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Unmapped.

COUNTRY GUIDE

Vietnam

North, centre and south feel like different trips, and each is better with company.

Travelling the length of the country, working remotely in Ho Chi Minh City or living in Hanoi for years: Unmapped helps you find your city, meet travelers, expats and locals, and join or start things together.

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The Japanese Covered Bridge and yellow houses along a canal in the old town of Hội An, Vietnam
Japanese Covered Bridge, Hội An. Photo: Phú Nguyễn Đạt / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)

BASICS

Before you go.

Language
Vietnamese
English is common in hotels, cafés and the tourist areas of the big cities, less so elsewhere. A translation app helps.
Currency
Vietnamese dong (₫, VND)
Notes have many zeros and some look alike, so check before you pay. Cash is common; cards and QR payments are growing in cities.
Time zone
Indochina Time, UTC+7
One time zone for the whole country, no daylight saving time.
Power
220 V, several plug types
Many sockets take both flat and round pins. A universal adapter is the easy choice.
Getting online
eSIM, SIM or Wi-Fi
Easy to set up, and Wi-Fi is common in cafés and places to stay.
Emergency
113 police · 114 fire · 115 ambulance
Free to call. English can be limited, so a local contact can help.

GETTING AROUND

Easy to move, once you know how.

  • Fly the long distances

    The country is long and narrow. Domestic flights connect Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City and save a lot of time.

  • The north to south railway

    One main line follows the coast between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It is slow and scenic, and works well for shorter sections.

  • Coaches and sleeper buses

    Intercity buses, including overnight sleeper buses, reach most towns. Booking through your accommodation or a known operator keeps it simple.

  • In the city

    Ride-hailing apps offer cars and motorbike taxis in the big cities. Traffic is dense, so get used to it before you drive or ride yourself.

CITIES TO EXPLORE

Where to start.

A few very different places to begin. You can explore any city in Vietnam through Unmapped. Search for it in the app.

HanoiHạ LongHuếHoi AnNha TrangHo Chi Minh City
Featured cities in this guide. You can explore any city in Vietnam in Unmapped.

GOOD TO KNOW

Small things that help.

  • Crossing the street

    Traffic flows around you. Walk at a calm, steady pace so riders can see where you are going.

  • Small notes help

    Keep small notes for street stalls, markets and short rides. Larger places increasingly take cards and QR payments.

  • North, centre and south

    Weather, food and pace change a lot along the country. Hanoi can be cool in winter while the south stays warm all year.

  • Rain at different times

    The rainy season arrives at different times in the north, the centre and the south, so check the region you are heading to.

  • Street food culture

    Small stools, shared tables and one or two dishes per stall are part of daily life. Pointing at what others are eating works well.

  • Temples and pagodas

    Dress modestly, take off your shoes where others do and keep your voice down inside.

UNMAPPED IN VIETNAM

Arrive knowing someone.

Open your next city before you land, then use it every day you're there.

  • Meet people before you land

    Open Hanoi, Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City before you arrive and see who is here now, who is arriving and who lives there.

  • Ask the City Chat

    Every city can have its own City Chat. Ask about sleeper buses, coworking in Ho Chi Minh City or where to find good phở in Hanoi.

  • Join or host something

    Find meetups and day trips, or host your own, like a food walk in Hanoi, a beach morning in Nha Trang or a lantern evening in Hoi An.

  • Travel together

    Share your route from Hanoi down to Ho Chi Minh City, or post a Buddy Plan for a boat trip, a class or a night out.

FAQ

Questions about Unmapped in Vietnam.

Can I use Unmapped outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City?

Yes. You can explore any city in Vietnam through Unmapped, and every city can become a City Hub. The cities on this page are just a few places to start.

Can I find people to travel the length of the country with?

Yes. Share your route as a trip, or post a Buddy Plan, and see who else is heading the same way.

Can locals use Unmapped too?

Yes. Unmapped is for travelers, expats and locals, and many good plans start with someone who already lives there.

Can I explore a city before I arrive?

Yes. Open your next city, see who is arriving, join the City Chat and share your travel plan before you land.

Can I host something myself?

Yes. Any member can host an event or start a project, and anyone can share a trip or a Buddy Plan.

Looking for another country? Search any city in the world.

Sources & information

Information last reviewed: October 2026Location data: GeoNames (opens in a new tab) (CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab))Map: Natural Earth (opens in a new tab)Photo: Phú Nguyễn Đạt (opens in a new tab) / Unsplash (opens in a new tab)

Travel information can change. Please verify important information with official sources. Country guides are provided for general information and do not constitute legal, medical, immigration or other professional advice. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Unmapped is not liable for losses resulting from reliance on the information provided. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.

VIETNAM WITH UNMAPPED

Explore Vietnam with Unmapped.

Find your city, meet people there and join or start something. Available on iPhone and Android.

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