10 First-Week Mistakes in Vietnam
(and the Simple Fix for Each)
Most first-week mistakes in Vietnam aren't dramatic. They're small, tiring, and usually cost money or energy you'd rather keep. This short guide shows you what tends to go wrong, and the simple fix for each, so you can skip the hard way.
$12.99
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Why I created this
When I landed in Da Nang in January 2025, I thought I was prepared. Then real life happened: a late arrival, an apartment that wasn't what the photos promised, and a first week that taught me more than all my planning had.
Since then, I've lived in five Vietnamese cities and spent time in Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia. I kept seeing the same small mistakes, in my own travels and in the questions I hear from readers. This guide puts them, and their fixes, in one place.
— Mary
The 10 first-week mistakes in Vietnam, and the fix for each
Before you land and arrival day
- Booking your whole stay before you arrive
- Waiting until you land to sort out your phone
- Arriving without a first-day money plan
- Leaving key documents only on your phone
- No plan for getting from the airport
Settling in
- Trying to do everything on Day 1
- Using the first ATM you see
- Assuming a short distance means an easy walk
- Paying a rental deposit before seeing the place
- Judging Vietnam by your first few days
Each mistake includes what tends to happen, the simple fix, and a TSS Shortcut from my own experience living in Vietnam.
Plus the printable TSS First-Week Toolkit
Before You Fly
A pre-flight checklist for your phone, documents, money, and health.
First-Week Essentials
Your nearest grocery, pharmacy, ATM, clinic, and hospital, in one place.
Emergency Card
Your address in Vietnamese, medical details, and key numbers to keep with you.
Rental Check
What to test, ask, and photograph before you say yes to a longer stay.
This guide is for you if…
- You're 50+ and planning your first trip or first long stay in Vietnam
- You'd rather arrive prepared than figure it out while jet-lagged
- You're traveling on your own and want to feel confident
- You're curious about slow travel or living abroad
It's not for you if…
- You've already lived in Vietnam and know your way around
- You're looking for a sightseeing itinerary
Get this guide free with Your First 7 Days in Vietnam
The complete arrival guide walks you through your first week one day at a time, and includes 10 First-Week Mistakes as a free bonus.
See Your First 7 Days in Vietnam →You don't need to get everything right.
You just need to avoid the mistakes that make the first week harder than it has to be.
Get the guide · $12.99Instant PDF download · Written by Mary R. Johnson, Traveling Savvy Seniors
