What Do You Need to Enjoy Your Trip to Taiwan Fully!

Taiwan, a small but vibrant island, is home to bustling night markets, majestic mountains, and bubble tea that captivates the heart. What do you need to travel to Taiwan? is the first question to start your journey exploring the lively Taipei, the poetic Taroko, or the lush Kenting. Thorough preparation brings confidence, turning the trip into an emotional love song. This article will guide you through the necessary documents, currency exchange experiences, and how to pack your luggage for a complete trip.

Related documents

Documents are the first and most important step in answering the question what do you need to travel to Taiwan?. Vietnamese citizens may be exempt from a Taiwan visa (maximum stay of 14 days) if they hold a valid visa or residence card from countries such as the USA, Japan, South Korea, Schengen, or have previously entered Taiwan. To check visa exemption conditions, visit the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office website, prepare a passport (valid for more than 6 months), and confirm a round-trip flight ticket.

If you do not meet the visa exemption conditions, you need to apply for an e-visa for tourism. The application includes a passport, a 4x6cm photo, a detailed itinerary, and confirmation of flight and hotel bookings. The e-visa fee is about 50 USD (~1.2 million VND), submitted online, processed within 5-7 working days. Additionally, prepare a copy of financial proof (savings book of 100 million VND or salary statement) to be ready for immigration checks.

Bring a printed confirmation of the e-visa or visa exemption notice, along with your flight ticket and hotel reservation to present at the airport. Keep a copy of the documents on your phone and store your passport carefully in a waterproof bag.

>>> See more: When is the Best Season to Travel to Taiwan? For an Ideal Experience

What do you need to travel to Taiwan to enjoy comfortably?

Currency exchange

Currency exchange is an essential factor when preparing for traveling to Taiwan. The New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) is the main currency, with an exchange rate of 1 TWD ~ 750 VND (as of May 2025). To get a good exchange rate, exchange money at banks in Vietnam (Vietcombank, BIDV) before going, as the rates at Taoyuan airport are often 5-10% lower. Bring about 5,000-10,000 TWD in cash (~3.7-7.5 million VND) for expenses like night markets, small eateries, or bus tickets, as many places do not accept cards.

Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard) are widely used in Taipei and Kaohsiung, but not common in rural areas like Alishan. ATMs at 7-Eleven and FamilyMart allow you to withdraw TWD using international cards, with a fee of about 100 TWD per transaction (~75,000 VND). To save money, exchange smaller amounts to avoid exchanging too much at once. Check your receipts when shopping, and keep the currency exchange receipts to convert leftover TWD back to VND if needed.

Use the XE Currency app to track real-time exchange rates, ensuring reasonable spending. The experience is to always ask for prices before buying items at night markets to avoid being overcharged.

The New Taiwan Dollar is the main currency, with an exchange rate of 1 TWD ~ 750 VND

What do you need to travel to Taiwan - Packing your luggage

Luggage is the key to a comfortable and flexible trip.What do you need to travel to Taiwan? related to luggage depends on the season, weather, and essential items, helping travelers be ready for any situation.

>>> See more: [Answer] How Much Money Do You Need for a Self-Guided Trip to Taiwan??

Seasonal clothing preparation

Taiwan has four distinct seasons, and clothing needs to be prepared accordingly:

• Spring (March-May): Temperature 15-25°C, cool weather, with light rain. Bring a light jacket, long-sleeved shirts, jeans, and a compact umbrella. Waterproof sports shoes are suitable for visiting Yangmingshan Park or Shilin Night Market.
• Summer (June-August): Hot and humid, 25-35°C, often with typhoons. Prepare t-shirts, shorts, wide-brimmed hats, and thin raincoats. Sunscreen (SPF 50) and sunglasses are essential when swimming at Kenting.
• Autumn (September-November): Cool, 20-28°C, the most ideal. Thin sweaters, windbreakers, and scarves for chilly evenings. Trekking shoes are suitable for exploring Taroko Gorge.
• Winter (December-February): Mildly cold, 10-20°C, especially in Taipei. Bring a thick coat, gloves, beanie, and warm socks. Scarves and non-slip shoes are necessary if viewing snow at Hehuanshan.

