This post is 9 years old already. How time flies. Most of the information remains true. I now only use one tour company. Not perfect but the best a person can get. The owner is a personal friend and I have witnessed how hard he looks after his clients. I respect them so much that they are the only company I considered partnering with. Check out www.vexploretravel.com I bet my reputation you cannot find a better tour company. Tell them I sent you. (their staff know I am best friends with the boss: 😉
DIY or an organized tour of Vietnam
I am happy to announce that my Egg guy and his darling wife are back on the job. Both of them are bruised and sore, and the man hase stitched on his head, but they are back making those sandwiches everybody enjoys. As a welcome back, he was overrun with business and had to close early because her ran out of stock.
I have read many posts on the web forums about whether a person should use a tour company to travel, or whether to do it ones self. There are many people who are familiar with Vietnam and are comfortable with making travel arrangements on their own. I am one of them. Do it yourself (DIY) travel is not difficult if you are the adventurous type, or are travelling on a very strict budget. Most of the areas a person will stay in Vietnam have tour
companies with English speakers that can assist you in booking local sights, air, bus and trail tickets, and many other services. In most cases it is the same price as if you booked yourself. The agency is making its money by a commission paid by the service provider. DIY travel is the cheapest and most flexible way to travel but how do you know where to go, or even how to get there? Expect problems … The language barrier and sometimes just the different expectations of what you think you are purchasing can lead to frustration. I was faced with the same dilemmas years ago and found that I missed some of the best sights of
Vietnam because I was not even aware of their existence. It is true that DIY is something that can be done with some research and planning, and if you have a solid stomach, you can eat at some of the most unusual and delicious places. DIY is the way I travel by myself, but if entertaining guests or recommending to a person who has no Vietnam experiences the things to see, I often refer to a good guide or tour company and here is why.
I have had conversations with a couple of personal friends that run one of the better tour companies in Vietnam. (I feel the urge to give a big plug for them here but I will resist) Reputable tour companies are regulated by the
government and HAVE to conform to certain standards to make sure the tourist is safe and protected. All of the restaurants they will take you are of good quality, and there should be nothing that will make you ill. Even fussy eaters will find something that they are comfortable to consume. Tour companies are also familiar with most or all of the sights you will want to see. You can travel most of the country without missing important highlights. Sure you will be in a group on an adventure… but so are we if we DIY… we still book through a local agent and do s similar trip. But probably the most important thing the Tour Company provides is the piece of mind that all of your transportation, accommodation, and other bothersome details are covered. Vietnam can be a bit stressful to the first timer and worrying about details should be totally unnecessary. Tour companies can also get you prices much better than you 
can do for yourself if you are a 2 star traveler like me. In the long run, I honestly believe that you end up spending less money with the organized tour because there is no need for the taxi expenses to go places, the many hidden costs, and you do not get overcharged for things as many new comers do. Your guide is a wealth of information on where and what to spend.
It has been my experience that the backpackers travelling on the tightest budget imaginable almost always opt for the DIY option. That is fine, but many never get a taste of anything but the tourist areas and local sites of the areas they stop, and have very little opportunity to explore the sights and famous landmarks between destinations. For those that can afford a bit more, a tour package can cost as little
as 50 dollars a day and it will include everything except perhaps your dinner each day. You will also be put up in hotels that are usually of a good standard. Just make clear to the company what level of hotel you want, and they will make it happen. I myself have been coming here for 12 years and now live here, but I still use my friends at the tour company to escort friends and family instead of trying to do it myself. It is just so much easier. However, I do not take a pre arranged package. The best way to travel here if you are a newbie in my opinion, is to do your research on where to go and what you want to see, and then supply that information to the tour company. A good company can set it all up for you. You can even ask them to take you to alternative places not so touristy. It is your trip after all. Keep in mind that the more there are, the cheaper the price will be, so if you are traveling solo, you may have no choice but to join a group. My wife and I joined a group on a Cambodia tour and had a great time even though we could have done it ourselves quite easily.
In the end it is up to you. It costs nothing to ask or get a quote…
One last piece of advice. If you are considering a tour company, use one located in Vietnam rather than in your home country unless you are going on some kind of group charter. It will cost much less
My husband and I are planning a trip to SE Asia next June — we both work in the schools (US), so we are able to spend up to 30 days on our trip. I have decided to use a tour organizer — to make the arrangements and transportation for our trip. I was in contact with Indochina Odyssey tours after doing some research on Trip Advisor. Any info, good or bad, on them? I also emailed your recommended travel co. today.
