3 Things You Must Know To Vietnam Backpacking Tour Guides
Shoes are always taken off when visiting a temple. These forward facing rides mean you can see more of Hanoi and less of the driver's head. Money changers at the airport have terrible exchange rates. You can the book a boat tour around the bay, where you will stop at Monkey island, climb some rocks for a higher view, kayaking, swimming, and chilling on the does that sound?
The Cannon Fort: No, you will not see this in the Travel Guide, that's what I'm here for. Tours: Tours all over vietnam travel is unlimited, there's so many things you can do and places you can explore. Oh wow these photos make me want to get on a plane to Vietnam right now!
There's so much to see in Vietnam, wow. I'd personally be very interested in Vietnam's history. Despite being hackneyed, it is still something I can recommend to first-time backpackers.
Note that these are places that you MUST visit. That's okay, but as much as possible, don't book roundtrip. If you're living in a major city, chances are, there's a direct flight from where you are to Bangkok.
It's not along the way, but you can easily make a detour there from Siem Reap. But that's just me. I know travelers who stay for only 2-3 days per stop. When I was in Chiang Mai, my bed was at 180 baht (P260) per night.
If you're traveling alone and you're concerned about the budget, consider booking dorm beds. It's also a great way to meet other travelers and make new friends. If you're a duo wanting to meet people, the dorm is still a good choice.
Note, though, that in many hostels, the bedrooms may be private but the toilet and bath are sometimes shared. You can also sort it by PRICE. When it's off-season, I usually just book a room for my first stop, in this case, Bangkok.
For example, I'd book a room for my first night in Siem Reap and only the first night. If I don't, I'd scout the area for another, better hostel. If you're traveling in peak season, go ahead and book in advance.
If you decide to splurge one evening, balance it out by going for cheap options the next day. Sure, beer is cheap and blah blah, but they add up. Don't drink every night. Transit days are those days when most of your time will spent traveling from one stop to the next and you won't be able to tour or explore.
It doesn't necessarily mean you'll just stay in your room. Because many of the attractions can be explored DIY-style. In smaller destinations like Siem Reap, Chiang Mai, and Ayutthaya, you can simply rent a bike.
It still is a big amount, but consider that it includes non-promo airfare. Also, it has a lot of allowance for good measure. Got lots of idea on where to go and what to check.
Ten Things You Must Know To Vietnam Backpacking Tour Guides
It's appropriate to explore and experience daily life of local people and make new friends from over the world. A heady combination of remote stilted villages, unexplored rainforest, bright green rice paddies and fabulous, showy cities, Vietnam holidays offer an enthralling and perfectly balanced fulcrum on which Asian tradition and modern world comfort rests. Although there are some variations throughout the region, it is generally a popular destination because it is relatively safe and inexpensive to visit. Some countries are more expensive than others.
Depending on how far you are looking to stretch your budget, you will find hostels that will offer beds for under $10 common, and private rooms are also typically available for around $20 dollars a night for a double room. While some items may be a bit bold for conservative palates, skip touristy restaurants and do as the locals do- save money by eating from street vendors! It has a limited number of languages that it translates, but includes Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian.
But, most of the time, it's nothing that doesn't have an easy solution. So good that I'm actually returning this Summer along with a trip to India! I've been planning to go to thailand and I was just wondering how did you go about buying a flight there?
I'm looking to start a trip January 2016 and, as a solo female traveller am a little nervous about personal safety after some feedback I've received (albeit from people who had no/limited exposure to the region). You'll be fine in Bangkok as long as you stay away from Patpong, you got by in Rome & Paris,the rest of Thailand will be easy for you too. I hope you have a great trip- there are a ton of backpackers throughout Southeast Asia so you will definitely have the opportunity!
We have our flights booked and our vaccinations bought. Depends how long you're staying and how many places you go. $2000 per person is more than enough for 1 month if you stay in only a few places even if you splurge a bit. If you stay at 5 star hotels, eat at tourist restaurants, travel by plane and taxis, then of course it's not enough.
