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Any time on day 1. As this is a private trip, nothing is scheduled on arrival: our driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. Hotel check-in is usually from 2pm, so landing before late afternoon gives you time to settle in and head out for your first dinner. If you'd like a day or two to get over the flight first, we can book extra nights at the hotel before your trip starts.
Possibly. It depends on your health, your vaccination history and the rest of your travel plans, so get personal advice rather than relying on a checklist. Book an appointment with your GP practice or a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before you travel, as some vaccines need more than one dose or time to take effect.
TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) keeps up-to-date health advice for Vietnam and every other country we visit.
Yes, the dress code is seen as a show of respect to the culture, temple and monks that often live in the temples. Men should wear long pants and no cut-off sleeves. Women should wear trousers, a long skirt, or dress that extends fully below the knees and covers their shoulders - the knees should be fully covered. Tank tops and low cut shirts should also be avoided by both genders.
Yes, please! All accommodation aside from the homestay offers the chance to do your washing at very reasonable prices. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even go for the bucket wash - the price is right.
Not much! We suggest at least £10 / US$15 (or equivalent) a day for spending money. Meals that aren't included are very cheap in Vietnam, and your accommodation, transport and the activities listed as included on this page are already paid for.
Budget more if your trip has free days when you'd like to add optional trips (a cooking class, a boat trip, having clothes tailored in Hoi An and so on), if you plan to bring home lots of gifts, or if you like a big night out. You can spend less on a tight budget, but this average works well for most travellers.
Both, and most travellers use a mix. Vietnam's currency is the dong (VND). ATMs are easy to find in the cities and towns we visit, but most cap each withdrawal (commonly somewhere between 2 and 5 million VND) and many add a fee for foreign cards on top of your own bank's charges, so take out the maximum each time. If the machine offers to convert the amount into your home currency, choose to be charged in dong.
Cards and phone payments work in most hotels and larger restaurants, but street food, markets and small shops are cash only. Exchange desks at the airport take all major currencies. Watch the zeros: the 10,000 and 100,000 VND notes are easy to mix up. Let your bank know you're travelling so it doesn't block your card.
We have a minimum age requirement of 18 years old to join the tour. Group members aged 16-17 years old are welcome to join the tour but only with a family member that will act as their guardian whilst on tour. Aside from that, no age requirements at all! While our target age is 20-45, what matters most is mindset. If you’re looking for a backpacking-style experience, with hostel-style stays, local transport, and optional evening activities - you’re welcome to join us.
Not at all! A deposit is all you need to secure your place on the tour. The remaining balance is due 60 days before your tour starts, and we will send you reminders before then.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. You’ll need to show proof of your policy to your group leader upon arrival (on your phone or printed). You can get a quote and purchase your travel insurance here.
We highly recommend that you travel with insurance for complete peace of mind. Please click here.
We recommend using a Wise travel card. It works in most places and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay. ATMs are widely available, but some places may accept cash only, so it’s good to carry some local currency.
Absolutely. Your payment is secure. Backpacking Tours is a licensed tour operator in Thailand (TAT Licence No.11/12642), and we use trusted international payment providers. Your booking is safe, and our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Your passport must have at least six months’ validity and two blank pages. You should also have proof of onward travel.
Call your group leader using the number sent in your welcome email. They will assist you.
Use Grab (Southeast Asia's ride-hailing app) or a metered taxi from the official rank, and ignore anyone offering rides in the arrivals hall.
Have your hotel's name and address saved on your phone to show the driver.
We are a licensed tour operator based in Bangkok (TAT Licence No. 11/12642), and our team plans and supports every trip we sell.
Vietnam is long and thin, so the weather varies by region and there's always somewhere good:
February to April is a good compromise for a north-to-south trip. Our Vietnam weather guide goes month by month.
Tipping isn't a traditional part of Vietnamese culture, but it is increasingly common in tourist areas and always appreciated. Some simple guidelines:
Tipping your guide or driver at the end of a trip is entirely up to you.
Yes. Free wi-fi is almost everywhere in Vietnam: hotels, hostels, cafés and even some buses. It can be patchy in remote areas and on boats.
For data on the move, pick up a tourist SIM from one of the main networks (Viettel, Vinaphone or Mobifone) at the airport, registered with your passport, or set up an eSIM before you fly. Data is cheap and 4G coverage is good along the main travel routes.
Vietnam is a safe and friendly country to travel in, and serious crime against visitors is rare. The main things to watch:
May to November is tropical storm season, which can disrupt travel. Read the latest FCDO travel advice for Vietnam before you go.
Not at all. Vietnamese is the official language, but English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and tourist areas, and your guide or coordinator is there to help. A few words always earn a smile: xin chào (hello) and cảm ơn (thank you). Translation apps are handy for street food stalls and markets.
As this is a private trip, every room is for you and the people you're travelling with: you'll never be paired with strangers. We choose and book clean, comfortable hotels that are well placed for each stop, so you don't need to arrange anything.
Some trips also include nights that are part of the adventure, such as an overnight cruise on Halong Bay or a sleeper bus between regions. The itinerary on this page shows where you spend each night.
Yes, and it's delicious! If you see Vietnamese people eating it, that's the best sign the food is safe. Tip: eat where the locals eat, and the longer the queue, the better you can assume the food will be. Sharing a meal is a celebrated part of Vietnamese culture and we recommend giving it a try with your new mates. Bánh mì, sold on nearly every street corner in the country, will probably become one of your go-to meals.
As with anything, use common sense: if something looks or smells suspect, leave it alone. And never drink from the tap!
