Travelling to Vietnam

Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist pagodas, and bustling cities. We, Sarah and Hang, lived in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon) for seven years and it’s where our wellness school, saigon om, began in 2013. Below we will share some travel tips such as information about tourist visas, travel insurance, our favourite places to visit in Vietnam, and safety. We invite you to enjoy your breathing as you read through the guide and start planning your trip to beautiful and memorable Vietnam.

The retreat is held in a small fishing village called “Mui Ne”, which is about a 3-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The closest and most convenient international airport to arrive to is Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), Ho Chi Minh City.

Flights usually become available 12 months prior to departure date. We suggest that you book your flights now before your preferred route gets booked up. For those travelling from Australia, we suggest flying with Vietnam Airlines for more direct flights. If you’re looking for budget flights, then Jetstar and Air Asia are usually the lowest price and with more stopovers. For our North American, UK, and European friends, our favourite airlines are Korean Air with a stopover in Seoul and EVA Air with a stopover in Taipei. More details below for our North American friends.

When to Arrive and Depart HCMC

We suggest flying into Ho Minh City (Saigon) 2-3 days before the retreat starts in case of any flight delays, to rest and acclimatize to the new time zone and culture, especially after the long flights. You may like to spend those first 2-3 days exploring Saigon - motorbike tours, eating tours, or take a day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels or the Mekong Delta.

Traffic in Vietnam is unpredictable so it’s a good idea to stay in HCMC for the night after the retreat and not fly out on the same day as the last day of the retreat. If you need to fly out on the same day we suggest a late flight after 7pm. Alternatively, you can book a private car that goes directly to the airport when we get to the resort if you need to get to the airport early. A private car is about $100 to $150 USD.

Tourist Visas

1. All visitors require a Vietnam visa. At present, you can apply for a one or three-month tourist visa. Make sure you purchase a visa according to the your length of stay.

2. Please make sure your passport is valid for at least six months upon your arrival in Vietnam.

3. We recommend applying for your visa as soon as your flights to Vietnam are booked. Processing times for visa applications are usually around two weeks. If you go through a travel agent, sometimes, they’ll save you the headache and apply for a Vietnam visa for you as well. Please ask your travel agent.

You can apply for a tourist visa through the Vietnam Embassy in your home country. Please make sure to apply directly through the official Vietnam Embassy, in person or online, and follow their instructions step by step. Double check that you are not applying for online visa applications through unauthorized websites as this can cause a lot of inconvenience (i.e. you may not be permitted to board the plane, denied entry, or pay a fine because of fake visas). Here are the official links below:

• Australia: https://vietnamembassy.org.au/en-us/

• Canada: https://vietnamembassy.ca/

• UK: https://vietnamembassy.org.uk/

• USA: https://vietnamembassy-usa.org/content/visa-application-process

Our Favourite Airlines

We’ve been travelling between Australia, Canada, and Vietnam since 2010. Some of you have asked how we fly to Vietnam so we’d love to share our experience here with you. We don’t use a travel agent. We usually use the Air Canada Aeroplan website to redeem our points to fly - thanks to TD aeroplan visa.

CANADA TO VIETNAM

1. Our favourite airline is Korean Air from Toronto to HCMC, with a 2 to 4 hour layover in Seoul. We LOVE Korean Air in-flight service. The people who work there are friendly and welcoming. Plus, they have spicy kimchi noodles on-demand! In fact, this is the airline we’re aiming to take in October.

2. Our second favourite airline is Eva Airlines, which is based in Taiwan, so the layover will be in Taipei, its capital. We think they have the most outgoing flights from Toronto to Taipei, and then connecting flights to other orient destinations. We got caught in Taipei for 4 days in a typhoon once. They took great care of us with hotels and food vouchers.

3. When neither Korean or Eva were available or too expensive, we’ve flown with United Airlines based in the US but you have to clear customs which is a bit of a pain in the neck lugging all your check-in luggage from one terminal to another. If you travel lightly and/or don’t have young children like us, it would be a good option as flights are slightly cheaper with United. The in-flight service is good too. Layovers are sometimes in New York, Chicago or LA. Try to pick LA if you can, it’ll make your flight to HCMC shorter.

4. Air Canada is part of the Star Alliance so you might be on a shared flights with airlines from Asia with AC flight codes. We love AC for that.

5. When we were young and free, we flew with these airlines and they were all ok as well: Asiana Airlines (Korean Airlines is currently acquiring this Japanese airline), Japan Airlines (Tokyo layover), China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and China Airlines. The China layovers are usually in Beijing, whose airport is ginormous if you want to get your steps in. We both enjoyed the hike after a long flight from Toronto, pre-children time, of course.

6. A 2.5-hour to 5-hour hour layover is decent but we don’t suggest anything over 10 hours. You could always get an airport hotel if there are no other options. And we try to get only one layover, which is very possible.

AUSTRALIA TO VIETNAM
Most of our Aussie friends are more versed with flights than we are so if you have any particular questions, please send them to us and we’ll find another down under mate to help you.

