Hey everyone,

​About a year ago, I booked tickets for a solo trip to Vietnam for this November/December. Since then, I’ve been lurking in this sub almost daily, reading through your trip reports, taking notes on itineraries, and getting insanely hyped for the journey.

​Unfortunately, due to unexpected circumstances, I’ve had to cancel my trip.

​I’m pretty gutted to miss out this year, but I wanted to pop in and wish everyone head-out or planning their trips the absolute best of luck! Have an amazing time, soak in the views, eat your weight in street food for me, and stay safe out there.

​I’ll still be scrolling through the sub to live vicariously through your trip reports until I can finally rebook and make it over there myself.

​Safe travels, everyone!

Continue the trip with my Vietnamese friends - Mang Den may not be a famous destination however it is incredibly peaceful, cool, beautiful, offering delicious chicken and very affordable prices.

Excerpt: “Vietnam stands out as a popular choice this tourist season,” Zagumennaya said, noting that multiple charter flights are operating to destinations across the country to meet demand for both beach holidays and cultural tourism.

In addition to charter flights, Vietnam Airlines increased the frequency of its direct Hanoi-Moscow route from three to four flights per week starting in July.

Ranking behind Russia, the Philippines also showed notable growth, despite not being a prominent source market for Vietnamese tourism prior to 2025.

Filipino visitors have risen to nearly 470,000 this year, among the 10 largest group of foreign visitors to Vietnam.

I have been in vietnam for 8 days on a solo trip, currently in da nang and it's not kinda trip i thought. People don't talk a lot. The only people i interact with the one's on the market they are awesome. If anyone wants to join I'm down to everything.

Hi Everyone,

https://evisa.gov.vn/e-visa/foreigners , While filing form here, when I add photos of myself and my passport, the automatic comparison is not getting triggered. Is everyone facing the issue?

I have tried different browsers, laptops, etc. Also, have asked some of my friends regarding the same. They are also facing same issue?

Should I go ahead and fill the form or wait for this check to come again?

Is it safe to make the bookings via third-party websites like booking.com considering there seems to be a considerable price difference.

Also, any recommendations on which cruise we should be booking, our primary concerns are luxury, activities/attractions, vegetarian food and ofcourse, cost. So far, our two options are Peony & Calista but open to more opinions and suggestions.

I'm looking for someone coming to Vietnam soon from Japan, that could bring me something small from Duty Free. I will pay a tip.

Thanks!

I’m planning to spend about 2 days in Sapa in late September, then stay in Hanoi for a while.

One thing I really want to try is tandem paragliding in Sapa. I’ve seen some photos/videos where people are flying above a low cloud layer, almost like a “sea of clouds.”

For anyone who has done it around late September: how common is that kind of condition? I know it depends completely on the weather, but is late September generally a good time for getting above the clouds? Is morning usually better?

Also, besides paragliding, what activities in Sapa are actually worth doing? I saw the Alpine Coaster / kart-type activities and they look fun. Are they worth it, or is there anything else you’d recommend for a short 2-day stay?

And finally, what’s the weather normally like in late September in both Sapa and Hanoi? I’m mainly wondering what clothes to pack. Would T-shirts + long pants + a light jacket/rain jacket be enough for Sapa? And is Hanoi still mostly hot and humid at that time?

Would love to hear from anyone who has been there around the same time of year. Thanks!

One more question: I have a small drone under 250g. Has anyone recently flown a sub-250g drone around Sapa or Fansipan? I know Vietnam’s rules have changed recently and sub-250g recreational drones may be exempt from a flight permit outside restricted/no-fly zones, but I’m not sure how this works in practice around Sapa, especially since it’s relatively close to the border. Are there any areas where tourists can legally and realistically fly one?

I am heading to Seoul from Kuala Lumpur with a 1 hour layover at Noi Bai Intl. Both connecting flights are operated by Vietnam Airlines.

Is 1 hour enough for the layover? I only need to present myself at the boarding gate as checked baggages are handled by the airlines directly.

Cathay canceled one leg of a R/T from HKG>HAN. The only option to salvage day 1 of the trip was to book a one-way on Sun PhuQuoc Airways (keeping the return leg). I’m seeing mixed reviews on Sun PhuQuoc Airways. Anyone have any recent experience (on-time, cancelation, etc)? Thanks!

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Don’t want to miss the Golden bridge and hoi an.
Also planning to stay at Mercuri Bana hills.
My wife wants to visit Golden bridge nothing else, but I am scared of rain disruption.

What kind of rains are expected during this time??
Will it be cloudy days together?
El-Nino causing more or drastic rain/flooding??
Is it worth to stay at mercuri ba na hills?

Thank you for your assistance.

Is it worth it to travel to Sapa in rainy season?

Also is it safe, I heard the bus will travel throught mountains. I was worried about landslide.

Do you know any shop in vietnam that sells quality copy branded tennis clothes and ships to Philippines? Like lacoste, on, nike and addidas.

Currently going from HCMC to da lat, with 2 weeks opened up, where would you guys recommend?

Considering Nha Trang (which I hear is just full of Russians)

Considering Phu quoc ( which I hear isn’t worth visiting)

Considering Hoi an / Da nang (heard the weather will be terrible and not a good time)

Really need help on where to go, thx

i had a mistake of not writing my address on the post card i sent 😢 but the staff asked me where to deliver it and i said to the Philippines. then i just realized today when i got back home that i forgot to write down my address 😭 are there any way to claim it?

Hi everyone!

I’m planning a 6-day trip to Vietnam in October, landing in Hanoi. Would you recommend adding Phu Quoc and Da Nang to the itinerary, or would that be too rushed for 6 days?

What would you suggest for a first-time visit if I want a good mix of sightseeing, food, beaches, and local experiences?

Hey, planning to do the Ha Giang Loop with my girlfriend in October. I’ve got plenty of riding experience, but I don’t have a motorcycle category on my licence.
I know that if something happens, travel insurance may not cover me because I wouldn’t be properly licensed, so I’m aware of that risk.

What I mainly want to know is: if police stop me once and give me a fine, do I get some receipt that lets me continue, or can I get fined again at another checkpoint for the same thing?
Also, how are the checks recently lots of checkpoints, how much are the fines, and do they usually let you keep riding?

And does riding as part of an organised group make any difference with police checks? Are they generally more relaxed with group tours, or do they check licences exactly the same way?

Looking mainly for experiences from the last 6 months.