Welcome to HoiAn, Vietnam.

We have now been in Hoi An for several weeks, and here are some things we wish we knew before we arrived.

1. The semester will fly by. However fast you think time will go by, it will go by even faster.
2. It is very easy to travel around, in both the country and in the area. I would recommend doing this in the beginning of the semester and not wait till the end.
3. The traffic is wild! People drive on the wrong side off the road, both with their cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. Cars will stop in the middle of the road and motorcycles will come out of nowhere. This is normal and very such accepted.
4. The weather is crazy! Especially during the fall semester because it takes place during raining season.
5. Bring clothing that is convenient for the weather. Many sandals are not made for heavy rain, Birkenstocks are definitely not, so either bring flip flops, or make sure you buy a pair here before the rain comes. You definitely don’t want your shoes to get moldy!
6. Bring less than you think you need. Bring things you like wearing but that you’re not scared of losing or ruining. Also, bringing things that you can leave behind, might also be a good idea. Because of the humidity, your clothes might get moldy or damaged, so keep this in mind when packing.
7. You will most likely become sick. Food poison, stomach aches, and the flu! We´ve all had it. Thankfully, you are able to get ahold of most medicines here. The hospital is also very good.
8. Bicycles are an absolute necessity while studying here in HoiAn. We bicycle everywhere, all the time. Once you get here, you will get the location of a good bicycle store. Some places might sell stolen bikes, so make sure you buy yours from a trusted vendor. Just remember, they cost more than you might think ($70-$100), but you might be able to rent one from your landlord for a better price.
9. Hoi An is a very touristy city. It is very popular amongst backpackers and other travelers. Many restaurants and stores in the Old Town, the main tourist area, are more expensive than in other places of the city. It is also made convenient for tourism, so be aware that it might feel less authentic than in other places.
10. If you want to eat cheap and authentic Vietnamese food, look for restaurants with small chairs or stools, often in yellow or red. This is the best food and where you want to go if you want to eat like a local.
11. Remember to drink enough water and eat enough salt, especially when it is hot. It can get very hot and humid, so make sure your body gets what it needs. Electrolytes might also come in handy.
12. The food here is very good, but many students experience that they get full very fast and then hungry again faster than what they´re used to. It’s not a bad idea to have some snacks in your bag.
13. For the ones who use tampons, bring enough for your whole stay. Here, they are hard to find, and only sold individually.
14. For those with newer phones, check with your phone plan provider back home if you can change your sim card to an e-sim. This way, you can buy a local sim-card in Vietnam, and still keep your sim from back home. For Norwegians, you need to have your sim-card in your phone to access “Bank-ID”.
15. For the ones bringing food to Vietnam, make sure to store it properly. Remember that the chocolate melts in seconds, so put it in the fridge fast. Other foods must also be store accordingly to avoid ant invasions.
16. The student houses are very different. The houses and the rooms vary in size, the amount of kitchen supplies might not be what you´re used to. The common and social areas in the houses vary. Some houses might have many common areas and large outdoor seating, some might have less.
17. There is a lot happening, especially in the beginning. Your schedule will fill up, both with school related activities and with social events. It might feel overwhelming, so just remember that other students are probably feeling the same way and it might help to talk about it. The number of things happening throughout the week will also vary, so some weeks might be very hectic, and some weeks, you´ll have a lot of extra time.
18. During raining season, it might not be very tempting to do activities outside, so bring a deck of cards, a game, your knitting stuff, a good book, or something else to keep you occupied.
    
19. Another thing for raining season! You will definitely need a poncho. You can bring one from home or you can buy one here, but make sure it´s one of good quality that will in fact keep the rain out. The good ones here are made for bike riding, and this is very convenient.
20. Hoi An is great for thrifting! There are tons of good secondhand stores here, and many students have stacked up on clothes here. Another good reason not to bring too many clothes from home.
21. You can buy more there than you might think. The stores in Hoi An and in Da Nang, a bigger city located only 45 min from here, have more than you think. They do sell towels here in case you don’t want to bring one from back home.
22. Pack in a backpack, or at least bring one for weekend trips and fieldtrips, as it is such more convenient than suitcases. If you’re planning on traveling before or after, backpacks are definitely recommended.
23. The dress code for school is not super strict, meaning you need to cover your shoulders and knees when walking through the university gates and when you’re walking around on campus, but you don’t have to cover up while inside the classroom. So pack something to cover shoulders and knees, but you don’t need to pack tons of t-shirts and pants.
24. You can buy big water tank (20L) in various shops instead of 0,5L or 1L bottles for onetime use. It is much cheaper to buy the big water tank and then fill your water bottle from there. Bring a good reusable water bottle. One that keeps your water cold might be nice!

– Nathalie