1. Hands down Vietnam Airlines for their direct 8-hour flight from Melbourne to HCMC! Great in-light service too.

2. We hear Brisbane now has direct flights to HCMC with VietJet.

3. If you’re looking for budget flights, then Jetstar and Air Asia are usually the lowest price and have more stopovers.

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance through your travel agent or other third parties for peace of mind. We used World Nomads when there were only two of us but have noticed that Costco (Canada) is cheaper as a family. There’s also CAA or AAA. It’s a good idea to shop around.

SIM Cards

For peace of mind for friends travelling before and after the retreat, you can purchase relatively inexpensive SIM cards in Vietnam. When you land at the HCMC airport, there are booths selling physical SIM cards. We suggest purchasing them at one of the booths. It's about $1 USD more than if you were to buy it at a phone shop in District 1 but it saves a lot of time and they all speak English at the airport. We recently landed at midnight in HCMC and the booths were still open. If the booths are closed, your hotel will be able to direct you to a SIM card shop.

These are our three (3) recommended phone companies with reasonable country-wide service: Viettel, Mobifone, and Vinaphone. They will need to see your passport when you make the purchase, which is normal in Vietnam. We suggest getting a phone plan for the duration you're in Vietnam for peace of mind. For example, Sarah paid $30 USD for 3 months with Mobifone with 10 Gig of data per day.

Accommodation in HCMC

Below are recommendations for Saigon hotels for before and after the retreat. There are over a 1000 hotels to choose from so we’re recommending the ones that our friends have stayed at and approved. These are all in District 1, a short walk or taxi ride to the bus meeting point near Ben Thanh Market. The list goes from lowest to highest pricing.

$

• Hong Vina Luxury Hotel

• Cherry Hotel

• Sophia Hotel

• Liberty 2 Hotel

• The Luxe Hotel

• Lavender Hotel

• Ruby Riverside Hotel

$$

• Any of the three Liberty Central hotels: there’s one on the river and the other two are close to Ben Thanh Market.

• Silverland Hotels (five locations in HCMC)

• Any of the A&EM chain

• Asian Ruby Luxury Hotel

$$$

• The Rex Saigon: The Americans used this building as its headquarters during the Vietnam War.

• Sofitel Saigon Plaza: Close to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral.

• Hotel Majestic. For a river view. On a bustling street of downtown.

What To Do in Ho Chi Minh City

• AO Show: https://www.luneproduction.com/ao-show (A must! It’s like Cirque Du Soleil sans fancy equipment)

• Hop-on Hop-off: https://hopon-hopoff.vn/

• Ben Thanh Market, a great market to explore. Please watch your belongings. Don’t forget to barter. It’s part of the culture. If they offer "$400, 000” dongs, counter with $300,000. And they’ll likely say $350,000.

• Day trip to Mekong Delta: https://thesinhtourist.vn/landscapes/mk/1/mekong

• Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour: https://thesinhtourist.vn/landscapes/sg/1/sai-gon 

• Street food tours run by our friend Barbara and her husband Vu: https://saigonstreeteats.com/ 

• A yoga class at Mandala Wellness in District 2 (15-minute taxi ride from downtown). Our Canadian-Korean friend Rosanne Lee is the owner: https://www.mandala-wellness.com.vn/ 

Our Favourite Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City

• Maison Marou for the best chocolate in the world - for real! https://maisonmarou.com/ 

• Pizza 4P’s for most amazing pizzas in the world - for real! Hang’s fave is the margarita and Sarah’s is the four cheese. Our kids love their spaghetti! They have several locations: https://pizza4ps.com/ 

• Quan Bui is our favourite Vietnamese food restaurant. There are a few locations: https://quan-bui.com/ 

• The Deck Saigon is a beautiful place in District 2 for fancy cocktails literally on the Saigon River: https://www.thedecksaigon.com/ 

Travelling Around Vietnam

Below we share some of our favourite places to visit in Vietnam from south to north. Domestic flights are usually very affordable in Vietnam and there are also trains and buses for countryside experience. 

Mekong Delta
A 1 or 2-day trip with Sinh Tourist is great to see the Mekong way of life. Hang was born in My Tho and lived there until she was 6 years old. You know when you get to My Tho when you’re at the candy factory or the crocodile farm!

Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal resort city in southern Vietnam known for its beaches, diving sites and offshore islands. Its main beach is a long, curving stretch along Tran Phu Street backed by a promenade, hotels and seafood restaurants. Aerial cable cars cross over to Hòn Tre Island, and the nature reserves of Hòn Mun and Hòn Tằm islands, reachable by boat, have coral reefs. We recommend Rainbow Divers for snorkeling and scuba diving boat trips: https://www.divevietnam.com/dive-centres/nha-trang/ There is also a gorgeous boutique resort called Mia Resort: https://mianhatrang.com/

