Make your trip to Vietnam twice as comfortable! Essential Apps & Tools from a Resident
Xin chào! This is Meg from ít ít Việt Nam.
Vietnam is rapidly digitalizing. Being adept with your smartphone is not just convenient, it's also crucial for enjoying your trip with peace of mind!
This time, we've carefully selected tools from the perspective of residents that will support you in everything from local transportation and avoiding trouble, to comfortable communication.
1. Make your city strolls smoother and more enjoyable
To move freely around the cities of Vietnam, ride-hailing apps have become indispensable.
■ Grab | Your lifeline for getting around Vietnam, calling taxis and motorbikes
Your ultimate partner when traveling in Southeast Asia. This app allows you to summon a taxi or an affordable motorbike taxi to your current location with just your smartphone. Since you enter your destination beforehand, the fare is determined from the start, so there's no worry about being overcharged. You can operate it in Japanese, and the support system is solid, making it safe for first-time users.
[Tips for a comfortable trip]
Make sure to create an account and register your credit card before you leave Japan (you might not receive the verification SMS if you try to do it after arriving).
[Tips for getting the best deals]
Once you arrive in Vietnam and open the app, you'll see a guide for "Grab Travel Pass." This is a secret tip where for just 25,000 VND (about 150 yen), you can get a coupon set that offers discounts of up to 2,448,000 VND. Use it wisely to save on transportation costs during your trip!
■ Klook | From airport transfers to attraction tickets! An essential app to avoid queues
This is one of the world's largest travel booking apps, allowing you to pre-book and purchase tickets for everything from comfortable airport transfers to local amusement parks, museums, and various activities. Especially for popular spots in Vietnam, it means you won't have to wait in long lines at ticket booths on the day, which is truly recommended to avoid wasting precious travel time! You can enter smoothly by just showing your smartphone screen, so there's no need to worry about language barriers.
[Tips for getting the best deals]
There's a special coupon code exclusive to Meg, the owner of ít ít Việt Nam.
Up to 6% off coupon code
→ "MMLTVIETNAM"
- 6% off for new users / 3% off from the second time / 3% off for existing users
Valid for purchases of 1,000 yen or more / Maximum discount 700 yen
Some exclusions apply
Expires July 1, 2026 - You can use it by entering the code on the payment screen.
2. To protect your health and "peace of mind"
Knowing the local environment and discerning reliable establishments is also a secret to continuing your enjoyable journey.
■ Google Maps | Choose restaurants based on the latest "reviews"
This is an essential app not just for finding shops and navigation, but also for listening to the "current voices" of each establishment. By checking the latest reviews before entering a local restaurant, you can get real-time information on the atmosphere and customer service at that time.
Also, checking the service of local shops and their turnover rate can help prevent food poisoning.
★ Even if a place has high ratings, it's common for operations to change later, leading to more negative reviews, so make sure to check recent reviews as well.
■ AirVisual | Check the daily air quality
Especially in winter, Vietnam's air quality can fluctuate.
It's important to check the readings and use them to make decisions to take care of yourself, like wearing a mask on hazy days or choosing to travel by taxi, instead of pushing yourself. It would be a shame if your throat got irritated or you started coughing during your trip, ruining it entirely!
3. Breaking down language and money "barriers"
■ XE Currency | Savior for the many digits of Vietnamese Dong
This is a lifesaver when you're overwhelmed by the many zeros in Vietnamese Dong (VND) and lose your sense of monetary value. It instantly converts to Japanese Yen at real-time rates, so you can enjoy shopping with peace of mind.
*If you have an iPhone, the built-in "Calculator app" can also do simple currency conversions, which is convenient.
■ Google Translate / ChatGPT | Using different translation tools for different situations
Google Translate's feature that changes menus to Japanese just by holding your camera over them is truly reassuring. It's recommended to download Vietnamese language data in advance so you can use it offline.
However, for a more natural Japanese translation of signs and menus, ChatGPT is superior. Just take a photo and send it with "Translate this into Japanese," and it will give you a beautiful Japanese translation.
💡 Traveler's questions about communication and booking
Q. Which eSIM do you recommend?
An "eSIM," which can be set up simply through your smartphone settings, is a strong ally for light travel, as there's no need to swap physical cards. "Klook" and "trifa" offer easy-to-understand Japanese setup instructions, and even if you encounter a situation where you "can't connect!", their support desk will provide thorough assistance. The communication speed within Vietnam is also very stable.
Q. Can I connect everywhere? Vietnam's WiFi situation
Vietnamese cafes are surprisingly well-equipped with free WiFi. Even small shops you might casually drop into during your stroll almost always have high-speed WiFi. The connection password is usually printed at the bottom of the receipt, or you can simply ask a staff member "WiFi password?".
Q. How do I book spas and restaurants?
In today's Vietnam, there's rarely a need to make international calls to book establishments. Many shops accept reservations via Instagram DMs and Facebook Messenger. You can communicate using translation apps for text, and most importantly, the "proof of reservation" remains as text on your phone, providing peace of mind. While the local popular app "Zalo" exists, for travelers, using your familiar social media apps is usually sufficient for smooth communication.
If you find yourself a bit overwhelmed by too much information after walking through Ben Thanh Market or Hoi An Ancient Town, or if you want to take a break from your smartphone screen, please feel free to visit ít ít Việt Nam anytime.
We await you in our cool store, a space where you can refresh with cold tea while experiencing the warmth of Vietnamese handicrafts.
May your stay in Vietnam be gentle and colorful. ♡
ít ít Việt Nam Physical Store Information 📍
Ho Chi Minh City Store: Just a stone's throw from Ben Thanh Market!
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📍3rd floor, 14 Đ. Nguyễn An Ninh, Bến Thành, Quận 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
→Google Map
⏰10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
🚶2-minute walk from Ben Thanh Market
💳Cash・Credit Card accepted
Hoi An Store: Perfect for a stroll through the Ancient Town
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📍567 Đ. Hai Bà Trưng, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam
→Google Map
⏰10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
🚶Approx. 10-minute walk from Hoi An Japanese Bridge
💳Cash・Credit Card accepted
- See the latest items on Instagram
The staff looks forward to meeting you in Vietnam! ♡
