Vietnam is in southeast Asia, in a region called Indochina, and neighbors Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. For Westerners, traveling in Vietnam is less expensive and you get more for your dollar than in places like Europe. There are a lot of companies that offer travel packages in Vietnam, but before you sign up for one, set your budget and determine what kind of traveling you would like to do.
Active Tours
Vietnam provides a lot of options to encourage you to maintain your active lifestyle. The mountainous regions and expansive fields of Vietnam allow you to backpack, walk or hike as you become acquainted with the Vietnamese culture. Walking tours can be the least expensive option; as of December 2010, STA Travel lists a 12-day walking tour of Vietnam for $849, while a low-intensity, non-walking, 10-day tour is $999, both excluding airfare. VietnamTours.net offers four-day biking tours for $380 per person, per double occupancy, excluding airfare.
Inclusive Tours
You might want to opt for a tour package that might sound more expensive, such as a nine-day tour for $1,399 at Friendly Planet Tours, but is actually a value package, considering that it includes airfare, hotels, meals and other extras. An eight-night tour with Contiki Travel is priced at $1,100 and includes meals, accommodations, domestic flights and an overnight cruise. These tours also have additional adventures that you can take advantage of for an additional $20 to $35 each, such as cooking classes, temple tours and snorkeling.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a type of travel in which travelers opt for more sustainable ways to explore a place, and it focuses on maintaining the present environment in the destination country. For example, ecotourists in Vietnam would opt for home stays and cottage stays, to support local residents and business owners, instead of patronizing chain hotels that might have an adverse affect on a rural area. These tour packages vary in price, but cheap options are available. For example, Vietnam Easy Travel offer a three-day ecotour for $295, which includes nature-oriented tours such as birdwatching and strolling along the lake, as well as accommodations in the form of home stays.
Considerations for Cheap Travel in Vietnam
Vietnam is an exotic destination, and many U.S. tour operators charge expensive rates for otherwise affordable tours. For a cheaper alternative, seek tour companies based in Vietnam. It's helpful if you know someone who is in Vietnam to help you locate local travel companies. If you are not familiar with in-country travel companies, you might want to visit a local Vietnamese neighborhood near your city, where small travel companies that specialize in Vietnam tours might be located. They usually are owned and operated by Vietnamese owners who are connected with travel operators in their country of origin. You also might find deals online on websites like Travelzoo.com, which lists current travel deals in Asian countries.
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