Holidays in Vietnam: a free guide to Vietnam. Independent travel in Vietnam Vietnam vacation guide

Independent travel to some warm country- this is my old dream. Today on the Internet you can find entire sites where people talk about where and what you need to get a visa, how to buy cheap airfare, which city is best to stay, what to eat and what places to visit. I must say that I read a lot of similar articles and theoretically I was well informed and prepared. For my first independent trip, I chose a beautiful country, whose name is Vietnam. As you know, in order to visit this country and stay on its territory for more than 15 days, a citizen of the Russian Federation needs a visa. Getting it is not as difficult as it might seem. Having taken care of the permission to be in the country, I started looking for tickets to Vietnam. I was lucky enough to snatch a Moscow-Ho Chi Minh ticket for 17 thousand rubles, one of the popular Aviasales services helped in this. For the first time, I also booked the hotel in advance, because I didn’t want to waste time searching on arrival, the priority was walking, sightseeing and getting to know the local culture. My trip was planned for one month or a little more. You will agree that this is a lot, so I made medical insurance, so that it would be calmer. Luckily, I didn't have to use it. Having collected the necessary things in a large hiking backpack, having decided on the route of my trip, choosing places for a mandatory visit - I was ready! Next, I will tell you about my impressions and about each place and city that I was lucky enough to visit.

Ho Chi Minh City.

The largest metropolis in the country pleasantly surprised me. The fact is that I expected to see a slightly different picture, I thought that there were echoes from the past here. And when I got out of the knowledge of the airport and drove to my hotel by taxi, I realized that Saigon is a developed modern city, with beautiful buildings, complete infrastructure and noisy traffic flow.
You can talk about the situation on the roads for a long time. Bikes are the main transport for the people of Vietnam. And what, because they are convenient and inexpensive to use. The trouble is their huge number, erratic movement, non-observance of traffic rules and the incessant sound of the “Beeeeeep” signal. Cars are also present on the roads, but to a lesser extent. In order to cross the road, even on a transitional pedestrian, even on a green traffic light, you have to be very, very careful. The main thing is to move smoothly and not abruptly, then the traffic flow will bypass you, like water flows around large stones. But you know, it's pretty scary. Although, during my entire stay in Ho Chi Minh City, and I stayed there for only a few days, I did not see a single accident on the road. The movement is frantic, but quite organic.
I settled near the city center, so I visited almost all the memorable places in Saigon. Most of all I remember and impressed the Ben Than market, the Notre Dame de Saigon Cathedral and a sightseeing trip to the Kuchi tunnels. If you find yourself in Ho Chi Minh City and have free time, be sure to visit the tunnels, an interesting and informative tour.

Mui Ne.

Here I stayed for about two weeks, even a little more. I didn’t want to leave at all: the clear sea, the beach and the sun are an ideal pastime. There are a lot of Russians in Mui Ne, here you can often see a Russian menu in a cafe, signs in our native language and quite a lot of Vietnamese can keep up the conversation. I won’t say that it’s bad, but the country’s exoticism is lost against such a background. During these two weeks I went to the neighboring town of Phan Thiet and the sand dunes. To be honest, in the heat I didn’t really want to do sightseeing, but sunbathing and swimming - very much! Therefore, I remember the former fishing village as a resort place for beach holiday. Correction, for a great beach holiday.

Hanoi.

The city lives at its own rhythm: not too bright, noisy and with erratic traffic, but pleasant. It seemed to me that the capital of Vietnam seemed to have remained a little in the past, old houses and buildings on its streets, some special atmosphere is present here. I took a sightseeing tour of the city, so I saw all the sights of Hanoi, well, or almost all. The total time that I spent in the capital was almost a week, although two or three days would be enough to get to know the city, but this is my opinion.

Sapa.

The mountainous original town of Sapa is one of the main attractions of northern Vietnam. It is really very beautiful here, cool and stunning landscapes open up. But lately, tourists have been coming here more often, which is why the city becomes an expensive tourist destination and loses its mystique that brought me here. Therefore, if the opportunity arises, be sure to come to Sapa to see her real life, while she still remains as such.

Halong bay.

I visited Halong Bay as part of an excursion group, I really liked our two-day tour and will be remembered for a long time. The bay is a unique miracle of nature, on its territory there are many islands of different sizes and shapes, rocks, caves - all this is here. The bay is included in the UNESCO heritage list and the Vietnamese themselves are very proud of this place.

