VIETNAM, TIME TO INVEST (NORTH VIETNAM, A GREAT PLACE Book 1)
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I just finished a 4 day trip with a local guide who was fantastic, happy to give you his details if you are interested. Given your criteria, I would say that you can spend time exploring the Mekong plus. The north is super in Nov - mild temps all around, and uncrowded. You can't do much with 7 days though - I would not spend that much in airfare for a short 7 days. Come back when you have at least 21! Go to north if you like culture, history, scenery, then north is your best option. South, is for your beach time. Another vote for the North, HCMC is a big cosmopolitan city which you can visit in a day whereas Hanoi is much more interesting with more of a Vietnamese vibe, especially in the old quarter.
Nov is best time to visit the North and it really offers more to see aside from just Halong Bay. But Halong Bay is a must see anyway: TripAdvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet TripAdvisor's forum posting guidelines with prohibiting self-promotional advertising or solicitation. We ask all of our members to keep their forum messages free of self-promoting advertisements or solicitation of any kind - members affiliated with any tourism-related business should not include commercial contact information or URLs in their forum messages. We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
All of your saved places can be found here in My Trips. Log in to get trip updates and message other travelers. Log in Join Recently viewed Bookings Inbox. Browse forums All Browse by destination. What are the most popular tours in Vietnam? See All Vietnam Conversations. When Best To Visit Vietnam? Hotels travelers are raving about Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Vinpearl Luxury Da Nang. Little Hanoi Deluxe Hotel. All hotels in Vietnam The penalties for drugs are really harsh in Vietnam, like other neighboring countries in South East Asia.
Vietnam still has a big AIDS problem. Even if you are only going on a short trip, you should always travel with insurance. Have fun on your Vietnam backpacking adventure but please do get insurance — take it from someone who has racked up tens of thousands of bucks on an insurance claim before, you need it. Travelling without insurance would be fucking stupid.
Security Belt with Hidden Pocket: I never hit the road without my security belt. This is a regular looking belt with a concealed pocket on the inside — you can hide up to twenty notes inside and wear it through airport scanners without it setting them off. This is hands down the best way to hide your cash. AR bottle are tough, lightweight and maintain the temperature of your beverage — so you can enjoy a cold red bull, or a hot coffee, no matter where you are. Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry.
Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be. I would never travel without a headtorch. Even if you only end up using it once, a decent head torch could save your life. If you want to explore caves, unlit temples or simply find your way to the bathroom during a blackout, a headtorch is a must.
Taking a tent backpacking is not always practical but hammocks are lightweight, cheap, strong, sexy chicks dig hammocks and allow you to pitch up for the night pretty much anywhere. For plenty more inspiration on what to pack, check out my full backpacking packing list. Vietnam is a country with multiple weather patterns ranging from monsoon rains, cold snaps and hot, humid sunny days. It can be hard to catch the whole country at a consistent time of year.
But no fret, it is possible! If you are planning to backpack Vietnam from top to bottom, the best time of year generally is September — December Autumn and March — April Spring. These times of the year are your best weather window, where you might be lucky enough to see the whole country in sun! Let me break down by regions, the best time of year for backpacking Vietnam;. Expect some colder temperatures in the mountains and from March onwards, a little more rain as it gets more humid.
Temperatures will hit the upper 30s in June to August. If not, you have some fantastic maths skills! A great way to keep track of how much your spending and understanding the exchange rate. Download the full map of the country before you go and use it offline while you backpack Vietnam. No data used and minimal amount of time getting lost means more time for fun stuff! This particular VPN allows for up to five connections which is handy for keeping all your devices connected without having to purchase multiple VPN packages.
Whether you are travelling the South East Asia loop and entering by land, coming down from China, or flying directly there, border crossings are relatively straight forward and the days of the tricky Vietnamese visa are now over. You can easily cross the border from Cambodia to Vietnam using local buses or, if you fancy travelling in style, there are VIP bus services available for flashpackers.
