Accommodation
Traveling around the country requires proper planning and figuring out the logistics. One of the most important aspects when hitting the road is thinking where are you going to stay. It’s possible to set up your camping site almost anywhere (the permit is required for certain places), but for travelers who’re looking for a basic level of comfort, booking a room or a bed is more convenient.
When it comes to booking the accommodation, there are few reliable apps that work like charm in Vietnam (and everywhere else).
#1 Booking.com
You probably already heard for Booking.com even if you've just started with traveling. This app covers almost every country in the world (228 countries and territories) and it’s very intuitive to use. All you need is set up a profile (you can connect your Facebook account too) and fill the basic information about the preferred accommodation in the search like date, number of travelers, and place.
That’s it! There is a very good filter option that can help you in filtering the accommodation by your preferences. Not to forget, the community is amazing and people usually leave the reviews, so don’t forget to read some before booking your stay through the platform.
Booking.com has an interesting program for trusted members and you can get good discounts on your account after booking a few stays.
It’s called a Genius program and it’s very genius when you realize you get a 10 - 20% discount on selected accommodation.
Another amazing thing about Booking is that for the majority of options, you don’t have to do a prepayment, instead pay on the site!
It’s amazing for people who don’t like the accommodation once they come and see it by themselves. Go ahead, install the app, create a profile, and pick among the best accommodation options in Vietnam!
Platforms: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
#2 Agoda
Basically, the same platform as Booking.com, but when it comes to scoring the cheapest deals, nothing can compare to Agoda. The listings at Booking and Agoda are almost the same, but the huge difference plays when it comes to price. Agoda usually gives their users best deals and discounts when it comes to accommodation options.
For example, the hostel is almost fully- booked, but there are still a few beds available and the company wants them all booked. They usually put their listings at Agoda and provide travelers with cheaper price than on other platforms; so-called last-minute deals. Many times, we stumbled on the same accommodation option, but totally different price.
If you’re traveling on a strict budget, it won’t hurt to have Agoda installed just for a backup when checking the prices of stays!
Platforms: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
#3 Airbnb
Airbnb is another very commonly used platform among travelers who’re looking for more comfort and also ready to pay for it. The platform is working on the same principle as two platforms above, but the options are mainly related to apartments or houses. Airbnb is an amazing platform when you’re traveling with a group of people and you’re looking for a comfortable stay to recharge your batteries.
If you’re traveling alone, booking the place through Airbnb won’t be the cheapest thing, but when you’re sharing the costs, then you can find amazing options like villas in the mountains or stunning homestays with local families.
Create a profile and start searching the options! Definitely a platform to give a try!
Platforms: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
Transportation
Transportation around Vietnam can be very tricky, especially when you take into account the chaotic traffic and many scams that are happening around the taxi scene. Many travelers will decide to travel around Vietnam by motorbike as that’s the most flexible and cheapest option when it comes to transportation, but what’s with the travelers who’re not comfortable driving in Vietnam?
Don’t worry, there are many options when it comes to transportation without being ripped off.
#4 Grab
Grab is a very convenient app for getting the fastest and cheapest transportation near you. At the beginning of 2018., Grab bought Uber in the SEA region and it became the biggest transportation company in that region. It’s very easy to use and the options for transportation are endless. You just create a profile and connect the app with your phone number so drivers can reach you out.
The app provides you with the map and different options around you. It’s very amazing how flexible Grab is since the app for Vietnam has the option of GrabAbike - you just call the motorbike taxi which is perfect for solo travelers.
There are many other options including a car for two, four, and up to 9 people. You set up your destination and depending on your driving option, you’ll get an exact price before even getting to the car.
Such a good way to travel around huge cities!
Platforms: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
#5 Skyscanner
There is a huge possibility that at some point on your trip you’ll decide to take an internal flight around the country due to many reasons. There are many apps that are listing the flight options of different flight carriers, but we found Skyscanner the best and most reliable option. Using the app gives you the option to plan your timing, the budget, and much more when it comes to flying around the country and abroad.
