Itinerary
#1 Lisbon – Paris – Ho Chi Minh
#2 Ho Chi Min
#3 Sá Dec – Vinh Long
#4 Vinh Long (Mekong) – Ho Chi Minh
#5 Ho Chi Minh – Da Nang (Nuo Nuoc Beach)
#6 Nuo Nuoc Beach (Marbel Montains)
#7 Nuo Nuoc Beach (Hoi An)
#8 Nuo Nuoc Beach (My Son)
#9 Da Nang – Hué (comboio)
#10 Hué
#11 Hué – Ninh Binh
#12 Ninh Binh (Tam Coc)
#13 Ninh Binh (Cuc Phuong e Hoa Lu)
#14 Ninh Binh – Haiphong – Cat Bá
#15 Cat Bá
#16 Halong Bay
#17 Cat Bá – Haiphong – Hà Nôi
#18 Hà Nôi
#19 Sapa (Trekking #1)
#20 Sapa (Trekking #2)
#21 Sapa (Bac Há)
#22 Hà Nôi
#23 Hà Nôi
#24 Hà Nôi – Ho Chi Minh – Paris – Lisbon
Visa Requirements:
Since there is no Vietnamese embassy or consulate in Portugal, it is necessary to use the internet ([http://www.visa-vietnam.org/](http://www.visa-vietnam.org/)) or a travel agency to obtain the visa.
Through the website, you can obtain an entry approval letter for Vietnam, which will be sent to you by email after filling out a form with your passport details and paying $20 per person (the more people you have, the cheaper it gets). This is for a 30-day, single-entry visa.
When you arrive in Vietnam, you must present this document, along with your passport, to customs and pay an additional $25 (it must be in dollars; they don’t accept other currencies, and there are no ATMs available).
Vaccines:
The best option is to consult with the Curry Cabral Hospital. The consultation costs €4.5, which corresponds to the moderation fee, and some vaccines are given on-site after the consultation.
If you have the vaccines required by the national vaccination program, including tetanus, only the hepatitis A and B vaccines, and the typhoid vaccine, are necessary.
It’s advisable to book in advance.
Travel Insurance:
It’s advisable to take out insurance. We opted for Império Bonança. The cost was €41.10 for two people over 24 days. We used Atributo Seguros (21 891 94 85) as an intermediary, and everything was handled quickly and efficiently by email and phone.
Weather:
You can check the weather at: [MSN Weather – Vietnam](http://weather.msn.com/region.aspx?&wealocations=Vietnam&setunit=C#current).
TRANSPORTATION IN VIETNAM
- Bicycle:
Pleasant, especially in cities with little traffic or when cycling in rural areas. We tried it in Hué, and the price is negotiable. We rented bikes at the hostel in Hué and paid 30,000 VND (about €1.2) per bike for one day, from morning to evening.
- Rickshaw:
The most charming mode of transport in Vietnam, but not the fastest. They are often found in city centers and are usually used for sightseeing routes; the price is negotiable.
- Motorbike:
The best option for renting a motorbike is through hotels or guesthouses. No driver’s license or other documents are required. Helmets are mandatory. The price ranged from 80,000 VND, but it is negotiable. When renting a bike for a day, it is common to return it by the end of the day.
It’s advisable to test the bike before finalizing the rental to assess the condition of the vehicle, especially the brakes, which are important if you plan to take longer trips.
In large cities, it is not recommended to drive a motorbike due to the heavy traffic and lack of traffic rules (there are no pedestrian crossings, no priority at intersections or roundabouts).
- Honda-om:
A service similar to a taxi but on a motorbike. It’s ideal for moving around urban areas where taxis may take longer. The price is negotiable. If you need to carry luggage, it can be placed on the passenger’s back or between the driver’s legs. We didn’t try this.
- Taxi:
It’s best to insist on using the meter, especially when you’re confident about the route. However, many drivers prefer to negotiate the fare instead of using the meter, which generally isn’t in the passenger’s favor.
- Public Bus:
The cheapest option for transportation; recommended for urban areas and short distances, as they lack many comforts. If you’re carrying luggage, you may need to pay an extra fee.
