Vietnam

Vietnam Travel Guide - Everything you need to know

Some places shall induce colorful images whenever their name mentioned even as a casual reference. Vietnam is such a place that is rich with stunning landscapes, beautiful paddy fields, national parks, green mountains and superb cuisines. Not every country changes a lot over years, but Vietnam does. It has gone through a significant stunning change over 40 years. As the number of tourists paying a visit to the country increases, Tourism has become a wonderful business in Vietnam.  Your Vietnam travel dream can meet your expectation only of you can have a reliable Vietnam travel guide that can help you in every segment of your travel planning.  

There are many Vietnam travel guides, which will give you brief information about the experience you are going to have in the country.  Due to this, you will be able to find many interesting Vietnam travel packages specially customized for you so that you can enjoy the beauty of the country on a budget and that too in a short span of time.

Best time to visit Vietnam

There is no good or bad time to travel Vietnam because this country is long and thin. The weather and climate are different in each part of the country. Therefore, there is always something for you to see. However, there are two seasons as below:

1. Low season from May - September -  when it is hot and sticky, but good time to travel when most of Vietnam tour operators, airlines, hotels will offer discounts and promotion.

2. High season from October to April - when it is cool, nicer weather but no discount. Things will be fully booked very soon. So we advise you to book your Vietnam holiday far in advance.

Must visit destinations as per Vietnam travel guide

Vietnam is a country of historical value, and you can see the traces of ancient history still here. There are a lot of famous Vietnam tourist destinations and some unknown sites, which are equally beautiful at the same time. The country is famous for beautiful beaches and many romantic destinations for couples who like to spend their honeymoon or a holiday with their family. As the cost of living in Vietnam is cheap, tourists do not have to spend an exorbitant amount during their holidays for food or shopping.

Vietnam is a country of ancient cultures and paying a visit requires more planning to enjoy the trip to the fullest. As Tourism is the primary business, you will find many tourist operators in the nook and corners of the country. It is important to choose a reputed tour agency so that you can enjoy a safe and fun Vietnam travel.

You are Private Vietnam Travel Guide

Selecting a leading tour operator like IndochinaValue will give you reliable services along with competitive price. The company has won a quality service award in the year 2013 for their excellent services and packages. As you are paying for the services, you need to get best tour services and other related services like a refund, etc. The company has an excellent customer service, which values both your time and money. They are always at your service focuses on quick and efficient customer satisfaction.

The team will provide an English speaking Vietnam Travel Guide, and you can get guides who speak French, Spanish, and a few other languages upon request. It is easy to customize the package according to your need, budget, and convenience.

Some of the must visit destinations in your Vietnam travel are:

vietnam travel packages

Halong Bay an enchanting location

Halong Bay tops the must-visit Vietnam tourist destination list among the Tourist places. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and notified as a natural heritage by UNESCO. It is the favorite and the most beautiful bay apart from Bait Tu Long and Lan Ha Bay. Though you can travel at any time of the year, spring is the best time to travel to Halong Bay. Reserve at least 2 days because there are many things to see in this Vietnam travel. Starting from Nov-Feb it is winter in the place whereas from March to May, and the summer season starts, and it is the perfect time for swimming.

Mode of travel
To reach the Bay, you either can take a chauffeur service or can make use of shuttle buses. By car, it will take around 3 hours to reach Halong if you are coming from Hanoi. It is easier to travel to Halong Bay from Hanoi. There is also a train available to Halong port from Hai Phong, which you can choose for your Vietnam Travel.

If you want to enjoy the exotic scenic beauty of Halong Bay from above, you can take a helicopter or a seaplane, but those modes are a bit expensive. You can choose the mode of transport when you book your Vietnam Travel Package, and can make travel plan changes as the way you want during the travel.

Things to do
If you want to have a more joyful experience and a budget travel, do take cruise packages from Hanoi. Cruising is also one of the favorite activities in Halong Bay which most of the tourists prefer to do.  Since there are many cruise plans are available, you can select the best one meeting your budget and how much time you can spend over here. All these programs are certainly worth for the value of the money.  

