If you follow me on Snapchat [taslanyy] and Instagram [@taislany] you already know that I’m currently in Vietnam. I’m super excited to be here which is why I decided to tell you a little more about it. Hopefully, it will help those who will soon visit Vietnam or want to get inspired.
I’m slowly falling in love with Asia. The continent brings together cultural wealth, good food, good value for money and beautiful beaches. Today I will share:
5 Travel Tips When Visiting Vietnam/Phu Quoc ??
1. Dialogue:
The official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese. However, French is spoken as a second language by the older generations and the South population. I don’t speak either Vietnamese or French so you can imagine the struggle.
Tip: English, is not spoken fluently (I’ve never done so many mimics in my life), so always have a hotel card and the address where you want to go, if you’re going to take a taxi. Considering my struggle to communicate for the past few days, I have decided to put together some basic phrases/words in Vietnamese:
Hello: Chào Anh
How are you? Chị khỏe không?
I’m fine, thank you. Tôi khỏe, cảm ơn
Yes: vâng / dúng
No: không
How much? Cai này giá bao nhiêu?
Sorry: Xin lỗi
Thank you very much: Cảm ơn ông (m) / Cảm ơn bà (f)
Goodbye: Tạm biệt
2. Be Prepared To See a Whole Lot of Motorbikes:
It’s impossible to go to Vietnam and remain indifferent to its beauty. You get to see real life there, they have completely different habits and routines, it will definitely fascinate you. One of the things that grabbed my attention was the amount of motorbikes in the streets and how chaotic it is.
I would say that Vietnams official transportation are motorbikes, for sure! There are approximately 40 million bikes for a population of 90 million. And you will see practically everything on top of them: 1, 2, 3, 4 or even 5 people at a time, boxes, dogs … I’m not going to lie, I find it a little scary but if it works for them then who am I to judge.
3. The Weather:
The climate is quite unstable, avoid going from September to December, as it is the rain season. We decided to go in February, as it’s the dry season and the chances of rain are very little. We have been here for five days now and it’s been very sunny and hot (28°-30° degrees). I really feel like Phu Quoc remains a hidden gem. But like with any other secret, little by little, the secret will get out. So, if I can give you a tip is to discover it while it hasn’t become a trend.
Note: Hotels double their rates for dry Season. If you’re planning to visit make sure to book well in advance.
4. Dress Code?
A traditional Vietnamese women’s outfit is composed of a long robe with sleeves and collars over some pantaloon trousers but there are a lot of people in “western” clothing as well.
There are no restrictions for tourists. No one asks you to cover your shoulders and knees, or take off your shoes. But the local people walk around covered, to protect themselves from the heat. So it’s totally up to you to choose what to wear. I have been living in shorts and crop tops as it’s very comfy and summery.
5. Food Food Food!
One of my favorite parts!! You will eat VERY well in Vietnam. It is considered one of the healthiest and freshest cuisines in the world. I am still fairly new to Asian cuisine, so I am still exploring the flavors that work for me and the ones that don’t. You’ll see lots of soup and sauces and most dishes are prepared with a fair amount of lemongrass, ginger, mint and chili (I am not a huge fan of neither of them). When choosing what to eat I always choose the dishes that don’t have all of them at once.
Cool fact: the food in Vietnam is not too spicy (a point that differs from Thailand).
Things you need to try while in Vietnam:
Spring Rolls: Salad rolls and shrimp on rice paper. They can be fried or, more commonly, raw and cold.
Pho: they have this soup all the time! At breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a beef/chicken/pork broth and it comes with noodles and vegetables. My boyfriend loves it!
Vietnamese coffee: this one is my favorite (me and my sweet tooth). It consists of milk, condensed milk, and coffee. You can have it hot or cold. An absolute delight!
The Room:
We are staying at The Shells Resort & Spa: Luxury Resort Phu Quoc. The resort is stunning, and the room is one of the nicest I’ve stayed in a while. It has a lovely Zen vibe and I’m enjoying the stay so far.
I hope these tips are helpful. Where’s your next holiday destination? Let me know in the comments below!
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