Are you going to travel to Vietnam? Is travel planning taking up too much of your time and effort?
Our Travel Planner will guide you step by step on how to prepare for a trip to Vietnam. Whether it’s your first visit to Vietnam or your nth time, you will find this article helpful.
Questionnaire checklist
To plan your trip to Vietnam easily, you should brainstorm a bit and ask yourself:
How long do you plan to visit Vietnam? You should consider the time you plan to visit Vietnam.
Do you have a week or two in Vietnam? Is Vietnam just a quick stopover for your 4-day big adventure in Asia?
Although the time is short, you can still visit Vietnam in 4 days (choose Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh). If you have a longer time, you can choose your favorite places to go in Vietnam. We’ve listed the most beautiful regions in Vietnam for your Vietnam itinerary.
How much will you spend for your trip? Although Vietnam is a budget-friendly country, you can find luxury stuff. It can cost a lot of money if you overspend. Knowing your budget will help you a lot in planning your Vietnam trip.
Who are you traveling with?
Do you travel with your partner, friends, or family? Or are you traveling solo to Vietnam? If you’re a solo traveler, it’s best that you rent a motorbike for a trip from the South to the North of Vietnam or vice versa or join tours. Traveling in Vietnam by bus is a great choice with friends or family.
What type of experience do you like?
Do you like sightseeing or adventure travel? Or are you just looking for a relaxing beach break? Do you prefer the city or the countryside? Do you want to visit off-the-beaten-path?
Choose your destination in Vietnam
Deciding where to travel in Vietnam can be one of the most difficult decisions in your planning process. But after brainstorming, you may know where you want to go.
Depending on your travel style, you can choose different destinations in Vietnam that suit your needs. Also, while picking your places to visit in Vietnam, you should know the best time to travel to Vietnam. Every place has a different best-time-to-visit, so planning well is necessary.
Apply for a visa
First of all, you should check if you are required a visa to Vietnam and how long you need it. Because Vietnamese visa regulations change a lot, you should check carefully before departure.
The easiest way to apply for a Vietnam visa is through an agency. You won’t need to worry much about the regulation and process. Just let them take care of you.
Book your flights
From abroad
You may land in either Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, or Da Nang if you come from overseas. There are several flight carriers having routes from and to Vietnam.
Domestic flights
Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airlines, Jetstar and Vietject are popular flight firms in Vietnam.
Buy travel insurance
You should never travel without travel insurance. Since Vietnam is not so safe, you can get robbed or have an accident while traveling in Vietnam. With travel insurance, you’ll be covered should anything go wrong.
Book your stay
Depending on where you want to go, you can book your visit accordingly. There are different types of accommodation in Vietnam: resorts, hotels, hostels, homestay, and airbnb. From budget hostels to luxury resorts, you can choose the most suitable accommodation and enjoy the best time in Vietnam. Although you can jusst come and ask for rooms in hotels in Vietnam, it is advisable to book a room in advance for your convenience.
Book travel tours
Since Vietnam is relatively cheap, you can find affordable tours from $10. There are luxury tours like Ha Long Bay Cruise, which can cost as much as $50 or more.
If you want to visit the islands in Vietnam, booking a tour might be the best idea as renting a boat yourself is difficult and expensive. Also, taking a tour will be a great option if you travel alone and would like to have a companion.
Know places to go
After choosing your destinations, you should know where you would like to visit each location. We recommend a flexible schedule as you may love one destination more than others or have unexpected events during your trip to Vietnam, but you should still plan a little before starting.
Find places to eat and drinks
Tasting Vietnamese food must be on your list of things to do in Vietnam. We recommend that you download and use the Foody app to find restaurants when visiting Vietnam. You can also check TripAdvisor for places to eat in each destination.
Buy a sim card
Although you can easily find free wifi in public places such as coffee shops or shopping malls, … but in big cities, it is better to buy a 4G sim when coming to Vietnam. Some airport counters offer sim cards, but we recommend pre-ordering one online.