Dear Laura & Kiersten,don't go during monsoon rains every day,usually twice & makes any roads impassable outside of the cities & inside them steamy & miserable. One of my best tips is to get friendly with the locals, they will help you find cheap accommodation and food! Price is cheap, people are friendly, scenery is absolutely gorgeous but with certain rural charms.
Vietnam is a big country and there's lots of Vietnam backpacking itineraries floating around the interwebs… The most popular backpacking route is heading from Hanoi to Saigon. You can enter vietnam awesome travel by motorbike easily too. There are flights with the likes of Emirates (via Dubai), Air China (via Guangzhou) and many more Airlines.
Most flights will land in Ho Chi Minh but you can fly to other parts of the country.
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Lots of nice cafés and restaurants here. Check out our travel guides for some of the highlights, top tips and travel to vietnam inspiration from our Tropical Sky Experts, along with some essential information you may need for your holiday. You can continue your days walk south and you'll find yourself in the beautiful French Quarter with its timely architecture and the smell of freshly baked baguettes. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes.
I was like a giggling school girl looking for my graduation dress. The tunnels were used for a variety of purposes, such as hiding spots during combat, communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for the numerous guerrilla fighters. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
On the way to Halong city enjoy the journey through the farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields , water buffalo's and everyday Vietnamese village life. The show gives you an insight into musical aspect of their culture, preformed live with a small band. Board the bus at Saigon around 8 a.m. for the 2 hour ride to My Tho.
This train-line runs close to or through all the major stops on the Vietnam backpacker trail. You'll get more value for money in terms of your pre-trip expenses if you combine this with one of our other itineraries in the region (see top of page). Be prepared for lots of locals, especially children coming to say hello to you in the street.
Danang is a big city but has few sights. Hoi An is the place for tailor-made clothes and boasts a beautiful riverside setting. Qui Nhon is more popular with local tourists than backpackers but it has a few beautiful deserted beaches just out of town.
Mui Ne isn't really a town, more like a long coastal road about 20km or so long with many hostels and restaurants dotted around it. The beach is quiet and very relaxing, while the hot sand dunes are perhaps what the area is most famous for. It is the biggest and by a distance, most westernised city in the country. More detail here on things to do in HCMC.
Very well located with plenty of cheap restaurants nearby. You can easily squeeze this full Vietnam route in, with taking a flight from Vientiane, Laos to Hanoi perhaps the best option and then just following the route from Ho Chi Minh City into Cambodia. Highlights include the mountain towns of Dalat and Sapa , which you can reach by a different train from Hanoi that heads towards China.
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Our guides Kevin, Dragon, & Boren were so good @ making the entire experience seamless. Most of all, we designed the Buffalo Runs to be a social experience. The train pulls into the station and a sea of tourists, both foreign and Vietnamese, pour out onto the platform. Some kids are shy or indifferent to our passing.
We follow a steep road that winds up out of the valley floor, taking us back the way we came. Coffee and soft drinks are universally 20,000 VND each. Also, Lily's was the only one to offer me an alternative trekking route that they say avoids the most touristy stops.
Tell your tour operator ahead of time if you want a private or quiet stay — they should be able to arrange that for you. Requires an hour-long mini-bus ride from Lào Cai train station to Sapa town. Everyday is A Good Day in Vietnam We are a group of freelance experienced tour guides who love our job with a desire of delivering the best private tours in Saigon - Mekong - Highland - Hoian - Dananf - Hue and Quang Binh.
Before my trip to vietnam awesome travel, I contacted Privatevietnamtourguide com and Bao Loc replied my email within a few hours. Vietnam Motorbike Tours is Vietnam's leading Dedicated Motorcycle Tour company. Led by Jason, Australian motorcycle enthusiast & VMT founder, we have been touring the most remote parts of Vietnam for the past 10 years.
We will show you the true depth of culture of this wonderful country, whilst keeping the riding awesome and full of adventure (always avoiding the typical 'tourist' routes). They simply love what we provide..! Our tours are unique and unusual, offering rides through areas that the others have yet to discover.
