Vietnam

Hôi An is the ancient town of lanterns, each evening candles are lit throughout the city and floating lanterns gently drift down the Thu Bon River.

The best views of the floating lanterns is from the Japanese Covered Bridge to the Cau An Hoi Bridge. Here many locals launch their lanterns out into the river which shines with the flicker of the candlelit buildings either side.  Take a boat down the illuminated Thu Bon River and release your own lantern as thousands surround you.

What is Hôi An famous for? The magical Lantern festival isn’t this towns only claim to fame. The ancient unassuming town of Hôi An is a UNESCO world heritage site famous for its preserved characteristics of a Vietnamese port town as well as a clear foreign influence that creates a unique cultural experience.

How long should I spend in Hoi An? You will need to leave a minimum of 2 days here, but could easily spend 5. This will give you enough time to uncover the unique history of the century old Buddhist pagoda’s,  spin in the popular bucket boats or plunge into the crystal waters at nearby Au Bang beach.

Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam, yet is less developed and modern than the more famous Ho Chi Minh. Yet what it lacks in 21st Century commodities it makes up for in an authentic Vietnamese Charm.

Ever had a cup of egg coffee sitting on a train track? No we aren’t mad, this is Hanoi’s famous Train Street Market which might be the most dangerous place to drink coffee in the world – sip with caution.

Hanoi also has some of the best traditional street food in all of Vietnam featuring famous restaurants like the tasting menus of Hanoi Food Culture, luxury Essence Dining experience or authenticity of Hong Hoai

The remnants of the war is still present here. There are still entire horizons where the napalm stripped the earth of all vegetation. We recommend taking some time to understand the atrocities the west did here by visiting the Vietnam Military History Museum

Vietnam has over 34 National Parks, so why is Ba Be National Park worth visiting? Remarkable mountainous scenery is overgrown with lush jungle that grows to the outer banks of Be Be Lake. Although Ba Be National Park doesn’t have the fame of Sapa or Ha Giang it can certainly match their beauty .

The people here have a unique culture and cuisine that shifts like the landscape – The Tay people live by the waterside, whereas the H’mong communities cling to the hilltops. Both make use of these fertile lands for agriculture and fishing and produce some unique traditional food that is simply delicious.

If you are exploring this area you need to visit Ban Gioc Waterfall, a little known waterfall that is one of the most beautiful in the world.

To experience the best of Ba Be National Park use one of our recommended local guides: Mr Linh’s Adventures

Sapa is famous for its secluded rice fields, dramatic mountains and unique clifftop indigenous culture. You can easily get to Sapa via Hanoi for a quick day trip but we recommend staying for a few days to properly explore the rugged mountain range treks.

The cities of Cat Cat and Ta Phin are great places to start exploring the stunning region without a guide.

While here you have to experience the Fansipan Legend Cablecar which takes you up to the summit of Fansipan for a viewpoint unlike any other.

If you are looking for a tour guide in this area we recommend using Vietnam Travel Top or the Sapa Motor Bike tour

Stepping into the chaos of Ho Chi Minh or Saigon can be utterly overwhelming. This hive of energy is home to 9 million workers who keep the financial and economic capital of Vietnam buzzing.

The winding neon streets have a nocturnal nightlife that keeps this cities energy alive 24/7. While you explore the city streets you’ll notice designer malls and 21st century skyscrapers just metres away from century old pagoda’s, offering a perfect synopsis of Asia’s modernisation.

The accommodation here ranges from the most luxurious to the best budget friendly hostels and everything in between.

It is vital to visit the Chi Chi tunnels and War Remnants Museum of Ho Chi Minh to understand the brutality of the Vietnamese War.

The Ha Giang Loop is the most famous motorbike road trip in Asia.

Poorly tarmacked roads are forgotten when the scenery is as staggeringly beautiful as this. The steep route winds under the shadow of  the Northernmost mountain ranges of Vietnam. Passing by ravines of fog covered villages, lush jungle and limestone cliffs you feel like you’re driving through  cover after cover of national geographic magazines.

The basic rule of thumb, “keep your eyes on the road” has never been so difficult. 

If you are an experienced traveller, off-the-beaten-track navigator and motor-biker you can take this road trip on. If you’ve been on a moped once in Bali, go with a tour guide. Some of the lanes are less than a metre wide with a sheer drop cliff and a pretty hard limestone landing.

We recommend a 3 day motorbike tour like with – the Ha Giang Road Trip. Or simply book it through your backpacking hostel in Hanoi, it should cost anywhere from £150 -£250.

Visits for up to 15 days don’t require a Visa.

30 days Vietnam E-Visa – for £25 processing fee, it takes 3 days to come through!

