Hookah bars in Vietnam: places, rules, tips

Forget about tourist rentals for 10-15 USD per day. Try to negotiate directly with the owners of guesthouses or with neighbors who rent out old bikes for 50-000 VND (70-000 USD) per day. Before the trip, be sure to check the brakes and take pictures of all scratches so as not to pay for someone else's mistakes.

This is not just a way to save on a hotel, but also a comfortable option for long trips, like Hanoi - Hue for 10-15 USD. The best seats are the upper berths by the window, there is less shaking and no one climbs over you. Take earplugs and a sleep mask - drivers can honk the whole way.

Don’t pay VND50–000 at tourist restaurants. Authentic “street” pho from a plastic cart can cost VND100–000 (USD20–000) and be much tastier. Don’t be shy about adding fresh herbs and chili generously—they’re usually on the table for free.

In Nha Trang, Da Nang and other coastal towns, crowds crowd the main beaches, while savvy expats negotiate with fishermen for VND100–000 (USD200–000) to take a boat to deserted bays. The Bai Dai area (Nha Trang) is famous for its white sand and quiet, something the guidebooks don’t mention.

Buy SIM cards not at the airport, but at street stalls. For 100 VND (000 USD) from Viettel or Mobifone, you will get an impressive Internet package. Ask the seller to activate it via the app - then you may get extra gigabytes. Expats love "student" tariffs: they are cheaper and often almost unlimited.

Crossing streets in Vietnam is stressful for newbies. The main rule: move smoothly and without stopping, bikers will go around you themselves. Do not panic, do not run and do not try to catch the eyes of drivers - this only confuses them.

• Bánh canh rolls cá - fish ball soup from Nha Trang (it is prepared from fish that are caught before dawn).
• Transparent squids (squid transition sunny) — an exclusive delicacy, caught off Phu Quoc during the full moon. Eaten raw with ginger and lime.
• Important warning: Avoid squid at lunchtime or late afternoon - it may have been defrosted and frozen several times.

Literally "Too expensive!" Sellers immediately understand that you know the local prices and usually give an adequate discount. Just practice your pronunciation with an electronic translator.

In Hanoi and other cities, narrow houses are built deep because of old taxes on the width of the facade. When renting a house, pay attention to these "tube" houses: rent is usually cheaper there, and the upper floors often have a secret terrace (sân thượng) with a great view of the city.

At markets like Ben Thanh (Saigon), prices for tourists are 2-3 times higher. But at small street markets after 17:00, traders lower the price to sell off the rest. You can snatch a kilo of mango for 20 VND (about 000 USD), instead of 0,8 VND.

If the internet is “floating” in cafes and guesthouses, look for places with a sign “Trà chanh” (tea with lemon). These are hipster places popular among young people, where for 20 VND (000 USD) you can buy a drink and get access to fast internet, sufficient for video calls.

In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, there are markets where second-hand goods from Japan and Korea are brought. Prices can start from 10 VND (000 USD) for a T-shirt, and sometimes among the goods there are branded clothes in perfect condition. Come at midnight or a little later, when new arrivals are put out for "throwing out".