Lucky for us! We live in a 4.0 technology era in which practically everyone owns a smartphone and high-speed internet is available everywhere – even in the most distant locations! They are quite helpful when arranging an autonomous trip, such as itinerary planning, hotel booking, flight booking, or renting a private car.
For those who like to travel independently, we’ve compiled a list of 15 handy applications that will make seeing Vietnam a lot easier. Focus on discovery and adventure, and don’t forget to download these applications before you arrive in Vietnam!
1. Trip planning and travel supporting apps
Tripadvisor
If you’ve used TripAdvisor’s website to discover new places to visit, such as attractions and restaurants, and read reviews, the app version is for you. It’s a convenient method to have the same information in the palm of your hand.
You may use the app to book trips, check flight itineraries, and find hotels/accommodations.
Because TripAdvisor is popular with tourists worldwide, many of the reviews and listings are of “touristy” destinations. When reading the reviews, be in mind that there are phony reviewers.
Klook
Klook is Vietnam’s most popular trip-planning app. Klook’s biggest feature is that it offers various attractions at a lower price than the official ticket price. It is available in over 100 countries, so you’re sure to find plenty to do.
Klook allows you to browse through many trip alternatives and select one with positive reviews or an itinerary that meets your needs.
What’s great about Klook is that it allows you to save money by ordering tickets ahead of time. The Klook app makes it simple to redeem your voucher. You present your app at the attraction and/or ticket pick-up point to acquire your physical ticket.
When you make a purchase, you earn credits that you can use to make further purchases in the future. For example, if you are in Da Nang, you have purchased tickets to Ba Na Hills amusement park, Danang Wonders amusement park and arranged a shuttle service by car to and from Ba Na Hills. The procedure will go your way without a hitch!
Google Maps
It’s no surprise that Google Maps is included! It’s one app you’ll use every day in Vietnam and on a daily basis in your home country.
Google Maps is a comprehensive app that allows you to store places you want to visit, create your own maps, use map functions, and search places or restaurants near your present position.
Fortunately, Google Maps works throughout most of Vietnam, including the islands. The driving distance is correct and will notify you of any traffic jams. Google Maps also displays bus stop locations and routes in Ho Chi Minh City.
One thing to keep in mind is that Google Maps does not display roadways that are blocked to pedestrians on weekends. On weekends, when the roads around Hoan Kiem Lake are blocked to automobile traffic, this is a frequent practice in Hanoi. Google Maps will direct you in circles. So, if you come across barricades, park your car and walk to the venue. Google Maps works perfectly for walking directions.
Note/Notion
Making a vacation plan necessitates not only scheduling the necessary services in advance, but also saving those precise timetables and information. That is why we must use the words Note or Notion. Note is a built-in application that is simple to use and has a few basic functionalities. You can keep vacation information like homestay addresses, private driver phone numbers, restaurants, and luggage lists on it.
Notion may be more challenging to use for some newcomers, but it is really valuable if you know how to utilize it. When saving travel information with Notion, you can build a daily plan and activities, as well as a chronology for each activity. The various views enable you to manage your day more effectively by reviewing your calendar by chronology.
2. Weather check apps
Weather/Accuweather
The weather in Vietnam is notoriously volatile. Throughout our time in Vietnam, we encountered unusual weather.
- In November, it rained in Hanoi. (November is a dry month in Hanoi)
- In November and December, Hoi An was sunny for two days and then rainy. (Hoi An experiences rains and storms in October and November)
- In December, it rained in Ho Chi Minh City. (December is a dry month in Ho Chi Minh City)
However, avoid relying on the typical climatic seasons. Use your app to create and fine-tune your itinerary throughout your stay in Vietnam to make the most of your time there.
Windy
If your agenda includes outdoor physical activities, the Windy app may come in handy. Windy provides particular information about wind strength and wind direction so you may evaluate whether or not an activity, such as windsurfing, will be affected.
3. Flight booking apps
Traveloka
You’ve probably heard of Traveloka, a prominent flight booking app in Southeast Asia with over 70 domestic and international airlines. This software gives and compares flights from various airlines for the same schedule by providing flight details such as price, baggage weight, and refund/cancel policy. Traveloka accepts bank card and transfer payments, making it incredibly handy for customers.
