Practical Information

Get a Simcard

NOTE: Vietnam is now included in 3LikeHome
This means, if you have 3likehome, you don't have to buy a simcard, you have free data and phone calls

When you land in the airport, you will see lots of booths selling sim cards for very cheap, around maybe $7 USD for an "unlimited" data card for 30 days. We highly recommend getting one of these. Bring an extra phone (or dual sim phone) if you want to make sure your Danish phone is still active or if you're travelling in a group, buy the data card for one of you and have them guide you around.
Alternatively, take out your homesim and disconnect for a bit.
Buying a simcard also lets you keep track and guide a taxi driver that doesn't know the way.
Price: ~ $7 USD / 150.000 VND / 45 DKK

How to get around

Grab is by far the easiest way to get around but requires data. It works exactly like Uber. For those of you familiar with it, do this instead of using normal taxis. For those of you who haven't done this before, make sure you learn as soon as possible :)
It's safe, easy, incredibly cheap and there are plenty around. Use the Simcard (or if you have 3likehome) you bought in the airport for your first ride. This is the method we use if we don't have a motorbike
Price airport to villas: ~ $7 USD / 150.000 VND / 45 DKK

Taxis are still cheap but more expensive than Grab/Uber. If you hail a taxi on the street make sure it's a metered Vinasun taxi. Sometimes they can be a hassle because they don't speak English, you can't pronounce the place you're going and their eyes can't read the tiny screen you're showing them with the address. The taxis generally are honest in Da Nang and don't cheat you. However, they need to know where you're going.
Price airport to villas: ~ $11 USD / 250.000 VND / 70 DKK

Pre-booking taxis in the airport is more expensive and not needed but a safe, hassle free option.
Price airport to villas: ~ $20 USD / 450.000 VND / 130 DKK

hot tip: all the ATM's in the airport usually let's you withdraw 5 million (~ $216 USD / 1402 DKK). This is a good time to get cash as you'll need it.

Vaccinations

You don't need alot of vaccinations.

Diphteria/tetanus (danish: difteri/stivkrampe) is given as a 2-in-1 so you get both with one shot. This one is important.

Hepatitis A, is also a strong recommendation. You don't need hepatitis B, but it is recommended for longer travels and if you plan on getting in particularily risky situations (like an orphanage or a red cross camp)

You don't need any more vacinations than that. Typhoid is optional. Source: Dansk, English

A Note on Malaria: don't pay for it! It's a complete waste of money. They tell you to take it if you are in a risky area (you're not) and give you a doctors note so you can go buy the pills. You don't need a note to buy them in Vietnam and they have better pills. In either case, the pills have more side effects than good effects. Really the best protection is to bring some anti-mosquite spray and thin loose long sleeved shirts/pants.

Mosquitoes

There are some diseases you cannot vaccinate against, like dengue and partly malaria.
The best way to avoid these diseases is simply to avoid getting bitten.
Bring long sleeved clothes (thin and loose!) and some bug spray, or better yet; buy it when you get there. The bug sprays are stronger and they sell clothes made for the weather.
The days are free of mosquitoes as they come out around dusk. There is a period right when the sun goes down (around 18:30) with a bunch of mosquitoes and then they are almost gone, so it's not really a big issue.

Cash or Credit?

Vietnam runs on cash. Get cash. If you're in tourist areas, most places will accept cards but often your hotel or the local restaurant only takes cash, so have cash backup and pay with card when you can.
Alternatively, I always pay cash. Although, if you're for example paying for others than yourself, you might find yourself running out of cash too quickly.

ATM's are plenty but since it costs a fee everytime you withdraw, you will want to withdraw as much as possible every time.
Unfortunately, many ATM's only allow 2.000.000 dong, which is about $85 USD. BIDV let's you get more but at a much higher price (like 4% fee). I usually try to find a "MB Bank" (Military Bank) as they often allow 5 million.

hot tip: all the ATM's in the airport usually let's you withdraw 5 million!

A Note on Safety: Don't carry all your money on you in one wallet. 5million dong in Vietnam probably corresponds to carrying around 10.000 DKK in Denmark in terms of buying power and you wouldn't want to carry around that much in cash.
We suggest you have the majority of your cash either in the hotel or in a seperate bag, hidden a bit away, and put the rest in your wallet. It helps so that you don't show a huge amount of cash everytime you pay.
Da nang is very safe but even in Denmark, showing 10.000 in cash, can tempt weaker souls.

Sockets / Power Outlets

The sockets are the same as in Europe so your devices will fit. Voltage varies but almost all modern appliances can adjust for this. We've always just used our devices directly in the plugs and haven't had any problems. If you have a particularily voltage-sensitive device, make sure it can handle both 110V and 220V.

Driving in Vietnam

Drivers's license is not required. However, we do not recommend driving your own (rented) car because you won't have insurance.

Hiring a car with driver is an excellent option and is not very expensive. Around 600 DKK / day

Alternatively, drive on a motorbike (very easy to rent) and although traffic can be dangerous and you still don't have insurance you won't do as much damage to you or others.

Visa

Danes don't need a visa to visit Vietnam for visits less than 15 days and you don't have to do anything. If you plan to stay longer, you have to get a visa.

You can get a visa in two ways:

1. Get a visa in your passport directly from the embassy. This is safe and you can take care of it before you go. It does, however, require you to go to the embassy, and costs more money.
2. E-visa is a visa that you can do online. You then go to a place in the airport in Vietnam to get your final visa on arrival. It's cheaper but if you have problems you won't know until the airport.