Rough Guide to Vietnam - Jan Dodd [11]
Explore Indochina www.exploreindochina.com. Hanoi-based outfit that offers tailor-made, off-the-beaten-track adventure treks on Russian Minsk motorbikes organized by real enthusiasts. Options include the northern mountains or down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, with the possibility of looping through Laos.
Exotissimo Saigon Finance Centre, 9 Dinh Tien Hoan, Hu Chi Minh City 08/3825 1723, www.exotissimo.com. Highly professional operation, aimed at the middle market and above, with a strong focus on adventure tours and responsible tourism.
Footprint 6 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi 04/3933 2844, www.footprintsvietnam.com. Specializes in customized, eco-friendly tours plus some off-the-shelf packages.
Handspan Adventure Travel 80 Ma May, Hanoi 04/3926 2828; F7 Titan Building, 18A Nam Quoc Cang, Ho Chi Minh City, www.handspan.com. Environmentally conscientious adventure-tour specialist offering trips to the “hidden Vietnam”. Highly professional and good service.
Queen Travel 65 Hang Bac, Hanoi 04/3826 0860, www.queencafe.com.vn. Aims at the middle market and above with tailor-made and small-group tours, including Laos and Cambodia.
Sinhbalo Adventures 283/20 Pham Ngu Lao, Ho Chi Minh City 08/3837 6766, www.sinhbalo.com. A super-efficient setup that specializes in customized tours such as bicycle expeditions along the Ho Chi Minh Trail (see www.cyclingvietnam.net), motorbike tours of the central highlands and kayaking in the Mekong Delta. They also have a wealth of reliable travel information.
Getting there |
Airlines, agents and operators
Many airlines and discount travel websites offer you the chance to book your tickets online, cutting out the costs of agents and middlemen. The websites listed below offer good deals and useful price comparisons.
Getting there | Airlines, agents and operators |
Online booking
www.expedia.co.uk (in UK), www.expedia.com (in US), www.expedia.ca (in Canada)
www.lastminute.com (in UK)
www.opodo.co.uk (in UK)
www.orbitz.com (in US)
www.travelocity.co.uk (in UK), www.travelocity.com (in US), www.travelocity.ca (in Canada)
www.travelocity.co.nz (in New Zealand) www.zuji.com.au (in Australia),
Getting there | Airlines, agents and operators |
Airlines
Air Asia www.airasia.com
Air China www.airchina.com.cn
Air France www.airfrance.com
Cathay Pacific www.cathaypacific.com
Jetstar www.jetstar.com
Lufthansa www.lufthansa.com
Malaysia Airlines www.malaysiaairlines.com
Qantas Airways www.qantas.com
Singapore Airlines www.singaporeair.com
Thai Airways www.thaiair.com
Tiger Airways www.tigerairways.com
United Airlines www.united.com
Vietnam Airlines www.vietnamairlines.com
Getting there | Airlines, agents and operators |
Flight agents and tour operators
ebookers UK 0871/223 5000, Republic of Ireland 01/431 1311; www.ebookers.com, www.ebookers.ie. Low fares on an extensive selection of scheduled flights and package deals.
North South Travel UK 01245/608 291, www.northsouthtravel.co.uk. Friendly, competitive travel agency, offering discounted fares worldwide. Profits are used to support projects in the developing world, especially the promotion of sustainable tourism.
Trailfinders UK 0845/058 5858, Republic of Ireland 01/677 7888, www.trailfinders.com. One of the best informed and most efficient agents for independent travellers.
STA Travel UK 0871/230 0040, US 1-800/781-4040, Australia 134 782, New Zealand 0800/474 400, South Africa 0861/781 781; www.statravel.com. Worldwide specialists in independent travel; also student IDs, travel insurance, car rental, rail passes and more. Good discounts for students and under-26s.
Red tape and visas
All foreign nationals need a visa to enter Vietnam, with certain exceptions: citizens of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Japan