Our tip is to always get the information about the flight on Skyscanner, but don’t forget to check the official flight company when booking the flight, since we had the experience that prices usually differ in the advantage of official flight companies.
Platforms: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
#6 BusMap
Did you know that Saigon has more than 100 official bus lines that stop to about 2,000 places around the city? Navigating and figuring out the bus lines can be a real hustle in a busy Saigon. BusMap is an innovative app that helps the user to organize and navigate their trips around the city using public buses.
The app has many interesting features including calculating the shortest time to reach the destination. It can also suggest you which bus numbers to take to shorten your commute time.
Don’t worry about the time table anymore since the app has an integrated time table of every bus line in Saigon. Unfortunately, the app currently only supports Saigon bus lines, but there is a huge possibility you’re going to explore stunning Saigon, so it’s smart to have that app in mind. The bus fares range between 5,000 - 7,000 VND which will save you a lot of money for exploring and experiencing the beautiful, often too busy city.
Platforms: iOs, Windows and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
Food
Everyone knows that Vietnam is a crazy culinary experience and the street food scene is huge! There are so many options when it comes to food which makes it very hard to pick the delicacy from the menu.
Also, the food is extremely fresh and cheap on the street, but sometimes, people simply choose other options than the street. Sometimes, you just don’t feel up for finding a new local food spot or the weather isn’t in your favor, so it’s easier to just order your food, relax and wait for it!
#7 Foody
When it comes to food ordering in Vietnam, the first app that comes to our mind is definitely Foody. The app has amazing user experience and it’s relatively easy to figure out how to use it. The biggest problem is the abundance of options, so sometimes you can spend much time figuring out which type of food you’d like to order. You can connect with social profiles or phone number to the app.
When it comes to ordering, you just write the type of food or location or category of food you’d like to eat and you’ll get the countless options.
Every place has the presented menu with the checkout prices, so you know how much you pay and also, the delivery cost is relatively low. The app has an amazing community of people who constantly share the reviews and the photos of the food, so before ordering anything, you can check out what other foodie lovers think!
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
#8 Vietnammm.com
Another food app we really like has a very creative name - Vietnammm. The app has an amazing search engine that enables you to pick the location and even district (in bigger cities) and based on your inputs, you get the list of the restaurant options in the area. You can connect with social profiles and receive stamps and milestones which leads to great deals, coupons, and discounts.
When it comes to payment, you can pay by cash, credit cards, or even PayPal which makes the app very flexible for foreign travelers. The community is huge, so there are many pictures and reviews from people who tried food from certain restaurants. People who’re real foodie lovers will find this app amazing since restaurants provide detailed information about each dish which can enrich your knowledge about Vietnamese culture.
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
#9 Lozi
Lozi is less of the app, but more a food-related social media. Lozi is a huge community of foodie lovers who’re sharing interesting tips, reviews, and main photos of food from different places. You can connect with other people, talk about food, organizing food tours around the place, and much more. Such a great way to immerse yourself in the rich Vietnamese cuisine.
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
Tours
There are countless options when it comes to organizing tours around Vietnam and getting special prices. We always do the exploration of the country on our own, but people who find it handy to just hop on an organized tour can find many options and special deals in Vietnam!
#10 Klook
Klook is an amazing app that is very handy when it comes to organizing your trip or learning about the destination you’re traveling to. The platform provides you with organized tours, discounted prices for attractions and much more. We were mainly using this app when it comes to getting tickets for museums or attractions since you can score pretty good deals on the platform.
Also, the community is very active there, so you can find amazing reviews of the services with pictures that can be very helpful.
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
#11 TripAdvisor
When it comes to anything travel-related, either eating in the restaurants, doing activities, booking tours, visiting attractions, TripAdvisor is the app to go with. The platform is very popular and you can basically find any information about any place you’d like to visit. It’s a very good way to get the expectations in order before going to any place.
The huge community is very helpful since people write detailed reviews with the pictures and videos which can help you in clearing any doubts. We always use this app when it comes to planning our itinerary in any place since it’s packed with useful information.
