New policies from 15th August 2023
1. Vietnam grants e-visas for citizens of all countries and territories with 90-day stay duration and valid for multiple entry.
2. Citizens of 13 coutries enjoying unilateral visa exemption can stay in Vietnam up to 45 days.

Vietnam's new visa policy effective from 15th August 2023 extends stay duration for 13 countries enjoying unilateral visa exemption from 15 days to 45 days, regardless of passport type and entry purpose. The 13 coutries include: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus.

Below is the full list of 25 countries +Kazakhstan that are exempted from visa requirement:
Brunei, Myanmar, Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, The UK, The Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Chile, Panama.

VIETNAM ELECTRONIC VISA (E-VISA)
From 15th August 2023, Vietnam grants e-visas for citizens of all countries and territories with 90-day stay duration and valid for multiple entry.

You are under no obligation to tip in Vietnam,
especially not at street-side eateries and small restaurants.

Internet access is widely available in tourist areas and big cities, which have many free wifi in coffee shop or restaurants. Internet access is less frequent in rural and remote areas.

Major credit cards are widely accepted by large shops, hotels and restaurants in Vietnam. However, they may not be accepted by smaller vendors such as small family restaurants, market stalls or in remote towns and rural areas. Make sure you carry enough cash for purchases, since credit cards aren't always an option everywhere in Vietnam.

ATMs are found widely throughout Vietnam, so withdrawing cash shouldn't be problematic in most areas. Some smaller villages and rural areas may not have ATM access, so prepare for this before venturing too far from a city or major town.

The major festivals celebrated in Vietnam are Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year, February), Reunification Day (30 April), National Day (2 September) and Tet Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival, late September).

The most popular times to visit Vietnam are spring (February-April) and autumn (September-December) but because of the huge variations in latitude and altitude, there is no one best time to go to Vietnam. It’s a good destination all year.

Vietnam is home to several distinct climate patterns from north to south. From December to March, North Vietnam has cool weather. April brings sunny skies until the monsoon rains arrive in June. Central Vietnam has lots of sunshine most of the year, but November and December can be wet and overcast. Southern Vietnam is always warm, and temperatures soar mid-year. You can expect daily downpours from June to August.
NORTH
The northern region has cool and misty winters, with cold nights in the highlands.
CENTRAL
Southern Vietnam has a wet monsoon but the weather remains warm year-round.
SOUTH
March and April are great months to see Central Vietnam before the summer heat.

The LGBQTIA+ community is gradually gaining recognition in Vietnam, with gay pride parades becoming a regular occurrence and a lift on same-sex marriage bans in 2015. With that said, Vietnam is still a conservative culture and many still hide their sexuality from their families. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have some gay-friendly bars and events. It's generally recommended that both gay and straight couples resist showing public displays of affection.