r/VietNam

might be a dumb question but one of the hardest things I’ve found when learning Vietnamese is how to properly address people. especially women. I’m a 30s some guy and it may be just my western culture clouding things but I feel weird asking women their age and most women would feel it a compliment of you assume they are young.. should I just use “em” to refer to them unless I know they are “chi” to me? it is that disrespectful?

They opened two gyms earlier this year but then decided to close five in the last half year. They just closed another one in District 11! My contract ends at the end of January but I feel awful for locals who are in long term contracts (think 2+ years) who won’t get refunds. I’ve heard they also have not paid their employees for months now as well.

I’m guess citizens have little rights when it comes to suing or getting their money back. This also leaves a huge hole in the gym scene here as well. A City gym near me has closed as well! Is this happening in any other cities?

Can anyone recommend a full gym with squat racks that has pool/sauna? District 3 and 10 but I could go to District 1 or 8.

General Luong Tam Quang, member of the Politburo and Minister of Public Security, confirmed that elite football clubs Manchester United, AC Milan, and Inter Milan have agreed to come to Vietnam to participate in an international friendly tournament (as part of the inauguration celebrations for the new PVF Stadium (Nghĩa Trụ Commune, Hưng Yên Province) in 2027).

Image source: Asean Football (Facebook)

Rendering of the new PVF Stadium in Hưng Yên (expected to be completed in March 2027). Image source: Vietnam News

Link to the full article above.

Hello! Just as the title says, i'm planning on going to Vietnam in November for 30 days to backpack. I'm fine with all terrain but mostly i'm looking to do some long treks through the jungle or mountains. So far, I have a 50l bag with waterproof covers, waterproof pouches for food, clothes and my sleeping bag (which is a 40f) a foam mat, tarp, some paracord, headlamp and of course a nalgene and other essentials (phone, toiletries). I'm looking to pack relatively light.

Experienced backpackers that have hiked Vietnam, is there any gear or items I should consider? any special spots worth checking out? Cheers!

Hey everyone!

I've been reading a Guide du Routard guide to Vietnam and am starting to put together my itinerary. I'll arrive in Hanoi on 11 November and have around 25 days, potentially 28 if I extend my trip.

I'm travelling solo and would love some advice on my route, especially regarding the weather and how to finish the trip.

My current plan:

Hanoi — 3 days: Explore the city, food, culture, etc.

Ha Giang Loop — 3–4 days: I'd like to do this relatively early in the trip, hopefully with good weather.

Lan Ha Bay / Ha Long Bay — 2 days, 1 night: I'd prefer a quieter alternative to the busiest cruise routes.

Ninh Binh — 2 days: For the limestone landscapes, boat trips and countryside.

Sapa — possibly skip it: I've read that November is past the rice harvest season, and since I'll already be doing Ha Giang, I'm wondering whether it's worth the detour.

Hue and Hoi An — undecided: I'd love to visit both, but I'm concerned about November's rainy season and the risk of flooding.

My biggest question is how to finish the trip.

I'd love to spend 5–6 days on a beautiful beach, ideally somewhere with turquoise water, opportunities to swim and relax, and a good backpacker/social atmosphere as a solo traveller.

I'm considering two options:

Stay in Vietnam: Visit Ho Chi Minh City for a couple of days, then fly to Phu Quoc for the beach before flying back to Paris.

Fly to southern Thailand: I've read that the Thai islands have a better backpacker scene for solo travellers. Would it be worth flying to Thailand for the last 5–6 days, or would that be too much travelling for this trip?

My main questions:

Would you skip Sapa in November, especially if you're already visiting Ha Giang?

Are Hue and Hoi An worth visiting in November despite the rain and potential flooding? Would you decide based on the forecast?

For a 5–6-day beach finale, would you choose Phu Quoc or the Thai islands? If Thailand, which islands would be best in late November for weather, beautiful beaches and meeting other solo travellers?

Does my overall itinerary make sense geographically and time-wise? Would you change the order or cut anything?

What should I book in advance, particularly for the Ha Giang Loop, Lan Ha Bay cruise and accommodation? Is it better to leave some parts flexible because of the weather?

I'd really appreciate any advice, especially from people who travelled in Vietnam or southern Thailand in November. Thanks! :)

Was thinking about stopping 2/3 days (starting tomorrow) in Ho Chi Minh before going to Hanoi but not sure about the weather? Is it raining much?

Excerpt: The Philippine economy grew at its slowest pace in five years, expanding just 2.8 percent in the first quarter of 2026, as the country grapples with the persistent government spending slump and mounting inflation shocks.

The country’s economy, as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP), decelerated from the 3.0 percent expansion recorded in the final three months of 2025.

It also significantly missed the 3.4 percent median growth projected by economists in a survey, and marked the weakest quarterly output for the country since the first quarter of 2021, when the economy contracted 3.8 percent during pandemic-era lockdowns.

Hi, Chao,

I fell in love with a Belgian/Vietnamese girl, we're thinking of moving to Vietnam at some point (when our dog is no longer with us)

As I'm a professional sound and light engineer/operator I was wondering about the climate in clubs, concert venues, theaters and corporate events.

Anyone in this sector that can help me get an idea on jobs and companies in Vietnam (Saigon)?

Much appreciated!

I heard about The Factory (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ev5GgUBVZALLzhoA6) and would have loved to check something like this out when I'm visiting in early Dec. Are there any other similar contemporary art spaces now that this place has closed?