Coming to Hong Kong, you will be fascinated by a highly developed city with skyscrapers but also very nostalgic with ancient temples.
However, according to Hong Kong's entry regulations, foreigners are not allowed to enter the country more than 3 times per month, and cannot stay more than 7 days. Not to mention the time required to apply for a visa for Vietnamese people, which requires a lot of paperwork and can only be submitted through the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi, or the Chinese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, and must be submitted at least 30 days before departure. If you do the procedure yourself, the visa application fee will be 60 USD (about 1,400,000 VND), while through a service company, the cost will be more expensive. With limited time and complicated procedures, it would be a pity if you could not fully experience Hong Kong.
The best weather to travel to Hong Kong is in spring and autumn because the climate is cool, sunny and there are no storms.
The best time to travel to Hong Kong is in spring and autumn because the climate is cool, sunny and there are no storms. Starting from May, the weather will gradually get hotter and the humidity will be high like in Vietnam until the end of September. Currently, the flight route from Vietnam to Hong Kong has been resumed, visitors can easily choose direct flights lasting about two hours or connecting flights with a flight time of about 4 - 5 hours.
Convenient payment
Although a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong is allowed to operate as an independent country with its own monetary, legal, and economic systems and little interference from China. Therefore, people here use Hong Kong dollars (HK$), every 100 Hong Kong cents will be equivalent to 2,960 VND. The exchange rate at the airport here is not very good, so you should only exchange a small amount of money enough for you to move into the city. If you are in Kowloon, you can exchange money at the currency exchange offices in Chungking Mansions in Tsim Sha Tsui. If you are on Hong Kong Island, the currency exchange offices at World Wide House in Central are a good choice.
You can exchange money at currency exchange offices in the Chungking Mansions area in Tsim Sha Tsui.
But in a modern city like Hong Kong, visitors do not need to carry too much cash. Most Hong Kong people use the convenient Octopus payment card for daily payment needs. The price of an Octopus card is 150 HK$, of which 100 HK$ is available for use and 50 HK$ is a deposit. With about 200 HK$, visitors can freely travel around Hong Kong. In addition, if you do not use up all the money in the card, you can return the card to get a refund at any Customer Service counter at the MRT station, or the Customer Service counter at Terminal 1 and 2 at Airport Express Station.
Most Hong Kong people use the convenient Octopus payment card for their daily payment needs.
Move like a local
As for transportation, visitors will have to learn how to use public transportation like a local. Hong Kong is one of the most populous cities in the world with a population of about 7.5 million people, the shortage of parking spaces is gradually becoming a headache as the cost for a parking space can range from 1.2 million dollars to 2.3 million HK$. Therefore, car rental services are not very popular here.
The easiest way for tourists to travel in Hong Kong is the MTR. Although the MTR costs twice as much as the bus, it saves time and the stops are very clear.
The easiest way for tourists to travel to Hong Kong is the MTR subway.
The buses here are double-decker, always have the same fare and usually operate until 1am. There are also mini buses converted from old military jeeps, but this bus system is not official, so the drivers often overcharge and often cause accidents because of the speed. Therefore, tourists are not encouraged to use this type of vehicle.
In addition, the tram running on the rails (also known as the station) is an experience not to be missed. The trams slowly rolling every day are still a symbol of the culture of the fragrant harbor and are affectionately called "Ding Ding" by the people. For the past 110 years, the trams have existed in the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong because from their glass windows, visitors will witness beautiful scenes of the city.
The buses here are double decker, always the same price and usually run until 1am.
For 110 years, trams have been a part of Hong Kong's bustling life.
You can also choose a taxi to travel, however, taxis in Hong Kong are quite expensive and you cannot catch a taxi anywhere like in Vietnam. Here, you need to stand at the right Taxi Stand and definitely have to queue up to wait your turn to get on the taxi. Taxis here are not calculated by km but by running time, so tourists should only use taxis in central areas with less traffic jams - places where Hong Kong people prefer to use the subway. If you are traveling independently, sharing a trip with a stranger through technology car services is also a way to save costs.
In addition, Hong Kong's famous Star Ferry is an interesting way to travel from Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon to Central on Hong Kong Island. If you take the ferry in the evening, you can watch A Symphony of Lights - a show that combines sound and light; with music, fireworks, floodlights and lasers arranged on 44 skyscrapers on both sides of Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's famous Star Ferry is a fun way to travel from Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon to Central on Hong Kong Island.