The visa situation in Vietnam has changed a lot in the last few years and it can be a little confusing. For UK citizens you can enter into Vietnam without a visa and travel for a maximum of 15 days. Which is great if you are paying Vietnam a quick visit, but if you want to stay any longer than this you will have to organise a visa before arrival. Thankfully visas are relatively straightforward to organise before you travel to Vietnam. Just pay a visit, or call your local Vietnamese Embassy to apply and ask any questions.
Comfortable long distance transport and constantly improving road quality make travelling in Vietnam pretty smooth. Most backpackers choose to explore Vietnam via bus network. Rather than just rocking up at the bus stop in the hope they will have space to fit you on, you can now book tickets in advance for most of South East Asia using 12Go. A great way to get from one end of the country to the other fast and scenically. Ensure you book your tickets in advance, hard sleeper class offers the best value. Hop on the Reunification Express for a breathtaking journey.
I did not travel via domestic flight within Vietnam. Vietnam Airlines, the national carrier and Jetstar both offer cheap and backpacker friendly prices to many destinations within Vietnam. Many adventurers backpacking Vietnam choose to explore the country by motorbike. With a motorbike, you have a lot more freedom and will see a side of the country that is completely inaccessible if you are travelling by bus or train.
Best of all, motorbiking Vietnam can work out pretty damn cheap as you can simply sell your used motorbike to another backpacker at the end of your trip. An increasingly common sight in the cities, it is not hard to find a ride. Just be sure to use a metered taxi or haggle and agree on the price before you get in. Be firm with directions and destination whilst using taxies within Vietnam. To kick your backpacking adventure into the next gear, get a motorbike. Luckily, riding a motorbike is a lot easier than it looks and after about an hour of somewhat, hilarious practice, I was good to go.
Unfortunately, accidents among travellers are common, I came off my motorbike myself in Dalat and got away with just cuts and bruises… The bike flipped and hit me in the back of the head, and my helmet almost certainly saved my life — always wear a fucking helmet.
You might think you look cool without one but, frankly, you look like a twat. There is no greater feeling than whizzing through the beautiful countryside on the back of a Motorbike. Make sure you pack your camping hammock if you want to save money on accommodation.
For anyone backpacking Vietnam, I highly rate buying a Motorbike to explore this beautiful country. If you are staying in hostel dorms, trying the local delicacies on the street, catching buses and trains rather than domestic flights and enjoying the odd day trip; you can expect to spend no more than forty dollars a day, if that. Long Distance Bus Service: Ever wanted to throw cash in the air and feel like a millionaire?
Well, the Vietnamese Dong allows every broke backpacker travelling in Vietnam the opportunity to feel rich.
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Plus the name is Dong… Which, when enjoying multiple dirt cheap beers, is consistently amusing. If you want to carry a fair bit of cash safely on your body, your best bet is to get hold of a backpacker belt with a hidden security pocket. So here are my top tips to keep it cheap backpacking Vietnam…. Camping is most popular within the National Parks up and down Vietnam. Check out this post for a breakdown of the best tents to take backpacking. To connect with the locals, check out Couchsurfing.
Cook your own Food: Knowing the value of the currency will help you avoid being ripped off or spending too much without realising. Where possible drink the local beer, eat the local delicacies and for day trips, try to use local companies. Plus supporting local businesses thrive is awesome! Smile, motion for a car to stop and practise your Vietnamese….
Long term travel is awesome. Giving back is awesome too. Backpackers can spend long periods of time volunteering in an awesome place without spending any money. Meaningful life and travel experiences are rooted in stepping out of your comfort zone and into the world of a purposeful project.
World Packers opens the doors for work opportunities in hostels, homestays, NGOs and eco-projects around the world. Are you a native English speaker looking to earn cash whilst traveling the world? Teaching English online is a great way to earn a consistent income—from anywhere in the world with a good internet connection. Whether you are keen to teach English online or looking to take your teaching game a step further by finding a job teaching English in a foreign country, getting your TEFL certificate is absolutely a step in the right direction.
