) in over 100 countries worldwide. Apart from that it’s also a 6000 mAh powerbank, which is never bad to have with you.
Living in Vietnam as a Digital Nomad
If you are staying for a month or more, it’s worth renting a house or (less common) apartment. It’s much cheaper to look around when you arrive. Prices start from $300 a month, but you might get lucky and find somewhere cheaper.
Cyclos, or bicycle rickshaws, are available in many towns, though they’ve been banned in some more congested cities. Drivers have a tendency to ask for outrageous sums. Negotiate fiercely, and settle on a price for your destination before climbing aboard.
Xe om are motorbike taxis, which scoot around in many cities. As with the cyclos, negotiate and agree on a price before taking off.
Taxis are available in major cities, though drivers may be reluctant to use meters, and some meters are tampered with to rack up charges faster than they should. Because of taxi issues, particularly if you’re exhausted after a long flight, you might want to consider booking an airport pick-up through either your hotel or a tour company.
The country boasts one of the most diverse, delicious and healthy gastronomies in the world. The main ingredients used in Vietnamese food are rice and its derivatives, fish sauce and vegetable. Thanks to Vietnam´s tropical climate, the long coast and the gigantic range of mountain, Vietnam is blessed with numerous varieties of plants.
Coworking Spaces
The Hive Saigon
I was quite happy with my membership at The Hive in District 2. They not only have a beautiful and cozy space with a rooftop to chill on at sunset or whenever you need a break, but they also have a great community that immediately made me feel welcome.
HanoiHub
HanoiHub has two locations: one at Lang Ha Street and the other one at Huynh Thuc Khang Street. It’s spacious, but still cosy with yellow and red interiors. They have so called “energetic zones” and quiet areas to choose depending on your needs when working.
.
the Hub Da Nang
the HUB is a co-working space in Da Nang creating a community for businesses and nomads in Da Nang. If you want to work in a space where you have everything you need and also a creative environment of like-minded people, the Hub might be the best place for you.
Blog Posts About Vietnam
I published a few blog posts about places I have visited in Vietnam:
Day Trip to the Dead Sea – From Jerusalem to the Lowest Place on Earth
I have been to Israel three times and twice to the Dead Sea. On my very first visit, I unfortunately didn't make it there. But the second time, I wanted to go to the Dead Sea – no matter what. So I booked a tour at the Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem, where I stayed. Just...
Beach, Sun, and Mountains – Two Days in Da Nang
I've heard many stories about the coastal city Da Nang... but never did I manage to pay a visit. I wanted to change that, so I took a flight from Hanoi to Da Nang during my last stay in Vietnam.Arriving in Da Nang National flights in Asia are relatively cheap, so you...
Things to do in Stockholm – My Must Sees in Stockholm
Stockholm has been on my bucket list for quite a few years now, but the opportunity of traveling there never presented itself. As part of the TBEX2016 – a conference exclusively for travel bloggers – I visited the Swedish capital in July. Of course, my plan was to...
The 5 Best Beaches in Cancun, Mexico
BY KESTRA AND JACOB KNOWN AS THE AGAPE CO. ABOUT THE 5 BEST BEACHES IN CANCUNFrom Cancun to Tulum, each beach affords its visitors warm waters and plenty of sun. What can make or break a beach is the number of hotels and shops. While tourists are great for the local...
5 Tricks to Ensure You Always Have Internet Access on Your Travels
If you’re a passionate globetrotter or a digital nomad who can’t live without a decent internet connection while on the go – welcome to the club, we completely understand your concerns! However, a fast and reliable Wi-Fi connection can sometimes be an impossible...
The Digital Nomad Life in New Caledonia – Combining Work and Travel in Oceania
ABOUT LIVING THE DIGITAL NOMAD LIFE IN NEW CALEDONIA BY MARIE NIEVESFew professional endeavors can compare to the beauty of immersing yourself into an entirely different, exotic culture while you do what you love. For brave souls among you who decided to put their...
Cu Chi Tunnels – Half Day Tour to Saigon’s Underground War Museum
On my last trip to Vietnam, I had several tourist highlights on my list. I booked a half-day tour to the Cu Chi tunnels for example. Up to this point, I had never concerned myself with this topic and it was about time to face it. The Vietnam War, or American War as...
The Mekong Delta – A Day Trip To One of Vietnam’s Most Famous Sights
The day trip to the Mekong Delta starts at 7:45 am when the tour guide picks me up in the lobby in a hotel in downtown Saigon. I fall asleep quite immediately after choosing my seat on the minibus. The ride is more or less 90 minutes and although I wake up every now...
6 Amazing Ways Teaching Overseas Will Change Your Life
ABOUT WAYS TEACHING OVERSEAS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFEBeing a nomad, and a digital one at that, comes with an impressive set of perks, ranging from flexible working hours and working environment and countries of your choice, to lower costs of living. Of course, there is...
The Sticky Waterfalls – A day trip to the Bua Tong Waterfalls
The Sticky Waterfalls have been on my Bucket List since I visited Chiang Mai for the first time. Their real name is Bua Tong, which means "golden flower". What are the Sticky Waterfalls? While waterfalls normally are slippery, these ones are not. Instead of gushing...
20 important words/sentences in Vietnamese:
| Hello | Xin chao |
| Yes | Vang |
| No | Khong |
| Thank you! | Cam o’n! |
| Please | Xin vui long |
| Excuse me… | Xin loi |
| Where is …? | O’ dau….? |
| My name is …? | Toi ten la ….? |
| I don’t speak Vietnamese | Toi khong noi duoc tieng viet. |
| Do you speak English? | Ban co noi tieng anh khong? |
| I’m German. | Toi den tu duc. |
| Could you help me? | Ban co the giup toi? |
| I need … | Toi can…. |
| Hungry | Doi bung |
| Thirsty | Khat |
| Water | Nuoc |
| How much is this? | Cai nay bao nhieu? |
| Beach | Bai bien |
| Mall | Trung tam mua sam |
| Hospital | Benh vien |
The Numbers in Vietnamese
| 1 | mot |
| 2 | hai |
| 3 | ba |
| 4 | bon |
| 5 | go |
| 6 | nam |
| 7 | sau |
| 8 | tam |
| 9 | chin |
| 10 | muoi |
| 11 | muoi mot |
| 12 | muoi hai |
| 13 | muoi ba |
| 14 | muoi bon |
| 15 | muoi lam |
| 16 | muoi sau |
| 17 | muoi bay |
| 18 | muoi tam |
| 19 | muoi chin |
| 20 | hai muoi |
| 30 | ba muoi |
| 40 | bon muoi |
| 50 | nam muoi |
| 60 | sau muoi |
| 70 | bay muoi |
| 80 | tam muoi |
| 90 | chin muoi |
| 100 | mot tram |
| 1.000 | mot ngan |
| 1.000.000 | mot trieu |
The Saigon Guide for Digital Nomads
Live Like a Local
Are you searching for a cool spot for digital nomads in South East Asia? You should check out Saigon!
Subscribe to my newsletter so I can keep you posted about my life of travels and as a digital nomad! You will never miss a new blog post, a new ebook or where my next adventure is going to bring us. Because it’s never going to be boring!
You could also be interested in the following destinations for digital nomads:
DESTINATIONS FOR DIGITAL NOMADS
THAILAND
DESTINATIONS FOR DIGITAL NOMADS
SINGAPORE
DESTINATIONS FOR DIGITAL NOMADS
MALAYSIA
Trackbacks/Pingbacks