8 min read
Money, Cards and Connectivity in Vietnam: A Practical Guide
Money, cards and connectivity in Vietnam, made simple: carry a little cash, one no-fee card and an eSIM, and skip the e-wallets you cannot register.
On the Ground Vietnam
Insights, updates and local perspectives to better understand Vietnam as it evolves.
All articles
10 min read
Vietnam's Michelin Moment: How to Eat Deeper, Not Faster
Vietnam's 2026 Michelin selection reaches 193 places and double-digit Stars. Here is how to use it to eat deeper and slower, not to chase a checklist.
9 min read
Ben Tre and the Mekong Delta's Slow Coconut Backwaters
Ben Tre is the Mekong Delta's slow side: coconut backwaters by rowboat, family homestays and a calm rural rhythm worth two or three unhurried days.
7 min read
Vietnam to Require Health Declarations for Inbound, Outbound and Transit Travelers from July 1, 2026
From 1 July 2026, Vietnam requires all travelers — arriving, departing, or in transit — to file a health declaration under Decree 165/2026/NĐ-CP.
8 min read
Pu Luong Nature Reserve: Slow Travel in Vietnam's Forgotten Highlands
Pu Luong's rice terraces and Thai village life rival Sapa's — without the cable cars, souvenir stalls, or crowds that have come to define it.
8 min read
Con Dao: Vietnam's Quiet Island of Conservation and Memory
Con Dao resists mass tourism by design — national park governance, limited flights, and a colonial prison history that gives the landscape uncommon weight.
8 min read
Vietnam's Stricter Overstay Rules: What the New Penalties Mean for Your Trip
Vietnam's new overstay fines reach VND 40 million. Here's what changed in 2026, and how to protect your trip.
7 min read
The Rise of Experience-First Travel in Vietnam: Craft, Culture, and Immersion Over Checklists
Vietnam's tourism is shifting from sightseeing circuits to hands-on participation. Here's what that means for how the country is positioning itself.
10 min read
How to Move Through Vietnam Without Wasting Half Your Trip in Transit
Train, flight, or sleeper bus? A clear decision framework for moving through Vietnam without wasting days in transit.
8 min read
Vietnam's Wellness Belt: How Mountains and Coasts Are Redefining the Retreat
Vietnam's wellness offer has moved well beyond the resort spa. Here's what the shift actually means for discerning travelers.
7 min read
Vietnam's Premiumization Shift: Traveling Less, Spending More
Vietnam's urban travelers are taking shorter trips and spending more per night. The shift from volume to depth is now structural.
7 min read
Vietnam E-Visa vs. Visa Exemption: Which Applies to You in 2026
Vietnam runs two parallel entry systems in 2026. Here is how to read them, combine them, and avoid the overstay traps most travelers miss.
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