Vegetarians will be happy to know that Vietnam is very accommodating for vegetarians. Your tour guide can instruct any kitchen to create a Vietnamese dish without meat which they will often substitute with freshly-made tofu.
You will eat mostly Vietnamese food, which is usually rice or noodle-based dishes. They also happen to be some of our favourite meals on the planet! Breakfasts are typically Western dishes, and if you just need to satisfy that craving for a pizza or burger, we get that: Western food is available almost everywhere on the tour.
As the tour explores different areas of Vietnam, you'll have the chance to taste the regional styles of cooking, such as Hoi An's speciality, cao lầu. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options are provided.
No, don't drink the tap water in Vietnam. Bottled water is cheap and sold everywhere, and many hotels and cafés offer filtered refills, so a reusable bottle is worth packing. Ice in established restaurants and cafés is usually factory-made and fine. If you have a sensitive stomach, brush your teeth with bottled water too.
Once your tour is booked and confirmed, you can begin searching for flights. After booking your flight, log in to your account and enter your flight details under the ‘Flight Details’ section.
Airport transfer is included in the cost of the tour. If you book an extra night of accommodation through us, the transfer will also be included for that night. However, if you book your own accommodation elsewhere, airport transfer is only available on Day 1 of your tour.
We recommend arriving before 4pm on day 1 of your tour. Hotel check-in is at 2pm, with early check-in available if a room is free. If you arrive early you're free to use the hotel facilities and leave your bags somewhere secure until your room is ready.
On the last day, we suggest a flight after 10am so you can enjoy a final breakfast before you leave, but if you find a cheaper flight early in the day, that's no problem at all. Just add your flight details in the 'Login' area. If your flight arrives before the start date, we can arrange extra nights of accommodation, including your airport transfer.
Fly into the airport nearest the city where your trip starts, and home from the one nearest where it finishes (both are shown under 'Where does the trip start and finish?'). In Vietnam that means:
Our guide to booking flights and airport transfers in Vietnam explains the options, including open-jaw tickets and cheap domestic flights.
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities, including British citizens and a number of European countries, can visit Vietnam visa-free for a limited stay: for UK passport holders it is up to 45 days for tourism. Check that the date on your entry stamp matches, as it can't be changed later.
If your nationality isn't visa-exempt, or you want to stay longer, apply for an e-visa on the official portal, evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. It allows up to 90 days with single or multiple entry. Allow at least a week for processing and avoid agency sites that charge extra. If you fly into Ho Chi Minh City, you're also encouraged to complete a digital arrival card before you land.
Our Vietnam visa guide has the full detail, and the FCDO entry requirements for Vietnam are the official word for UK passport holders.
Please wait for your booking confirmation email, which tells you when we recommend arriving and departing. You can search and book flights on our flights page.
We will send you your airport transfer information one week before the tour or programme begins.
International flights are not included in the price of any tour and will need to be booked separately. You’re free to book your own flights or book here.
Once you've booked your flights, log in to My Account on our website and enter your flight arrival details. That is how your group leader knows when you are landing.
Arriving before the tour starts, or staying on at the end? Let us know as early as you can so we can check availability and pricing on extra nights.
Please let us know as soon as possible. If you are already en route and a connecting flight changes, contact your group leader or email us so we can still meet you at the airport.
For group tours, your place is confirmed once enough travellers have booked, and always at least four weeks (28 days) before your tour starts. Most group tours are confirmed around six months before departure.
For volunteer or private bookings, please allow 2-3 working days.
If a tour does not run, you get a full refund.
Yes, as long as you give us at least 60 days' notice before your original departure date, so another traveller can take your place. A £30 administration fee applies to a date change.
Your deposit secures your place on the tour. This holds your spot on the tour up until 60 days before your tour is set to begin when the remaining balance is due in full. If payment is not received by this point, your spot on the tour will be cancelled and the spot will be offered to another potential group member. The remaining balance is displayed in your account. Several reminders will go out before this date to remind you of when your payment is due!
Yes! After placing your deposit, you can pay off the tour in instalments of your choosing, whenever suits you. The remaining balance is due 60 days before your tour starts, and you can see it at any time in your account.
We recommend the following:
And of course, the usual: passport, spending money, adventurous curiosity and a positive attitude!
Backpacks are preferred and will be more convenient for you for when we are catching a sleeper bus but suitcases work, too. You’ll never have to carry your luggage for too long at any one time. Try to find something that’s easily accessible and waterproof if possible. Bring a smaller daypack for short trips throughout the tour.
Vietnam uses plug types A, C and F, and the supply is 220V at 50Hz. Most sockets take two-pin plugs, flat or round, but UK three-pin plugs won't fit, so bring a universal travel adapter.
UK and European devices work fine on 220V. If you're coming from a 110V country, check that anything without a dual-voltage charger (hairdryers and straighteners especially) is marked 100–240V. Our plug guide covers every country we visit.
No. Vapes and related products are banned in Vietnam: you can't buy them there or bring them into the country, so leave yours at home. If you need nicotine, bring patches or gum instead.
Yes. This is your own time to explore Vietnam as you please. If you want to stay back at the hotel to relax or want to explore a bit on your own, just let the tour guide/tour coordinator know.
No problem at all, just make sure you're at the hotel for the start date of your tour. We can book extra nights at the tour hotel before your trip starts, including an airport transfer, or give you easy directions from the airport if you'd rather make your own way.
The trip starts in Ho Chi Minh and finishes in Nha Trang.
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