Vietnam

Between my stops I mostly flew or took the bus, routes like Phu Quoc–Ho Chi Minh City or Ho Chi Minh City–Da Nang can be covered in one to two hours instead of a long night bus. Within cities, taxi and scooter apps like Grab are the easiest way to get around.

The Salinda Resort on Phu Quoc, the Chicland Danang Beach Hotel right on the beach, and the centrally located Grand Mercure Hanoi all stuck with me as particularly memorable. In Ho Chi Minh City, next time I'd choose more central accommodation in District 1 instead of somewhere a bit out of the way, so I wouldn't be dependent on scooters or taxis for every trip.

Vegetarian and vegan options are now easy to find in bigger cities and tourist spots, for instance at ROM Vegetarian Bistro in Hoi An or Restaurant Eat Pray Love on Phu Quoc.

Viettel is considered the provider with the most reliable network coverage nationwide, including on islands like Phu Quoc. SIM cards are also available in supermarkets, shopping malls and official shops, for short stays a small data package is usually enough, in more rural areas the Mobifone and Vinaphone networks can be a bit weaker.

A light rain jacket is useful year-round, especially during the rainy season from May to October. Comfortable, sturdy shoes make trekking around Sa Pa easier. An adapter for the mixed socket types (A/C/D/F) is needed for devices from Germany.

Applications must be submitted to the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense at least 14 days in advance, including the drone's technical specifications. Flying without a permit is generally prohibited over airports, military facilities, government buildings and national parks, drones can be confiscated by customs. In practice many private pilots fly without a permit anyway, especially in remote areas, it isn't legal, and the risk of confiscation always exists.

Depending on your route, vaccinations against Japanese encephalitis and rabies can also make sense, especially for longer stays in rural areas. There's a low malaria risk in some rural and mountainous border regions, on the classic tourist route (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City) it's very low. Travel health insurance with repatriation cover is advisable, as is mosquito protection against dengue fever. If you want to ride a scooter yourself, you'll need an international driving permit under the 1968 Vienna Convention in addition to your national one, a standard German class B license isn't enough for motorcycles over 50cc, nor is the B196 permit. Without a valid license and helmet, insurance coverage can be voided.

Vietnam's recent history, especially the Vietnam War, is still present in the country, for instance in museums like the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, a sensitive, respectful approach to the topic is appreciated. When bargaining at markets, a friendly, good-humored tone is part of it, aggressive haggling doesn't go over well. When paying or handing over items, it's common to use both hands, which is considered polite.