Quy Nhon

Since 7 March 2024, Mongolian citizens with an ordinary passport can stay in Vietnam up to 30 days visa-free (not for paid work). Passport valid at least 6 months, with a return ticket. For more than 30 days, get an e-visa on evisa.gov.vn ($25, up to 90 days).

Tip: Use only the official evisa.gov.vn; look-alike private sites charge extra.

Phu Cat (UIH) airport is domestic only. In winter MIAT flies Ulaanbaatar–Ho Chi Minh City non-stop, then it is ≈1 h 5 min to Phu Cat; from Hanoi ≈1 h 30 min. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Bamboo Airways fly daily. On separate tickets, leave at least 3 hours between flights.

For the beach choose February–August: calm sea and island trips run regularly. In September–December heavy rain, floods and typhoons often cancel boats. The city has no international-standard hospital, so travel insurance is a must.

Mai Linh and Vinasun metered taxis outside the terminal cost ≈250,000–400,000₫ to the city, 30–40 minutes. The electric shuttle bus is ≈50,000₫ per person, 40–50 minutes, running from early morning until about 21:00 and dropping off on Nguyen Tat Thanh street. Grab works but is unreliable here.

The Reunification Express (SE trains) takes ≈11–12 hours from Ho Chi Minh City to Dieu Tri and ≈21–23 hours from Hanoi. Dieu Tri is ≈15 km from the city — about 25 minutes by taxi. The 4-berth soft sleeper is comfortable.

Phu Cat is a small domestic airport, so don't count on a SIM counter. If your phone supports eSIM, install Airalo or Viettel eSIM before flying — you'll also be online while connecting in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi.

Buy a tourist SIM with your passport in the arrivals hall at Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi international airport, or at a Viettel store in Quy Nhon. Viettel has the best coverage on islands and in the countryside.

Tip: Download Quy Nhon in Google Maps and Vietnamese in Google Translate for offline use.

In the city book cars and motorbikes with Grab or Xanh SM — prices shown upfront. Taxis easily cross Thi Nai bridge to the Phuong Mai peninsula (Nhon Hai, Nhon Ly, Eo Gio), but finding a car back can be hard, so ask the driver to wait.

Return speedboats to Ky Co leave Bai Bac pier in Nhon Ly from 290,000₫ (children 190,000₫), 7:00–17:30. A full-day Hon Kho trip from Nhon Hai village is ≈460,000₫ (snorkelling and lunch included). Boats don't run when the sea is rough.

Riding scooters on the peninsula and hill roads is popular, but without a licence valid in Vietnam insurance won't cover accidents and police fine riders. If you are inexperienced, hire a car with a driver or join a group tour.

The city centre has plenty of Vietcombank, BIDV and Agribank ATMs. Notes have many zeros, so don't mix up look-alike notes. Change US dollars at banks or gold shops.

Big hotels and supermarkets take cards; fishing villages, boat piers, street food and small ticket booths take cash. Seafood is priced by weight, so confirm price and weight before ordering. Tipping is optional.

Banh xeo tom nhay — crispy pancake with tiny 'jumping' shrimp; bun cha ca — fish-cake noodle soup; banh it la gai — rice cake wrapped in a leaf; grilled clams and crab. At local places a dish is 30,000–80,000₫.

The seafood restaurants on beachfront Xuan Dieu street and the Ngo Van So food street are busiest in the evening. In Nhon Hai and Nhon Ly fishing villages you pick straight from the fishermen and have it cooked.

Tip: Pick live seafood and say whether you want it steamed or grilled.

Police 113, fire 114, ambulance 115. Calls are usually answered in Vietnamese, so asking hotel staff to call is faster.

Hoa Duc General Clinic has English-speaking doctors; the provincial general hospital is in the centre. Serious cases are moved to Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City, so call your insurer's assistance line first.

In September–December follow typhoon and flood warnings and don't take boats. Don't swim when a red flag is up; rocky shores are slippery. Cu Lao Xanh island is a military zone closed to foreigners — decline any tour offering it.

At Cham towers, pagodas and Han Mac Tu's tomb cover shoulders and knees and take off shoes where indicated. Don't climb the towers' brick walls.

Villages like Nhon Ly and Bai Xep are where people live — don't photograph homes or fishermen without asking. Don't walk around restaurants or streets in swimwear; don't touch coral and leave no rubbish on the beach.

Grab for cars, motorbikes and food delivery, Xanh SM for electric taxis. Prices are shown upfront, so no haggling.

Google Maps shows beaches, towers, restaurants and piers; Google Translate's camera mode translates menus on the spot. English is limited, so translation is very useful.

The airport is well outside the city, so set off early by shuttle or taxi. The shuttle is timed to the flight schedule. If your international flight is on a separate ticket, leave plenty of time in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi.

Visa-free days count from your arrival in Vietnam; overstaying means a fine on departure. Binh Dinh dried fish, banh it and a non la hat make good souvenirs. Most airlines ban fish sauce on board.