I’ve worked on 10 Vietnam guidebooks. Here are 7 mistakes that first-time visitors continue to make.

Vietnam, the official tourism website insists, is a country of “timeless charm” — a tropical paradise of “untrampled landscapes and seascapes.” The promo reels promise irresistibly Instagrammable moments, like skipping through the surf in flowing linen, raising Champagne flutes to the sunset, and basking in a subterranean sunbeam cradled by a moss-coated cave.

I’ve worked on 10 guidebooks to Vietnam and written hundreds of articles. I can say with confidence that the Vietnam of glossy screens is not the Vietnam of lived experience.

Economic development, social change, and overtourism are reshaping the country, widening the gap between endorsed fantasy and concrete reality.

Over the years, I’ve watched as travel media spins fanciful notions, which are then twisted further by travel influencers. This has resulted in first-time visitors continuing to make these seven mistakes in Vietnam.

1. Lust: Conquering the country in one trip

Maps can be deceiving. With China bulging to the north and the sprawling Indonesian and Malaysian archipelagos to the south, Vietnam might appear modest in size.

In reality, it’s comparable in size to Japan or Italy. The soul-sapping drudgery of getting from place to place is never advertised. Traveling between most cities in Vietnam can take the better part of a day, so on a one- or two-week trip, it’s smarter to focus on a smaller area instead of trying to see it all.

2. Wrath: Raging against the weather

Vietnam’s weather is not blissfully sunny all the time; it is an unpredictable force to be reckoned with. There are patterns to consider. Mountain winters (December and January) can be bone-chillingly cold; the Mekong Delta swelters at the tail end of the dry season (March and April); and typhoons lash central Vietnam during fall (October and November). But severe weather conditions can strike almost anywhere at any time.

Instead of raging at the weather for ruining a vacation, travelers can plan accordingly, pack appropriately, and remember that extreme weather is part of everyday life in Vietnam.

3. Greed: Devouring a bucket list

Perhaps my most controversial opinion is that Vietnam has no must-see places. In an era of overtourism, following the crowds often means jostling through throngs of visitors — and increasingly exasperated locals.

Vietnam is safe, and I’ve found that much of the country is eager to welcome travelers. Rather than a rush to tick off the hot spots, my most rewarding trips have come from focusing on what genuinely excites me.

4. Envy: Coveting the travel influencers

Whenever I meet someone who’s had a bad experience thanks to a misleading TikTok clip or Instagram post, I feel both disappointed and vindicated. Remember: Algorithms reward influencers for sparking awe or indulging outrage, not for producing honest or nuanced content.

Forget the influencers who jet around the world pushing unrealistic expectations. Instead, seek out content creators based in Vietnam who share insider knowledge — like Ms. Yummyface (for food), Chris Tran Travels (for culture), and The Dot Magazine (for nightlife).

5. Gluttony: Skipping simple street food

Some travelers steer clear of street food over sanitation concerns. Instead, they opt for tourist restaurants with glossy menus that promise the world, from Australian brunches and Italian pizzas to Thai curries and Vietnamese spring rolls.

But the best food in Vietnam tends to be served in simple restaurants that specialize in a particular dish, like street kitchens and mom-and-pop eateries. Beyond the ubiquitous noodle soups like pho, one overlooked dish in Hanoi is banh cuon, thin ribbons of made-to-order wet rice paper rolled with minced pork and wood ear mushroom.

Ho Chi Minh City excels at freshly prepared snails, which are boiled, steamed, stir-fried, or grilled and served alongside a few sauces.

6. Pride: Declining a local SIM card

I’m all for leaving the phone at home. But travelers who like to research on the go need to keep in mind that relying on WiFi can become very frustrating very quickly. Mobile data almost always provides a faster, more reliable connection, and it’s cheap in Vietnam — rarely more than $10 for a month.

Travelers can purchase an international SIM with an app like Airalo or head into a local phone shop when they arrive. Viettel has great nationwide coverage, and Vinaphone and Mobifone are known for offering stronger coverage in cities.

This makes it easy to access information on the go from trusted sources, such as Saigoneer (for culture), Historic Vietnam (for history), Jovel Chan (for food), and Vietnam Coracle (for motorbike guides).

7. Sloth: Disregarding guidebooks

In my entirely biased opinion, purchasing a guidebook (physical or digital) is one of the smartest travel choices you can make. The good ones are deeply researched, thoughtful, and nuanced pieces of work — often the result of months, or in my case, years, of on-the-ground research.

By contrast, fake travel reviews and shallow blog posts churned out by AI are often what comes up online. A guidebook cuts through the digital noise with clarity, providing reliable insight and helping travelers engage with Vietnam through the firsthand experiences of a dedicated author.

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