For all the time that we were here, we were shown the caves of the bay, a village on the water, several islands and went kayaking - this is the standard tour program. Of course, this includes food, travel and accommodation. I think that talking about this amazing place does not make much sense, since it is impossible to convey in words all the beauty and emotions that you experience when looking at the surroundings of the bay. Amazing - amazing place!
On this my journey came to an end and the Hanoi-Moscow plane took me to Russia. This is how my first solo trip to Vietnam went. For me personally, it was interesting, exciting and very unusual. The first experience is received and I liked it! Vietnam conquered me with its cordiality and friendliness. I will be happy to be here again!

Capital: Hanoi
Language: Vietnamese
Currency: Dong

MORE ABOUT Vietnam:

From time immemorial, Vietnam has been famous for its majestic temple complexes, wonderful picturesque nature, quality hotels with impeccable service, and, oddly enough, low prices.

Perhaps, if Vietnam were a little closer to Russia, it would enjoy great popularity and love among Russians. However, it is worth noting that there are some things that do not speak in favor of Vietnam. For example, the huge consumer goods markets, where they sell all sorts of rubbish of terrible quality, the aroma of fried herring, penetrating literally every corner of the city, or its noisy and talkative inhabitants.

At the same time, the fact that the real Vietnam is not dirty streets flooded with people is important, but the majestic and ancient temple complexes of unknown civilizations, and the numerous natural beauties of the city. Along with this, it is worth noting delicious and healthy food in Vietnam - crumbly dietary rice, and only fresh caught seafood.

In addition, divers from all over the world come here, since it is here that the cheapest diving in the world is, and the underwater inhabitants amaze with their beauty and diversity. The local resorts are distinguished by a special European flair, since Vietnam is a former French colony. The climate here varies from subtropical to temperate.

5 years ago, my wife and I were brought to Vietnam, I was not against change, and if so, I was ready to stay here. After some time, we made trips on bikes through the whole of Vietnam. After that, we decided that we couldn't hide these routes from people, and that's how our tours were born.

Vania & Partners

Dear customers, hello! I am a Russian-speaking tour guide in Vietnam. I can help you organize: individual excursions, meeting at the airport, booking hotels, resorts, visa support, visa extension, accompaniment at business meetings, exhibitions...

Da Nang, Hanoi

Shonny Thai

Our group conducts excursions to the main tourist cities such as Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding area. I myself personally live in the most popular resort of Nha Trang, and in other cities I transfer you to the reliable hands of acquaintances and friends who also speak Russian well and with whom I became friends ...

Dalat, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City

Tho Xuan Nguyen

Hello dear travelers! My name is Tho (Tolya). I am a Russian speaking guide (license no. 101101425). Now I live and work in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. I speak Russian well and some English. I can help you as a professional guide, translator and tour organizer....

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Alpha Tours | Alfa Tours

Alfa Tours provides travel services to Russian tourists to the fullest extent and of exceptionally high quality. In addition to information services and excursion programs, we offer hotel booking services, visa processing and visa support for tourists from Russia.

Irina Stolnaya

I have been living in Ho Chi Minh City since 1998. For more than 14 years I have been working as a guide and travel agent / tour operator of my own small tour company. I organize customized tours and excursions throughout Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), Laos and Cambodia. I will help you with visa, hotel, transfers, air and railway tickets.

License

Timur Nguyen

Get in touch with me. I will develop an individual tour for you, assist in arranging a transfer, meet you at the airport, help you settle in a hotel and arrange unforgettable tours of Vietnam. I do tours for both individuals and groups.

The pearl of Southeast Asia, Vietnam is a destination that successfully combines excellent opportunities for a beach holiday and an abundance of attractions with low prices and a real, rather than touristy flavor of local life. Fans of excursions, lovers of “vegetable” recreation on the beach, and tireless seekers of impressions will be able to find something to their liking in Vietnam. However, the abundance of activities that can be indulged in in this diverse country easily confuses the unprepared traveler. How not to miss the most interesting and get the most impressions? The answer is obvious - use the services of guides in Vietnam. An individual Russian-speaking guide with his own transport will competently plan the program of your stay and organize the most interesting excursions only for you.

Vietnam is a country where it is impossible to single out the most-most sights: it all depends on the place where you will rest. The capital of Hanoi and the colorful Ho Chi Minh City are perhaps two must-see cities in Vietnam. A sightseeing tour of Hanoi, accompanied by a private guide in a comfortable vehicle, is the perfect way to get acquainted with the heritage of this ancient city, visit the most interesting monuments and museums and take great photos without the annoying need to escape from the motley crowds of international tourists. An additional and important point is the opportunity to buy authentic souvenirs at reasonable prices and try real dishes local cuisine- all on a valuable tip from the guide.