Affordable accommodation
Hong Kong consists of four main islands: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Island, Lantau Island, The New Territories and 200 surrounding islands. However, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon are the most convenient places to stay for travel and sightseeing.
- Hong Kong Island
Home to shopping malls, shopping areas, restaurants, bars and convenient transportation, Hong Kong Island is the heart of the city. Proportionate to its convenience, it is also the most expensive area for accommodation, shopping and dining.
A cramped motel here costs from 700,000 to 1 million VND/night and the cost of a hotel will be 2-3 times higher.
Proportionate to the convenience of Hong Kong Island, it is also the most expensive area for accommodation, shopping and dining.
- Kowloon Island
Unlike Hong Kong Island, the Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, and Mongkok areas in Kowloon are much more ancient and cramped. However, Kowloon is no less bustling than Hong Kong Island and the accommodation, dining, and shopping here are more affordable.
In places with high population density such as Mong Kok, it is more suitable for backpackers than families with small children because walking is much more convenient than using transportation. In Kowloon, people love walking because this place is not too big, you can easily see the Clock Tower, Avenue of Stars and other famous attractions.
The Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, and Mongkok areas in Kowloon have a more old-fashioned and cramped appearance. Pictured is Mongkok, Kowloon Island.
Endless shopping
- Temple Street Night Market and Ladies' Market - Kowloon Island
A stroll through the Temple Street Night Market is a must-do activity when visiting Hong Kong. Located in the heart of Kowloon, it offers a variety of food and great shopping. Visitors can browse and shop for jade jewelry and traditional Chinese handicrafts.
The market starts around 6pm but vendors are slow to pack up so don’t get there too early. The MTR stop to get to Temple Street Night Market is Jordan Station, Exit A.
Along Tung Choi Street, the Ladies' Market is just a few blocks east of Nathan Road in Mong Kok. The products here are almost identical to those at Temple Street Market.
Strolling around Temple Street Night Market is a must-do activity when visiting Hong Kong.
In addition, the Ladies' Market is located along Tung Choi Street, just a few blocks east of Nathan Road in Mong Kok.
- Jade Market - Cuu Long Island
Jade jewelry is the main item here, carved in many different shapes and sizes. You will also find statues of many different sizes. But you need to have some knowledge to be able to identify Jade in the market. The market is located in Kansu Street, Yau Ma Tei District, Kowloon. Especially when you come here, you should ask the locals to taste the best Dai pai dong outdoor food stalls in Hong Kong.
The market is located on Kansu Street, Yau Ma Tei District, Kowloon.
- Goldfish Street, Bird Market and Flower Market - Kowloon Island
Instead of looking like a market, the Bird Market looks like an ecological garden with birds perched along the walkways. Bird owners often sit and socialize with each other, while the birds play with each other in cages, on fences and chirping loudly throughout the neighborhood.
Goldfish Street looks like a giant fish shop on the street, but colorful fish in plastic bags are hung on shelves in large numbers. There are many tourists coming to take pictures of this impressive scene.
And the colorful Flower Market with freshly picked flowers will create a romantic and nostalgic scene. The Flower Market and Bird Market are located in the same area, while Fish Street will be located south of Song Cai District. All three markets are in Mong Kok, north of the Ladies' Market. If traveling by MTR, visitors will get off at Prince Edward Station and use Exit B1.
Instead of looking like a market, the Bird Market looks like an ecological garden with birds perched along the walkways.
Goldfish Street looks like a giant fish shop on the street.
Other notes
All signs in Hong Kong are in English, there are even Braille signs for the visually impaired.
In Hong Kong, there are very few places with free wifi, so if you only need to travel, register for yourself a tourist sim to save more than a network sim. If you travel in a group, you can rent a wifi device that can be used for many devices, the price when divided will be much more economical than buying a sim.
Visitors should pay attention to non-smoking areas, which will result in a fine of HK$1,500. In addition, Hong Kong also has strict environmental sanitation laws and fines of HK$1,500 for littering.
Visitors should pay attention to non-smoking areas, if violated will be fined 1,500 HK$
Electrical outlets in Hong Kong are also something you need to pay attention to, the outlets here are all 3-pin flat type. Therefore, visitors should prepare a converter plug in Vietnam, because if you buy it in Hong Kong, it will cost 3-4 times more.
Tourists should absolutely not joke about sensitive issues related to security and aviation safety in public areas, especially on airplanes and at airports.