1. Respect for Culture: Vietnamese culture highly values respect. Showing respect to elders, modest dressing, and being mindful of local customs (like removing shoes before entering someone’s home) is appreciated.
2. Drug Laws: Vietnam has very strict drug laws, including severe penalties for possession or trafficking. It’s crucial to avoid any involvement with illegal drugs.
3. Public Behavior: Behave modestly in public spaces. Public displays of affection should be limited, and conservative dressing is preferable, especially when visiting religious sites.
4. Traffic Laws: Vietnam’s traffic can be chaotic. Be cautious when crossing roads and consider hiring local transportation or using reputable services.
5. Cultural Sites: When visiting temples or pagodas, dress modestly (covering shoulders and knees) and follow respectful behavior, like speaking softly and avoiding disruptive actions.
6. Tipping: Tipping isn’t a widespread practice, but it’s becoming more common in tourist areas. Check if service charges are included in your bill before tipping.

Vietnam is widely considered a safe destination for travellers. Scams and petty theft are the most common issue you will face here. Almost every traveller has a scam story of being charged far higher tourist prices than locals. Most theft is snatching bags, camera’s and phones so keep your valuables close.

The most common injury for backpackers in Vietnam is due to moped/scooter accidents. If you are renting a bike try and gain some experience before visiting Vietnam – the inner city roads are as crazy as Bangkok and the popular Ha Giang loop is a tricky ride.

Avoid tap water and quiet street food stalls! If the foods safe and worth eating there will be a queue.

Vaccinations 

Our pharmacy travel consultant recommended :

Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Rabies, Typhoid, Cholera, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis and Yellow Fever.

Dont cross your fingers for luck – Although this is an international symbol of good luck in Vietnam it represents a female’s genitalia and is similar to giving the middle finger!

Table Manners – Much like Japan, eating ettiquette is particularly important around highly respected or elderly individuals.

Greetings – Similar to most of South East Asia it is customary to slightly bow your head as a sign of respect when meeting new people.

No pats on the back – Patting someone on the back as a greeting is considered belittling in Vietnamese culture.

• Filtered Water Bottle
• Universal Adaptor
• Jumper (If you are heading North)
• Reef-Safe Sunscreen
• Activated Charcoal (Tummy Bugs)
• Travel Wallet
• Waterproof
• Mosquito Net
• Lip Sun Cream
• Dioralyte after sickness
•  Toothbrush Travel Cover
• Travel Locks
• Mosquito Repellent
• Power Bank
• Dry Bags
• Waterproof Phone Case
• Packing Cubes (Suitcases)
• Multivitamins for sickness
• Caps and Hats
• Sunglasses
• Earplugs (There is a 4am morning prayer call)

Apps to Download

• Grab – Transport
• Coc Coc Map – Vietnamese Map
• Map.me – Offline Maps
• Foody – Order food

113 for police calls, 114 for fire and 115 for ambulance.

No, the Train Street Market or Ta Hien Street is technically illegal although local authorities turn a blind eye to the businesses that operate on the tracks everyday!

Dont let this stop you from going the street is in a state of beautiful chaos and the train coming through is an incredible spectacle.

Yes its completely safe to drink! While the egg whites used may contain salmonella the coffee is brewed to high temperatures which kill the bacteria. There has been no recorded Salmonella from egg coffee so enjoy the delicacy with peace of mind! 

Yes in Sapa town and the valley below you get reception and even 4G! Of course head further away from Sapa and into the more isolated mountanous areas and you will lose data connection. Most hotels in Sapa also offer wifi and although usually slow it strong enough to access the internet. 

On average around 7 people die taking on the Ha Giang loop annually. This statistic may come as a shock but many routes are along narrow cliff edges and the monsoon season creates difficult driving conditions.

Yes, eating fertilised eggs or Hot Vin Lon has the potential to cause Salmonella. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration fertilised eggs or Hot Vin Lon is ‘potentially hazardous’, as the humidity and temperature of the fertilisation period increases the likelihood of Salmonella. If you are sampling this delicacy ensure it is hard-boiled for a minimum of 30 minutes and do not eat any raw yoke or egg white. 

The Vietnamese delicacy Egg Coffee is made with egg whites, condensed milk, sugar and ground Coffee beans. 

No, it is incredibly expensive and very overpriced. For most of the year the viewpoint is entirely surrounded with fog. If you are going to visit make sure it isn’t overlapping with the school holidays as this is a hotspot for Chinese tourists. 

No generally the Vietnamese are very welcoming towards travellers. The younger generation especially view on tourism as a way of bettering their country.

However it is important to be aware that just 48 years ago the Vietnam Wat killed 2 million Vietnamese, while 3 million were injured and another 12 million made war refugees. These atrocities is still sad a memory of many adult Vietnamese so respecting the war and its casualties is very important. 

The spinning basket boats all over tik-tok and instagram are located in Hoi An, Vietnam. It costs around £4 to do and is so much fun

Caution – it spins so fast some backpackers throw up!