Vietnam

In recent years, Vietnam has become a hotspot, especially for Indian tourists and with good reason. If it is your first time in Southeast Asia, there is no way you should miss a trip to Vietnam. From its fascinating temples to charming old towns, the limestone karst islands and rice paddies, a 10-day tour in Vietnam can give you a glimpse of the rich heritage and culture of this country. Of course, you would need more time to explore a country thoroughly, to explore every corner leisurely and travel slowly, but if you are short on time, I recommend staying in Vietnam for at least 10 days. Here, I have curated a Vietnam Tour for a 10-day Itinerary for you, based on my experience. First things first: Visa As an Indian citizen, you do need a Visa to enter Vietnam. You may apply for an E-Visa, depending on your stay, and the processing time takes about 5-6 days. However, I recommend you to have at least 7-10 days as a buffer to be on the safe side. Pro tip: I would suggest you travel from the South to the North of Vietnam, as the northern part has undulating, lush green landscapes and will not let you down when it comes to scenic beauty. The southern part is cultural and has more city life than the north. Therefore, if you are trying to find solace, I would recommend you to move from the south to the north so you don’t feel too underwhelmed. 10-Day Offbeat Vietnam Itinerary Day 1: Land in Ho Chi Minh City Pro Tip: Always carry your ID with you and try to negotiate with them while you are renting. Other places to visit: The Cha Tam Church, Ben Thanh Market and the Museum of War Remnants, Mekong Delta. Note: The Mekong Delta is formed through a network of tributaries of the Mekong River and gives an insightful glimpse into the agricultural life of Vietnamese people. You can take a day tour from Ho Chi Minh to the Mekong Delta to visit the famous floating markets. Day 2: Take a flight to Da Nang & go to Hoi An Click here to get the link to the accommodation I stayed in. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Radhika Nomllers (@radhika_nomllers) Note: Make sure that you are travelling there on a clear weather day to get the best view. In my honest opinion, I did not like the Golden Bridge much and found it quite underwhelming. We took a combo package of the Golden Bridge, cable car, a few rides and a lunch buffet.  Day 4: Day trip to Hue & going to Dong Hoi View this post on Instagram A post shared by Radhika Nomllers (@radhika_nomllers) Pro tip: If you reach Dong Hoi by the evening, try out this cosy café called Tree Hugger. My accommodation was here.: Rex Quang Binh Day 5: Exploring the Phong Nha National Park Day 6: Towards Hanoi My accommodation recommendation: It is fairly easy to book accommodation through Airbnb in Hanoi. I stayed in a very cute one, the link to which I am attaching here. Another one of my recommendations would be this. I have stayed at both of these places and loved them. The B&Bs are affordable, and the hosts are very helpful. Cafes you should try in Hanoi: The Note Café, and Egg Coffee. Places to see in Hanoi: Hanoi is charming with its bustling city life in Northern Vietnam and a certain pull to the culture. In 1010, the city was named Thang Long or the Soaring Dragon. Although I did not get the chance to explore Hanoi, here are a few places you can go to if you have some time. Day 7: Hanoi to Ninh Binh or Halong Bay on Land View this post on Instagram A post shared by Radhika Nomllers (@radhika_nomllers) Pro tip: Indian food restaurant in Ninh Binh: Aroma. Day 8: Hanoi to Cao Bang View this post on Instagram A post shared by Radhika Nomllers (@radhika_nomllers) Day 9: Me Pja Pass View this post on Instagram A post shared by Radhika Nomllers (@radhika_nomllers) Note: Quite frankly, it was not very easy to find accommodation or a vehicle, and we met with an accident too. Therefore, my recommendation here would be to do this trek with a guide, where your accommodation, transport and safety will be taken care of. Things to Pack My Tips and Tricks Currency Best Time to Visit Vietnam The best time to visit Vietnam depends on your preference and the kind of holiday you want to enjoy. If you are a beach person who just wants to relax by the beach, your best bet would be from November to April. This is also the perfect time to take part in water activities as the water is quite clear. Spring, too, is quite comfortable. The crowd is generally less during this time, and you can have many beaches to yourself. You can also cut down a lot on accommodation during these times. Summers, which include May to July, are not much of a good time to visit Vietnam. Apart from the heat, there are heavy chances of heavy rain in other parts of the country, rendering the water activities not feasible due to very low visibility. Thus, planning your trip around spring or winter is your best bet. If you have followed this itinerary, let me know how you like it in the comments. You can also check my itinerary for Northern Vietnam if you plan a trip and want to explore it well. Feel free to leave your suggestions on what can be added.