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Voykit pocket guide · Vietnam
Ngoc Hoi
Ngọc Hồi
Skip unless you are crossing the Lao border at Bo Y: one night is enough, and there is little else to do.
Ngoc Hoi is a small town on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, 20 km from the Bo Y border crossing into Laos. It has a handful of cheap guesthouses and a daily bus to Kon Tum, but no sights that justify a detour. Use it only as a transit stop if you are entering or leaving Vietnam via Attapeu or Pakse.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Local name
- Ngọc Hồi
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season, roads may be muddy)
- 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 ₫200,000–400,000 excl. bed · Mid ₫400,000–700,000 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 |
|---|---|
| Bowl of pho or rice dish | ₫20,000–40,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | ₫5,000–10,000 |
| Motorbike taxi ride within town | ₫10,000–20,000 |
| Guesthouse room per night | ₫150,000–400,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PLE · Pleiku Airport
- About 90 km (56 mi) away; taxis and buses connect to Ngoc Hoi (check)About 56 mi (90 km) away; taxis and buses connect to Ngoc Hoi (check)
Typical fares
- Ngoc Hoi → Bo Y border (motorbike taxi)
- about ₫100,000, 30–40 min (check)
- Ngoc Hoi → Kon Tum (bus)
- about ₫50,000, 1.5 h (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
Walk the main street or bargain a motorbike ride from a local for short trips. For the border, hire a motorbike taxi (about 20 km (12 mi)).Walk the main street or bargain a motorbike ride from a local for short trips. For the border, hire a motorbike taxi (about 12 mi (20 km)).
See and do
Known for
- Bo Y border crossing to Laos
- Ho Chi Minh Trail
- Cheap guesthouses
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bo Y border crossing | Motorbike taxi from town centre, about 20 km (12 mi)Motorbike taxi from town centre, about 12 mi (20 km) | 30–40 min |
| Kon Tum | Bus from town centre, several daily | About 1.5 h |
| Pleiku | Bus or taxi via Kon Tum | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A few guesthouses along the main road; Hoa Binh, Dong Duong and Viet Lao are the main options.
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
- No ATMs confirmed in town: bring enough Vietnamese dong or US dollars.
- Guesthouses are basic and may not have English-speaking staff.
- Buses to Laos are infrequent: check departure times in advance.
Ngoc Hoi is safe but remote. Roads can be rough in the rainy season. Keep valuables out of sight and carry a paper map or offline GPS.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ngoc Hoi yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bo Y border crossing to Laos
- Ho Chi Minh Trail
- Cheap guesthouses
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: Ngoc Hoi, revision 5289227 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5289227
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ngoc-hoi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.