As each country's foreign office perceives Vietnam differently our advice would be to locate and contact your countries own foreign department for the most recent advice.  Generally speaking, governments tend to be over-cautious in their recommendations and we find a good dose of common sense and courtesy will take you far on any journey, that said please consult both your government and insurance provider before journeying with Bamboo.

Vietnam, in general, has two kinds of seasons, hot or hot and wet but as we mentioned the rainy season can be a welcome relief and has never stopped a Bamboo tour. March and April are the driest and coolest months but every tour date we carefully choose has been hand-picked by our Thai guide for the best travel experience.

There is no right or wrong answer to how much to bring as it's generally to each their own. Vietnam is an affordable travel option for many and you can enjoy shopping in tourist places or exploring the finer things in life with spa treatments, fancy restaurants, or yoga retreats but your Vietnam travel guide will show you the best spots in the kingdom. The average daily spend in Vietnam is about US$60 which would include everything, you can go way less or way more (usually depends on how much you drink *hiccup*)

Vietnam is a beautiful country with many charming qualities and proud happy people that will mostly go out of their way to encourage you to enjoy their culture and laid-back life. However, in any country in the world, there are those who find ways to take advantage. Your guide is with you 24/7 to help you avoid any complications but on occasion, you will find yourself on a solo adventure please try to avoid the following (editor's note: we live to support local communities and initiatives, the following comments are not to discourage anyone from buying or avoiding any areas specifically, merely prepare yourself for potential issues outside of the Bamboo comfort zones).

• False commission drivers. If you follow the rule 'if it's too good to be true, it usually isn't'. Drivers offering free rides or very cheap rides will invariably take you to places you do not want to go such as tailor shops and tourist markets as they will make a commission per head.  A polite 'no thank you and a smile will help you avoid any complications when not part of our tour group.
• Taking taxi rides in Vietnam. When not with your Bamboo tour group, traveling around the country is easy as long as you are pointed in the right direction. Our guide will ensure you understand where to get the best taxi rides.
• Tour guides offering services beyond our tour. Vietnam has been built on the tourist market which has seen an influx of tour guides all vying for the same tourist. With Bamboo, we work with the best local guides whose life passion is to introduce their country to our groups. On occasion, on tour you may experience other guides offering services, please speak to your own guide before employing anyone else to avoid overpayment or miscommunication. As always, a smile and a 'no, thank you is always a simple solution.
• Experience an authentic Vietnamese market. As part of your Bamboo journey, you will experience authentic Vietnamese products. With your guide by your side, you will become an expert in the art of negotiation. As always with a smile and a cheeky wink, you will find all Vietnamese people will open to you. Be polite and never pushy and you're sure to bag one Vietnamese bargain.

Southeast Asia is known for its affordable travel due to the economy of the region against the tourists coming to visit. Your overall purchasing power is higher than the average salary of a Vietnamese person. Which brings many benefits to both you, the traveler, and the local. So, why is Vietnam so cheap and how will this help my experience?

Vietnam is remarkably cheap especially with meals, hotel rooms, product shopping, and transportation. It has been said, the most expensive thing you will need to buy is a ticket to get to Vietnam. After calculations, it costs around US$60 dollars per day to live a great standard of living in Vietnam.

As for every Bamboo tour we strongly recommend consulting your local GP doctor before traveling to any country. That said, Vaccination is recommended and strongly suggested if you stay longer and wish to eat street food and travel to more remote areas.

With our tours, you are guaranteed the full Vietnam experience without having to spend beyond the exclusive tour due to our days being jam-packed with activities such as Hanoi city tours, Pho food experiences, Golden Temple tours, rice fields, and much much more! So is Vietnam expensive? No, not at all.

According to our flight partners and local partners, May is considered the lower season and the cheapest month to fly. That said, the prices vary each month and can change on a daily basis so using something like Skyscanner to track a bargain is highly recommended. Please feel free to ask our team in the bottom right corner if you need help with flights.

Our Vietnam tour has been expertly designed to give the best balance of nature, culture, environment, giving back, adventure activities, and project time so we know, by the science that 13 days is exactly how many days you need in Vietnam, how many days you want to extend is entirely up to you.