Hoi An - A MUST!
Hoi An is a city on Vietnam’s central coast known for its well-preserved Ancient Town, cut through with canals. The former port city’s melting-pot history is reflected in its architecture, a mix of eras and styles from wooden Chinese shophouses and temples to colorful French colonial buildings, ornate Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda. Hoi An is one of our favourite spots to visit in Vietnam. The easiest way to get to Hoi An is to fly to Danang airport. Most hotels in Hoi An offer airport transfers from Danang to Hoi An (about a 40-minute drive). If staying by the beach in Hoi An, most hotels have a free daily shuttle service to take you to the Ancient Town for shopping, sightseeing, and dining. These are some of our favourite restaurants in Hoi An:

• Morning Glory for Vietnamese food

• Mango Mango https://www.mangomangovietnam.com/ 

• Cargo Club a Eurepean-style cafe and restaurant https://tastevietnam.asia/cargo-club-cafe-restaurant-hoi-an 

• Ms Vy’s cooking classes https://tastevietnam.asia/vietnamese-cooking-classes-hoi-an 

• Our niece lived in Hoi An for four years and these were some of her favourite places: https://www.victorianhan.com/blog/2018/10/10/top-places-eat-drink-work-hoi-an 

Hanoi
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is known for its centuries-old architecture and a rich culture with Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences. At its heart is the chaotic Old Quarter, where the narrow streets are roughly arranged by trade. There are many little temples, including Bach Ma, honoring a legendary horse, plus Đồng Xuân Market, selling household goods and street food. To read more about what to do in Hanoi: https://www.saltinourhair.com/vietnam/hanoi/

Halong Bay
Halong Bay is one of the most famous places in Vietnam and consists of a series of impressive limestone islands that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are around 2000 islands in the bay and many of them are with beautiful lush vegetation, making them ideal for walking. Many of the islands are also the home of caves. The best thing to do in Halong Bay is take a cruise where you can see these islands up close and take trips to caves and floating villages.

Sapa
Sapa is a small highland town in northern Vietnam known for its picturesque views of rugged mountainscapes, valleys, and terraced rice paddies. The town is also home to a vibrant market where you can find all sorts of colorful treasures. There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy such as hiking, cycling, and rafting, and the sunsets over the landscape are simply stunning. Read more about what to do in Sapa: https://trekkingtoursapa.com/is-sapa-worth-visiting/

Safety in Vietnam

Vietnam is a relatively safe country to travel to. It was voted as the safiest country pre-pandemic. Its main source of income is tourism and tourists' safety is their number one concern. Violent crime in Vietnam is rare. As a tourist, your main concern is petty crime such as pickpocketing, bag-snatching, or cell phone theft. Generally, if you respect Vietnamese culture and show common courtesy and kindness towards the people there, any arguments or misunderstandings can be easily avoided and your trip will go smoothly.

We invite you to read the following two articles to learn more:

How Safe Is Vietnam for Travel?
https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/vietnam/

Is Vietnam safe to travel? 12 things you should know when you visit Vietnam (see below for dos and don’ts)
https://www.myvietnamvisa.com/vietnam-safe-travel-12-things-you-should-know-when-you-visit-vietnam.html

DOS

• Greetings are no different to western countries, there are no cultural formalities that as a foreigner you would be expected to know or practice.

• Vietnamese dress conservatively. Despite the heat, it’s best not to show off too much skin. If you do, especially women, you’ll only draw stares from the locals.

• Dress well when visiting pagodas. No shorts, tank tops or obscene graphics tops. Shoes are fine, and rarely will you have to remove them. If unsure, just follow what the locals do.

• Drink plenty of bottled water, especially when walking around sightseeing. No need to carry huge bottles around with you, a vendor is never far away and no doubt they will find you before you find them. Tap water is not safe to drink in Vietnam.

• Keep your cash, credit cards, airline tickets, and other valuables in a safe place.

• Travel with recommended tour agencies. Even if you plan to buy tickets when in Vietnam, research your journey a little first on the Internet. This way you avoid unreliable tour agencies and badly run hotels.

• Wear a small handbag when leaving your hotel. The kind you can put diagonally across your shoulders and hide under a blouse. Out of sight, out of mind.

DON’TS

• Wear a lot of jewellery or take a big handbag with you. Violent crime is highly unusual in Vietnam, but petty crime is more apparent. If you have a bag, or tout a digital camera around your neck, you are a potential target.

• When taking a ride by motorbike taxi (xe om) make sure your bag, if any, is not on display or easy to grab. Bag snatches, although still rare, are probably the most likely crime a tourist would encounter, and it raises the probability immensely if you are tailing a camera or a laptop in the wind.

• Don’t wear singlets, shorts, skirts or dresses, or revealing clothes to temples or pagodas.

• Physical displays of affection between lovers in public are frowned upon. That’s why you may come across couples holding hands but not hugging or kissing.

• Losing your temper in Vietnam means a loss of face. Keep a cool head and remain polite, you’ll have a greater chance of getting what you want.

• Remember, this is Vietnam, a developing country, and things don’t quite work as you are maybe used to. Don’t be paranoid about your safety, just be aware of your surroundings.

In Summary

Vietnam is unique and stunning place to visit and explore. We hope you have fun planning our your trip and please do email us at hello@saigonom.com if you have any questions. We’re always happy to help!

With a cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee) smile,
Sarah & Hang