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For an epic cross-country journey through Vietnam by car, make sure to pack these invaluable insights from Vntrip for the safest and most enriching experience.
1. Preparing for Your Trip
1.1. Planning Your Itinerary
Here's a suggested 15-day itinerary for your adventure:
- Day 1 – Night 1: Ho Chi Minh City – Dai Lanh – Tuy Hoa
- Day 2 – Night 2: Quy Nhon
- Day 3 – Night 3: Hoi An – Da Nang
- Day 4 – Night 4: Son Tra Peninsula – Ba Na Hill
- Day 5 – Night 5: Hue Imperial City
- Day 6 – Night 6: Quang Binh
- Day 7 – Night 7: Nghe An
- Day 8 – Night 8: Vinh – Thanh Hoa
- Day 9 – Night 9: Ninh Binh
- Day 10 – Night 10: Ha Long Bay
- Day 11 – Night 11: Yen Tu – Viet Tri
- Day 12 – Night 12: Lai Chau – Dien Bien
- Day 13 – Night 13: Sapa – Lao Cai
- Day 14 – Night 14: Mai Chau – Hoa Binh
- Day 15 – Night 15: Hanoi
- Important note is to proactively find accommodations at each stop, you can contact Vntrip's Hotline for booking assistance or directly through Vntrip Website / App.
1.2. Assigning tasks for team members
If you're traveling solo, you'll likely face more challenges and risks. So, if possible, find amazing travel companions to multiply the joy of your journey. At this point, assign each person a main task based on their strengths. One handles the itinerary, another finds dining spots, someone drives or shops, prepares luggage essentials, etc. When tasks are evenly distributed, everyone has fewer worries, and everything is carefully and thoughtfully arranged.
Utilize each member's strengths to allocate tasks effectively
1.3. Packing essentials efficiently
To embark on a cross-country journey in Vietnam, meticulous packing is essential. Regarding attire, pack a variety of clothing options from light to heavy as each city has different climates, and temperatures vary between mornings and afternoons. Don't forget to bring swimwear for beach outings. Personal hygiene items such as toothbrush, facial cleanser, razor, toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, etc., should not be overlooked. If traveling with young children, bring a portable kettle, hair dryer, and instant baby food.
Prepare a fully-equipped yet lightweight travel gear
Additionally, prepare essential items such as sneakers, medical supplies, tents, and travel sleeping bags if you enjoy overnight camping. Also, have some snacks, dried food, and beverages available in the car. They will help you ward off hunger during long stretches or when you haven't found a place to eat.
1.4. Check and maintain your car before departure
Undoubtedly, ensuring the vehicle's readiness is paramount for a complete cross-country journey. Your car will be your important companion throughout the long trip. It will need to operate continuously day and night, so be sure to prepare and thoroughly check it. If any issues arise on the road, it can become extremely difficult, especially affecting your itinerary. Therefore, before departure, if you have your own car, you need to maintain and service the engine system and check the tire condition. If anything seems abnormal, you should fix it immediately.
Car maintenance is the most important thing before embarking on a cross-country journey by car
- Check the tires, if worn out, replace them and inflate with nitrogen to reduce heat. Also, have 1-2 spare tires ready
- Check the brakes
- Equip necessary accessories such as jack, flashlight, glass breaker, complete set of spare parts
- Electric pump: if unlucky enough to get a puncture, you can use an electric pump to inflate the tire and move forward about 9-10 km to find a repair shop
Additionally, you should prepare a set of car repair tools and spare tires because you may not always find a repair shop nearby when your car breaks down on the road.
1.5. Update weather information
Weather always has a significant impact on your trip. Extremely hot weather will surely make the journey uncomfortable. Rain can postpone your trip. Therefore, about a week before your trip, make sure to regularly update weather information to avoid inconvenience during your journey. You may consider rescheduling if extreme weather conditions such as storms occur to ensure safety.
It's advisable to start your journey in favorable weather conditions
2. Notes during the trip
2.1. Adhere to traffic laws
Before embarking on a road trip by car, having a driver's license is a given. However, besides that, you should also thoroughly understand traffic knowledge such as signs, signals, direction boards, and notes when traveling on national highways, forest roads, mountain passes, sharp curves, anticipating traffic flow at various locations... to best prepare for your journey.
Adhere to traffic safety laws to ensure a safe journey
Ensure strict compliance with traffic laws. And absolutely never exceed the speed limit.
2.2. Dining
On the road, look for crowded eateries, usually along the national highway where there are many trucks, to stop for lunch. When ordering, it's common to ask about the prices. For dinner, it's best to find a good restaurant beforehand as this is usually the designated rest time. So, don't forget to prepare a list of local specialties to slowly enjoy along the way!
In addition to eating at restaurants, you can totally cook while traveling across Vietnam by car. Just prepare a mini gas stove, spare gas canister, pot, large plastic sheet, toilet paper, chopsticks, spoon, bowl, cup, bring along some necessary spices, you can put each in small plastic bottles. Prepare some pre-marinated dishes, along the way, you can stop at any spot to set up and cook. You can also prepare some pre-marinated dishes, along the way, you can stop at any point to organize cooking.
Prepare the necessary items, you can cook and eat anywhere on the go
If you're the driver, to prevent drowsiness, consider buying energy drinks or canned coffee. Experience shows that driving for 1.5-2 hours should be followed by a short break to stay alert. If drowsiness strikes, don't push through, find a safe place to rest and then continue.
2.3. Avoid stopping in dark and sparsely populated areas
During the cross-country journey, it's inevitable to pass through sparsely populated areas, not to mention if your car breaks down, you'll be delayed and end up driving at night. In such situations, even if it's urgent, never stop the car, try to drive to well-lit and populated areas. Or in case of a breakdown, stay inside the car, lock the doors tightly, and call for assistance from rescue units.
Limit driving at night, especially in sparsely populated areas, to ensure safety
Especially at night, if someone on the roadside asks for help, observe carefully for any signs of unusual behavior beforehand, because sometimes such situations can lead to trouble.
2.4. Keep more money in cards than in wallets
Not only when traveling by car, but regardless of the form of travel, it's advisable not to carry too much cash. Only carry enough cash, in denominations from singles to multiples, for use in some necessary locations without ATMs. Keep the rest in cards to avoid loss or theft.
Keep only the necessary amount of cash, and keep the rest in your ATM card to avoid loss or theft
2.5. Use walkie-talkies if traveling with 2 or more vehicles
If you're traveling with a convoy of 2 or more vehicles, it's best to use walkie-talkies to avoid getting lost and easily exchange opinions. The lead vehicle can report good or bad conditions to the following vehicle to prevent any mishaps, while also being able to conveniently assist each other in case of vehicle issues.
Use walkie-talkies if traveling with a convoy of 2 or more vehicles. Image: Hai Anh
Hopefully, the above experiences from Vntrip will be somewhat helpful in your cross-country trip in Vietnam. You don't have to go far, our beautiful country Vietnam still has countless interesting things waiting for you to explore! Take the time to start this exciting journey with your family and friends!
*Due to the ongoing pandemic, readers should consider ensuring the safety of their itinerary and adhere to the regulations and guidelines for Covid prevention and control!
