I enjoyed and still enjoy travelling in Vietnam. Here are the five best Vietnam travel tips in my opinion followed by even more Vietnam travel advice.

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How the 5% discount works: You pay the full tour price to Myrides. After I received the commission from Myrides I will refund you the 5% discount over Paypal only. In case nothing happens until one month after you fully paid the tour please write me an email.

Before we start: Do you – like me – almost have an allergic reaction to big bus tours?

Then why not consider local Vietnam tour packages like Myrides?They specialise on local motorbike tours in Vietnam and you can choose, whether you drive your own motorbike (cheaper option) or prefer to be a passenger on a motorbike. So it still feels like independent travel and obviously you get to see much more than if you’d be on your own.

I have included links of their tours in the text where appropriate.

If you book the tour alone, don’t worry. Myrides assured me, that you can get the same price per person as they quote for a tour with two persons.

Da Lat: Easy Riders Tour

Why: The number one of my Vietnam travel tips is the Easy Riders tours. This tour will bring you to interesting places you would never have seen otherwise. And you won’t be trapped in a tour bus. I have written an entire article about it. Read it to find out why I enjoyed it so much.

Description: The easy riders of Da Lat Vietnam offer motorbike tours. But you don’t have to drive yourself (unless you want to and rent an extra motorbike). You will sit on the back-seat of the motorbike. Easy riders can be found in the Peace Café and other places in Da Lat. They will show you their tour-book, so that you can pick your favourite tour amongst the Vietnam tour packages on offer. Options are exploring local tribes, experiencing how local food specialities are produced, eating local dishes, exploring the Ho Chi Minh trail et etcetera. You will discover places to see in Vietnam, that other tourists will never experience.

Or make a similar motorbike tour with Myrides.

When booking the motorbike tour please write “Dont worry Just travel” into the remarks / comment field to get your 5% discount on the tour price.

For your travel planning

Take the bus from Saigon. Most tourist buses depart on De Tham-Road. This street is part of the Saigon-“Backpacker-district”, where lots of Western tourists stay.

Halong Bay

Why: Because it feels like the ultimate paradise on earth with stunning views everywhere.

Description: One of the Vietnam places to visit certainly is Halong Bay. Once there, embark on your boat, listen to your tour guide, relax, explore the flowstone cave, go canoeing and snorkelling and make lots of beautiful photos to make your friends and family back home jealous.

For your travel planning

The best is to use Hanoi as a base and depart from there. Book at least a two day tour. Make sure to compare the prices, as there are big differences. Hostels – it needn’t be the one where you stay – usually offer the cheapest prices, and tourist centres the most expensive ones. You won’t get a better tour by paying more.

Hill-tribes of the north (Sapa)

Why: To explore the unique landscapes and cultures of the North

Description: You can have a look at beautiful landscapes including rice terraces. If it is your thing, buy local handicrafts. Go on a hike to explore the surroundings of Sapa. Book a local tour, that lets you enjoy one or two nights in a home-stay with locals. Another interesting place nearby is Bac Ha to explore local hill tribe markets.

Or make it a motorbike tour, then you needn’t worry about having to buy the train ticket early.

When booking the motorbike tour please write “Dont worry Just travel” into the remarks / comment field to get your 5% discount on the tour price.

For your travel planning

Take an overnight train from Hanoi train station to Lao Cai, from there take the bus to Sapa. The tickets should be bought in Hanoi several days in advance at the Tran Quy Cap-entrance of Hanoi train station or in a travel office with a surcharge. (Tip: Buy a return-ticket before you go on your Halong Bay trip.)

Mekong Delta

Why: It just fascinates to be in a boat watching all the action that is going on.

Description: The Mekong Delta hosts a lot of Vietnam attractions. The best thing is the floating market, which is still a real wholesale-market for the locals to buy vegetable and fruits. Then there are many places to explore to see how rice paper, puffed rice, coconut candy and other specialities are produced. The local markets on land are also an interesting thing to witness. A home-stay with locals also shouldn’t be missed.

Or experience this as a motorbike tour

When booking the motorbike tour please write “Dont worry Just travel” into the remarks / comment field to get your 5% discount on the tour price.

For your travel planning

The easiest is to book a one or two day tour in one of the many travel offices in the Saigon “backpacker district” at De Tham or Bui Vien street in Saigon. But be warned, those usually are big bus tours.

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city)

Why: This bustling city just fascinates and there are many attractions to be seen

Description: The number one experience to me is witnessing the traffic during the evening rush hour. Endless masses of scooters make their way through the streets. But that one is pretty obvious.

So on top of that: What to do in Ho Chi Minh

The South Vietnamese Presidential palace (reunification palace) and the Anti War-museum (war remnants museum) shouldn’t be missed either. If you want to see a real mosque go to the central mosque and don’t miss to eat at Quan An Ngon at 160 Pasteur street. It is a mid range priced open air food court with all Vietnamese specialities available.

And all these are by far not all things to do in Saigon (officially called Ho Chi Minh city).

How about one or several Saigon tours with a motorbike? There is day-tour, a night-tour and four more specialised tours available with Myrides.

When booking the motorbike tour please write “Dont worry Just travel” into the remarks / comment field to get your 5% discount on the tour price.

For your travel planning

From Bangkok take a flight to Ho Chi Minh city, from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, take the bus. Then you can witness the Mekong ferry and lots of Cambodians and Vietnamese transporting almost everything imaginable with their motorbikes. If you’re on reverse from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh you also have both these options. In Phnom Penh it is easy to get a Vietnam visa. So I really recommend you the bus journey.

What to do in Vietnam? More Vietnam travel advice.

Also consider to visit

• Hoi An & the nearby My Son ruins of the old Cham empire
• The Ho Chi Minh Trail to learn more about the Vietnam war
  Best is to make this as a tour with Myrides (When booking the motorbike tour please write “Dont worry Just travel” into the remarks / comment field to get your 5% discount on the tour price.) or with the easy riders from Da Lat.
• Visit Hue Vietnam to see the emperor palace and the nearby former demilitarised zone (DMZ) between North and South Vietnam.
• Hanoi is a good choice for communism freaks that like to see the Ho Chi Minh-tomb and other similar attractions. Of course there are other attractions as well and a busy night-life to be explored.
• Nha Trang is a nice and big coastal city and a good choice if you crave for some nice Vietnam beaches. It can be crowded but therefore you have enough choices for daytime activities and a good range of party spots for night-life.

For your travel planning

Are you in need of a Vietnam itinerary? Above points are just a list of places to see in Vietnam. But with just a little extra effort you can convert it into your own customised Vietnam itinerary. If it is too much I can also help you out with planning, not just for Vietnam but for the whole of South East Asia. Just contact me here, tell me your needs and I’ll get back to you with an offer.

When is the best time to visit Vietnam?

It is ok to visit Vietnam the whole year. From about August to November typhoons can hit the coastal areas in the central and northern parts.

From December to March it’s best in the low areas, as it is not too hot. But in the mountains it can get too cold then.

So if you’re headed for the mountains in the North, e.g. Sapa, better visit from May to August.