As competition is tight in the area of cruising, you will encounter many options, which might confuse you. So always, do a bit of research before starting your actual trip. Again, safety can be one of the cons of ultra-budget cruises, so make sure that you are engaging an experienced Vietnam tour guide with you.

Hoi An – the beautiful city

Hoi An, is a beautiful city in Vietnam known as the Venice of Vietnam. It is one of the oldest cities in Vietnam, which is famous for its fishing culture. You can view old pagodas and Chinese house built in an ancient way. Hoi An is also famous for its beach and water sports which add a beautiful charm to the whole city. It is one of the ideal Vietnam tourist destinations for spending a vacation with your kids.

Mode of travel
Traveling to Hoi An is very convenient as it is accessible from many places. Traveling by flight, bus or train is equally comfortable and easy. From Da Nang airport, you can take a bus to Hoi An, which is 40 km away. Da Nang also hosts a railway station to both Hue and Hoi An. If you prefer traveling by flight, you have to take a taxi from Da Nang airport to Hai Phong and travel to Hai Noi. Travelling by taxi is the preferred mode of the journey so that you can stop in between the trip to enjoy sightseeing. Road journey is definitely better than train and flight travel during your Vietnam tour.

Things to do
Bike Tours, Diving, and Beaches, swimming, water sports, night market, spas, and vegetable village are some of the popular attractions in Hoi An. The old town is one of the major tourist attractions of Hoi An, but entry is by ticket only which costs less than US$6 only. The ticket includes 5 coupons, which allow you to enter any of the 5 attractions like, assembly halls, museums, ancient theaters or workshops. You will be confused as what all things to do once you start your Vietnam travel because there is a plethora of choices.

Shopping is another activity, which you will enjoy the most. Shoes, Kimonos, Dress, Lanterns are some of the items most of the tourists will have with them when they return to their own country. Hoi An is also popular for its excellent cuisines, and once you taste it, you will not be able to forget the experience.  

vietnam travel

Ho Chi Minh – named after the legendary Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh is a famous city in Vietnam known for its role in Vietnam war. You can see the lavish French colonial architecture in the city.  It is the city which is called "The Diamond of the far-East" and one of the populous metropolis. Late Jan or early Feb is the best time to travel, because during this period the city experiences less humidity. The Tet or Vietnamese New year’s falls on the same time of the year. In the Vietnam tour package, you can choose almost all the popular attractions in the city.

Mode of travel
You can reach Hoi Chi Minh airport from Tan Son Nhat. However, airport bus is the cheapest mode of travel from the airport. There is a bus leaving at every 15 mins from the airport to various parts of the city. Taxi and car rentals are some of the other modes of transport suitable for your Vietnam travel.

Things to do
Most of the attractions in the city revolve around the 20th-century war. You can see classic French architecture everywhere in the city. War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels, Cao Dai Temple, Bitexo Tower, Sky deck, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Reunification Palace, Mariamman Hindu Temple are some of the things to see in the Vietnam travel.

Hue - with lot of ancient history

Hue is a city located in Central Vietnam, and it has many palaces, which were home to emperors long ago. The city is famous among tourists because of the festival activities and tourists throng to the city during the festive season. The beautiful combination of both landscape and architecture makes it a prominent tourist attraction and the best Vietnam tourist destination.

Mode of travel
You can reach Hue by taking flight from Phu Bai, and it takes 1 hour from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. You can board on the regular bus services running from Hanoi to Hue, and you can easily get tickets. The most fun mode of travel is by train as you can have a relaxed journey throughout the Vietnam tour package. AC births are very economical, and you can directly purchase tickets from the station itself.

Things to do
Hue is home to famous Hue College of Fine Art and National School of Music and Dramatic Arts. Cau Ngu festival happens in the 12th lunar month, and it holds a traditional cultural value among the Thuan An fishing villages. Apart from other festivals like Hon Chen, Row Skiff Racing, Sinh Village and Nam Giao Festival, An Dinh Palace, Lang Co beach, Thuan An beach are some of the places to visit. Shopping lovers will get an opportunity to fulfill their hearts because Dong Na market, Sops in Tran Hung Dao and art studios are tempting.

