It’s true that it’s the people who make the difference! I’m lucky to be traveling with my best friend Hannah but don’t worry about doing it alone either because we have met the most incredible people….
Like stopping for a bike break in Hoi An and ending up doing shots of rice wine at the insistence of Vietnamese War Veterans, some of which were missing limbs but still had the biggest smiles and funniest stories.
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This travel story from Vietnam was contributed by Heather, a friend of Hostelgeeks. Heather Jayne Wilkes is from Wales UK. She’s a world traveler, exploring every single corner of the globe to find experiences, joy and stories to share.
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More travel stories from Vietnam
Read: my last impressions from Saigon changed everything
Read: my first 24 hours in Hanoi
More guides on Vietnam
We have traveled around Vietnam for more than 3 months.
On our journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, we have experienced so many wonderful things.
Our travel tips Vietnam here:
27 Best Things to do in Vietnam – including motorbikes, tractors and monkeys
24 BEST Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City/ Saigon (including understanding the cities history and name)
The coolest and best hostel in Ho Chi Minh City with roof top terrace and fun vibes
109 travel photos from Vietnam
a guide to Sa Pa Vietnam, how to get there and have a great time with the locals villagers
last but not least, a guide how to find coffee shops in Da Nang
The best hostels in Vietnam
When traveling around the country, you can stay at fantastic, awesome hostels.
Find all 5 Star Hostels in Vietnam here.
Here is a list:
- Ho Chi Minh City: The Common Room Project
- Hanoi: NEXY Hostel
- Nha Trang: CCASA Hostel
- Da Nang: Memory Hostel
- Tam Coc: Tam Coc Bungalows and Hostels
- Cat Ba Island: Woodstock Beach Camp
Best Travel Websites we recommend ❤️
(Fresh Update 2022)
Booking Hostels and Discounts 👏👏👏
As a user of Hostelgeeks, you also have access to exclusive hostel discounts. For booking hostels, there are three sites you need to use:
- Hostelz.com - hostel price comparison
- Hostelworld
- Booking.com
We also recommend installing the Hostelworld App. It is very handy!
How to find cheaper Flights ✈️
The first websites you should check are Skyscanner, Kiwi.com, and Google Flights.
In our review about Skyscanner we walk you through the entire process how to find cheaper flights and how to reserve.
Travel Insurance made easy 🤒
We have used World Nomads on our travels around South East Asia and Europe.
We are currently using Safetywing and Iati Seguros. We wrote detailed guides about these insurances:
- Our review of Safetywing, compared with World Nomads.
- a detailed review of World Nomads Insurance
Smartest Travel Tools you need to know 🤓
- Onward Ticket - get a proof for onward travel
- iVisa - get your visa online fast
- Get Your Guide - for activities and sightseeing tickets
- Omio.com - for all types of transport
Find all our recommended travel tools and websites here.
Get your Smart Packing List (Free Printable)
Knowing what to pack and what not pack is essential. For instance, you need a one-fits-all padlock.
We created the ultimate list of smart items to bring.
