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 partner and I are looking at travelling to Vietnam later this year and have found your blog really helpful. We were planning on Aug/Sept timeframe however have noticed this is wet season, we don’t mind getting wet but would you say this is ok to travel still or recommend that come another month?
You are still OK early September in the central area but after that it can get very wet.
Hi, myself and two friends (all ladies – 38, 50, 66) are coming to Vietnam at the end of June for two weeks. What would you suggest to do in that time? It has been suggested by a friend (who has traveled to Vietnam) to do it our self but I am not sure about that. Can you please tell me some good tours/tour guides? Can you please email me your thoughts and suggest an itinerary that would let us see as much as possible without spending all our time getting from one place to the next. We are quite happy to stay at comfortable places not luxurious places. Thanking you for all help.
I have emailed you Liny You can find a lot of the answers you are looking for if you follow the links on the right
Love your site, could you please let me know the name of the tour you joined to Cambodia,
cheers Carole
I have used 2 companies and they both were good trip. I joined a group of people on a coach tour with Saigon tourist.
I have also uased My friends at V’Explore arrange a tour with their Cambodian office for a more private tour.
Hope this helps
Hi Owee,
My parent is going to HCMC in August with my 2 aunties, so altogether 4 of them. I’m not going with them, and so quite worry about them when they reach. I’m planning to help them make tour-booking before they depart. They’ll be reaching 8pm on 18 August and will leave HCMC at 9pm on 21August. So, they’ll have 2 and a half day in HCMC. What places of interest would you recommend? I’m planning to book a hotel in District 1 for them. Should I ask the tour agent to book the hotel for me too together with the day tour for a better price?
Thanks for your advise.
Do not worry.. Vietnam is a very safe destination and it is easy to get around. There is no need to pre-book unless you want a private guide and tour. If that isd the case, contact my friends at V’Explore Travel. There are a lot of local tour companies scattered throughou the area so a city tour can be had from a variety of places that are very inexpensive. I often stay at the duc Vuong hotel in dist1. Very clean, nice staff, and decent buffet breakfast for a reasonable price. You can book on your own
Hi Owee can you send me a duplicate email to what you sent Tung??
There are 6 of us traveling from Hanoi to Saigon. We will be there from July 4th to the 19th.
We aren’t that particular about seeing everything. We are mainly laid back travelers who is more interested in the food, drinks, and kicking back.
We were thinking about doing the Open bus tour, but only from Hue to Saigon. We will fly from Hanoi to Hue.
Maybe once we are in Vietnam we can stay at your hotel! Thanks!
email sent
Hi Owee,
Thanks for the great info & stories about your experience in Vietnam. I’ll be returning to Vietnam for the first time since my family & I left over 30 years ago. My girlfriend and I have 15 days and would like to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. We would like to do a discovery Vietnam kind of tour but not too sure what is the best places to go. Would you be able to recommend places? Is that enough time to do that without rushing? Any advice is much appreciated.
I will email you Tung
Hi, I appreciate your reticence to advertise your friend’s travel company, but I am travelling to Vietnam for the first time in June and would really love to know how to best enjoy the trip. Could you give me the name of the travel company you recommend. Thanks very much, love your blog.
Neil
Thanks Neil,
I have no problem plugging my friends… I wrote about them on the following link
https://owee58.com/2010/10/22/vexplore-my-choice-in-tour-companies/
thanks!
Hi there
I arrive into Saigon and will be on my own for a couple of days before friends arrive; I’m a total novice to the region but would love some advice for something fun to do on my own with a day to spare before friends get there.
Ideas? Thanks
you can find walking tour maps in one of the many local tour offices. You will also find short day excursions to the Mekong and Cu Chi tunnels. When your friends arrive, you can be the guide 😉
Thank you for comprehensive thoughts and information.
Prior to reading your tour company recommendations, we had already commenced dialogue with Asia View Travel, not committed at this stage but would certainly appreciate any advice or knowledge you might have on these people. (I find their Credit Card form a bit daunting).
Kindest regards,
Darryl .
I am sorry but I am not familiar with Asia View Travel. Their website is typical like many others and they have their licence posted at the bottom of the page so I assume they are legit. It is all about customer service more than price…. If you are happy with their responses and attitude, then they may be fine.