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1. What Vaccinations do I need for travel to Vietnam?
Contact a travel doctor, but Hep A and B, Typhoid and up to date Tetanus is normally recommended.
2. Do I need a visa when visiting Vietnam?
Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. As a general rule most countries expect that you will have at least 6 months’ validity on your passport. On arrival visitors may be asked to present return tickets and evidence of means to cover your intended stay. When obtaining your visa you should allow 3 weeks for processing. Check with your embassy or consulate for further details. Some nationalities are exempt from requiring a visa if their stay is less than 15 days, but if you are planning on staying in Vietnam for longer than 15 days you will need to obtain a visa extension in advance. Most nationalities do not require a letter of invitation for Vietnam but if you do need one, please contact me and I can provide you with such a letter.
3. When is the best time of the year to visit the south of Vietnam?
The best months to visit Vietnam are between October and December when temps are mild and nights are cool. In southern Vietnam the dry season lasts from December to late April or May, and the rains from May through to November. Since most rain falls in brief afternoon downpours, this need not be off-putting. Daytime temperatures in the region rarely drop below 20°C, occasionally hitting 40°C during the hottest months (March, April and May). The climate of the central highlands generally follows the same pattern, though temperatures are cooler, especially at night. Check out the current weather conditions in Vietnam
4. Is a liability insurance included in the price and what does it cover?
Yes, a liability insurance is included.
5.What currency do they use in Vietnam?
The local currency is Vietnam Dong (VND), but US dollars are also accepted. Only change money at official money exchange counters with a clear sign showing this status. Please review the current exchange rate for the dong.
Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted, but outside main centres you may find cash the only acceptable currency.
ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas.
6. Will I have to carry/transport my luggage on the motorbike?
No, all luggage will be transported by a support vehicle. You may want to carry a small waterproof daypack with you.
7. What do I have to pack for my trip?
The following is only a guideline:
Clothing:
Riding gloves
Light rain jacket or poncho – ponchos can be bought in Ho Chi Minh City at the night market
Closed shoes for riding (sneakers or riding boots)
Preferably light long trousers (zip-off trousers are very versatile)
Long or short sleeve cotton shirts or T-shirts
Comfortable clothes and shoes for the evenings
Warm top for cool evenings
Bandana or neck scarf (also to be used as a mask on dirt roads)
Swim wear and towel
Sleep wear
Socks and underwear
Washing detergent
Rubber flip-flops for showers
Camera and charger
Personal Health:
First aid kit
Personal medication/prescriptions
High protection sunscreen (25+)
After-sun moisturiser
Lip balm/lip salve
Hat/wide brim hat
Sunglasses
Insect repellent
Antihistamine/insect bite cream
Antibacterial gel/wipes
Aspirin and/or paracetamol
Rehydration powder (salts & glucose)
Anti-diarrhoea pills (consult your doctor for more detailed advise)
8. What type of adaptor plug will I need for Vietnam?
The standard voltage rate in majority places in Vietnam is 220V. Be careful when charging anything with 110/120 voltage rate. Round-pin adaptor is the best choice. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit. View more information about electrical standards around the world.
9. Can I bring my cellphone along to Vietnam?
First, they are incredibly clean, despite the fish, poultry, and meats on display. Then there are the colorful pyramids of exotic fruits, vegetables, and herbs. They say that anything you stick in the ground in Vietnam will grow, and a visit to a local market will prove the point.
Finally, you’ll discover that you can easily taste your way through the country by visiting these markets. Just stop for a snack or a meal at the small stalls, where vendors prepare some of the most delicious treats you can imagine.
Contact a travel doctor, but Hep A and B, Typhoid and up to date Tetanus is normally recommended.
2. Do I need a visa when visiting Vietnam?
Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. As a general rule most countries expect that you will have at least 6 months’ validity on your passport. On arrival visitors may be asked to present return tickets and evidence of means to cover your intended stay. When obtaining your visa you should allow 3 weeks for processing. Check with your embassy or consulate for further details. Some nationalities are exempt from requiring a visa if their stay is less than 15 days, but if you are planning on staying in Vietnam for longer than 15 days you will need to obtain a visa extension in advance. Most nationalities do not require a letter of invitation for Vietnam but if you do need one, please contact me and I can provide you with such a letter.