The national parks will be more isolated. Buddhism is undoubtedly most common religion, but Vietnam has a rich and wide variety of religions including Catholicism, animism, theism and ancestor worship. Vietnamese food is popular all around the world. I would be gobsmacked if you have yet to try Spring Rolls, or Bread Rolls? As well as tasting absolutely wonderful Vietnamese food is one of the healthiest foods in the world; prepared with fresh ingredients, vegetables, herbs and either rice or noodles each dish is different but delicious!
This is basically a Pork Meatball Noodle Salad. They are wrapped in rice paper and served with Peanut dipping sauce. There are many varieties of Pho, perfect for those slightly unsure about Vietnamese food. Basically, a well sized baguette stuffed with yummy treats such as ham, cheese, fish, vegetables etc.
In the late 19th century, Vietnam became a French colony. The French built infrastructure in Vietnam such as the Saigon to Hanoi railway through taxation, and the Veitnamese wanted independence. Viet Minh took control of most of Vietnam and declared Vietnam independent by , but France ignored this. With no intention to give up power, fighting broke out between them and the Viet Minh.
Backpacking Vietnam Travel Guide (Updated for 2018)
First they were sending military advisers to South Vietnam. Financially, they supported the French and later the South Vietnamese government. As a result by December there were , US soldiers in Vietnam and by the end of there were nearly half a million. However, the Vietcong continued their guerrilla war. Americans withdrew from Vietnam in , but the South Vietnamese continued to fight the Vietcong alone until until the North Vietnamese captured Saigon. Vietnam was reunited under Communist rule. You Sir, are a twat. I know first hand just how hard it is to be the one person in a group to say no when somebody comes up with a stupid idea that, for some reason, everybody is down for.
By no means am I telling you not to drink, smoke and party. Do it and love it. Wear a helmet when you hop on a motorbike in Asia. It was an expensive mistake.
Humans are humans; treat people you meet along the way with the same respect you would show your friends and family back home. Sex workers in South East Asia are people like you and me; they may enjoy what they do, or they may be on the darker side of it. Regardless of your beliefs and thoughts on prostitution, remember this is another person with thoughts, feelings and a life outside of the sex industry too. Travelling the world makes you an ambassador for your country , which is awesome.
We can make a positive impact on people when we travel and get rid of any ugly stereotypes that may be associated with your country….
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Conqueror of mountains, survivor of deserts and crusader for cheap escapades. Will has been on the road for nine years, travelling to far-flung lands on a budget. Today, he runs a number of online ventures.
- Allie (The Hawthorne Sisters Book 2).
- 1 week in Vietnam - spend in North or South? - Vietnam Forum - TripAdvisor.
- The Forbidden Garden: The SF Classic of Hard Science and Romance.
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- Neil Gaiman and Philosophy: Gods Gone Wild! (Popular Culture and Philosophy).
He is passionate about teaching others how to ditch their desks, hit the road and achieve real freedom by earning money online. Currently, Will is on a four year journey from the UK to Papua New Guinea; travelling through truly special countries such as Iran, Pakistan and Bhutan whilst running his businesses online. Woah, also, I think that ostrich riding is not an activity that should be recommended.
I saw the signs for it when I was in Mui Ne… Made me feel quite sad. It was an interesting experience for sure and the ostriches seemed well looked after in a professionally run center. Hi again Will — I would definitely recommend reading this post: When I can see a risk to an animal I will never increase that risk — for example, I would never dream of riding horses or donkeys abroad as they are usually treated badly. In my opinion, no, not really. Hanoi is WAY nicer. Tom and I met in Vietnam so it is quite dear to us! He rode a motorbike throughout Vietnam and had the time of his life!
I went on buses but joined him along some of the stops. We will be posting a photo diary of his motorbike adventure on our blog soon. Sapa changes every year as rapidly do other great destinations in Vietnam unfortunately!