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
Navigation
We’re living in a digital era where access to the information is just a few clicks away which makes traveling much easier and less time and money consuming as compared to a decade ago. When coming to the new country, there is one thing you can’t live without - a map. There are countless mobile apps that help you in navigating around the new places, and we included a few that have interesting features.
Don’t have internet access, don’t worry since the map apps provide you with the offline maps and navigation that can definitely go handy, especially when traveling around remote areas.
#12 Maps.me
The first map app that comes to mind is definitely Maps.me. This app is incredibly easy to use and intuitive and it’s a proper competitor to Google Maps. We used this app on our trip more often than Google Maps since you can use it offline and you can also download maps from other travelers with marked locations which gave us the information about off-the-beaten-path in some locations.
There is also a GPS and many more roads than in Google Maps since the community updates the map continually which means you can even see the hiking trails and small paved roads on the maps.
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
#13 Google Maps
Good old Google Maps! We think there is not much to add when it comes to this app and probably every traveler used this app once during the travels! It can work offline too, but you can download the maps of the area first. We used this app occasionally around Vietnam, but we prefer Maps.Me. It’s very reliable to use this app when you’re driving between the cities or places, but once you’re navigating around the big cities, the app can be a real hell. When trying to find specific places around the cities, the app will sometimes navigate you to a completely different part of the town. It can be very frustrating, especially when you have to be on time.
Anyway, it’s a very good navigation app that can help you in planning your route around the country. A good thing to know is the estimated time of the route Google Maps provide you. For instance, during the whole trip, our estimated time was constantly double than the estimation on this app. Many travelers share the same experience, so plan accordingly!
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
#14 Coc Coc Map
When traveling around Vietnam, it’s crucial that you have detailed information about the place you’re currently traveling to. Other map apps provide a decent level of information about the places, but there is not an app that can compete with Coc Coc Map when it comes to details. The reason? All of the places are updated by the locals and drivers who use the camera feature to update the current database with the places.
Currently, the app has more than 1 million places including ATMs, restaurants, gas stations, attractions, and much more in the database and the number is growing with each hour.
Want to explore the place like a local? Download the app and find the beauty in each place!
Platform: iOs, Windows and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
Social
Meeting new people and staying social is a huge part of every traveling experience. When you travel in the groups it’s always easier to stay social, but once you hit the road solo, staying social can be a bit tricky, especially for introverted people. Anyway, there are amazing social apps that can help you meet people with the same interests so you will never feel alone on the road.
We constantly use social apps for connecting with new interesting people when getting to new locations.
#15 Tinder
Probably everyone heard about Tinder as there are about 50 million active users of the app worldwide. It’s usually seen as a dating app, but don’t be one-dimensional since Tinder has many benefits and good ways to use it when it comes to networking and socializing. Of course, you can use the app solely for a dating purpose, but also, you can connect with people who’re currently staying at the same place you’re in and who’re sharing the same interests as you.
That’s a perfect way to spend your time in the city and share your experiences and knowledge. You can easily connect Tinder with Facebook or your phone number and import pictures from Instagram or other social apps. Invest some time to get your profile ready, put your interests, and start swiping.
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
#16 Zalo
Zalo is an amazing and lightweight social app commonly used in Vietnam. The app doesn’t have the best-looking user interface, but once you get used to the app, it becomes effortless to use it. It’s a messaging app with many features like voice calls, video calls, group chats and calls and much more.
You can connect your social profiles like Facebook and Google+ to import your personal data. Also, it’s a good app for meeting new friends around you sharing the same interests. The community using the app in Vietnam is huge (we’re talking about 100 million active users), so it can be an amazing way to meet new interesting people!
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
Communication
Traveling around Vietnam will face you to various challenges, but one is inevitable - the language barrier. The barrier is real, especially in the countryside, but you will be shocked when you realize not many people speak English in the cities too. The best way to handle it is to learn basic phrases or simply have handy mobile apps at your hand.
