THINGS TO KNOW

1. The City: Ho Chi Minh or Saigon?

Ho Chi Minh and Saigon are the same place. They are both correct names for Vietnam's largest city. Before 1975 the city was called Saigon. After the Vietnam War ended, the name of the city changed to Ho Chi Minh city. The majority of locals still call it "Saigon", but they do not care which name you use. Personal opinion: Saigon is a much better name because it is catchier and shorter than Ho Chi Minh (also you will impress the locals). If you are curious about the history of the city and the name itself, you can read more about it here. 

The airport name is Tan Son Nhat International Airport, but the airport code is still SGN (which is a shortcut for Saigon).

2. Weather: 

Vietnam is a tropical country with two seasons: WET and DRY. Luckily, we are traveling to Vietnam during the dry season. From December - March, the weather is comfortable (you won't sweat too much). Saigon, which is in the south, will be a bit warmer. Da Nang, which is in central Vietnam will have weather that is a bit cooler. Therefore, the water temperature in Da Nang (~77F) might not be the best for swimming. But if you really want to enjoy the beaches of Da Nang, noon time will be the best time to jump into the water. Our travel spots on this adventure trip in Vietnam will be: Saigon, Danang, Hue, Hoi An, and Dong Hoi. 

 January - February: Saigon's temperature range is 21 - 32°C, or 69.8 - 89.6°F. Central Vietnam's temperature range is 19 - 27°C, or 66.2 - 80.6°F.

3. Clothes:

Suit up and dress up. It is a wedding! Other than that, pack your summer clothes, flip-flops, swim wear and a light jacket (for the road trip and wind down portion in the mountains). If you forget anything, don't panic. You can buy them even cheaper in Vietnam. 

4. Vietnamese Wedding:

This webpage has a pretty good description of a traditional Vietnamese wedding. Our Vietnamese wedding will be a little bit different. We will have wines, and beers, but not hard alcohol at the reception. Wedding gifts: in Vietnam, they do not give gifts or have a wedding registry. Instead they give lucky money as a gift that go towards helping pay for your seat at the wedding reception. You will see a box at the reception for people to put their "gift" into. However, for our wedding, your presence is your present. Save your money and put it towards the Vietnam adventure after the wedding.  

5. WARNING: Weed & Drugs

This is not the U.S. or Europe!  Weed is very illegal in Vietnam and is classified and punished in the same category as cocaine and heroin even in very small amounts. Laws on drugs are very severe and include long 10-year prison sentences and also the death penalty. You sometimes will see easy access to drugs in tourist areas. Remember you have zero rights in this communist country if caught and there is nothing the U.S. government can do to help you except notify your family. Don’t risk it and stick with alcohol for this trip. Don’t compromise yourself or your friends. Disclaimer over and out.

6. Keep Your Phone and Wallet Out of Sight

Do not just hold your phone out on the street. Be cognizant of this when taking pictures or recording video. A person on a scooter can grab it out of your hand and drive off with it. This is mainly a worry in Saigon, not other places.

7. Taxi:

Most of the taxi drivers are not frauds but to be safe, please only use MAI LINH taxi, VINASUN taxi or book car through GRAB app (details in your to do list tab). Majority of taxi drivers speak limited English, so keep your hotel / destination details handy and give them to the driver. 

8. Mosquitos: 

The humid climate in Vietnam carries different types of airborne insects and mosquitos. To keep mosquitos away from you, here are some tips:

• Wear insect repellent: If you do not want to pack it with you, you can buy it in pharmacy stores in Vietnam. 

• Wear a right kind of color and clothes: Long and thick clothes can prevent the mosquitos bites. If it is too hot for you, you can at last pay attention on to the colors. Research shows that bright color will attract mosquitos more than light or neutral colors. 

• Stay clean: mosquitos are drawn to smelly body odor... you filthy animal.

Honestly, it is a little bit annoying, but  a few mosquitos bites won't keep you away from all the fun you are going to have. 

9. Don't Worry!

There are a bunch of warnings on this page because it's good for you to know. But remember that Vietnam is actually a pretty safe country and is even ranked a little bit safer than the United States according to the 2020 Safety Index. People are friendly here and most likely your biggest risk is getting your cell phone snatched from someone on a scooter.

10. Etiquette

If you have extra time, read up on some Vietnamese etiquette and explore Vietnam like a pro: etiquette and more things to know.