Though it still is a great country to visit! Great blog Will Hatton. The trip will be anything from weeks. Not sure how much that will influence the daily spend, although in Thailand we found that we spent more on accommodation yet less on getting scammed and wasting money like we saw lots of the young backpackers do, so maybe this will balance figures. How much time do you think we realistically need? Im planing my trip according this.!
Also should i drop some of the stuff given above being a solo women traveler.? We based our trip on this article as we knew nothing of Vietnam. My understanding is that you cannot ride a motorbike in Vietnam without a proper license?
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You mentioned you had no prior riding experience before going there. How did you get around that? Thanks so much for this Will! My girlfriend and I are planning a budget trip to Vietnam and this guide is super helpful! Quick question for you — is it just as easy to get around using the train as the bus? Similar to how it is in Europe? Hi Will Hatton thanks a lot for posting this interesting blog and also a worth read.
People who are plannnig to visit vietnam should definitely go through this blog. The trip is really fun if you choose to have a great trip to experience all the best things that the tour has done, the difficult roads need patience and beautiful roads. Awesome piece, some really helpful stuff on there for a first time traveller like me. I had a quick question. Do you reckon I should pre-book all my accommodation before I go or do you think initially arriving with an idea of where I want to go will be fine?
Thanks for the help. O gosh how I miss Vietnam. I absolutely loved the area of Halong Bay ad Ha Giang. The people are so lovely and friendly. The food is super. I want to go back!! Brilliant blog and pictures! Sapa adjustments each year as swiftly do other terrific destinations in vietnam alas! Even though it nonetheless is a super united states of america to visit! Thank you for sharing. Love how detailed your article is! Hey Will, thanks a lot for this beautiful blog. Great job, will surely leave a review when I get back.
Thank you for a very detailed information. This blog is really suitable for one who wants to go and visit Vietnam.
Vietnam probably has some of the cheapest accommodation in South East Asia. May 5, at Knowing the value of the currency will help you avoid being ripped off or spending too much without realising. Just use the code: February 4, at 2: The Forbidden Purple City was mostly razed, but there are some smaller buildings still standing and restoration work is ongoing. Economy Business Premium Economy First.
Hope that you will provide us the more interesting articles about this beautiful country. Thank you so much. Have been struggling over multiple travel blogs to know more about Vietnam. This article has literally answered all my questions. Thanks Will, this is really great. Have an awesome time — safety in Vietnam for ladies is really pretty good if you follow normal precautions of not being alone at night in the street etc. I have some tricks to travel VietNam with cheapest price.
Beyond caving, you can also spend time in Hoi An is the best place in Vietnam to . Book one of XO Tours' Saigon street in either north or south of Vietnam and. Depending on where you're planning to spend most of your time, make sure The best time to visit Vietnam's northern region is between March and May, and so best to book regional flights and accommodation in advance. . The best place to witness the extravaganza is in the Ancient Town in Hoi An.
If you interest in travel or something you can ask. Please contact tanmp gmail. Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to write this. I have traveled Asia plenty of times before and I am just researching an upcoming trip to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The information you have provided here is so detailed and by far the most useful I have found.
This makes me feel just prepared enough to arrive without a plan. Thanks and keep it up! When you take a break and go to a new place, where everything is simply amazing and great to look at, then Vietnam is the place for you. I got Hanoi transfer service from Hanoi Travel Bus. It helps you from the airport to your lodging. Wow, what a wonderful write up for someone who is planning to head for Vietnam for the 1st time. Would you please tell me if 12 days are enough to cover all of them? Thanks for your suggestions. We have finally made a plan of 15 days. We have eliminated Sapa trek because we have just completed himalayan range trek.
Wish to have a good time. Southern Vietnam like Hochiminh, Mekongdelta, Phuquoc island …, you can visit anytime. It's warm, hot, sometimes rain 1h or 2h. From here, it's easy to go to Laos, Cambodia and Thailand by flight or bus or boat.