After 12 years in Vietnam, a British man points out 7 mistakes tourists often make.

(Dan Tri) - British journalist Joshua Zukas, who has been living in Vietnam for 12 years, said he often sees tourists making the same mistakes when coming to Vietnam.

After 12 years living in Hanoi and contributing to the compilation of 10 travel guides, journalist and travel expert Joshua Zukas said he still often sees tourists making the same mistakes when coming to Vietnam.

According to him, the reason comes from the fact that many people "see an overly embellished Vietnam online", far different from real life.

Joshua Zukas has lived in Vietnam for 12 years (Photo: Joshua Zukas).

Below are common mistakes made by tourists that Joshua Zukas has compiled and published on Business Insider .

1. Want to "conquer" the whole country in one trip

According to Mr. Zukas, many people come to Vietnam with the mindset of "having to travel from North to South" in 1-2 weeks, but that is almost impossible.

“Traveling between cities in Vietnam takes longer than tourists think, sometimes a whole day. It’s better to focus on one area instead of trying to see everything,” he wrote.

The author also advises tourists to choose a specific region, such as only exploring the Central region or the Northern mountainous region, for a more in-depth and realistic experience.

2. Angry about the weather

Many people expect Vietnam to be always sunny and beautiful, but in reality the climate here is very diverse and unpredictable. “The weather in Vietnam is a factor that cannot be overlooked. Winter in the mountains can be bitterly cold, the Mekong Delta is scorching hot in March and April, and the Central region often experiences storms in October and November,” he shared.

Instead of getting frustrated when their vacation is interrupted by rain and wind, tourists should consider it part of the experience, he said. “Pack appropriately and remember that extreme weather is something Vietnamese people have to face every day,” he suggested.

The weather in Vietnam can be unpredictable (Photo: Joshua Zukas).

3. "Greed" to go through the list of hot spots

Joshua Zukas is blunt: “It may be controversial, but I think there are no ‘must-see’ places in Vietnam.” He explains that in times of over-tourism, ‘must-see’ places often become crowded, noisy and lose their original charm.

According to Joshua Zukas, chasing a list of popular destinations only makes tourists fall into crowded situations, even unintentionally disturbing local people.

“Vietnam is safe and friendly, so choose according to your true inspiration. My most memorable trips have been when I focused on what really interested me, rather than marking off ‘hot spots’ on a map.”

4. Follow social media influencers

According to Zukas, social media is misleading tourists. “Whenever I meet someone who says they had a bad experience because of a misleading TikTok video or Instagram post, I feel both disappointed and vindicated,” he shared.

He argues that social media algorithms often favor shocking or extreme content, rather than encouraging honesty or a balanced perspective. “Influencers fly around the world to ‘follow trends’, not to reflect reality,” Zukas emphasizes.

Instead of trusting them, he advises tourists to follow content creators who have lived in Vietnam for a long time and have local knowledge.

Places like the mountainous regions of northern Vietnam take a long time to explore (Photo: Joshua Zukas).

5. Mistake of skipping street food

One of the most common “mistakes” according to Mr. Zukas is when tourists avoid street food. “Many people are concerned about hygiene issues so they choose restaurants that serve tourists, with a menu of European and Asian dishes. But in fact, the best Vietnamese cuisine often comes from small restaurants that only sell one dish, such as sidewalk kitchens or family restaurants.”

He suggested that, in addition to pho, in Hanoi there is a dish called banh cuon that is worth trying, or in Ho Chi Minh City there is a particularly attractive dish called fresh snails, boiled, grilled, stir-fried or steamed with all kinds of dipping sauces.

6. Refuse to use domestic SIM

Zukas believes this is a small but annoying mistake. He expressed: “I completely support leaving the phone, but if you want to look up information on the road, relying on wifi alone will drive you crazy. Mobile data in Vietnam is fast, stable and cheap, usually only about 10 USD/month (about 264,000 VND).”

He suggests travelers purchase an eSIM through an app or visit a major carrier store. “That way, you can easily access trusted sources of information,” he said.

7. Too lazy to read travel guides

In an age of shallow content and fake reviews, buying a guide is still a smart choice, he says. “Good guides are well-researched, informative, and the result of months, even years, of hands-on experience,” Zukas says.

He warns that: “Many of the posts and reviews online today are just AI-generated, lacking depth and verification. A guide to help you filter out the noise online, providing an honest perspective and connecting you to Vietnam through the real experiences of a dedicated author.”

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/12-nam-o-viet-nam-chang-trai-anh-chi-ra-7-sai-lam-du-khach-hay-mac-20251006110406340.htm