Vietnam
Việt Nam
Vietnam runs on Grab and Zalo. Uber doesn't exist here. Grab for rides, Zalo for talking to locals.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
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Southeast Asia super-app: rides, food, payments, banking.
Vietnam's main rideshare. Motorbike (GrabBike) is faster and cheaper than cars in Hanoi or HCMC.
🗺️Navigation & Maps
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Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.
Works well, but offline maps are critical.
💬Translation
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Naver's translator. Better than Google for Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai.
Best Vietnamese translation.
📱Messaging
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Vietnam's main messaging app, used by virtually everyone for booking and businesses.
Vietnam's WhatsApp. Hotels, guides, drivers — everyone uses it.
✈️Travel Planning
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Activities, attractions, and SIM cards across Asia. Better than GetYourGuide in Asia.
Halong Bay tours, sleeper buses, and Sapa trains.
Is Vietnam one stop of several?
Add your other destinations and get one combined app list, with the adapters and currencies for the whole trip.
The practical basics
Power & plugs
- Plug type
- A / C / F
- Voltage
- 220V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
- Type A: Two flat parallel pins. Common in North America, Japan, parts of Central America and Asia.
- Type C: Two round pins. Used across most of Europe, South America, parts of Asia and Africa.
- Type F: Two round pins + grounding clips on top and bottom (Schuko). Standard across most of Europe.
Outlets are usually flexible; you'll see both flat and round-pin sockets.
Tipping
Not expected for casual meals. 5-10% at upscale restaurants. Tipping guides is appreciated.
CurrencyVND
Vietnamese you'll actually use
Etiquette and scams to know
✓ Do
- Take shoes off entering homes and some shops.
- Use both hands when receiving business cards.
✕Don't
- Touching someone's head.
- Crossing your fingers (rude gesture).
⚠️ Common scams to know
- Cyclo drivers quoting one price then demanding more — agree on price before boarding.
- Taxis with rigged meters at Hanoi/HCMC airports — use Grab.
- Massage upsells.
This page was last reviewed in September 2026. Apps launch, rebrand and pull out of countries all the time, so confirm anything your trip depends on. Spotted something out of date? Tell us — here's how we check.