Hanoi Acclimation Playbook
4 steps to get settled | 0 of 4 complete
🇻🇳Vietnam GuidePre-Arrival
Vietnamese e-Visa, VPN setup, eSIM, and packing for Hanoi's seasons
Apply for your Vietnamese e-Visa
US citizens require a visa for Vietnam — apply for the e-Visa at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn before departure. Cost: USD 25, allows up to 90 days stay, processed within 3 business days. Download and print the approved e-Visa for immigration. Passport must be valid for 6 months beyond entry. Unlike Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi is the capital — border officers can be slightly more formal. The e-Visa is valid for entry at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN).
Install and test a VPN before departure
Vietnam periodically restricts certain foreign platforms — some news sites, occasional Facebook throttling, and intermittent VoIP restrictions. A VPN with obfuscated servers is essential for consistent, unrestricted internet access. Install NordVPN or ExpressVPN before landing and test that it connects successfully to servers in Singapore or Japan (fastest for Vietnam). After arrival, Vietnamese mobile and broadband networks may make it harder to connect VPN apps that are not already installed.
NordVPN
Stay secure on public Wi-Fi
Get an eSIM and pack for Hanoi's climate
Buy a Vietnam eSIM from Airalo (10 GB, ~USD 10) before departure. Hanoi has four genuine seasons unlike HCMC: winter (December–February) can drop to 10–15°C and is damp and grey — bring a fleece and waterproof jacket. Summer (June–August): extremely hot and humid, 35–40°C. Spring (March–May): beautiful but with drizzling 'mưa phùn' (mist rain). Pack layers. A light waterproof jacket is useful year-round.
Airalo
eSIM for 190+ countries
Arrange travel insurance
Hanoi's best private hospitals (Vinmec International, Family Medical Practice, Hong Ngoc) are excellent and English-speaking — a GP visit costs USD 40–80. Public hospitals are severely overcrowded and not recommended for non-emergencies. SafetyWing Nomad Insurance covers Vietnam including medical evacuation to Bangkok (the regional medical hub for serious cases). Medical evacuation insurance is particularly important in Southeast Asia.
SafetyWing
Travel & medical insurance for nomads