BOOKING GUIDE
Your specialist guide
booking and planning guide
Flights, hotels, local tours, mobile data, insurance, entry paperwork, luggage. Everything you need to settle before departure, laid out in the order you should book it, with notes from a resident and booking services you can actually use.
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SCHEDULE
When to book what
Airfare is what moves the most, so lock in your flight first, then work through accommodation, connectivity and paperwork in that order and nothing slips through.
- 13 to 4 months beforeFlightsBook especially early for Tet, New Year and the summer holidays
- 2Once your flight is setHotels & toursDecide which area to stay in first
- 32 to 3 weeks beforeVisa check & insuranceNo visa needed for tourist stays of 45 days or less
- 41 to 2 weeks beforeSIM, eSIM & WiFiSo you can hail a ride straight from the airport
- 5Before departurePre-arrival declarationFor arrivals in Ho Chi Minh City (optional)
- 6Before departurePackingLeave room for souvenirs on the way home
WHAT TO BOOK
Browse by what you need to book
Airfares swing widely depending on the season
Direct flights from Japan are operated by Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, JAL and ANA. Vietjet is a low-cost carrier with cheaper base fares, but depending on the fare type, checked baggage and in-flight meals cost extra. If souvenirs are going to fill your bags, add the baggage fees before you compare.
- Fares tend to climb around Tet (late January to February), the year-end and New Year holidays, and the July-August summer break. The earlier you book, the more flights you have to choose from.
- Direct flights to Da Nang leave from only a few airports (mainly Narita and Kansai). From other airports you connect in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or elsewhere.
Compare fares from several airlines at once. Prices shift by date and by flight even on the same route, so this suits anyone with more than one possible departure day.
Check flight fares
An overseas travel service that lets you book flights and accommodation together in one app. Good if you want everything arranged in one place, or if this is your first trip abroad.
See Vietnam travel plans
Hotels: start with which city you'll stay in
Even within the same city, the area you stay in shapes how your trip feels. Our hotel guides break down the differences area by area for each city.
A booking site with a wide selection of places to stay in Vietnam. Pick a property with free cancellation and you can hold a room before your dates are finalized.
Search hotels in Vietnam
For days out of the city, book a tour in Japanese
For places away from the city such as the Mekong Delta or Ha Long Bay, a tour covers transport and local arrangements in one go. If the language or paying on the spot worries you, booking through a Japanese-language service cuts down on mix-ups on the day.
Book day trips, cruises and hands-on programs in advance in Japanese. Payment is settled at booking, so you can join without handling cash on site.
See tours in Vietnam
How to choose a Mekong Delta tour
Booking a restaurant in Vietnam? See our roundups by city and cuisine
Be ready to hail a ride the moment you land
Getting around Vietnam runs on the ride-hailing app Grab, and you'll often want it the moment you step off the plane. Setting up before you leave Japan beats queuing for a SIM on arrival, so your first ride goes smoothly.
| People like this | Best option | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Short trips of 3-7 days, or solo travel | eSIM | Set it up in Japan and it works as soon as you land |
| Family or group trips | WiFi rental | One device covers everyone, so the larger the group, the lower the cost per person |
| Two weeks or more, or you need a phone number | Local SIM | Comes with a number, and topping up data is easy |
| Your phone doesn't support eSIM | WiFi rental / local SIM at the airport | Just insert it, or just switch it on |
| You use Japanese streaming or banking apps | Add a VPN | Connect to Japanese services just as you do at home |
- On late-night arrivals, the SIM counters at the airport may already be closed. For a late flight, load an eSIM before you leave Japan and counter hours stop mattering.
- Most travel eSIMs are data-only and don't come with a local phone number. If you need SMS verification or voice calls, choose a local SIM.
An international eSIM from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. Purchase and activation are handled entirely in the app, and you buy only as much as your itinerary needs.
See plans for Vietnam
An eSIM for overseas trips and business travel. Inquiries are handled in Japanese, so it suits anyone setting up an eSIM for the first time. You can apply online before you go.
See pricing and supported devices
A mobile router made just for Vietnam that connects several devices as soon as you switch it on. Pick it up at an airport in Japan, and on your return simply drop it in a return post box.
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A VPN that routes through servers in Japan so you can reach Japanese streaming and other services that are blocked from overseas. Also a useful safeguard when you log in to important accounts on free WiFi.
See the free trial terms
Travel insurance: check first whether your card's coverage is enough
Private hospitals that treat foreigners tend to charge high fees. The figure to check first in any policy is the cap on medical and rescue expenses.
- Credit card coverage sometimes applies only if you paid for the trip with that card (use-based coverage), and the cap on medical costs can be low. Top up the shortfall with a separate policy.
- Many standalone policies can't be bought once you've left the country, so complete the paperwork before departure at the latest.
Entry procedures: only three things to check
- Visa:Japanese nationals don't need one for stays of up to 45 days from the date of entry. Bring a passport valid for at least six more months and an onward ticket.
- Online declaration before entry:Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) began as a trial at Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat) on April 15, 2026, and has been running from June at airports including Hanoi, Da Nang and Phu Quoc. The Ministry of Public Security and the Japanese embassy say it is not mandatory, while the US embassy describes it as required. It's free, and registration opens 3 days before your planned entry date, so filing it is the safer choice.
- e-VISA：For stays longer than 45 days, or for multiple entries. Apply on the official site (evisa.gov.vn) for up to 90 days. Issuance takes a few business days.
Entry rules can change. Check with the Vietnamese embassy in Japan or the official sites for the latest information before you leave.
See visas and entry procedures
Leave space in your luggage for souvenirs on the way home
- Liquids in containers over 100ml (fish sauce, coconut oil and the like) can't go in the cabin, so pack them in checked baggage. Seal the bottle mouths with plastic wrap and double-bag them to stop leaks.
- Crushable goods such as plastic baskets and non la conical hats are better carried on and stowed in the overhead bin.
- Stock up on coffee beans and tea and the trip home gets a lot heavier than the trip out. A larger suitcase is the safer bet.
How to pack souvenirs in your suitcase How to choose souvenirs
A suitcase rental service. On trips where souvenirs pile up, or on family travel, you get the oversized case you need without keeping one at home year-round.
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CHECKLIST
Booking checklist
| What to book | When | Where | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights | 3 to 4 months before | Airtrip / NEWT | How to choose an airline |
| Hotel | Once your flight is set | agoda／NEWT | Hotel guides by city |
| Local tours | Once your flight is set | KKday | Mekong Delta tours |
| Travel insurance | 2 to 3 weeks before | Card coverage plus a standalone policy | How to choose insurance |
| SIM, eSIM & WiFi | 1 to 2 weeks before | Saily / JAPAN&GLOBAL eSIM / Vietnam Data | Comparing SIM, eSIM and WiFi |
| Pre-arrival declaration (optional) | Before departure | Official portal of the Immigration Department | Visas and entry procedures |
| Suitcase | Before departure | R&Y Rental | Packing list |
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