The good
- The cost of living is low
- Beautiful landscapes
- Great food
The bad
- Fluent English speakers are rare
- Traffic can get chaotic
Connectivity
It might be surprising for some but Vietnam has fairly high internet speed across the country, and in big cities, you will find lots of hotspots with WiFi, mostly cafés.
4G networks have spread around the country reaching more than 95% of the national population. The most popular mobile networks in Vietnam are Viettel, Vietnamobile, and Vinaphone.
Visas and documentation
There are different cases when it comes to traveling to Vietnam.
A Toal of 24 countries have visa exemptions for different lengths of time from 15 to 90 days:
*Due to COVID-19, some exemptions have been temporarily suspended.
For the rest of the world, the e-visa is the go-to option. A single-entry visit for 30 days for 25 US dollars:
Where to work
Coworking spaces
Just like many other Asian countries, Vietnam has embraced the digital nomad culture and many coworking spaces have been created over the last 10 years.
Here is a list of our preferred spaces for four of the main cities in Vietnam:
- The Hive Thao Dien in Ho Chi Minh City
- Enouvo Space in Da Nang
- Hub Hoi An in Hoi An
- UPGen Coworking Luong Yen in Hanoi
Cafés
It is quite common to see a lot of cafés in Vietnam, no matter where you are. They provide high-speed WiFi as long as you grab a drink or food to go with it.
Knowing the cost of beverages and meals in Vietnam, cafés are undeniably exciting and cheap places to work from.
Tech stuff for digital nomads
Power plug types
Most of the electrical outlets in Vietnam are suited for type A, C and F plugs (two flat vertical pins, two round). You need an adapter for power plugs that have 3 pins.
Laptop & phone repair
Repair shops for computers or phones are not hard to come by, they are mostly honest and cheap. This goes for Apple, PC, and Android users.
One problematic thing can be the language barrier, while explaining the origins of the matter that brought you, you should always make sure that it is fully understood and recognized.
Language
The predominant language is Vietnamese. English is far behind except around tourist attractions. More and more Vietnamese are getting educated in English, starting from a young age at school. In more remote areas, you will sometimes meet French speakers as well.
When to visit
Being this elongated “S” shaped country, Vietnam comes with a wide variety of climates from North to South and Central Vietnam, which makes it a year-round destination.
Generally during March to April is the prime time to visit Vietnam as the temperatures are not too high and rainfalls are light.
In the North, winters are cold and dry, summers are very hot and humid. Early autumn (September to October) is another period where days are pleasant, warm, and sunny.
Central Vietnam is pummelled by typhoons during the wet season from August to November. The rainy season falls around February. At that time you can experience warmer temperatures and sunnier days.
The South has a very typical tropical climate. The rainy season goes from June to December then the dry season comes in. Passed March, the temperature can sometimes go over 40°C (104°F).
Food
Vietnamese food is known around the world for its healthiness, fresh and strong flavors. You can find the next best dish you’ve ever eaten in a street because it is that simple to make and yet very tasty.
Top 10 of the best Vietnamese dishes by Vietnam-guide.com
Accommodation
Hotels & Airbnb
It is relatively easy to afford a room in a hotel or an apartment during your trip to Vietnam. We recommend using both of these websites:
Coliving
From the listed coworking spaces found above, Enouvo Space and the Hub Hoi An have limited accommodations for their members. Make sure to check the coliving section of their website for more information: