If you’re looking for an adventurous and cultural experience, then Vietnam is the place to go. Widely known as the number one rice exporter in the world, the country will be an experience like no other if you’re a backpack traveler.
If Vietnam happened to be on your bucket list, then here a few travel tips come this 2024.
1How to Get There?
Most of the visitors in the country come from European countries and the United States. They choose to visit this country because it is nothing alike in the west.
The most convenient way to get there, however, is by plane. Also, there are dozens of airlines that fly to Vietnam, so you have plenty of options.
The country has two major airports that are more than capable of international travel. Each of them is located in their respected region’s big cities; Hanoi (northern region) and Ho Chi Minh City (southern region).
With all that said, most of the airlines do not have a direct flight to Vietnam, so chances are you’re in for a lengthy ride.
Traveling from Europe by plane will be a maximum 15-hour experience (depending on various factors) and around 16 hours if you happen to live in North America. Australians also like to travel to the country, with flights ranging between 8 and 14 hours.
2Best Time to Visit?
There are three main seasons in Vietnam; low, shoulder, and high season. High season is the best time to travel (December to March) if you’re after nice weather, but expect prices to rise a lot.
If you’re a budget traveler, then the low season (April to June and September to November) is the best time to do so. Not only are plane tickets cheap, but most of the hotel accommodations also.
The country might look like it has a north and a south region, but this simply isn’t the case. A third, central region is also very popular for traveling. Central Vietnam is best visited between the period of January and June. It’s advised against visiting in the latter months (October and November) since heavy rain is present in the region.
As for the northern region, visiting between April to May and September to October gives you the best chance of experiencing good weather. The north is mostly sunny (we know, right) and experiences low raining during these periods. December all throughout March is a very cold period, and it goes against some of the best attractions available to you.
As for the southern parts, it’s best to visit during January and April. The south is very beautiful and experiences very few rains, with the temperatures also being warmer than the other two regions. You can visit the south literary any month, but there are the most recommended ones.
3Visa Requirements?
Ever since the new law in 2017, Vietnam has made it convenient for everyone to get their Visas online. What that means is that a Visa is mandatory for some nationalities, not all.
Luckily for you, obtaining one is super easy and costs only $25.
However, there are four types of Visas you can choose from. These aren’t all of them but are presented as the best option for foreign travelers.
The most popular one is the “one-month single entry” Visa. This lets you stay up to a month into the country, with you only being able to enter once. Followed by are the “one-month multiple entries”, “multiple months single entry” and “multiple months multiple entries”. All of them are pretty self-explanatory.
For more information about how to obtain the online Visa, make sure to click here.
4What Should Your Budget Be?
Vietnam is a relatively cheap country, compared to Europe or North America. European EUR and USD, CAD, and AUD are pretty strong currencies compared to the Vietnamese Dong VND.
A single day for a solo backpacker would cost you nothing but $30. That takes into account food and stay at fairly price accommodations. If you’re a traveling couple, around $50 a day should be more than enough to sustain you.
Speaking on the subject of accommodations, a hostel room in Vietnam can cost anything between $5 and $20. There are also more expensive alternatives, but this should be your target range for the trip.
As for hotels, a room for one night can cost anything between $15 and $30. Again, there are expensive alternatives, but anything in this range will be more than enough for your trip.
Food prices also vary, with the most common “street food” costing around a dollar. Beer is also quite cheap, although not the best, and it can cost around $1.50.
As for getting around the country, public transportation is an excellent option. Public transport is quite cheap and quite common in Vietnam. Many people use public transport for their day to day dealings, so you should carry hand sanitizer since you’ll be getting into contact with a lot of people.
The budget for a 7-day stay in the country (this takes into account eating) can cost you anything between $250 and $350. You should always do your own math before traveling, so take this with a pinch of salt.
5What to Do When You Get There?
A very popular thing that travelers do is take the night train from Hanoi to Sapa. This will be a very thrilling experience, as you’ll be passing through lush forests and get first-hand experience of the popular rice fields.
Hiking is also a very popular activity to do, as the terraces of Sapa provide excellent amusement for any traveler. The country also has some pretty amazing rivers. The most amazing one is the Mekong River. You can cruise the delta of this river; an activity that has been labeled as “must” by many natives.
The country is also rich with caves, so you can always explore one. The most popular cave that attracts thousands of travelers each year is the Phong Nha cave. This cave is super big and spectacular to explore.
