Vietnam has come away from everything that has tried to oppress it laughing and kicking. Lush scenery, paddy fields, incredible and varied cuisine and pointy hats await you here in this land most famous for its wars..
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Accommodation
Similar to the rest of SE Asia, budget accommodation in Vietnam is mainly in the form of guesthouses and homestays. It's usually possible to bargain for a discount if you stay for a few nights. The price is often reduced on the upper floors of a building.
Traveller's Budget for Vietnam
Around US$25 should be enough for a day here including accommodation, transport and food. You can travel around Vietnam by bus (the local services are cheaper but overcrowded and rickety), by boat in the far south, or by bicycle, which is a great way to travel as the terrain is mainly flat or undulating, with only some mountainous parts in the north. Bring a bike with you. One of the best ways to go though is to hire a motorbike and driver, who'll act as your guide as well for about $10 a day. A train line runs from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, slower and more expensive than a bus but a great experience.
It's incredibly easy to eat well and cheaply in Vietnam, there are street vendors everywhere selling noodle soups, spring rolls and about a hundred other different delicacies. It's heaven for vegetarians too, thanks to the buddhist monks.
Activities
Cycling though the Mekong Delta
Climbing Fansipan, Vietnam's highest mountain
Eating and drinking superbly and cheaply
Kayak around Halong Bay
Diving and Snorkelling are popular and well worth it, there are sites at Nha Trang and Phu Quoc Island.
