Vietnam Travel Guide for Americans

Buy a local SIM immediately at the airport or any 7-Eleven (Viettel, Mobi, Vina are the three carriers, all identical). A SIM card costs $0 (free with plan purchase) and 2GB/month is $3-4, unlimited data is $8-10. You'll likely spend $10-15 for your entire stay unless you're video-heavy. International roaming from your US carrier is insanely expensive ($10/MB)—don't do it. Carriers include Viettel (strongest coverage everywhere), Mobi (younger crowds, decent speeds), and VinaPhone (older network, adequate in cities). Top up at any convenience store or through the carrier's app. All carriers offer tourist plans in English—just activate at the shop. Keep your US number alive if you need two-factor authentication; forward calls to your Vietnam number using Google Voice before you leave.

Tipping is not customary in Vietnam and often confuses locals—a service charge usually isn't added. That said, rounding up to the nearest 5,000 VND ($0.20) or leaving small cash tips (5-10%) at nicer restaurants is appreciated but never expected. Hotels rarely get tips unless exceptional service; don't tip motorbike taxis, drivers on group tours expect nothing. Street food vendors absolutely do not expect tips. Tour guides appreciate 50,000-100,000 VND ($2-4) per day if they've been exceptional. At high-end restaurants (those with US-trained staff), leaving 10% is fine. The culture is fundamentally different from America—saving face and politeness matter more than financial gratuity, so tip if you want to be gracious, but skip it if budgeting tight and no one will be offended.

Vietnam is safe for tourists by global standards—petty theft and scams are the main concerns, not violent crime. Hanoi's Old Quarter and HCMC's Backpacker District have pickpockets and bag-snatchers targeting drunk tourists at night; use hostel lockers, carry minimal cash, and avoid flashing expensive gear. Motorbike taxi scams are overblown if you use Grab; traditional taxis exist but are riskier. Don't accept drinks from strangers in bars (known scam for date-rape drugs and robbery). Police are generally courteous to foreigners. Drugs carry brutal penalties—don't touch them. Crossing streets feels suicidal but locals do it constantly and slowly; walk at a measured pace and don't run. Traffic is chaotic but follows loose logic; it's loud, not deadly. Hanoi's air pollution is real in winter (November-January) if you have respiratory issues. Political speech is restricted—don't insult the government or leadership in public. Overall: Vietnam is safer than many US cities, but use standard traveler sense.