As such, you won't find us in the ‘not so' Lonely Planet Guide Book.. But you will find us featured in dedicated motorcycle adventure media! Take a look at our ‘tours' pages to find more details on pricing and inclusions with regards to our Standard Private Tours, Premium VIP Private Tours and Special Event Tours. Our bikes are thoroughly serviced and well-maintained before, during and after all of our tours, also meeting both local cc regulations and international travel insurance guidelines for licensed motorcycle riders.
The Lifan offers good, reliable performance and the fact that everyone is on the same bike certainly helps to keep the playing field even! This certainly adds to the relaxed countryside charm, though that's not to say you won't face plenty of challenging riding! We have a preference of supporting small, friendly, locally-owned Hotels and Guest Houses, but our standards of quality are always strict, so we generally use locations that would rank as 3-4 star accommodation back home.
All our tours are booked through Renee, our accredited and licensed travel agent. Send as much info as possible (you can use our Booking Enquiries form HERE), including your preferred tour dates and number of riders. Also at hand is our Bookings Consultant, Ben with over 9 years experience with VMT , Ben can help you with any Motorcycle Riders/Touring information, Tour Bookings, or any other questions that you may have.
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Many argue that one of the best things to do in vietnam travel information is staying at a homestay. At the cost of sounding fussy, if I spend the money I work hard to save to buy a guided tour, I definitely expect to have a trained guide that speaks a language I can understand. One of the top things to do in Hanoi is attending the Water Puppet show. To reach the Chua Trong temple and cave, there's either a footpath or the cable car.
I love hiking, and one of the best things to do in Vietnam is following one of the incredible hiking trails in the region of Sapa. Tickets allow entrances to the many temples, historic buildings and museums across town. We had planned to spend four full days in the city in order to attend the various fittings without putting the tailors under too much pressure.
If on a budget, stick to beer! An Bang beach is the trendiest and most serviced one in the area. If one of the best things to do in Vietnam is relaxing, this is the perfect place to do it.
I eventually found The Corner Homestay in Hoi An, a lovely place in a small street right off the centre. In order to admire great examples of French colonial architecture, one of the top things to do in Ho Chi Minh is simply walking around the city and visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and the National Theater, all located in the Dong Khoi Area. If having to pick just one of the many things to do in Ho Chi Minh, make sure to pick this one.
My sister had to sit down at some point, shaken by what she was seeing. What makes the Mekong Delta one of the most interesting places to visit in Vietnam is the intricate contradictions that are visible here. Yet, the back sides are incredibly quiet and rural, and a whole world apart.
This trip involves staying in the town of Sapa in a hotel and 1-night in a homestay in the rural rice terrace environs of Sapa. Hanoi to Sapa is around 6 hours and the coach is normally fitted with sleeper beds. What we discovered is that women from the Hmong ethnic group tend to follow in a friendly manner at the hope of selling something to you.
The second quarter of the trek we encountered some very slippy pockets of mud slopes, which, without the hands of the Hmong women, would have been more a struggle. Definitely try take footwear with a grip, trainers will be ok but will make you skid a little more than you'll want. The weather was cool but refreshing.
We visited a rocky rugged waterfall and began to descend slightly just before lunch. This was a good meal for anyone whilst being active and constantly on the go; the meal was not heavy and generally quite healthy. As a small group, we managed to get through the trek fairly quickly, including stop offs for taking photos, investigating different crops and plantations, and the odd breather.
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Shopping is one of the top things to do in Vietnam. Yes, the place is packed with tourists as this is one of vietnam travel tourist spots, but it pretty much only gets local visitors who go there on a pilgrimage. This gorgeous small city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is blessed with a relaxed atmosphere: the historic centre is closed to the traffic; its cobbled streets and historic homes perfectly kept, making it one of the top places to visit in Vietnam. If one of the top things to do in Vietnam is enjoying a cold beer and one of the things to do in Hoi An is enjoying its nightlife, I'd say that not all bars offer the same service and in fact most of those that attract backpackers with the promise of a 2 for 1 on cocktails offer poor quality drinks.
