Most travelers to Vietnam need a visa, however, citizens of the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and most European countries may easily obtain an “E-Visa” online. As a result, you can skip the process of obtaining a tourist visa from the Vietnamese Embassy and can simply take care of the procedures online. Please note that you can only apply for the E-Visa within 4 weeks of your arrival date.
Check the confirmation box at the bottom and click on “next”
Follow the instructions
Here is some information you will need to complete the process:
Passport details
Passport photo in PDF (Size Minimum 10 KB, Maximum 300 KB)
A recent photo: forward facing selfie with a neutral background should work (you will need to upload this to the system): minimum size 350 pixels, size no larger than 1MB.
Arrival details
Dates of the trip / arrival and departure dates
Entry / Exit checkpoints (Tan Son Nhat Int Airport / Noi Bai Int Airport)
Name and address of the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (Intended temporary residential address) – Alagon Hotel & Spa (Address: 1291 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam). Phone: +84 28 3828-2888
Payment method
*You only need to fill up the fields marked with an asterisk (*). These are the mandatory fields required for your application.
*Important: Once your visa is issued, you MUST print out a copy of your E-Visa approval email. You will need this to check in for your flight and at immigration in the Ho Chi Minh airport.
Airport Arrival
Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport:
After exiting the plane, walk through the terminal building to the immigration inspection.
Once through immigration, follow the signs and go to the luggage area. Collect your luggage from the correct carousel and then pass through the customs inspection.
After you exit the baggage/customs area, you’ll enter the Arrivals Hall. Please head for the main exit of the Arrivals Hall and walk outside. Once outside you will find a driver with a sign that says “Wandering Earl Tours”.
If you are unable to find your driver, please contact your tour leader, Sakai, at +1 (510) 806-5488, or our local contact, Phuong, at +84 986-443-242.
Please note: When arriving into Vietnam, you are sometimes required to fill out a landing card or tell the immigration officer where you will be staying in Ho Chi Minh City. Here are the details:
Alagon Hotel & Spa (Address: 1291 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam)
Arrival / Departure Airport
Please note that the arrival airport for this tour is the Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City and the departure airport is the Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi.
WhatsApp Group
We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your tour leader. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your tour leader both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.
Tour Leader
Your tour leader for this adventure is Sakai Naismith. Backed by over 20 years of travel experience and a decade as a tour leader, Sakai has an in-depth understanding and passion for exploration. He’s not only a veteran in global travel, but he was also based in Southeast Asia for many years, making him the perfect leader for this tour. Sakai will introduce himself and share more details about himself and the trip when we create the WhatsApp group chat approximately 2 weeks prior to the tour.
*Our tour leader will be there to ensure the trip runs smoothly and our local guides are there to share the wonders of their country!
Local currency
The local currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 24,360 VND
In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $15 – $25 USD per person per day for all of your needs. This would be for meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own.
As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which can be found in all cities. If using an ATM is not an option, or the fees are too high, simply bring USD or Euros to exchange at money exchange offices that are located in all of the big cities.
*Credit cards are commonly accepted in cities, hotels, and larger establishments. However, it’s important to note that in smaller local restaurants and traditional stores, cash remains the preferred payment method. Hence, it’s a good idea to have some cash on hand, especially in rural areas where card acceptance might be limited.
*While US dollars are somewhat accepted in the cities and tourist spots, it’s always better to carry Vietnamese Dongs for better exchange rates and to prevent potential overcharges.
Tipping
Tipping in Vietnam is not as common as in the West but in some cases it is appreciated. Here’s a general guideline:
➜Restaurants – 5% – 10% if a service charge is not already added to the bill ➜Hotel staff – $1 – $2 USD if someone helps you with luggage or anything else ➜Our drivers – Your tour leader will collect tips for our drivers during the tour. This will be approximately $50 USD per person in total ➜Tour leader – If you wish to tip your tour leader, they will always be greatly appreciative
*Tips for local guides and waitstaff at included meals are already included.
Staying Connected
Vietnam has generally strong internet connection in the main cities and all of our accommodations will have WiFi. However, you can expect weaker connections in rural areas, with occasional poor connectivity. In general, the internet access will work and you’ll be able to do whatever you need to do online, but it might take longer than normal with the potentially spotty connection.
The easiest way to stay connected during the tour will be to purchase an E–SIM before the trip, as this will allow you to stay connected from the moment you land at the airport.
We can also set up local SIM cards upon arrival for those who wish. Just make sure you have a GSM-enabled unlocked phone in order to use a foreign SIM card.
Another option is to activate your home network’s ‘international plan’ which will allow you to continue using your phone as you would at home, with access to a data connection, for a fee that usually ranges from $5 – $10 per day.