#17 Google Translate
When it comes to translation, the first app that comes to everyone’s mind is by far Google Translate. It’s a lightweight and easy-to-use app that will most likely help you in communicating and breaking the language barrier. Don’t put all of your bets on this app since the translations aren’t so accurate and sometimes it can give the people different meanings.
The language barrier is just one of the culture shocks you will experience in Vietnam. Learn about other culture shocks and prepare yourself for what's coming!
But anyway, in many cases, people will get the context and will be able to understand what you’re looking for. The app has an interesting feature where you can point your camera to a certain picture and get the translation of the picture. It really helps a lot when eating in local restaurants without the translation on the menu.
Platforms: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
Exchange/Budgeting
When traveling around the country, one of the most crucial things that come to mind is, of course, money management. Everyone has a limited budget when it comes to traveling or you simply don’t want to overspend and have a longer experience traveling around the country or the region.
It’s of utmost importance to keep track of your spending and currency exchange rates as it will definitely help you in not getting ripped off.
#18 Toshl
Toshl is an interesting and interactive app that helps you in having your spendings in check. The app is a budget manager where you can input all of your spendings and categorize them. You can go in details when it comes to categorizing which means you can also add your own categories. It definitely helps a lot when it comes to budgeting and can help you with your spending habits.
The app has the statistics option where you can see the graphs of your spendings which go very handy when analyzing where your money is going.
David was tracking his spendings during a 30-day motorbike trip and here’s how much it costs to travel around Vietnam on a budget!
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
#19 XE exchange
This lightweight app is totally intuitive and easy to use. There are not many options, but the name tells the purpose - checking the current exchange rates. You just put your desired rates and the app will return you the current and updated exchange rates for given currencies. This is a very crucial app have especially when exchanging money to VND or paying in the restaurants or for other services in a foreign currency.
Have in mind that locals will always give you a different rate, but at least the app gives you an edge when it comes to bargaining since in Vietnam people even bargain on the currency exchanges!
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
Stay Connected
By our surprise, Vietnam is the country with stunning WiFi and internet coverage. The internet is fast, data is very cheap and almost every place you go is packed with fast and reliable WiFi. What more to ask for? We always recommend buying a SIM card and data plan since the prices are very affordable and it provides you with connectivity even in the most remote areas.
If you decide not to get a SIM card or a data plan, don’t worry, since the WiFi is on almost every step!
#20 WiFi Finder
The app that helped us tremendously during our trip is WiFi Finder. Sometimes, you can’t access your data internet, so you have to rely on WiFi. What makes this app so useful is the amazing user-experience and only checked networks. The map in the app is updated almost every day which means new, fast, and reliable internet hotspots for you.
All of the hotspots are verified and speed tested, so you don’t need to do any manual work when it comes to checking the specifications of the network. The amazing feature is the offline map; you just download the map of the city and you get all the WiFi information even when you’re offline!
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
Banking
If you’re planning to travel around Vietnam for a longer time, then you should definitely plan your budget and money. It sucks when you have to pay fees and conversions each time when you’re getting the money outside your card, and these fees can add up, especially when you travel for few months around this stunning country. Don’t worry as there is an amazing option for how to save money on transactions!
#21 Timo
Timo is the first digital bank in Vietnam powered by VPBank. It’s an amazing alternative for travelers who’re staying in Vietnam for a long time as you don’t have to worry about the fees that can add up pretty fast. Creating Timo account requires literally 30 minutes and after a small process your account is set up and you have a physical card in your pocket.
The app is very user-friendly as you can plan your budget, make savings, check out the ATMs, and CDNs (where you can put the cash on the card). It’s not all since you can top up your phone, paying the bills and much more using the app. Ah, not to forget, the creation of the account is totally free and you can withdraw money on any ATM in Vietnam without paying a single Dong on fees. Create your Timo account now and enjoy the benefits!
Platform: iOs and Android
Price: Free
Click here to download the app!
We truly hope that the list of 21 mobile apps will make your trip around Vietnam much easier and better!
Feel free to share the mobile apps you were using during your trip to make this list more helpful and complete for upcoming travelers!
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