By aussiematesvietnam 
Best Travel Apps and Resources for Vietnam Journeys
G’day fellow travellers! Aussie Mates here. After calling Vietnam home for nearly two decades with my lovely wife Tracy, I’ve learned a thing or two about navigating this vibrant country. Back when we first arrived, we relied on dog-eared guidebooks and hand-drawn maps from locals. These days, technology has transformed how we explore Vietnam, making it easier than ever for us Aussie boomers to navigate this beautiful chaos. In this post, I’ll share the digital tools and resources that have been absolute game-changers for our adventures from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and everywhere in between.
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Essential Translation Apps
Let’s face it – for us Aussies, Vietnamese isn’t exactly a language we grew up with in the suburbs of Melbourne or Sydney. While younger generations might pick it up quicker, I’ve found having reliable translation tools essential even after all these years.
Google Translate remains my go-to for quick translations. Download the Vietnamese language pack before your trip so it works offline. The camera translation feature has saved Tracy and me countless times when deciphering menus or street signs in smaller towns like Hoi An or Dalat.
For deeper conversations with locals, I recommend Microsoft Translator. Its conversation mode lets you speak naturally while displaying translations on your screen. Tracy uses this regularly at the markets when haggling over prices – the vendors get a good laugh when they see her speaking into her phone, but it works a treat!
Navigation Apps That Actually Work in Vietnam
Forget what you know about Google Maps back home. While it’s decent in major cities, once you venture into Vietnam’s countryside or smaller towns, you’ll need alternatives.
Maps.me has been our lifesaver on motorbike trips through the Hai Van Pass. It downloads detailed maps to your phone and works brilliantly offline, showing tiny alleyways and shortcuts that Google doesn’t recognize. Perfect for when you’re exploring without mobile data.
Grab isn’t just for ridesharing – it’s become my primary navigation tool in cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Its maps are surprisingly accurate for Vietnam’s urban areas, and the bonus is you can immediately book transport if you’re too knackered to walk in the heat. After a long day exploring the War Remnants Museum in Saigon, Tracy and I often Grab our way back to the hotel instead of dealing with traditional taxis.
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Money Management & Payment Apps
Vietnam remains largely cash-based, but digital payments are growing rapidly in urban centers. These tools help manage your dong without the headaches:
- XE Currency: Still my favourite for quick currency conversions. The Vietnamese dong has many zeros (1 AUD ≈ 15,500 VND at time of writing), making mental math challenging. XE lets you save the AUD to VND conversion for offline use.
- Wise (formerly TransferWise): If you’re staying longer, this has been brilliant for accessing our Australian funds without exorbitant bank fees. Tracy and I use it regularly to transfer money for longer stays.
- ViettelPay: This local payment app is increasingly useful in Vietnam. While the interface isn’t fully translated, it’s worth learning the basics for paying at local businesses that don’t accept international cards.
Don’t rely solely on cards – always keep cash handy, especially when traveling to rural areas like Sapa or the Mekong Delta where ATMs are scarce. I learned this lesson the hard way on a motorbike trip through Ha Giang when our cards wouldn’t work at the only ATM in a small mountain town!
Travel Planning & Booking Resources
While younger travellers might wing it completely, I’ve found having some pre-arrangements gives peace of mind, especially for us in the 50+ crowd who appreciate a bit more certainty.
Booking.com and Agoda have the best coverage for Vietnam accommodations at all price points. I prefer Agoda for its detailed Vietnam listings and frequent discounts on higher-end hotels. Tracy’s top tip: in Vietnam, always message the property directly after booking to confirm your reservation and any special requests.
12Go Asia has revolutionized how we book transport in Vietnam. It lets you compare and book trains, buses, and ferries throughout the country. We used it recently to secure sleeper train tickets from Hanoi to Hue without dealing with station queues or language barriers.
Vietnam Railway‘s official app is worth downloading if you’re planning scenic train journeys like the Reunification Express. The English isn’t perfect, but it’s reliable for bookings and checking schedules.
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Health & Safety Apps
Let’s be honest – at our age, having quick access to medical help provides peace of mind in a foreign country.
SOS International is worth every dollar if you’re concerned about healthcare access. Their app connects you to English-speaking medical professionals and facilitates hospital visits if needed. After Tracy’s bout of food poisoning in Nha Trang, we never travel without it.
Vietnam Travel Safety provides government alerts, embassy information, and safety tips specific to regions you’re visiting. It also includes emergency phrases in Vietnamese – handy when you need to communicate urgently.
Food & Experience Discovery
Half the joy of Vietnam is discovering its incredible cuisine and unique experiences. These apps make finding the good stuff easier:
Foody.vn is Vietnam’s homegrown answer to Yelp, and it’s far more comprehensive than TripAdvisor for local eateries. The interface has English options, and I’ve found the user photos particularly helpful for identifying dishes before ordering.
GetYourGuide and Klook offer a wide range of bookable experiences throughout Vietnam. We recently used Klook to book a street food tour in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, which introduced us to hidden gems we’d never have found otherwise, even after years living here!
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Local Knowledge Resources
Beyond apps, these resources provide deeper insights into Vietnam:
Vietnam Coracle remains the gold standard for independent travel information in Vietnam. This blog, run by a long-term expat, offers incredibly detailed guides for motorbike routes, hidden beaches, and authentic food experiences. Tracy and I have followed his Saigon coffee shop recommendations to find absolute gems.
Facebook Groups like “Expats in Ho Chi Minh City” or “Hanoi Massive” may seem aimed at residents, but they’re gold mines for visitors. I regularly check these before trips to different regions to catch updates on road closures, new attractions, or current scams to avoid.
Conclusion
Vietnam’s unique blend of ancient traditions and rapid modernization makes it both fascinating and occasionally challenging for us Australian travellers. Having the right digital tools doesn’t just make your journey smoother – it helps you discover authentic experiences that many tourists miss.
Tracy and I have watched Vietnam transform dramatically over our two decades here, but one thing remains constant: the warmth of Vietnamese hospitality. These apps and resources will help you navigate the logistics, but remember to pocket your phone occasionally and simply soak in the moments.
Safe travels, and if you spot a couple of Aussies on vintage Vespas cruising through Hoi An, give us a wave – it might just be Tracy and me on our weekend getaway!
Have you used any of these apps in Vietnam? Or do you have other recommendations? Drop your thoughts in the comments below – I’d love to hear about your experiences.