Travel Vietnam on a Budget Without Spending Over NT$10,000 – Top 10 Must-Know Tips for Independent Travelers (Part 1)

According to statistics from the Tourism Bureau, in 2019, the number of Taiwanese travelers visiting “Vietnam” surpassed that of Thailand, which had long been the favorite, making Vietnam the most visited Southeast Asian country among Taiwanese. The rise of low-cost airlines, increased flight routes, combined with affordable prices and many internationally popular attractions on social media, have made Vietnam a hot travel destination for budget-conscious travelers.

1. Vietnam Visa
Vietnam currently does not offer visa-free entry for Taiwan. There are currently three ways to apply for a Vietnam visa, and you can choose based on your budget and personal situation.
△ Applying for a Visa by Yourself
Prepare your passport, two 2? color photos, the visa application form, and pay NT$1,350. It takes approximately 1 to 5 working days, after which you’ll need to go in person to the “Vietnamese Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei” in Taipei to submit your application and pick up your visa.
△ Applying via a Travel Agency
Applying through a travel agency takes about 5 working days, at a cost of around NT$1,600.
△ Visa on Arrival
You need to apply online in advance and pay a fee of US$6. About one day later, you’ll receive an email with the “visa approval letter.” Then bring two 2? photos, US$25, and a printed copy of the visa approval letter. Upon arrival in Vietnam, before going through customs, queue at the “visa on arrival” counter.
The queue can take anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour, with total costs around NT$900 (US$6 + US$25).

2. Vietnam Flights
In recent years, Vietnam tourism has become increasingly popular, with not only cheap flights but also the addition of many flight destinations. In addition to Taiwanese airlines such as EVA Air and Starlux, there are also many flights operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air. Among them, the budget airline “VietJet,” favored by budget travelers, frequently runs promotions. If you pick the right dates, you can fly for as low as NT$3,000.

3. Exchange Rate/Currency
Vietnamese currency comes in very high denominations. NT$1 (TWD) equals 775 Vietnamese Dong (VND), and the different denominations of VND are very similar in color, with “Ho Chi Minh”’s portrait on the front, often causing confusion and leading people to miscount by skipping a zero.
※ Because the currency value is so high, sometimes locals omit the last three zeros when listing prices, and it’s easier to calculate if you ignore the last three zeros when counting money.

4. Currency Exchange
Taiwanese Banks: The Vietnamese Dong has low circulation in Taiwan. It is not recommended to exchange money at Taiwanese banks due to unfavorable exchange rates.
Vietnam Airport: Very convenient, with a row of currency exchange counters right as you exit the airport. Be sure to check if there are any service fees.Currency exchange shops and gold/silver stores: Many backpackers know that the exchange rates at local Vietnamese exchange shops are the best. These are often located near tourist attractions, such as the exchange shops near Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, which are often crowded with tourists from all over the world.