The experience is to choose versatile clothing that is easy to mix and match, and prioritize breathable materials. Bring a maximum of 2-3 outfits, wash them at the hotel to keep luggage light. Prepare a formal outfit if visiting Lungshan Temple or attending an event.

Choose versatile clothing that is easy to mix and match, and prioritize breathable materials

Other essential items

In addition to clothing, other items play an important role when traveling to Taiwan:

• Passport and documents: Keep a copy of your passport, flight tickets, and hotel confirmations in a waterproof bag. Download the Taiwan Immigration app to check immigration information.
• Electronics: Power bank (10,000mAh), adapter (Taiwan uses type A plugs, 110V), headphones, and a phone with Google Maps and Google Translate. A 4G SIM card (Taiwan Mobile, 500,000 VND/7 days, 2GB/day) can be purchased at Taoyuan airport for navigation and posting photos.
• Personal hygiene items: Toothpaste, toothbrush, small towel, single-use shampoo packets to save space. Bring masks and hand sanitizer for crowded areas like night markets.
• Medical supplies: Cold medicine, stomachache medicine, band-aids, and personal medication. The temperature changes in Alishan and Taroko can cause colds, so bring vitamin C effervescent tablets.
• Others: A fabric bag for shopping at Raohe Night Market, a collapsible water bottle to save space (tap water in Taiwan is drinkable). A small backpack (20L) is convenient for day trips like Sun Moon Lake.

Checked luggage (20kg) and carry-on (7kg) are usually free with EVA Air, but check the airline's regulations carefully. Pack your luggage in a rolling style to save space, placing heavy items at the bottom of the suitcase. Bring a spare outfit in your carry-on in case of lost luggage.

Additional preparation tips for the trip

To make the trip to Taiwan smooth, here are some practical tips based on experience:

• Plan your itinerary in advance: Choose 5-7 days to explore Taipei, Taroko, Sun Moon Lake, and Kenting. Autumn (September-November) is ideal with cool weather and reasonable flight prices (4-6 million VND round trip). Download the Taiwan Travel app to check destinations.
• Transportation: Buy an EasyCard (100 TWD ~ 75,000 VND) at Taoyuan Airport to use the MRT and affordable buses (20-50 TWD per ride). Book high-speed rail tickets (Taipei-Kaohsiung, 1,500 TWD ~ 1.1 million VND) through the Taiwan Railway website.
• Dining: Enjoy bubble tea in Shilin, beef noodles in Yongkang (150-200 TWD ~ 110,000-150,000 VND). 7-Eleven sells bento (50 TWD ~ 37,000 VND) for a quick meal. Ask for prices in night markets to avoid being overcharged.
• Accommodation: Book hotels near MRT stations like CitizenM Taipei North Gate (1.5-2.5 million VND/night) through Booking, Agoda. Hostels like Star Hostel Taipei (600,000 VND/night) are budget-friendly for backpackers.
• Safety: Keep your passport safe, memorize emergency numbers (police: 110). Avoid crowded areas in Ximending on weekend nights. Do not litter and respect queue culture.
• Budget: Average cost is 10-15 million VND/person for 5 days, including flights, meals, and accommodation. Bring an extra 1-2 million VND for souvenirs like pineapple cakes and tea (100-300 TWD).

Enjoy the famous bubble tea in Shilin here

What you need for traveling to Taiwan is not just documents, currency, or luggage, but preparation for an emotional journey through the bright Taipei 101, the majestic Taroko Gorge, and a sweet cup of bubble tea. With detailed preparation tips, the trip will become an unforgettable memory. Visit nvktravel.com to receive a detailed travel itinerary for Taiwan and plan perfectly!