Danang – the largest Vietnam city

Danang City is one of the biggest towns in Vietnam.  It has undergone many changes in an unbelievable pace. The city is similar to Hoi An in its ancients culture and is very different from busy cities like Hanoi. Danang is also a famous vacation spot for travelers who love to soak themselves in the beach sand.

Mode of travel
You can do Danang - Vietnam travel either by flight or by train to reach Danang city. Train travel is the most recommended mode of travel as you can enjoy the landscape throughout the journey. Bus service is also available from Ho Chi Minh. If you are coming from Hanoi, it is better to take flight, as there are many airplanes to this route.

Things to do
There are many shopping locations and local markets scattered around the city where you could find everything ranging from clothes to souvenirs. Tuong performances, Cyclo tour, live music café, Danang Cathedral are some of the places to visit.   

General Travel Tips That You Must Be Careful

vietnam visa

Vietnam Visa

Your preferred travel agent, Indochina Value will help you with all the visa procedures and all related information will be available on their website. You will receive notification once the visa approval is through. The price of visa approval is as low as US$8, and you might need to pay an additional US$25 as stamping fee at the airport.

Make sure that you input correct information in the Visa application card because you cannot send the passport for visa processing and it is impossible to make the changes on the approved visa once it has issued. Tourists visa are generally available for 30 or 90 days, but it is always possible to get a visa extension while are in the country. You do not have to take an exit and do a re-entry.  

Visa processing time can vary anywhere between, 5 to 7 business days and the fee can also vary at times. Make sure that you enquire about everything, which has mentioned in the website and your Vietnam travel package.

To apply Vietnam visa online, Please click here.

SIM and Internet connection

Make sure that you own a tourist SIM, which is available at the airport once you reach Vietnam. There are a lot of telecom booth which you can make use of if you do not prefer to have a SIM. You need not worry regarding the Internet connection, as WIFI is available in almost all the places.

Shopping and eating out

Be prepared to enjoy the delicacies of street food in Vietnam. Most of the restaurants are inexpensive, and you do not have to spend a lot to taste Vietnamese Cuisine. Vietnam travel package will definitely include breakfast, lunch, and dinner for you in different hotels in respective places.  

Eating street food will help you to indulge in Vietnam cuisine in a budget price. Souvenirs are available at an affordable price so that you can carry a lot of them with you. Whenever going out for shopping, be prepared to bargain hard. The general tendency of charging higher rates from tourists than locals is common in Vietnam also.  Therefore, what you can do is put a strong negotiation which can bring generous discounts.  It is fun in engaging with the vendors for some tough negotiations.  You can get some good deals.  So be prepared.  

Activities

If you want to have any extra enjoyment activities other than the ones specified in your Vietnam travel package, you might need to pay for them separately. Most of the activities meant for tourists comes with a specific fee, but it will only cost you a very little.

Listen to reviews and other travelers

It is always better to check for reviews from other travelers before you start the journey to know the general rules of the country. Do listen to the advice of the local Vietnam tour guide provided by your tour operator because they are more experienced than you are, even if you are a frequent traveler. Pack your backpacks with clothes, which suit the climate of the month in which you are planning the trip.

Various Travel Packages

Vietnam Culture Tour

Vietnam culture tour is a 16 days tour package from Hanoi. It is always exciting to know the culture of a different country and meet different people. Vietnamese culture is very much fascinating and thrilling. The tour would be an exclusively private journey, and you will have a private Vietnam tour guide and an AC vehicle to travel to different places. Hotel charges might vary slightly in high seasons. Destinations include Hanoi, Lao Cao, Sapa, Lao Chai, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh and Can Tho.  For a group tour, you need to have minimum 4 members, so if you are a family with 4 members, you can take it as a group, and if additional people are there, charges might vary.

vietnam tour packages

Romantic Vietnam Holiday

If you are planning a honeymoon trip or to spend a romantic vacation with your spouse, Romantic Vietnam Tour for 15 days can be an ideal Vietnam travel package for you. Sapa is one of the destinations included in the travel. Sapa tour will be more than a good trip because of its charming beauty.