Of the "out-of-town" excursions in Vietnam, first of all, you should book an individual trip to Halong Bay for the whole day. 3000 emerald rocks-islands in the azure bay are guaranteed to leave the most unforgettable impressions! A private guide will comfortably take you to the bay and book the best boat for a trip around the bay, as well as accompany the tour with a lot of valuable information, comments and advice. You can also go to the famous white sand beach of Paradise Beach, go down into the dungeons of the Ku Chi guerrilla tunnels and appreciate the alien landscape of the Kanzo mangrove forest, visit the Yang Bay waterfalls and ride jet skis to the Northern Islands.

Choose your guide in Vietnam and enjoy an unforgettable holiday in an atmosphere of personal care!

Download free Vietnam travel guide in pdf format. The guide may take a few minutes to load.

If you like mountains, jungles and picturesque rivers, then you will definitely like Vietnam. And the opportunity to get in touch with a thousand-year history and culture along with modern cities and enjoy their interpenetration will not leave indifferent any connoisseur of exotic and travel. Buddhism and Christianity, skyscrapers and shacks, traditions and innovation intertwined here.

Here you will conquer both the mountains and the sea, sail along the Mekong River in a boat, enjoying the view of its picturesque banks. And if you are driven into depression by snowdrifts outside the window, then it's time to pack your suitcase and wave to a country where summer lasts a whole year!

Before you go on a trip, it is better to form your opinion in advance. Our online guides will help you with this. Download the Vietnam guide and learn about the main things you will need in this country so as not to get into trouble, inadvertently offend local residents and find out ahead of time where to relax, buy souvenirs or arrange a full-fledged shopping.

Hanoi

The main city, the capital with a thousand-year history, fanned by legends and dreams. Who refuses to walk along the ancient streets, where ancient masters created masterpieces in ancient times, the memory of which lives in the names. If you get bored with oriental flavor and even the Temple of Literature ceases to please you, go to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, which with its outline will remind you of the Soviet architecture of the 30s.

Of course, your attention should definitely stop at the traditional art of the people of Vietnam - the puppet theater, which puts its performances right on the water. Do not forget to visit one of the most beautiful natural creations - Ha Long Bay, learn the history of its appearance, shrouded in the mystery of an ancient Vietnamese legend and go down into its caves.

When traveling through these majestic and beautiful places, your faithful companion and assistant will be a guide to Hanoi, which you can download right now and immerse yourself in the contemplation of beautiful views in absentia, and at the same time get acquainted with restaurants and shopping centers.

Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, is the capital of South Vietnam, the largest and most populous city. The former fishing village has become one of the largest tourist cities in our time. There are many places of interest here that are sure to grab your attention. Here is the most beautiful Mekong Delta, and Notre Dame Cathedral, built by French architects at the end of the century before last. But the main attractions of the city are still connected with the history of the Vietnam War.

The Museum of War Relics will introduce you to the history of the Vietnam War in detail and in detail. Here you will see samples of equipment, documents, photographs and sculptural compositions. You can also visit the famous Kuchi Tunnels. Thanks to this engineering structure, equipped with everything necessary for life and covert movement, the Vietnamese guerrillas caused a lot of trouble for the US military units.

And if you get tired and want to get distracted, then you will find a zoo with a botanical garden, an aqua park and an amusement park where you can have fun with your children. With our guide you will not get lost in this metropolis and easily find the most interesting places to visit. Download it to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of oriental exotic right now!

Nha Trang

A city that attracts lovers of beach holidays, discos, and bars. Seven kilometers of beaches are ideal for relaxing near the water. In addition, spas and many souvenir shops will be at your service. Don't forget to see the majestic Long Son Pagoda and climb up to the Po Nagar Cham towers. And if you are not a fan of ancient architecture, then be sure to visit Khon Tam Island, or, as it is also called, Silk Island, Orchid Island and be sure to visit the Young Bay Ecopark.

For lovers of marine life in Nha Trang there is an amazing Oceanographic Museum and the Tri Nguyen Aquarium. For lovers of diving, there is expanse here - unforgettable underwater views will not leave you indifferent, and the photos that you take with you will decorate your photo albums.

In order not to miss anything and arrive in Nha Trang with a full range of knowledge, be sure to download our guide. He will tell you in detail where and how best to spend your leisure time, introduce you to the national cuisine and give you a lot of information that will be useful to you in this piece of paradise.

