Please check visa requirements for your nationality and obtain one if needed. About a month before you enter Vietnam, you need to apply for a Vietnam E-Visa. This is a simple and quick process that takes about 3 days and costs $25. You can apply at this link.

If you are staying at Mai House and need its address for your visa application, please use this:

1-3-5, Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh city.

We suggest that you arrive in Vietnam 1 week before our wedding to explore the country and get over jetlag.

Please remember that you may lose almost 2 days when you fly to Vietnam including the transit (consider the flight duration and time zone changes). Also, March is the peak season so make sure you research & book flights well in advance.

Download the Grab or XanhSM app (similar to Uber/Lyft) and link it to your card - it will make things a lot easier for you upon arrival.

OR you can order a Taxi (it's pricier but negotiable)

If you stay at Mai House, please walk to the Grand Ballroom.

If not, use Grab / XanhSM app, or get a taxi. There are two entrances at Mai House. We recommend Ngo Thoi Nhiem Gate over Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Gate.

If you use the app, just enter Mai House Saigon Hotel - Ngo Thoi Nhiem Gate, and the driver should be able to take you there :)

Our wedding venue is offering us discounted rates for group booking, you can fill out your information in this form

Or you can find other accommodations through Booking.com, Agoda, and Airbnb~

You should research current exchange rates and exchange some Vietnam Dongs (VNDs) for initial spending upon arrival. We also recommend creating a Wise account on wise.com (or use Nadine's referral link if you like). Wise acts like a wallet and offers 40 currencies with pretty good exchange rates and withdrawal fees. You could use ATMs with your current bank - they are everywhere, but remember, fees can be a real buzzkill.

We’ve found it’s best to exchange money at money exchange/gold/jewelry stores or go inside a bank. (We usually go to Hung Long, Foreign Exchange at 86 Mac Thi Buoi, District 1). The bank will require your passport and may charge a fee of up to 4%.

*Some places do take debit/credit cards, but not all

We highly recommend Google Maps as it has many restaurants listed and their ratings from TripAdvisor.

Generally, most of young Vietnamese people can speak English, and if you live in a touristy/central area, almost everyone can speak basic English.

We recommend using Google Translate. You could easily use it to order a decent banh mi (Vietnamese baguette) without asking for local's help

When you land in HCMC, you can purchase a local SIM card - offering cheap data and calls.

Alternatively, you could buy an e-Sim. It has an advantage of allowing you to keep your phone number and just requires you to activate it upon landing.

Crossing the streets in Vietnam can be intimidating for non-Vietnamese. But once you know how to do it, it can be quite entertaining. Just trust the system, walk confidently, and don't stop. Cars and scooters will drive around you. It’s magical.

Joe likes to sing "Baby don't hurt me, don’t hit me!” as he walks. Feel free to do so if you like.

Watch this video modeling Joe crossing the streets in Vietnam.

Joe's video HERE

Good luck! You can do it!