Itinerary
February 18th: Ho Chi Minh City / Arrival day
Airport transfers
Orientation meeting
Welcome dinner at one of the city’s excellent restaurants
➜ Accommodation: Alagon Hotel & Spa ➜ Included meals: Dinner
February 19th: Ho Chi Minh City
Full-day tour of Ho Chi Minh City, including several different neighborhoods, temples, markets and more
Sampling of some of the best Southern Vietnamese cuisine along the way
Evening acrobatics show at the city’s opera house
Group dinner
➜ Accommodation: Alagon Hotel & Spa ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
February 20th: Ho Chi Minh City➜Da Nang ➜Hoi An
Morning 1.5 hour flight to Danang
Transfer to Hoi An, a charming UNESCO World Heritage town with an enchanting mix of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese cultural influences
Venture out for lunch at one of the town’s famous traditional cafes
Orientation tour of Hoi An’s charming streets
Group dinner featuring the distinctive flavors and aromas of Hoi An’s cuisine
➜ Accommodation: Maison Vy Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
February 21st: Hoi An
Full-day walking tour of Hoi An, spotlighting the timeless feel of a well-preserved merchant house, the unique blend of Chinese and French architectural influences and the simple elegance of the Japanese Bridge
Optional group dinner off the main trail
➜ Accommodation: Maison Vy Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
February 22nd: Hoi An
Traditional cooking class where you’ll learn how to cook some of the best age-old Vietnamese recipes, followed by a delightful group lunch featuring the fresh and flavorful dishes you’ve made come to life
Free afternoon at leisure to enjoy Hoi An’s historic streets
➜ Accommodation: Maison Vy Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
February 23rd: Hoi An ➜ Da Nang ➜ Hue
3-hour drive to Hue over the Hai Van Pass, including a few stops along the way
Freshly prepared lunch at a local Buddhist nunnery
Sunset visit to the Thien Mu Pagoda to observe it against the orange-colored sky with the serene Perfume River flowing beneath
➜ Accommodation: White Lotus Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Februrary 24th: Hue
Full-day tour from the back of motorcycles (with professional drivers), riding through the lush green rice paddies, picturesque rural scenes, and authentic glimpses of Vietnamese countryside life
Visit to a local Buddhist monastery nestled in a hidden colosseum, where you’ll be able to participate in the fascinating process of incense-making and interact with the skilled artisans who have perfected this age-old craft
Explore the enigmatic Purple City, focusing on its authentic neighborhoods and the mystique that surrounds them
Late-afternoon dinner cruise down the Perfume River on a dragon boat to witness the changing colors of the sunset with the spectacular riverside scenery as a background
➜ Accommodation: White Lotus Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
February 25th: Hue➜ Khe Sanh
Morning drive through the Ho Chi Minh Trail onboard two 1960’s jeeps that were left from the war
Stop at a few beautiful traditional villages and a waterfall for a swim and an optional group lunch
Evening arrival to Khe Sanh, a town known for being a strategic base from the war
Vietnamese-style dinner
➜ Accommodation: Khanh Phuong Hotel ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
February 26th: Khe Sanh➜ Phong Nha
Visit to the Khe Sanh base in the morning, a United State Marine Corps outpost during the war
Drive to the Phong Nha National Park through the Vinh Moc Tunnels, an extensive underground network
Full day at the Phong Nha National Park, known for having one of the world’s most extensive cave networks, with a maze of underground rivers, ponds, and concealed beaches that rarely see any visitors
Explore a few of the magical caves
Optional light hiking among the jungle-clad mountains
Free evening in Phong Nha to relax at our homestay or continue exploring the villages
➜ Accommodation: Phong Nha Farmstay ➜ Included meals: Breakfast
February 28th: Phong Nha➜ Dong Hoi ➜Hanoi
Morning 1-hour drive to Dong Hoi airport
1.5 hour flight back to the capital city of Hanoi, where tradition meets modernity
Late afternoon orientation tour of Hanoi’s energetic streets
Optional Northern Vietnam dinner experience at one of the best local restaurants in the city
➜ Accommodation: O’Gallery Premier Hotel & Spa ➜ Included meals: Breakfast
February 29th: Hanoi
Full-day walking tour of Hanoi, where you’ll experience the Old Quarters, some of the city’s hidden corners, as well as a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Bach Ma Temple
Group lunch at Hanoi’s largest indoor market
Egg-coffee tasting
Group dinner
➜ Accommodation: O’Gallery Premier Hotel & Spa ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
March 1st: Hanoi➜ Ha Long Bay
2.5-hour drive to visit one of the most gorgeous natural destinations in Vietnam – Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays
Board our traditional junk boat and settle in with a fresh seafood lunch
Visit hidden caves and lagoons, swim in the emerald water and watch the sunset
Optional morning kayak adventure through a nearby lagoon
Visit to a floating fish farm to learn about the traditional way of life of the local fishermen
2.5-hour drive back to Hanoi
Farewell dinner, capping off the trip with one last taste of Vietnamese cuisine
➜ Accommodation: O’Gallery Premier Hotel & Spa ➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
March 3rd:Hanoi / Departure day
You will be picked up at the hotel by a private driver who will take you to the airport for your departing flight
➜ Included meals: Breakfast
What’s Included?
➜ Wandering Earl Tours expert tour leader ➜ Small group (maximum 12 participants) ➜ Accommodation (13 nights – 3*/4* hotels, guesthouses and a cruising boat) ➜ Transportation in Vietnam (vans, internal flights and a overnight cruising boat) ➜ Local English-speaking guides ➜ All mentioned activities and entrance fees ➜ Breakfast every day, 7 lunches and 9 dinners ➜ Water throughout the trip ➜ Gratuities at hotels/included meals ➜ All airport transfers
What’s Not Included?
➜ Flights to/from Vietnam ➜ Passport/visa fees ➜ Meals and activities not mentioned ➜ Travel insurance (mandatory) ➜ Other gratuities
That’s all for now! If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at team@wanderingearl.com.
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