Sapa is a location on the mountain, and you will enjoy the great weather here. It is a perfect location if you want to live away from the busy life in a calm and quiet place. Morning dew and lively nightlife will give you the romantic ambiance you wish to have. The other destinations included in the tour are Hanoi, Lao Cai, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho and Phu Quoc islands.  

Vietnam Tour at a Glimpse

The Vietnam Tour at a glimpse is a 10-day trip starting from Hanoi and ends in Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam and is famous for its old traditional culture and architecture. It is one of the most graceful metropolitan cities with ancient pagodas and monumental marble buildings. Hanoi has the most hottest and rainy climate between the month of May and September.

January to February is the time when Vietnam celebrates its New Year. Therefore, there will be a lot of flow exhibitions and local market open during these months. It is an excellent time to make a visit to the country because you will get an opportunity to know the Vietnamese culture. You can ask your Vietnam tour guide if there are any local celebrations or festival going on.

Vietnam Beach Holiday

Vietnam boasts around 3500 km of coastline with a bunch of beautiful beaches with powdery sand and lagoons. If you are a beach lover, prepare yourself to navigate through a plenty amount of choices to enjoy your vacation with friends and family. This 16 day Vietnam beach tour is going to take you to some of the best beaches in Vietnam. Destinations include Hanoi, HaoLu, NinhBinh, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Mu Ne and Saigon.

Vietnam Holiday By Train

The train tour is an 18-day tour, which is an excellent opportunity to meet local Vietnamese people and to gather some wonderful local life experience to treasure once you go back. The scenic beauty of Vietnam is stunning, and a train journey is perfect to experience it to the core. Railway service in Vietnam is an aged one, but it is dependable at the same time. The destinations include Hanoi, Lao Cai Sapa, Halong Bay, Hue, Danang, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh, Cu Chi, Cai Be, Can Tho and Phu Quoc Island.

Vietnam Culinary Discovery

Vietnamese cuisine uses lemongrass, Vietnamese Mine, Basil, lime and other species and fresh herbs. The culinary is famous for its fresh ingredients, minimal oil usage and the right balance between herbs and meat. This 12 day Vietnam culinary tourulinary tour will take you through a cuisine which is one of the healthiest cuisines and which has borrowed countless influences from other cuisines.

If you are a foodie, love to taste authentic dishes, you will benefit a lot from this tour. You can have different options of food choice. You can have cooking classes included in the packages at Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh. It also includes leisure activities like sightseeing and cruising. Your Vietnam tour guide will help you in choosing exclusive local food treats.

Vietnam Tour of Surprises

The 19-day Vietnam tour of surprises does all justice to its name. It is a perfect package suitable for families, couple or a group of friends.  The package will let you explore the exotic cultural beauty of Vietnam.

Vietnam tour guide will take you through stunning rice Terrace in Sapa, which is one of the most impressive and amazing rice terraces among the Asian countries. Rice terraces here are located on mountaintops and are natural creation of weathered granite rocks. Thanks to the Mother Nature for gifting such a kaleidoscopic wonder, which changes its color during seasons.  

By the end of autumn, the fields ripe and you can see them standing upright in all its golden glory. The destinations include Hanoi, Sapa, Lao Cai, Halong Bay, Hue, NinhBinh, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh and a few more locations.

Sapa Tour with Victoria Train

If you are on a short business trip to Vietnam, and yet you want to enjoy the cultural beauty with your family, you can go for this package. It is a 5-day trip, which includes places like Hanoi, Lao Cai, Sapa, Lao Chai and Ta Van Village. It is one of the luxurious tours because you will be staying at most expensive resorts and hotels in each destination. The travel will be in Victoria train, and you will have an English-speaking tour guide.

Conclusion

Choices are excellent, but a plenty of then on a vacation can be overwhelming. However, with proper planning and the assistance of a Vietnam travel guide, you will be able to spend a great holiday in Vietnam. Indochina value has many packages to cater all your requirements.  Packages provided by them will be budget friendly and rich in services.

Talk with our team to book a Vietnam tour package at the earliest. We love serving you.

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