Your To Do List

TO DO

Call your cell phone provider and make sure your phone SIM in unlocked before you travel. This will allow you to switch SIM cards in Vietnam and get a cheap local number for your entire trip ($6.15 - $15). You will need this SIM card to use Vietnam's version of Uber called "Grab".
Download the "Grab Superapp" to your phone - it is the Vietnamese version of Uber and you will use it a lot.
For your payment method in the app choose CASH. Andy never got a ride when selecting the "credit card" payment option. Once Andy switched to the "cash" payment option he got rides right away. This is why it's important to get some Vietnamese currency before going. Rides are super cheap, but always good to have a little extra cash on you. Wells Fargo bank is pretty good at currency exchanges.
Not sure if you can book GRAB from the airport to the hotel.

BEFORE LEAVING YOUR ARRIVAL AIRPORT IN VIETNAM: We highly recommend you get a Vietnamese SIM card at the airport to use for the rest of your trip. Have them put the SIM card in for you at the airport and test your connection by opening up a new website on your phone and making a phone call. Get a SIM card that can cover you for the rest of your trip. You will need your new Vietnamese phone number to sign up for the Grab App (Vietnam's version of Uber/Lyft).
A Vietnamese SIM card & prepaid data package should cost about $6.15 - $15 USD.
After customs and before leaving the airport, you have several counters proposing taxi services (avoid getting taxis from them) but they also sell local SIM cards. If your phone is SIM unlocked and is compatible with the GSM network from Viet Nam, you can buy a sim card, put some credit on it and activate a data plan. The price is the same than in the city and they will speak some basic English to help you setup your sim card. The most popular Sim card are Mobifone, Viettel.

Get about 2,000,000 VND cash (~$84) before you go. Vietnam is a more cash based society than the U.S. and you will need cash to get from the airport to the hotel by taxi (reliable taxi: Mai Linh, Vinasun), or GRAB car (like Uber).
Remember to submit a "foreign travel notification" with your credit card company and your bank to make sure you credit card and debit card work while you are overseas.
You will see very large numbers when it comes to dealing with Vietnamese currency. This will literally see things cost millions of Vietnamese Dong (VND). That's because about 23,400 VND is equal to 1 U.S. Dollar (USD). So when you see these large numbers everywhere, just take a second and pull out your calculator, type in the large number, and then divide by 23,400 so you know how much it costs in USD.
1,000,000 VND is $42.74. If you have 42 bucks you are a millionaire in Vietnam. ;)

Get recommended CDC vaccines (some of you need to start taking them 6 months prior to departure like the Hep A & B vaccines). There’s a good chance you got many of these vaccines already as a kid, but now is a good time to check your vaccine card or test for immunity. Some of these vaccines can protect you 100% for life
Click here for CDC's vaccine recommendations.

Make sure your passport has at least two blank pages and does not expire within 6 months of February 2023 (does not expire before August 2023).
If your passport expires or does not have 2+ blank pages, please apply for a new one by September 2022. It takes 11 weeks to get your passport or 7 weeks with a $60 expedited fee.

The airline’s employees will NOT let you on the plane unless you show proof of an approved Vietnamese visa at the ticket booth. Vietnam requires you get your visa approved BEFORE arrival. Recommend getting approval before Christmas to avoid any unexpected delay. (The Vietnamese embassy might be closed in mid-January due to the Lunar New Year)
Click here and fill out the Online application for your Vietnamese E-VISA NOW.

Bring proof of vaccination. Can only help.
Some hotels only accept bookings from fully vaccinated guests. Vaccination certificates and/or other documents as required by law and must be presented at check-in. Please contact the property for more information.