Trip ideas

Yes, it seems very basic indeed, but it is amazing how many people ‘forget’ to buy travel insurance before they leave for faraway shores. Perhaps its a particularly British trait – we’re used to our government covering us across Europe so when we venture further we just don’t think – but getting stuck on the wrong side of the world with no insurance is no joke when the worst happens.

A friend of mine came to visit me in Saigon – he’d been working on a yacht from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean and so had been covered by his employer for that stretch of the journey. He decided to leave his job and come and visit, but didn’t think to get cover for the rest of his travels. One night in Saigon he came off his motorbike and managed to break his jaw in five places – very nasty but it could have been far worse. It still meant getting his jaw wired shut for six weeks and metal plates in his mouth, as well as a whopping medical bill for thousands of pounds.

Happily he is healed and scar free, but I doubt he’ll make the same mistake again. I felt very sorry for the family when I read this article in the Telegraph – a family was left with a £25,000 medical bill when a motorbike accident landed their son in hospital.

By far the most relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable way to get around Vietnam is by train. Not only are the sleeper beds comfortable enough to get a proper night’s sleep, but the scenery is beautiful and the contrast to a hot drive on Highway 1 is huge.

The main train line runs North-South from Hanoi to Saigon, for the most part running along or near the coast and stopping at major destinations such as Ninh Binh, Hue, Danang, Quy Nhon and Nha Trang. It currently takes around 30-35 hours to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or vice versa, a distance of over 1,000 miles.

Additionally there are several smaller train lines and routes: from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet (for Mui Ne), from Hanoi to Halong Bay, Hanoi to Hai Phong, and from Hanoi past Lao Cai (for Sapa) up to the Chinese border and on to Nanning, in Guanxi Province. There used to be more train lines in the country such as the link from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat, but sadly many of these have fallen into disrepair. (more…)

Although in popular tourist destinations and larger cities it is just about possible to get by without knowing a word of Vietnamese, insisting on speaking your own language all the time will isolate you from the majority of Vietnamese people and leave you less likely to make friends and relationships you will remember from your travels. By learning to speak just a few words of Vietnamese you can greatly improve your experience, reduce misunderstandings and frustrations and have a chance to talk – however briefly – with individuals who work outside of the tourist service industry, giving you a far greater appreciation of the Vietnamese culture and outlook on life.

We think any responsible traveller should at a minimum learn how to meet and greet people and how to be polite, but taking the time to learn a few more phrases will certainly enhance your enjoyment – even if it just means you are able to recognise a few more items on that otherwise baffling Vietnamese menu. Use our free online phrasebook to sharpen your skills and prepare for your trip – or download it as a PDF to put on your Kindle, mobile, iPhone, iPod touch or other ebook reader

PhotosWhile they may not be as bright and shiny as malls or supermarkets, night markets have their own character and are popular destinations for local people and travellers alike. For many travellers the day is just too hot to spend shopping, and the cooler night air offers an ideal opportunity to grab some souvenirs, while for locals the evening is an ideal time to meet and gather outside and share a meal or a drink under the stars.

There is an enormous variety of goods on offer including clothes, footwear, hats. hair clips, jewellery, watches..etc The prices are normally cheaper than day markets or supermarkets as the sellers pay less for the rent, so there are some great bargains to be had. As well as the choice in souvenirs there’s also a great range of food, with many street vendors setting up shop to take advantage of the passing trade.

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Safety while travel to a country is the foremost concern for visitors. However, certain unforeseen circumstances are inevitable, under which case, certain emergency contact numbers of the concerned country come handy. To ensure utmost convenience during your stay in Vietnam, we provide you with a list of Vietnam Emergency Phone Numbers that you can make use of any urgent unforeseen situation during your tours to Vietnam.

In case of police assistance in Vietnam, the number to contact is 113, for the Fire Brigade, you can dial 114 and to contact the ambulance in case of medical aid, the number is 115. These are the essential emergency phone numbers in Vietnam that every traveler to the country must be aware of.

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A vacation is never complete unless you take gifts and souvenirs for your family and friends back home. Since the streets of Vietnam are lined with various shops and markets, especially in the tourist areas, shopping in Vietnam is not at all a problem.

Tourists traveling to Vietnam generally look for souvenirs and traditional handicrafts and there are lots of shops in Vietnam that offer these. The best gift items include articles made of lacquer, especially paintings, then there are wooden screens, reed mats, earthenware, (check out the elephants). Things with lovely embroideries like wall hangings, draperies, robes are quite sought after. Oil paintings, Silk paintings, Carpets, jewelry and leather goods are also quite popular. You can also purchase antiques to decorate your home. However be careful while buying antiques because in Vietnam there are strict laws for buying antiques. Some of the souvenir shops in Vietnam are: (more…)

Day 1: Hanoi – Hue (-/L/D)

- In the morning, pick you up at your hotel and transfer to Noi Bai airport for a short flight to Hue.

- Arrival in Hue, pick – up and transfer to a hotel. In the afternoon, take a boat on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda, Hon Chen Temple and Minh Mang Tomb. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Day 2: Hue – Da Nang (B/L/D) (more…)

In the morning, pick up at your hotel and start a walking tour around this enchanting port town. Follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures and visit the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the local fish market…

After lunch in local restaurant, enjoy a short boat ride to a nearby village specializing in ceramics and crafts of Hoi An. Tour finishes at your hotel at the end of the day.

In the morning, pick you up at your hotel around 7:30 – 8:00 and start an excursion to explore Hue. Take a boat on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, Hon Chen Temple and the tomb of King Minh Mang.

After lunch, visit to Hue Citadel and the tomb of King Tu Duc. Drop you off at the hotel at the end of the day.

Cruise 1: Cai Be – Vinh Long

- In the morning, pick up at your hotel and transfer to Cai Be. Stop to take photos in Tan An town overlooking the picturesque flat rice fields.

- On arrival in Cai Be, set off by motor boat to visit the Cai Be floating market and watch the locals trading fruit and many other commodities on board their vessels. Then wander into the small villages to visit the orchard and fruit plantation.

- Keep cruising to Vinh Long. Visit a small family business to see how coconut candy and crispy rice popcorn are made. Arrive in Binh Hoa Phuoc village, the green pearl of Vinh Long town. Enjoy a lunch of fresh river food served in the heart of the garden accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music. Take a delightful walk through the bonsai garden.Back to Ho Chi Minh City by bus and drop off at your hotel upon arrival. (more…)