3. When is the best time of the year to visit the south of Vietnam?
The best months to visit Vietnam are between October and December when temps are mild and nights are cool. In southern Vietnam the dry season lasts from December to late April or May, and the rains from May through to November. Since most rain falls in brief afternoon downpours, this need not be off-putting. Daytime temperatures in the region rarely drop below 20°C, occasionally hitting 40°C during the hottest months (March, April and May). The climate of the central highlands generally follows the same pattern, though temperatures are cooler, especially at night. Check out the current weather conditions in Vietnam
4. Is a liability insurance included in the price and what does it cover?
Yes, a liability insurance is included.
5.What currency do they use in Vietnam?
The local currency is Vietnam Dong (VND), but US dollars are also accepted. Only change money at official money exchange counters with a clear sign showing this status. Please review the current exchange rate for the dong.
Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted, but outside main centres you may find cash the only acceptable currency.
ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas.
6. Will I have to carry/transport my luggage on the motorbike?
No, all luggage will be transported by a support vehicle. You may want to carry a small waterproof daypack with you.
7. What do I have to pack for my trip?
The following is only a guideline:
Clothing:
Riding gloves
Light rain jacket or poncho – ponchos can be bought in Ho Chi Minh City at the night market
Closed shoes for riding (sneakers or riding boots)
Preferably light long trousers (zip-off trousers are very versatile)
Long or short sleeve cotton shirts or T-shirts
Comfortable clothes and shoes for the evenings
Warm top for cool evenings
Bandana or neck scarf (also to be used as a mask on dirt roads)
Swim wear and towel
Sleep wear
Socks and underwear
Washing detergent
Rubber flip-flops for showers
Camera and charger
Personal Health:
First aid kit
Personal medication/prescriptions
High protection sunscreen (25+)
After-sun moisturiser
Lip balm/lip salve
Hat/wide brim hat
Sunglasses
Insect repellent
Antihistamine/insect bite cream
Antibacterial gel/wipes
Aspirin and/or paracetamol
Rehydration powder (salts & glucose)
Anti-diarrhoea pills (consult your doctor for more detailed advise)
8. What type of adaptor plug will I need for Vietnam?
The standard voltage rate in majority places in Vietnam is 220V. Be careful when charging anything with 110/120 voltage rate. Round-pin adaptor is the best choice. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit. View more information about electrical standards around the world.
9. Can I bring my cellphone along to Vietnam?
Taking your phone with you and using it as normal will often be your easiest and most expensive option. Your U.S. phone should work in Canada and most parts of Mexico and the Caribbean. But unless you have a ‘global ready’ phone (such as the iPhone 5s or 6 or Samsung Galaxy S 4 or 5), it may not work in other countries. Call your carrier before you go and find out whether your phone will actually work abroad—for both voice calls and other features. Ask about coverage areas, international rates for calls and data, and special roaming plans that you can enable temporarily while traveling.
10. Can I add an additional tour after the motorbike tour?Yes, please contact me if you want to add an additional tour to the motorbike tour. I recommend a trip to the Mekong Delta, Hanoi and Halong Bay or Sapa.
11. Are tips & service charges customary?
Upscale restaurants will add a 5% service charge. Inexpensive restaurants do not expect tips. Taxi tipping is optional, but most appreciated.
12. What are the best items to shop for?
Shop for hand-embroidered items, jewelry, baskets, carvings, fabrics, marble boxes, water pipes, statues, water puppets, lacquerware, maper-mache, beaded bags, kimonos, watercolors, war-related items, and custom tailored items. Avoid tortoiseshell, coral, ivory and even antique items, as many will not be allowed back into the U.S. or Canada.
