Hanoi tips & FAQ: money, SIM, safety and what to pack

This is the practical hub for a first trip to Hanoi: how money and ATMs work, whether to buy a SIM or an eSIM, the scams worth knowing, tap water and pharmacies, plugs and voltage, local etiquette, and the Hanoi-specific quirks — the winter cold, the winter air quality, and the maze that is the Old Quarter. If this is your first stop in the city, start with the complete Hanoi guide for districts, sights and where to stay.

Money, cards and ATMs

The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND), and the rough rule of thumb is ~26,000 VND = $1. The prices look alarming until you get used to the zeros: a bowl of phở at 40,000 VND is under two dollars. Carry both cash and a card — they cover different halves of the city.

ATMs are everywhere, but the per-withdrawal cap (often 2–5 million VND) and the ~3% fee mean it pays to take out larger amounts less often. Machines attached to major banks — Vietcombank, BIDV, Techcombank — tend to give the highest limits and the best rates. Tell your bank you're travelling so the card isn't blocked, and carry a backup card in case one gets swallowed. For the full breakdown of prices in the city, see the Hanoi food, transport and prices guide.

SIM, eSIM and the apps you need

For a short trip, an eSIM bought before you leave home is the simplest option: you land already online, no queue, no paperwork. If you prefer a physical SIM, buy one at Noi Bai Airport or any phone shop in town — you'll need your passport to register it. Viettel has the widest coverage and holds a signal even up in the Sapa hills. Free WiFi covers roughly 90% of cafes and hotels and is usually fast enough for calls.

A handful of apps turn Hanoi from confusing to easy. Install them before you land, on airport WiFi or that eSIM.

Safety and scams

For a capital of this size, Hanoi is remarkably safe. Robbery and assault against travellers are rare, and walking around at night in the central districts is normal. The trouble here is petty, not violent — and almost all of it is avoidable if you know the pattern.

The one to burn into memory is the taxi meter. A minority of metered cabs, especially the ones circling the airport and Hoan Kiem, run doctored meters that spin two or three times too fast, or the driver claims a "fixed" fare far above the norm. The fix is boringly simple: book everything on Grab, or if you want a street taxi, stick to the reputable meter firms — Mai Linh and G7. The app price is set before you get in, so there's nothing to argue about.

One more to watch: bag-snatching from motorbikes. It's uncommon but real — a rider swipes a phone or handbag held on the road side and is gone. Walk with your bag on the inside, keep the phone away from the kerb, and don't stand at the roadside scrolling a map.

The other classics are the friendly stranger plays — a cyclo ride, a fruit-basket photo, a shoe repair "on the house" — that end in a bill several times what you agreed to. And in tourist-heavy restaurants, glance over the bill: an extra beer or a phantom side dish occasionally "forgets" to leave.

💬 "Hanoi is safe, but taxi scams are common — insist on the meter or use Grab, and always agree the fare before you sit down." — traveller consensus, r/VietnamTravel, 2025

Health, tap water, pharmacies and plugs

Don't drink the tap water— bottled only, and it's cheap everywhere. Ice in cafes and restaurants is generally made from purified water and is fine. The safest street food is what's cooked fresh in front of you at a busy stall; the riskier stuff is anything left sitting out. A basic travel first-aid kit plus rehydration salts covers most trouble.

Pharmacies (nhà thuốc) are on almost every block, well-stocked and cheap, and staff often speak enough English to help; many common medicines are sold over the counter. For anything beyond a stomach upset, Hanoi has international-standard clinics — Family Medical Practice and Vinmecamong them — with English-speaking doctors. Travel insurance that covers medical care is worth having; save your insurer's assistance line before you go.

Etiquette and the Hanoi specifics

Hanoians are forgiving of tourists, but a handful of courtesies will change how you're treated. Most of it is common sense; a couple of things are easy to get wrong.

• Dress modestly at temples and pagodas. Cover shoulders and knees, take your shoes off where asked, and keep your voice down inside.
• Mind your head and feet.The head is considered the highest part of the body — don't pat anyone's, including children. The feet are the lowest, so don't point your soles at people, altars or Buddha images.
• Use both hands to give or receive something — money, a business card, a gift. It reads as respect.
• No photos of the guardsat the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and dress properly there — it's a solemn, tightly-run site.
• Keep it low-key. Big public affection and losing your temper both go down badly; staying calm gets you further in any dispute.

