We will be departing on 12/21 to prep for the wedding, but most guests are departing 12/25 to arrive 12/27 because that is the cheapest day to fly out. We will be staying in Vietnam until 1/11. Our flight information is under the "Travel" tab.
Ho Chi Minh 12/22-1/2 Phu Quoc 1/2-1/6 Da Nang 1/6-1/11
We plan to have a welcome party the day before and an after party on the night of the wedding. We will be planning a New Years event for guests who decide to stay longer as well!
Passport and VISA. VISA information is under the "Travel" tab. CASH!! Vietnam heavily relies on cash as their currency, so bringing cash is helpful. Most places do not accept card. Everything is relatively cheap in Vietnam, but it would be good to have at least a few hundred in cash. It depends how much you want to splurge.
The Vietnamese Immigration Department issues E-visas to foreigners through an online application process. E-visas are issued with a validity period of up to 90 days, one-entry for 25 USD or multiple entries for 50 USD, and payable via bank transfer. E-visa holders may enter and exit Vietnam through 42 designated international border gates, including all international airports. The Vietnamese E-visa instructions and application are available online and can be found here. For your convenience, we have published the step-by-step instructions: https://uploads.mwp.mprod.getusinfo.com/uploads/sites/124/2022/07/E-Visa-Application-Steps.pdf For more visa information: https://vn.usembassy.gov/vietnamese-visas-and-entry-exit/ If you are Vietnamese or have a Vietnamese spouse located near Orange County, please reach out to Trans Travel (714-839-9980). They can help you apply for a Visa for 5 years for about $75 if you plan to come back to VN. They are located in a plaza near Brookhurst and Bolsa. You will need your passport. It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to process, so you will need to prepare this about 2 months in advance before departing to be safe.
It depends! Some guests are joining us to our second city in Phu Quoc, which is an island, and will return back to the US on 1/6. We have some friends staying with us the whole time. We have a google form for you to input your information to give us a head count of how many people are joining us. We also have other guests who will be traveling on their own afterwards to other parts of Asia.
Although you can buy most medications it will be helpful to have Advil, Tylenol, Imodium, Tums, Pepcid, DayQuil/Nyquil, Allergy medication, and Pepto Bismol chewable tablets. You can also reach out to your physician and tell them you are traveling out of the country to request a prescription of Z Pack (antibiotics) to treat traveler's diarrhea.
You can exchange money at verified cash exchange stores in Vietnam. Beware of exchange booths with very "good" rates because you may get scammed. They really are too good to be true. You can also withdraw money from an ATM with fees.
Download the "GRAB" app on your phone which is equivalent to Uber/Lyft. You have an option to be picked up by a scooter or by a vehicle. This is the most affordable option. Taxis are also available which are also relatively affordable. You technically need an international license to ride a scooter in Vietnam and we do not recommend this unless you have motorcycle experience and exposure to the chaotic driving culture in Vietnam. You can rent scooters, but reach out to us if you ignore our warnings and are psycho enough to still be interested!
Buying an eSIM will only give you DATA. If you want to make outgoing calls, then you need to call via FB messenger or What's App. You can also Facetime because that uses data. Make sure your phone is unlocked from your cell phone carrier. How to check: For iPhones Open Settings --> General --> About --> Carrier Lock --> It will say "No SIM restrictions" if unlocked or "SIM locked" At the airport, there will be places where you can buy a physical sim or eSIM depending on the model of your phone to have data and cell phone service. It's about $10-20 for 30 days.
It's a bit confusing, but when you get an eSIM, sometimes you may get a different phone number. Follow these steps to keep your phone number and use iMessage. For iPhone Go to Settings: Cellular --> Cellular data --> select the phone number of eSIM To keep using iMessage Go to Settings --> Messages --> Send & Receive --> Select your orginal phone number If you are android, then you need to do your research on how to do the same!
In Vietnam, they use power sockets (outlets) of type A, C and D. In the United States, you have plugs A and B. You need a power plug adapter in Vietnam for sockets type A, C and D. The plugs of your electric devices don't fit without. Some places have hybrid sockets that allow you to plug right in, but FIRST CHECK THE VOLTAGE!! In Vietnam, two voltage levels are in use (110 / 220 V), which can vary by region, city, or sometimes even hotel. Your electric devices typically operate at 120 V in the United States. So please check the local voltage before using your devices! If the local voltage is much higher at 220 V, you need a voltage converter. Without a converter, you risk serious damage to your devices. Additionally, be aware that the frequency in Vietnam differs. Reference this link for more information: https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/us/vietnam/
Yes, it's a humid climate so bring bug spray or bug wipes!