We don't mind crowded beaches as An Bang, but we were pleased to find a lovely, quiet stretch a but further north, on the drive towards Da Nang (the closest big city to Hoi An, as well as the closest airport). The great hosts, the super-nice and knowledgeable receptionist (who speaks perfect English), the atmosphere, the total lack of noise, the delicious breakfast and the fantastic service made it really worth it. This museum has an incredible collection of pictures and other kinds of documents of what in Vietnam is known as the American War.
Traffic and noise characterize its main centers such as Can Tho and Chau Doc. Getting picked up from Vietnam Backpackers Original at around 6:30am via mini bus, after an hour of picking other travellers up we were taken to a coach that was heading to Sapa. I have to admit at first this seemed to be a little annoying despite their honest efforts, but they were a great help when it came to overcoming some difficulties.
We passed Bamboo forest, dozens of rice terraces, villages and downhill rock which made the trek interestingly varied. The food was chicken noodles and vegetables with some fruit and yogurt. The rice fields were the cherry on the cake, as they are truly spectacular and are everywhere to see.
The next day lasted around 3-4 hours. I couldn't help myself as I jumped in and out of the rice fields whilst coming across many buffalo in between. Before that though, we cleverly climbed across a rocks edge to reach a waterfall nearby to our homestay as we cooled off with the calm views and tranquil surroundings.
One of the nicer treks I've done in terms of surroundings and relaxed approach. The homestay was a real highlight and the hospitality was really homely, so much so I would have preferred to stay one more night! The trip has potential to add one or two more days to the itinerary.
The level of trek is moderate because there are slippery points to be wary of. Apart from the 2nd quarter of the hike, the rest is fairly plain sailing but if you are not wearing good footwear and have balance issues, this maybe not be suitable.
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You're bound to find something cool. But if you're into that then definitely take 2-3 days to see Dalat between Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh. Being warmly welcomed on a tour about the damages of the Vietnam war was just one of countless surprises Vietnam had in store for me on a two-week backpacking trip from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. For travelers who love jumping into the bustle of big cities, vietnam travel does not disappoint.
A mural depicts three of its saints: Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen, French writer Victor Hugo and Vietnamese poet Nguyen Binh Khiem. Most people travel here with the main aim of visiting the famous floating markets but the city itself is well worth a few days of your time. As well as this there is the hammock strewn roof terrace with views across the city.
The rooms are quirky and if you are willing to pay for one of the pricier suites, you will even get a hot tub on your balcony. As the name suggests, this is more like staying with a family than a regular hotel or hostel. I spent a wonderful afternoon cycling along the smaller channels of the river through tiny villages near the home stay, catching a glimpse of the delta's local life.
However, if you are after a slice of local life, then this is the perfect place for you. Hot pots are a large bubbling dishes of meat, veg or tofu served on a gas cooker directly on your table. However, if you're feeling a little brave, you may be tempted by one of the menus stranger items; grilled field mouse.
It is now a local delicacy and doesn't come cheap (by street food standards) but it is surprisingly tasty. Here you can eat incredible food with views over the river. Originally built in the 1940s to serve Can Tho's Khmer community.
As you enter you will be met by monks relaxing in the doorways of the ground floor buildings and colourful banners strewn above you. On a weekend, two blocks in the centre of the city come alive as people head out for an evening at the night market. It is overpriced and to be honest, not all that interesting but may be worth browsing if you're looking to take home a memento of your time in Vietnam.
Look for the busiest places in order to find the best dishes. On Hai Bà Trưng, just past Cho Can Tho you will find both sides of the street bustling with activity as people trade fruit, vegetables and seafood. Chances are that there won't be anything you want to purchase here but it is worth walking the length of the street to immerse yourself in local life and hopefully capture a few pictures of the hectic scenes.
Just 45 minutes by boat from Can Tho's promenade, Cai Rang is a frenetic, fast paced wholesale affair, with large barges piled high with produce as their owners call out to the armada of smaller boats weaving their way between them hoping to get a good deal.