Pack a jacket in winter — really

The thing no beach-and-palm-trees image prepares you for: Hanoi has a genuine winter. From December to February it sits around 10–15 °C, grey and damp, and — this is the catch — hotels and homes have no central heating. Indoors feels as cold as out. Bring a warm jacket and a couple of layers; a light thermal top earns its place. The rest of the year is warm to hot, so for a May–September trip swap the jacket for a rain layer and light, quick-dry clothes.

Winter air quality

The flip side of the cool, still winter months (roughly November to March) is air quality: AQI readings can climb into unhealthy territory on the worst days. Check an air-quality app in the morning. If it's bad and you're in a sensitive group — asthma, young kids, older travellers — wear a mask and go easy on outdoor exertion. A good rain usually clears the air within a day.

Navigating the Old Quarter

The Old Quarter is a walkable maze of 36 short streets, each historically named for the trade once sold there — silk, tin, sugar, paper. It's the fun of the place and the reason people get turned around. Keep Google Maps open and count intersections rather than trusting street names, which change every block or two. Use Hoan Kiem Lake as your anchor to the south, and know that the streets around it go car-free and pedestrian-only on weekend evenings (Friday to Sunday) — great for wandering, confusing for a Grab pickup, so agree a meeting point at the edge of the zone.

No sea in Hanoi — where to swim

Worth knowing before you arrive: there is no beach in Hanoi. The nearest coast is 120–160 km away. For a proper beach, fly to Da Nang, Nha Trang or Phu Quoc (1.5–2 hours, from ~$30–40); to just get on the water, the Ha Long options below are the move.

FAQ

Should I carry cash or use cards in Hanoi?

Carry both. Street food, markets and small shops are cash-only; malls, hotels and larger restaurants take Visa and Mastercard. ATMs are everywhere but usually cap withdrawals at 2–5 million VND and charge a fee of about 3%, so pull out larger amounts less often. Keep small notes for taxis and noodle stalls.

Do I need a SIM card or an eSIM in Vietnam?

For a short trip an eSIM bought before you fly is easiest — you land already online. Otherwise buy a physical SIM at Noi Bai Airport or any phone shop; you need your passport to register it. Viettel has the widest coverage. Free WiFi covers around 90% of cafes and hotels.

Is Hanoi safe for tourists?

Yes. Violent crime against travellers is rare and Hanoi is one of the safer capitals in Asia. The real risks are petty: pickpocketing and bag-snatching in the crowded Old Quarter, taxi overcharging and the traffic. Use Grab, keep your bag in front and away from the roadside, and cross roads slowly.

What are the most common scams in Hanoi?

Rigged taxi meters, "friendly" cyclo or shoe-shine offers that end with a big bill, padded restaurant checks and shops quoting inflated prices. Book cars through Grab or a trusted meter firm like Mai Linh or G7, agree any price before the service, and check the bill before you pay.

Can I drink the tap water in Hanoi?

No — bottled water only. Ice in cafes and restaurants is usually made from purified water and is generally safe. Street food cooked fresh at a busy stall is one of the safer things to eat.

Do I need to tip in Hanoi?

Not the way you would in the West. Rounding up or leaving small change at restaurants and for drivers is appreciated but optional. Upscale places may add a service charge, so check the bill first.

What power plugs and voltage does Vietnam use?

Mains power is 220V, 50Hz. Sockets take type A, C and F plugs, and most accept both the flat two-pin (US-style) and round two-pin (EU-style) shapes, so many travellers manage without an adapter. UK three-pin plugs do need one. Modern phone and laptop chargers handle 220V automatically.

What are the emergency numbers in Vietnam?

Police 113, fire 114, ambulance 115. For anything serious, international-standard clinics in Hanoi — Family Medical Practice, Vinmec — are the fastest route to English-speaking care. Save your travel-insurance assistance line too.

Do I need to pack for cold weather in Hanoi?

In winter, yes. From December to February Hanoi can drop to 10–15 °C, and buildings have no central heating, so a warm jacket and a layer or two make a real difference — indoors and out. The rest of the year is warm to hot; pack a rain layer for the May–September wet season.

Is air quality a problem in Hanoi?

It can be, mainly in the cool dry months from November to March, when AQI readings sometimes reach unhealthy levels. Check an air-quality app; on bad days, sensitive groups should wear a mask and ease off outdoor exertion. It clears up quickly after rain.

How do I get around the Old Quarter without getting lost?

The Old Quarter is a walkable maze of 36 short streets, each historically named for its trade. Use Google Maps and count intersections rather than trusting street names, keep Hoan Kiem Lake as your anchor to the south, and note that the core goes car-free and pedestrian-only on weekend evenings.