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Voykit pocket guide · Vietnam
Dong Dang
Skip Dong Dang as a destination: it is a border crossing town with no sights. Use it only to cross between China and Vietnam, and plan to leave for Hanoi or Lang Son within an hour.
Dong Dang is a small Vietnamese border town opposite Pingxiang, China. It has no notable attractions, hotels or restaurants worth a stop. Travellers use it solely to clear customs when crossing the land border. The crossing takes about 30 minutes; after that, take a taxi or minibus to Lang Son or Hanoi. Most visitors spend less than an hour in Dong Dang.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Best months
- Oct–Apr (dry season in northern Vietnam)
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (heavy rain, possible flooding)
- Stay
- 0 nights
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 ₫200,000–500,000 (check) · Mid ₫500,000–1,000,000 (check) · High ₫1,000,000+ (check) (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.
Get in
By air
- HAN · Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
- Nearest airport for international arrivals; about 3–4 h by road from Dong Dang via Lang Son (check)
- NNG · Nanning Wuxu International Airport (China)
- On the Chinese side; reachable via Pingxiang by bus or train, then cross the border on foot (check)
Typical fares
- Taxi from border to Dong Dang town
- about US$5, 15 min
- Minibus Dong Dang → Hanoi
- about US$5 per person, 3–4 h
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 across the border; taxis and minibuses wait on the Vietnamese side. A taxi to Dong Dang town centre costs about US$5 and takes 15 minutes. Minibuses to Hanoi cost about US$5 per person and take a few hours.
See and do
Known for
- Vietnam–China border crossing (Friendship Pass)
- Gateway to Lang Son and Hanoi
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lang Son | Taxi or minibus from Dong Dang, about 20 km (12 mi) southTaxi or minibus from Dong Dang, about 12 mi (20 km) south | 30 min |
| Hanoi | Minibus from Dong Dang, about 150 km (93 mi) southMinibus from Dong Dang, about 93 mi (150 km) south | 3–4 h |
| Pingxiang, China | Walk across the border, then taxi or minibus | 30 min crossing + 15 min to Pingxiang |
Sleep
- Dong Dang town centre
- A few basic guesthouses exist but are not recommended. Stay in Lang Son (20 km (12 mi) south) or Hanoi instead.A few basic guesthouses exist but are not recommended. Stay in Lang Son (12 mi (20 km) south) or Hanoi instead.
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
- Money changers at the border: check the rate carefully before exchanging.
- Minibus touts may ask US$10 per person to Hanoi; negotiate down to US$5.
- Border formalities take about 30 minutes; have your visa and passport ready.
- No ATMs or banks in Dong Dang; bring enough Vietnamese dong or Chinese yuan.
Dong Dang is safe for border crossings. The main risks are overcharging by taxi and minibus drivers, and counterfeit currency from money changers. Keep your passport and visa accessible.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Dong Dang yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Vietnam–China border crossing (Friendship Pass)
- Gateway to Lang Son and Hanoi
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: Dong Dang, revision 5214148 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5214148
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/dong-dang). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.