Agoda
This app is one of Asia’s “top 1” accommodation apps. This application’s popularity and widespread use can be attributed to its user-friendly design and transparent policies.
When it comes to accommodation options, Agoda typically offers their users the finest rates and discounts.
For example, the hostel is nearly full, but there are still a few beds remaining, and the company would want to fill them all. They frequently list their listings on Agoda and offer travelers lower prices than on other platforms; these are known as “last-minute deals.”
So, if you’re traveling on a tight budget, it won’t hurt to have Agoda loaded as a backup while comparing hotel pricing!
Vietnambooking
If you’re looking for a domestic travel agency, Vietnambooking can be a good option.
This is a trustworthy ticket booking website in Vietnam that specializes in aiding travelers with flight booking and related services such as purchasing additional checked baggage, exchanging tickets or refunds, and delivering tickets to home. Even if the airline’s homepage is sold out, you can still get affordable flights here.
4. Accommodation booking apps
Booking
Even if you’re new to traveling, you’ve probably heard of Booking.com. This program covers nearly every country in the globe (228 countries and territories) and is very easy to use. All you need to do is create a profile and provide basic information about the selected accommodation in the search, such as the date, number of travelers, and location.
Booking.com has a Genuis program for loyal members, and after booking a few stays, you can get big savings on your account. It’s literally fantastic when you realize you get a 10 – 20% discount on selected accommodations.
Another fantastic feature of Booking is that the majority of alternatives do not require a prepayment; instead, you pay on the site!
It’s wonderful for folks who don’t like the accommodation after seeing it for themselves. Install the app, establish a profile, and choose from among the best lodging possibilities in Vietnam!
Airbnb
Consider using Airbnb to find unique locations to stay in Vietnam. While we prefer to look for apartments on Airbnb’s website, the app is simple to use. Filter for the ideal accommodations by location, price, and other criteria.
You can also read other reviewers’ comments. Because of the reciprocation approach, positive reviews on Airbnb tend to be higher than on other booking platforms. The reviewer provides feedback on the host’s accommodations, and the host responds with a review. Take the feedback with a grain of salt.
You must pay a cleaning and service fee, which is a proportion of the room cost, when using Airbnb. If you’re traveling alone, the cost of an Airbnb accommodation may be more than that of a guesthouse.
Luxstay
Luxstay is one of the online booking sites that now offers good service at reasonable pricing. Luxstay operates similarly to Airbnb, except it concentrates on the Vietnamese tourism business to assist independent domestic guests.
Luxstay is more competitive with lower costs than Airbnb. You may also find authentic reviews from other travelers to help you choose the best hotel for your preferences and budget. However, due to its tiny size and new arrival on the market at the end of 2016, Luxstay can only provide a limited number of accommodation kinds to consumers.
Trivago
Another free portal where you can obtain genuine lodging information is Trivago. Trivago lets you compare hotel room rates and other factors to find the best deal. With a large selection of rooms and a quick and easy booking process, this site is ideal for use in Vietnam.
5. Rental cal app
>>> See more: Review 7 Best Car Rental Apps In Vietnam
Gobooyaa
Despite its recent launch, Gobooyaa has demonstrated its potential as a highly beneficial tool for independent travelers. Gobooyaa offers a selection of vehicles to tourists that nearly no other car rental agency can. Aside from motorcycles and vehicles, this site also offers yachts and 16-seater vans, which are ideal for large parties.
This auto rental booking tool is offered not only in the most popular tourist sites, but also in small towns and islands, making it ideal for local travel. Furthermore, the incredibly professional 24/7 support crew will assist you along your journey.
Gobooyaa provides dependable, high-quality car rental services, ensuring that customers enjoy distinctive and interesting excursions.
DICAR
DiCar is an automotive sector multi-service platform in Vietnam. Car buying and selling, reputable car care garage locations, a free car insurance premium calculator, self-driving car rentals, driver-driven car rentals for private or accompanied journeys, and self-driving car rentals with the purpose of delivering simplicity and ease to all users.
DICAR provides a wide range of services, such as car sales, driver hiring, garage locating, and rental car insurance, to ensure that you have the finest experiences in Vietnam.
CONCLUSION
Using technology while traveling, especially smartphone apps, saves you a lot of time and work. Which of the 15 Vietnam travel apps listed above is your favorite? Please let us know by leaving a comment!