Here Are Some of the Top Apps to Use During your Next Trip to Vietnam
- adriana
- 49 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Image by DepositPhotos
Let us start by congratulating you on your amazing destination choice! Vietnam’s south takes visitors' breath away with its spectacular coastlines, pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and vibrant cities, among which the country’s biggest city, Ho Chi Minh City, is a must-see that’ll enchant you with its iconic skyscrapers, unmatched coffee scene, and lively energy. Or you may be less into the south’s urban life and beach landscape and more into culture and scenery, in which case you may have the north part on the radar, with its history-rich Hanoi’s Old Quarter, remarkable Ha Long Bay, and the dramatic river-and-karst landscapes of Ninh Binh. Want to strike a balance? Then check out destinations in southern Vietnam, known for offering amazing experiences, whether you’re looking for top beaches, scrumptious food, world-class adventure travel, or recognized heritage. Whatever you choose, one consideration will apply in all areas covered, no exception made: the stack of apps you download back home to rely on when you explore bustling markets, visit unfamiliar streets, communicate with locals, plan last-minute excursions, and more.
Yes, down below, we’re equipping you with several life-saving apps you’ll thank yourself for installing the moment you set foot in Vietnam.
Image by Minh Ngọc / Pexels
Guides for food discovery and/or delivery
Food will be an essential part of your experience in Vietnam, and it will bring the paradise to your taste buds. From riverside restaurants to cozy cafes and to the bustling street stalls, you’ll be constantly battling options so numerous that you might simply give up and come home with an extra size in clothes. To make the most of it – and avoid decision fatigue – prepare yourself with one or two apps for food discovery and easy ordering. Popularity in apps may shift depending on factors like the visited region, but generally, GrabFood and Foody (now integrated with ShopeeFood), top the lists.
GrabFood is available in all big cities and offers a wide selection of restaurants and street food vendors, depending on what’s available where you stay. Think Vietnamese, Asian, Western, or fusions. Menus are usually in English and most of those vendors offer cashless payment options. It’s ideal for nights when you’re too tired to head out but would still delight in some authentic local flavors delivered straight to your door.
For discovering where to eat rather than ordering, Foody is a go-to among locals, offering extensive listings, photos, menus, user reviews, and so on – a particularly useful choice when you’re looking for popular local spots or hidden gems around you. The reviews tend to be very honest, so you can create pertinent expectations before you sit down.
Google Maps is also widely used in Vietnam and ideal for finding street food and family-run eateries, many of which may not be listed on delivery apps – especially helpful when you sort by rating and recent reviews.
An eSIM – because you can’t leave it in the hands of fate
Not when you’re holding a phone in your hands, at least. Vietnam is known to have generally stable and affordable internet, at least in urban areas and big cities. But step away from those net-friendly locations, and you might see those signal bars gradually disappearing, and slowly making your phone (and all of your beloved apps) redundant. Or, get an eSIM, and do away with this stress when what you’re actually in Vietnam for is travel and not the disturbances that may arise when you rely on unstable internet.
With an eSIM – a phone-installed digital SIM card – or a physical SIM because some operators only offer physical cards, you do away with the stress that comes with roaming charges, slow or nonexistent internet, or the need to use shady local Wi-Fi networks. You have to check out the top data providers, looking through their price ranges, installment options, and so on, select your preferred Vietnam sim card, install it with just a few clicks, and then proceed with your vacation knowing you’ll have full coverage across the country.
One or two apps to outsmart the weather
You want a reliable weather app while in Vietnam, for if its weather is known for one thing, then that’s its capricious weather conditions. Many attractions are outdoors – Hoi An, Sapa, Mekong Delta – meaning that you need to know what to wear there, or even if you can safely visit them, depending on the time of your trip. Vietnam can have sudden tropical rainstorms, high humidity, and even typhoons in some seasons – hopefully your trip won’t be affected by anything similar. Depending on the settings, you can get an app that alerts you early, so you can adjust your plans if needed and stay safe. Here, it makes sense to advise you to check the weather when packing, too, to have an idea of which pieces of clothing you’ll need more.
AccuWeather is a popular choice globally, being one of the most widespread apps for general weather checkups. Ventusky, on the other hand, can be your ally when you want to know how the wind will blow, and other forecast maps. Meteored is a leading Android app for radar and everyday weather. Windy is frequently used by expats to track typhoons and storms and to compare other forecast options to get the most accurate insights.
Image by DepositPhotos
A handful of other app categories to prepare
Beyond food, weather, and connectivity, there are several essential app categories that will improve your experience:
For transportation and getting around, you can rely on Grab, the mainstay in ride-hailing with cars and motorbikes, as well as Be and BusMap – the cheaper alternatives.
Maps.me and Google Maps will help you explore sights like a local, offering anything from walking tours to local reviews and easy navigation.
Travelers generally use Google Translate and Zalo to communicate with locals, the latter of which offers messaging services.
With digital payments becoming increasingly widespread, you might want MoMo, the most popular e-wallet in Vietnam, as well as Wise, useful for managing money, tracking spending, and avoiding high exchange fees.
If you have some of the apps presented above to cover your main types of needs, you’ll be well-equipped to travel in Vietnam smoothly and confidently.