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Voykit pocket guide · Vietnam
Mong Cai
Skip Mong Cai unless you need to cross the China–Vietnam border here; one night is enough if you stop. The beach at Trà Cổ is a half-day detour.
Mong Cai is a border town with a 15-km beach on the Trà Cổ Peninsula and a Gothic church, but no major sights. Most travellers use it as a crossing point between Dongxing (China) and Ha Long Bay. One night covers the beach and a walk across the border.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (hot, rainy), Dec–Feb (cool, overcast)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- VND
- Money
- VND in small notes (10k–100k) for stalls, markets, xe ôm and tips at spas.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₫300,000–500,000 excl. bed · Mid ₫500,000–1,000,000 excl. bed · High ₫1,000,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport and a face photo are required for registration.
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Fire 114 · Ambulance 115
- Plugs
- Types A, C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · Two-pin sockets take flat US pins and round European pins; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and cafés: Nothing; leave small change if you like.; Sit-down restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Grab / taxi: Round up; tip in the app if you want.; Spa and massage: ₫50,000–100,000 to the therapist directly; some spas ask for more.; Guide and driver on a day tour: ₫100,000–200,000 per person for the guide, about half that for the driver.; Hotel porter: ₫20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled and filtered water everywhere; hotel refill stations are common. Café ice is factory-made.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in cities and hotels; squat toilets and no paper in rural stops and on long buses — carry tissues. Old plumbing: paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (U-Tea near border) | ₫30,000 |
| Budget hotel room | ₫250,000–500,000 |
| Motorbike taxi (short ride) | ₫20,000–50,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VDH · Van Don International Airport
- About 90 km (56 mi) south; taxis and minibuses connect to Mong Cai (check)About 56 mi (90 km) south; taxis and minibuses connect to Mong Cai (check)
Typical fares
- Mong Cai → Trà Cổ (motorbike taxi)
- about ₫50,000–100,000 (check)
- Mong Cai → Van Don Airport (taxi)
- about ₫800,000–1,200,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Motorbike taxis (xe ôm) and local buses cover the town and Trà Cổ. Walking is fine for the border area.
See and do
Known for
- Trà Cổ Beach
- China–Vietnam border crossing
- Trà Cổ Gothic church
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dongxing, China | Walk across the border; motorbike taxi to the crossing | About 15 min |
| Ha Long Bay | Bus or minibus via Van Don, about 3–4 h | About 4 h |
Sleep
- Near the border crossing
- Several hotels within a few blocks; prices from about ₫250,000 (check)
- Trà Cổ town
- Less than 10 km (6.2 mi) from Mong Cai; beachfront hotels and restaurantsLess than 6.2 mi (10 km) from Mong Cai; beachfront hotels and restaurants
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chàosin chow |
| Help me! | Cứu tôi với!kuh-oo toy vuh-ee |
| 1, 2, 3 | một, hai, bamoht, hai, bah |
| How much is it? | Bao nhiêu tiền?bow nyew tyen |
| Please take me to this address | Làm ơn chở tôi đến địa chỉ nàylahm uhn chuh toy den dee-ah chee nay |
| Excuse me! (to a younger server) | Em ơi!em uh-ee |
| I have a booking | Tôi đã đặt phòngtoy dah daht fong |
| What time? | Mấy giờ?may zuh |
| Thank you | Cảm ơnkahm uhn |
| Call the police! (113) | Gọi cảnh sát! (113)goy kahn saht |
| 4, 5, 6 | bốn, năm, sáubohn, nahm, sow |
| Too expensive! | Đắt quá!daht kwah |
| I booked a Grab | Tôi đặt Grabtoy daht grab |
| I'll have this one | Cho tôi cái nàychaw toy kai nay |
| Do you have a room free? | Còn phòng không?kon fong khohm |
| Now | Bây giờbay zuh |
| No, thank you (street sellers) | Không, cảm ơnkhohm, kahm uhn |
| Fire! Call the fire service! (114) | Cháy! Gọi cứu hỏa! (114)chai! goy kuh-oo hwah |
| 7, 8, 9, 10 | bảy, tám, chín, mườibay, tahm, cheen, muh-ee |
| Come down a bit | Bớt đibuht dee |
Say it for greetings, prices and 'no ice'. Show the screen for addresses, allergies, medical problems and anything you need done exactly — a wrong tone on those costs more than the embarrassment of pointing at a phone.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nod and smile; handshake with men, let women offer first; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses with people you have just met
- Names: Title plus given name — 'Anh Nam', 'Chị Lan' — the given name comes last; avoid: Calling someone by the family name alone (Nguyễn, Trần)
- Handing things: Both hands, especially money, cards and gifts to older people; avoid: Tossing things across a table
- Conversation: Expect questions about age, marriage and income; they place you, not pry; avoid: Raising your voice or correcting someone in front of others
- Temples and pagodas: Covered shoulders and knees; step over the raised threshold; enter by the right-hand door; avoid: Sitting with your back to an altar; climbing statues for photos
- Photos: Ask first, especially in minority villages; avoid: Paying children for photos — it keeps them out of school
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit, tea or sweets; accept at least a drink; avoid: Pointing your feet at people or the family altar
- Beckoning: Palm down, fingers waving towards you; avoid: Curling one finger — it is used for animals
Scams and watch-outs
- The border crossing closes at 22:00 (check); plan your arrival.
- Chinese Renminbi is accepted, but change is often given in VND.
- Trà Cổ beach has no lifeguards; swim with care.
Mong Cai is generally safe. Watch for pickpockets near the border crossing and motorbike traffic. The beach has no lifeguards.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mong Cai yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Trà Cổ Beach
- China–Vietnam border crossing
- Trà Cổ Gothic church
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Mong Cai, revision 5277767 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5277767
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/mong-cai). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.