Vietnam arrival-day checklist (printable)

Landing in Vietnam is straightforward when you have a plan. This checklist covers every step from the moment the seatbelt sign goes off to the moment you close your eyes on the first night. Print it or save it offline before you fly.

Pre-landing

• Fill in your customs declaration card if the cabin crew hands one out (some routes, some airlines still do this)
• Have your e-visa approval letter or visa-on-arrival approval ready — on your phone and printed as a backup
• Set your watch or phone to Vietnam time (UTC+7, no daylight saving)
• Move cash, cards, and your passport to an easily accessible pocket so you are not rummaging at the desk
• Read the honest pre-flight checklist if you have not already — it covers documents, insurance, and what to sort before you board

At immigration

• Join the correct queue — foreigners, not Vietnamese nationals
• At Hanoi (Noi Bai) and Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat), expect queues of 20-60 minutes at peak times; budget this into your onward plans
• Present your passport and visa documents without being asked; keep everything in one hand
• Biometric fingerprinting is standard — follow the officer's instructions
• Do not photograph the immigration hall or officers

Baggage claim and customs

• Check the arrivals board for your belt number
• Collect all bags before heading to the customs channel
• Most arrivals walk the green (nothing to declare) channel without issue; if you are carrying goods over the duty-free threshold, use the red channel
• General duty-free allowance: 1.5 litres of spirits or 2 litres of wine, 200 cigarettes, and goods up to around 10 million VND (roughly USD 400) in value — verify current limits with Vietnamese customs before travel as these figures can change
• Keep your bags close; the arrivals hall at major airports is busy

SIM card and connectivity

• Buy a local SIM at the airport rather than relying on roaming — it is almost always cheaper
• The main providers at airports are Viettel, Mobifone, and Vietnamobile; Viettel tends to have the strongest rural coverage
• A tourist SIM with 5-10 GB of data typically costs 80,000–200,000 VND (roughly USD 3–8) in 2026 — prices vary by plan and duration
• Bring your unlocking tool or a small pin to swap SIMs; staff at the counter can usually help
• Test the SIM before leaving the counter — make sure data is active, not just voice
• Note the SIM number and top-up code in a safe place

Cash from ATM

• Withdraw Vietnamese Dong (VND) at an ATM inside the terminal before exiting — rates are generally better than at currency exchange booths in the arrivals hall
• Most ATMs dispense 500,000 VND notes; a first withdrawal of 2–4 million VND (roughly USD 80–160) is usually enough to cover the first day
• Preferred ATM networks in Vietnam: Vietcombank, BIDV, and Techcombank tend to have lower foreign-card fees — most cases are around 35,000–66,000 VND per transaction, though your home bank may add its own charge
• Decline the ATM offer to convert to your home currency (dynamic currency conversion); always choose VND
• Read the full guide at money and banking for card fees, withdrawal limits, and which banks to avoid

Transport from airport

• Use the official taxi queue or order a Grab (the dominant ride-hailing app in Vietnam) inside the terminal — do not accept unsolicited offers from drivers in the arrivals hall
• In Ho Chi Minh City, metered taxis from Mai Linh or Vinasun are reliable; Grab is usually slightly cheaper
• In Hanoi, the official taxi counter inside Noi Bai arrivals is clearly signed; agree on the fixed rate or use the meter
• A rough 2026 guide: airport to central Ho Chi Minh City by metered taxi is around 150,000–200,000 VND; Hanoi city centre is further and typically 250,000–350,000 VND — confirm before you get in
• Have your hotel address saved in Vietnamese script to show the driver
• Sit in the back seat and keep your door locked when stationary in traffic

Hotel check-in

• Present your passport — hotels are legally required to register foreign guests, so they will take it briefly to copy details
• Ask when checkout time is and note it somewhere
• Check that the room matches what you booked: number of beds, smoking or non-smoking, working air conditioning
• Test the safe, Wi-Fi password, and hot water before the porter leaves
• Ask the front desk for a hotel card with the address in Vietnamese — keep it in your wallet for the whole stay

First-day food

• Drink bottled or filtered water only — tap water is not safe to drink in most parts of Vietnam
• Pho or banh mi from a nearby street stall is the lowest-risk first meal: high turnover, usually freshly made
• If your stomach is adjusting, avoid raw salads and ice from unknown sources on day one
• Most convenience stores (Circle K, GS25, FamilyMart) sell safe bottled drinks and light snacks around the clock

Before sleeping

• Plug in and charge all devices
• Set two alarms if you have an early start the next day — Vietnam traffic can add significant time to journeys
• Lock your room safe with valuables inside
• Check arrival week checklist to plan tasks for the next seven days — SIM registration, insurance checks, bank card testing, and more
• Note the emergency number (113 police, 114 fire, 115 ambulance) somewhere accessible
• Drink a full glass of water before sleeping — dehydration from flying plus heat is a common cause of a rough first morning

Related

• Arrival week checklist — tasks for days 2–7 after landing
• The honest pre-flight checklist — what to sort before you fly
• Money and banking — ATM fees, cards, and cash strategy