How many days is best to visit most of the Vietnam highlights with a few days to see Cambodia. I don’t mind rushing through a city for a few days, but don’t want to keep this up the entire trip. Hoping we can spend a week in Thailand before we leave.
I just discovered your website today — so if this is answered elsewhere, my apologies!
I have emailed you Barbera
I will email you Lorraine
Hi Owee
Further to your email some time ago re a tour I would really like to speak with you & wondering if you are on Skype –
due to bad backs I dont think my husband & friend would be able to handle bikes. In your email you mentioned travel from Hoi an to Nha Trang via moto – It looks a huge distance & wondering how long the drive would be in between overnight stays. I also wondering if we should forget about visiting Dalat as it sould tooooo touristy
I look forward to hearing from you
My husband and I in our late 50’s will be travelling from Hue->Hoi An->Phu Quoc->Nha Trang->Dalat->HCM. We have 11 nights, how many days do you recommend in each place. By the way we are Malaysian backpackers and we hv beend to HCM and Hanoi, Sapa b4.
Tks for all the help, enjy reading your blog.
I usually recommend 4 nights in the Hue/Danang/Hoi An, 4 nights in Nha trang, 1 or 2 nights in Dalat. IF you are trying to do all of the above in 11 nights, you will not have time for all of them…. esprcially Phu Quoc because of distance. I have emailed you
Good stuff thanks for the article. I figured since you have a travel blog you’d want to push the more adventurous solo tour option. I’m flying solo for 4 days and was planning on doing it all myself but now may reconsider.
I’ll be heading from HCMC to Phu Quoc via either Rach Gia OR Ha Tien. Would like to get your thoughts on a couple things if you didn’t mine. Saw you had an article about Phu Quoc that I’m gonna check out now.
You may find the answers in the Phu Quoc blog, but feel free to find me on the Trip Advisor forums and ask your questions.
Hi Owee,
I am thinking of travelling mid november to Vietnam,arriving in HCMC for two weeks. Planning to visit the Meekong Delta, but would also like to go to Cambodia, visit Phnom Penh and Siep Reap for approx. 8 days. After that some relaxation on the beach.Maybe Nha Trang.
or would that be too rainy?
Do you think your tourguide will be able to help us with that tour, even if it is to Combodia?
Do you got any other suggestions?
Thanks a lot, you got a phantastic website with a lot of info!!!
Ben
Thanks for the compliment
The tour company I reccommend also cover Cambidoa and Laos. I did such a tour with them ablut 6 months ago and the 9 that I accompanied had a great time. I am afraid that in November, we can be hit by rainy weather. I would give the odds at it being wet at 60/40. Perhaps Phu Quoc or Shinookville in Cambodia might offer more stable weather.
I have sent a copy of this response to your email
We are planning a trip to vietnam next month,starting at Nha Trang and heading north, finishing at hanoi after about 15 days. i have been to vietnam last year on a tour and have some ideas of where to go, my husband has never been there. wondering whether to do another tour(if any leave from Nha trang) or organise it ourselves I can see the appeal of doing a tour, now that I’m doing the research on where to go etc. Can you reccommend a tour company that would be suitable?
Sorry Claire.
You did not provide email so I cannot respond personally.
On the right side of my blog you will see a link to The tour company Owee uses
You will find my recommendation there
Owee,
My husband and I are from Canada and are now in Bangkok using it as a base to visit Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. We are just retired and plan on being away from home for 2 months or longer. We would like to visit Vietnam in Sept (probably this week) but noted Sept is the worst month to visit Vietnam because of weather. Would you suggest we wait until October? I’ve emailed V’explore to use their services as tour guide but forgot to ask about timing.
Your advice and suggestion would be most welcome.
thanks
debbie
C’mon over…..September should be fine. Oct-Nov is the rainy season for the central areas
Hi, I am thinking of taking a career break at 33yrs old. Am thinking of starting my break visiting Vietnam, Cambodia and maybe Laos and then onto other continents. Are these destinations ok for a single female? I am very much a city girl and have always studied and lived in London. Any help would be appreciated on whether I should DIY or join a group tour. thx!
It is a great place to go. I have emailed you
Hi Owee
I will be travelling alone for about two weeks around late October early November. I am a 60 year old female. Could you please email me the name/s of your trusted tour companies. I would like a comfortable tour, not 2 star ,but not 5 star either. I would like to go it alone but just not game. Some relaxing beach time would be nice.
Thanks for the interesting article.
Jenny,
I have emailed you