Download the guide to your laptop, phone or tablet. Use it without an internet connection.

Vietnam, now, following Thailand, has begun to gain popularity among Russian tourists, especially among those who live in Siberia and the Far East, since it is closer to fly to it than to and.

Map of Vietnam in Russian with cities and resorts

Cities, resorts and islands of Vietnam

The capital of Vietnam and its northern part is the city of Hanoi. The capital of South Vietnam is Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon in the old way.

The most popular resort island in Vietnam is Phu Quoc, located in the Gulf of Thailand, as well as everyone's favorite.

If you are now at a crossroads and decide which resort to choose in Vietnam, Nha Trang or Mui Ne, then it is better to stay in Nha Trang, as this is a big city and you will find a lot of entertainment in it. Mui Ne is literally a village with one long street and most people will get bored there. After 9-10 pm Mui Ne dies out and almost all restaurants, guest houses and hotels are closed.

English-speaking tourists can be found in all regions of Vietnam, but in its northern part they are the most. If you flew to Vietnam for a sightseeing purpose, then it is better to start your trip from Hanoi and then follow south. From Hanoi, excursions to Halong Bay, the Sapa mountain region, Hoalu Tamkok and the Fragrant Pagoda are popular.

In resorts and tourist cities, in hotels and travel agencies, you can negotiate in broken English, or on your fingers. In Vietnam, there are many people who once studied in the Soviet Union, so you can negotiate with them in Russian. Among Vietnamese tourism workers, it is now popular to learn Russian, especially in the resort of Nha Trang, where the majority of tourists are Russians.

Money, banks and currency exchange in Vietnam

In Vietnam, Vietnamese dongs are used and their exchange rate is approximately equal to: 1 dollar = 22 thousand dongs. Those. 100 dollars is 2 million 200 thousand dongs. In Vietnam, you need to be careful when making calculations, since many banknotes are similar to each other and instead of 10 thousand, you can easily give 100 thousand and not even notice it. AT tourist places money can be changed in hotels, shops and exchange offices. The best rate is usually in stores. It is better to take dollars with you to Vietnam, although the Euro can also be changed without problems.

Independent tourists in Vietnam will like it, as there is complete order with transport. If you are going to explore the whole of Vietnam from North to South or vice versa, slipping basses will help you with this, in which you can sleep. This is the most popular form of transport in Vietnam among tourists, and the fare is quite low. Many of these buses even have Wi-Fi. Bus tickets can be bought at your hotel at the reception desk, at the nearest travel agency or directly at the transport office, which are always located in the center of the tourist district.

For long distances, for example from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, it is better to travel by local airlines, the cost of tickets for which is practically the same as the cost of a bus ticket. This is why tourists love Vietnam. The low-cost airlines Jetstar Pacific Airline, VietJet, Vasco and AirMekong will help you with this, you can also look towards Vietnam Airlines.

You can travel around the city by taxi, tuk-tuks, rickshaws and motorbikes.

How to get to Vietnam

If you are wondering how to get to Vietnam, then everything will depend on where you originally want to go. If you are interested in Nha Trang resort, then you better buy a ticket to Nha Trang airport, which is called Cam Ranh (40 minutes drive).

If you want to get to Mui Ne, then there are two options. The first is to buy an air ticket to Ho Chi Minh City, and from there take a bus and get to Mui Ne in 4 hours. The second is to buy a ticket to Cam Ranh Airport and from there take a bus to Mui Ne in 3.5 hours. Usually, air tickets for regular flights from Russia to Ho Chi Minh City are cheaper than to Cam Ranh Airport, so tourists often choose the first option on how to get to Vietnam.

Housing in Vietnam

In Vietnam, you can stay either in a hotel or in a guest house. There is no market for condominiums and villas in Vietnam, so those who come to Vietnam for a long time stay in local guest houses. If you are going to rent a room for a short period, then its cost in the resorts of Mui Ne and Nha Trang starts from $ 9. For a long time - the price can be further reduced.

Mobile communication and Internet in Vietnam

Currently, there are such cellular operators in Vietnam as: VinaFone, MobiFone, Vietnamobile, S-Fone, G-Tel and Viettel Mobile. The cost of calls is quite low and all mobile operators in Vietnam are almost the same.

As for the Internet in Vietnam, it is available in all hotels and guest houses in the form of Wi-Fi, but its speed leaves much to be desired.

AT major cities and in popular resorts you can find Internet cafes where you can use wired Internet. The cost usually does not exceed 2 thousand dong for 1 hour.