11. Are tips & service charges customary?
Upscale restaurants will add a 5% service charge. Inexpensive restaurants do not expect tips. Taxi tipping is optional, but most appreciated.
12. What are the best items to shop for?
Shop for hand-embroidered items, jewelry, baskets, carvings, fabrics, marble boxes, water pipes, statues, water puppets, lacquerware, maper-mache, beaded bags, kimonos, watercolors, war-related items, and custom tailored items. Avoid tortoiseshell, coral, ivory and even antique items, as many will not be allowed back into the U.S. or Canada.
13. What can I expect of Vietnamese food?
For starters, you can sample the amazing cuisine of this beautiful country, and not spend a fortune. Whether you choose a restaurant, a sidewalk restaurant, or a market food stall, it’s consistently delicious, aesthetically presented, and quite affordable.
‘One of my favorite foods, and one of the prettiest, is the Vietnamese spring roll. These spring rolls are created with a thin, flat rice pancake filled with a variety of ingredients. They usually include perfectly cooked shrimp, which are placed in the center, fragrant fresh basil or parsley, a sliver of cucumber or another vegetable, and a fresh scallion.The pancake is carefully rolled, with the ends tucked in, to hold the contents in place. The scallion’s green end protrudes from one end of the roll like a tail, to be eaten with the last bite of the roll. The roll is then dipped into a delicate, mildly spicy fish sauce garnished with a few paper-thin slices of chili pepper. Ordinarily, a fish sauce would make me say, “Thanks, but no thanks.” Not in Vietnam. The fish sauce adds to the medley of delicate flavor, and the result is simply sumptuous.
What makes Vietnamese food even better is that it is very healthy and extremely low in fat. I came home having lost five pounds, despite eating at every opportunity. It consists of fish and meat in small quantities, plenty of vegetables, and fruit galore. And, while we here in the West love our freezers and microwave ovens, in Vietnam everything is fresh, fresh, fresh!
‘One of my favorite foods, and one of the prettiest, is the Vietnamese spring roll. These spring rolls are created with a thin, flat rice pancake filled with a variety of ingredients. They usually include perfectly cooked shrimp, which are placed in the center, fragrant fresh basil or parsley, a sliver of cucumber or another vegetable, and a fresh scallion.The pancake is carefully rolled, with the ends tucked in, to hold the contents in place. The scallion’s green end protrudes from one end of the roll like a tail, to be eaten with the last bite of the roll. The roll is then dipped into a delicate, mildly spicy fish sauce garnished with a few paper-thin slices of chili pepper. Ordinarily, a fish sauce would make me say, “Thanks, but no thanks.” Not in Vietnam. The fish sauce adds to the medley of delicate flavor, and the result is simply sumptuous.
What makes Vietnamese food even better is that it is very healthy and extremely low in fat. I came home having lost five pounds, despite eating at every opportunity. It consists of fish and meat in small quantities, plenty of vegetables, and fruit galore. And, while we here in the West love our freezers and microwave ovens, in Vietnam everything is fresh, fresh, fresh!
In the restaurants you’ll find the chef going to the market to buy herbs, spices, vegetables, and fruits two, even three times a day. Herbs that were bought early in the morning are no longer considered fresh by 11 a.m. I have no doubt that the freshness of the ingredients adds to the amazing taste of the food.
One of my favorite spots to visit whenever I travel is a local market. I love to see the types of foods consumed by the locals, and I enjoy tasting when conditions permit. In Vietnam, a visit to a local market is an amazing treat.First, they are incredibly clean, despite the fish, poultry, and meats on display. Then there are the colorful pyramids of exotic fruits, vegetables, and herbs. They say that anything you stick in the ground in Vietnam will grow, and a visit to a local market will prove the point.
Finally, you’ll discover that you can easily taste your way through the country by visiting these markets. Just stop for a snack or a meal at the small stalls, where vendors prepare some of the most delicious treats you can imagine.
There’s so much food to savor in Vietnam, and I’m not surprised at all that Tony Bourdain selected it as his favorite country for eating.’ – The Friendly Planet
