Some mobile applications are necessary when traveling in Vietnam.
For your travel in Vietnam, you will use a mobile phone and mobile travel applications. Mobile applications in this article will help you when traveling to prevent problems such as orientation, bookings, find a restaurant, searching for flight … For full functionality of these mobile applications it requires an internet connection.
Calling and using internet in Vietnam, read this article. The best option of mobile internet in Vietnam for travelers is to buy a prepaid tourist SIM card. Lots of restaurants in Vietnam have WiFi internet. The most important applications for traveling are especially Google Maps, Translate, Viber, Agoda and Skyscanner.
Mobile travel applications, all for free in basic use:
1. GOOGLE MAPS
– Google application for free – maps of the world
– necessary application to display a map when traveling in Vietnam
– in remote mountainous areas in Vietnam may not be functional mobile internet
– you can download your maps and use them offline, how to download Google Maps for offline using
– application is available for Android and iOS
2. MAPS.ME
– applications with maps of cities, states, attractions, restaurants, hotels, hostels …
– working offline
– some smaller cities in Vietnam are not complete
– you will also find a cheap hostels and Ngha Nghi in Vietnam
– application is available for Android and iOS
3. GOOGLE TRANSLATE
– excellent free application for translating
– translate any text (vocabulary, phrases, articles …) and recognition among 90 languages
– with the application, you can make a photo and then translate the text in the picture
– can be used for translation with microphone
– you can download the language you want to use, and use it offline
– application is available for Android and iOS
4. VIBER
– with the application, you can make free calls worldwide, send messages, pictures, video chat …
– requires mobile internet or WiFi (WiFi is better and more stable)
– recipient of the call must also have this app in the phone
– Viber Out service – you can call very cheaply to the world
– integration with the native contact list for calls and messages
– application is available for Android and iOS
5. SKYPE
– well-known free app for free calls, video calls, instant messaging worldwide
– requires mobile internet or WiFi (WiFi is stable)
– you can also make calls to foreign mobile numbers around the world at low rates
– you can also send photos
– application is available for Android and iOS
6. UBER
– free mobile application for alternative taxi – Uber
– in Vietnam using only in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city
– you order a ride through the application, the driver will pick you up in a few minutes
– you specify pick up point on the map even if you do not know the exact address
– you save your credit card to your account – you dont need any cash
– register here and get the free credit for riding
– application is available for Android and iOS
7. GRAB taxi
– applications for alternative taxi (Bike, Taxi, Car)
– operates in Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, America
– Grab in Vietnam operates in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
– Grab has also mototaxi in Vietnam
– on the map you can see where the driver is
– pick a place you enter on the map even if you do not know the exact address
– to your account you fill your credit card – cash is not necessary
– application is available for Android and iOS
8. AGODA
– excellent free mobile application for booking and searching of hotels worldwide
– more than 500 000 hotels and hostels worldwide, cheap or expensive
– millions of reviews and references of travelers
– there are also special offers and discounts
– application is available for Android and iOS
9. HOSTELWORLD
– free mobile applications for booking a selection of hostels worldwide
– especially for searching of cheap hostels and homestay
– for some places in northern Vietnam is not a large selection of hostels
– 35 000 hostels, hotels and other types of accommodation with references
– application is available for Android and iOS
10. BOOKING
– free popular mobile application for booking and searching of hotels
– 640 000 hotels, apartments and other options of accommodation with references
– you can search cheap or very expensive hotels
– for some places in northern Vietnam is not a large selection
– application is available for Android and iOS
11. AIRBNB
– free mobile application for searching of accommodation in unusual places
– a lots of people from all over the world offer an accommodation in their homes
– application is useful for easier communication between hosts and guests
– you can use also in northern Vietnam, some places are homestay or cheap hotels
– register here and get a free credit – 25 USD for your first reservation
– application is available for Android and iOS
– more information about Airbnb
12. TRIVAGO
– a new application for comparison and searching of hotels around the world
– search engine for 268 booking sites worldwide, about 700 000 of hotels
– for some places in northern Vietnam is not a large selection
– application is available for Android and iOS
13. SKYSCANNER
– excellent free mobile application for finding and comparing flights worldwide
– searching of hundreds of airlines and flights
– cheap or very expensive flights to Vietnam
– after searching for a flight, you can buy a ticket immediately by the relevant company
– application is available for Android and iOS
14. YAHOO WEATHER
– one of the best free mobile applications for weather forecast
– interactive maps of radars, satellites, heat and wind
– notice of bad weather and the chance of precipitation
– weather temperature for 10 days and 24 hours
– application is available for Android and iOS
15. XE CURRENCY
– one of the best free mobile applications for converting currency
– calculate live currency and foreign exchange rates
– very good intuitive interface and control
– application is available for Android and iOS
16. TRIPOSO
– offline travel guide for all the world
– before using the offline mode you need to download the desired country
– attractions, restaurants, activities, tours, maps …
– you can book an accommodation as well as buying trips
– application is focused more on tourist spots
– application is available for Android and iOS
17. KAYAK
– the smart travel search engine, compare offers from all the world
– Hotel, flight, and car search and booking
– flight tracker and itinerary management
– compares Agoda, Booking, Expedia, Travelocity, Hotwire and others …
– application is available for Android and iOS
18. TRIPADVISOR
– see millions of reviews, opinions, videos and photos from travellers
– find the best hotels in the country, including those that won awards Travellers‘ Choice
– discover great activities you can do in individual destinations
– compare airfares and find great deals
– search the forums for answers to your questions about travel
– application is available for Android and iOS
19. INSTAGRAM
– popular mobile application for sharing photos among people from all over the world
– currently over 300 million users and growing
– you can edit your photos immediately, choose a filter, effect and share it on your IG profile
– lots of interesting photos of travelers from around the world
– application is available for Android and iOS
20. TUNE IN RADIO
– probably the best mobile application to listen radio stations
– approximately 100 000 radio stations from around the world
– possibility of recording favorite songs
– convenient control and nice intuitive interface
– using with WiFi internet is better (downloading large amounts of data)
– application is available for Android and iOS
Application especially for Vietnam:
FOODY – Eat / Drink / Travel
– search for the restaurants, bistros, cafes and other nearby according to your location
– displays also the tourist sights and attractions on the spot
– vietnamese application with the English localization (currently focused on Vietnam and Indonesia)
– big boom in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (thousands of restaurants and growing)
– you can also book your table in the restaurant, but the food can be also delivered
– users upload the content (photos and reviews of restaurants)
– Applications for Android, iOS and Windows Phone
– official website with photos and restaurants: Foody.vn
– more information about Foody
BUS MAP (Hanoi+Ho Chi Minh City)
– application for free – bus lines and bus map in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
– you will see the map with numbers and routes of buses
– searching route from this station to another station
– 1 application is for Hanoi and 1 application is for Ho Chi Minh City
– BusMap Hanoi > Android
– BusMap Ho Chi Minh City > Android + iOs + Windows
– website: Busmap.vn
– more information about BusMap application
If mobile apps do not work while traveling, do not despair and do not forget to use common sense and communicate with the people! 🙂
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