If you are a citizen of Russia and came here for 2 weeks, then you do not need a visa to Vietnam, since you can not apply for a visa to stay in the country for up to 15 days. If you are going to leave Vietnam for a few days, for example, to Cambodia, and then re-enter it, then you will need to apply for a visa. This change has been in place since January 2015.

If you are going to Vietnam for a long time, for example, for a month, then it is better for you to get a visa right away. It can be issued in advance at the consulate in Russia or upon arrival at the airport in Vietnam. The cost of a visa to Vietnam for 1 month is $25. If you will apply for a visa to Vietnam on arrival, then you will need 2 photos 3x4 cm, a passport, a completed visa application form and visa support. You can apply for visa support via the Internet on one of the many sites that you can find using a search engine for the keyword “Visa support to Vietnam”. The cost of such support starts from $9 per person.

Citizens of Ukraine who want to visit Vietnam will need a visa regardless of the length of stay. Ukrainians will also be able to apply for visa support to Vietnam via the Internet and already upon arrival at the airport, and the visa itself. The whole process of obtaining a visa to Vietnam for Ukrainians is absolutely identical, as in the case of Russians.

The visa processing time upon arrival in Vietnam usually does not exceed half an hour, but after getting off the plane, it is better to immediately go to the window with the inscription “Landing Visa”, so as not to waste time later.

Food, fruits and beer in Vietnam

As for fruits in Vietnam, here you will find exactly the same assortment as in Thailand, however, in the north of the country, this assortment may be poorer due to colder weather.

Food in Vietnam is different from food in Thailand and is even more exotic for Europeans.

The cost of a dish in the cheapest canteen, where the Vietnamese themselves eat, is from $1.5 and more.

Food in a cafe for tourists will already cost from $ 3 per serving.

There are several popular brands of beer in Vietnam. Of the bottled ones, Tiger and Saigon can be distinguished.

In street cafes, the Vietnamese themselves usually order draft beer "Beer Hoi" (Bia Hoi), as it is the cheapest - from 5 thousand dong for a glass of 0.3 liters. Those. For $1 you can drink 4 glasses of beer. The quality of the beer matches its price.

Weather in Vietnam and when is the best time to go to Vietnam

Based on the fact that the territory of the country from north to south is very large, the weather in Vietnam in different regions is very different.

Most Russian tourists come to Vietnam either in winter (December-January) or in summer during the holiday season (June-August), so we will describe in detail the weather in Vietnam in these two periods.

In December-January, the most beach weather in Vietnam is observed on the island of Phu Quoc and in Mui Ne. In Fukuoka, the air temperature can reach up to +35 degrees, and in Mui Ne - up to +30. In the resort of Nha Trang, which is located north of Mui Ne, it will already be colder - about + 25- + 27 degrees during the day. In the north of the country in Hanoi at this time it is quite cool - about +10 degrees. And in the mountains in Sapa - it may even snow, as the air temperature drops to zero. So if you decide where it is better to relax in Vietnam in winter, then beach weather is suitable for this only in Mui Ne and Phu Quoc.

In summer, the weather in Vietnam is already more friendly and even in the north of the country there will definitely not be frosts. In summer, you can choose any of the resorts you like (Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Phu Quoc), as the weather is suitable everywhere. And the temperature of water and air will not let you down. The hottest thing can be on the island of Phu Quoc - up to +40 degrees, and the most comfortable air temperature will be in Nha Trang - +30 degrees.

Vietnam, compared to the same Thailand, will be a safer country for tourists, however, there are similar layouts here. Most of the problems for tourists in Vietnam are delivered by motorcycle taxi drivers, tuk-tuks and other taxi drivers. Always have small bills to pay taxi drivers and if you want change, don't give a large bill to the taxi driver. First, ask him to give you change, and after that, give your banknote.

We won’t even stutter about the fact that you don’t need to buy drugs from motorbikers. Just know that in Vietnam they don't exist at all. Is not !

The likelihood of being attacked in broad daylight on the street is very small, but theft is quite developed here, especially in massage parlors. When visiting the latter, place money and documents so that you can see them all the time. In Vietnam, it's a common thing to have one masseuse massage while another gut your pockets.

Also on the beach you need to watch your things.

Shopping in Vietnam

From Vietnam, tourists usually bring home Vietnamese Luwak coffee and a special strainer for its brewing. Also in demand is Vietnamese green tea, which is quite specific.

In the markets, you can buy magnets and T-shirts with Vietnamese symbols, as well as Vietnamese cone-shaped hats. Vietnam cannot yet boast of other goods.