- Travel by Tourist Bus:
Operated by private companies. Recommended for longer trips, as they offer more comfortable seats and air-conditioning. There are also sleeper buses for overnight trips between major cities (290,000 VND between Hué and Ninh Binh). Tickets can be bought at bus stations, which are easy to find in almost every city, with various companies represented.
- Travel by Mini-bus
Operated by private companies; seats about 15 people, but there isn’t much space for bulky luggage. They connect major cities, with several trips per day. Tickets can be bought at bus stations, where you can compare prices and schedules from various companies. It’s advisable to book in advance, especially for popular routes and weekends. One company we found nationwide is Mai Linh. [Mai Linh Website](http://www.mailinh.vn/)
- Travel by Train in Vietnam
The railway network in Vietnam covers only the coastal region, with the main route being the North-South Reunification Line, connecting Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. There are also two connections to the Chinese border—Lao Cai and Dong Dang.
As of now, it’s not worth trying the Vietnam Railways website, as the English page is not working.
Trains are divided into different categories based on comfort:
- SE1 to SE6: “soft sleep” (4 beds) with air-conditioning; “hard sleep” (6 beds) with air-conditioning; restaurant car. These are the most comfortable vehicles with the best-conditioned carriages, but they’re the most expensive tickets.
- SE7 to SE8: “hard sleep” (6 beds) with air-conditioning; “soft seat” (cushioned seat) with air-conditioning; restaurant car. They do not have “soft sleep” carriages.
- TN1 to TN2: “hard sleep” (6 beds) with or without air-conditioning; “hard seat” (wooden seat). These are the least comfortable vehicles.
The “soft sleep” beds come with sheets, a pillow, and a blanket… although not always in the best hygienic condition, they are generally acceptable. In the carriages with seats, passengers often carry large volumes of luggage, making it difficult to move around.
The best website for train information we found was [Seat61 – Vietnam](http://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm). Besides ticket sales (which we didn’t try, as we bought tickets at stations or through hotels or travel agencies), it helps understand how the rail system works, which is a bit different from what we’re used to. It also provides information on routes, ticket prices, and the best scenic train journeys.
It’s recommended to book in advance, especially for sleeper carriages and on weekends or public holidays. If you buy a ticket and later decide not to travel, you can exchange it at the station ticket counters with a 10% fee.
- Travel by plane in Vietnam
The fastest way to travel. Flights are no longer than 1.5 hours, but the downside is spending a lot of time at the airport, waiting between check-in and the flight. The main airlines for domestic flights are Vietnam Airlines and JetStar, the latter being a low-cost carrier with a reputation for delays, so it’s best to account for that if you have a connecting flight. The earlier you buy tickets, the cheaper they will be (a round-trip from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh cost under $75).
– Vietnam Airlines (http://www.vietnamairlines.com.vn/)
– JetStar (http://www.jetstar.com/)
Accommodation In Vietmam
The best website to choose a hotel is TripAdvisor: [TripAdvisor – Vietnam](http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g293921-Vietnam-Hotels.html). It’s important not to rely solely on the rankings but to read reviews and look at recent photos, considering the traveler’s country of origin.
It’s not advisable to make reservations that require payment upfront, as sometimes the photos shown on websites don’t reflect the current condition of the rooms.
Before starting the trip, we only booked a hotel for the first night in Ho Chi Minh. For those who don’t want to take chances, just head to the Old Quarter and walk around a few streets, especially Bui Vien Street, where there’s a high concentration of hotels and, of course, tourists!
Throughout our trip, we exchanged experiences with other travelers who recommended hotels and guesthouses to stay in, and from there we simply made reservations by email or phone.
Travel Guides
We chose the Rough Guides dedicated exclusively to Vietnam. In comparison to the Lonely Planet, it’s more detailed and comprehensive, as it focuses on one country, unlike most other guides that cover Laos and Cambodia as well. You can also consult it online, although it has less detailed information: [Rough Guides – Vietnam](http://www.roughguides.com/website/travel/destination/content/?titleid=103&xid=idh119763192_0005)
A website dedicated to promoting organized tours but also offering useful information about the Sapa area and the region’s ethnic minorities: [Sapa Lao Cai](http://www.sapalaocai.com/)
Another website for good tips, even on accommodation: [Travelfish Vietnam](http://www.travelfish.org/country/vietnam)
