As Tet holiday is the most important time of a year to Vietnamese, just like Christmas and New Year combined to Weterners, there are some notes for travellers who want to travel to Hoi An during this holiday to avoid bad experience.
1. Apply for a visa as soon as possible
Like other governmental bodies, the Visa issuing authority, including Vietnamese embassies, consulates and Immigration office, would be closed from January 21st and will only get back to work on January 30th. Therefore, you should work out your travel plan carefully and apply for the visa as soon as possible to avoid the unnecessary delay of flights.
At the airport, the immigration officers on call remain open to give you visa stamp for visa on arrival.
2. Book in advance
As many foreigners share the same interest in experiencing a traditional Tet in Vietnam, it would be not easy to get rooms in Hoi An’s hotels, especially high-quality ones, if you didn’t book in advance. The 9 day holiday means that the locals also have ample of time to head Center and South for holiday too and Hoi an is always a quality choice.
Transport is another matter to be concerned. Reserve your airplane tickets and train tickets as soon as you can and expect holiday surcharge.
3. Shops closed/ Shops open
Though recently, there have been more and more shops opened on Tet holiday, tourists still have to be aware of the fact that a number of shops would not do so. Especially for those who want to have new clothes made at Hoi An’s famous tailors, Tet is actually not the best time. The exception is A Dong Silk at 40 Le Loi Street, Hoi An. Tel (84) 0510 3863 170. This tailor will be closed for just 1 day before Tet and the first day of Tet only (January 22nd and 23rd).
If you plan to stay in Hoi An after January 26th, there would be more options, including
> Yaly Couture at 358 Nguyen Duy Hieu St., Hoi An, which has 4 showrooms as below Showroom 1: 47 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street; Showroom 2: 47 Tran Phu Street; Showroom 3: 358 Nguyen Duy Hieu Street; Showroom 4: 580 Cua Dai Street
> Kim My Tailor at 70 Tran Hung Dao St., Hoi An.
> To To Boutique at 32-34 Ba Trieu St., Hoi An.
> Thu Thuy Tailor at 60 Le Loi St., Hoi An
4. Restaurants closed/ Restaurants open
The good news is that most restaurants don’t close the whole Tet and usually just for a couple of days. Here are some suggestions:
> Le Banyan bar
An Bang beach, Hoi An 51000, Vietnam - Tel: 0935100337
> The Cargo Club
107 D Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An, Vietnam - Tel: 0510 3910 489
> Dao Tien
21 Phan Boi Chau, Hoi An, Vietnam
> Good Morning Vietnam
102 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An, Vietnam - Tel: 0510 3910 227
> Lantern Town Restaurant
49 Nguyen Thai Hoc Str, Hoi An, Vietnam - Tel: + 84 1239912212
> Laugh Cafe Restaurant
126 Tran Cao Van St, Hoi An, Vietnam - Tel: 0905192532
> Voulez-Vous
631 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An, Vietnam - Tel: 0510 3927 339
5. High prices
Don’t expect food, clothes, etc. to be as cheap and reasonable as stated in your travel guide. On Tet holiday, everything, with bill or not, will involve a holiday surcharge, from a bowl of Cao Lau to a suit made to order. Moreover, many restaurants may not have full menu either. Accept this as part of your holiday will relieve you from unnecessary stress.
6. Be careful when buying or bargaining
When you want to buy something in shops during Tet holiday, be careful, especially with bargaining. Sellers have strong belief that if their new year starts strong with the generating of many sales this will determine a prosperous outcome for the year. Hence it can be very disappointing and annoying to a merchant if you inquire about an item to later not buy it or you bargain so much. This is a sign of loss prosperity through-out the year, to their opinions. In order not to get their anger, try to buy at least one thing in their shops, even the smallest and cheapest one, in case you have entered their shops and asked for goods. The advice is to look at the item carefully from outside before getting inside. Looking does no harm.
