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Frequently asked questions about Local Vietnam

Planning a trip to Vietnam or curious about how Local Vietnam works? Here you find answers to common questions about our company, our tours and travel in Vietnam, based on our own years of travel in the country.

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About Local Vietnam

Learn who we are, where we are based and how our local travel company works.

Local Vietnam is officially registered in Ho Chi Minh City, where the company was founded by Nhung and Marnick. Our travel experts work mainly from Hanoi, and our own lodge, Ha Giang Aya, is in the far north of Vietnam. Most of our trips are in the north.

Local Vietnam was founded by Nhung Phung and Marnick Schoonderwoerd, a Vietnamese and Dutch couple who love travel, culture and local communities. Together, they combine local knowledge with international travel experience to design tours that are both authentic and comfortable.

Yes. Local Vietnam is a registered Vietnamese travel agency: THELOCALVIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED, enterprise number 0315712466.

We hold an international tour operator licence for inbound travel, number 79-2745/2026/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT, granted on 21 September 2026 by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism. Check our licence

Local Vietnam started as a travel blog in 2015, sharing real experiences and guides about Vietnam. The company officially became a registered travel agency in 2019, and has worked as a travel agency since then.

Local Vietnam combines an international view of travel with local knowledge.

Western travel agencies often know their guests’ expectations well but lack deep, on-the-ground knowledge of Vietnam. Vietnamese agencies know the destinations but rarely understand how foreign travelers think or what they value most.

Our team bridges that gap. We’ve lived, traveled, and worked in both Vietnam and abroad. We’ve explored every province, from diving in Nha Trang and paragliding in Mu Cang Chai to camping, trekking, and family travel with our son. We do not only plan from an office; we travel ourselves.

This lets us design tours that suit international travelers and support small local businesses across the country.

Local Vietnam specializes in authentic, small-scale travel experiences. We avoid mass tourism spots and instead focus on genuine local life, culture, and landscapes. Many of our tours include family-run homestays, traditional crafts, or village visits: experiences that benefit the communities directly.

We work with a network of local guides and drivers across Vietnam, each chosen for their knowledge, professionalism, and feedback from past travelers. Instead of one guide for the whole country, we work with a local guide in each region.

Yes. Many of our staff and partners come from the regions where we operate. For example, all employees at our Ha Giang lodge are from nearby ethnic minority villages. This approach not only supports local employment but also ensures guests experience genuine hospitality rooted in community culture.

Our core values are authenticity, responsibility, and connection. We believe travel should bring benefits to both travelers and locals. That means small-scale tourism, respect for local cultures, and creating opportunities for local families through meaningful partnerships.

We support communities by working directly with local people, from guides and drivers to homestay owners and craft producers. We avoid mass-owned attractions and focus on community-based tourism. Our lodge in Ha Giang is a clear example: it employs local ethnic villagers and sources food and materials from nearby farms and markets.

About our tours

Discover how our private and small-group tours work, what makes them different, and how we select our guides and drivers.

Most tours on our website are private tours designed and operated by Local Vietnam. A small selection of tours is offered in cooperation with trusted local partners to provide certain activities at a lower cost. These partner tours are always small group tours, never large bus tours.

We design and operate most tours ourselves. For some destinations or activities, we work with carefully selected partners who share our values of authenticity and responsible travel. This approach lets us combine our own locally crafted experiences with trusted options where it makes sense.

Our tours are built from real experience. We’ve explored every region of Vietnam and used that knowledge to design authentic, local, and memorable tours. Even in popular destinations, we find ways to show the quieter, more genuine side: meeting locals, visiting small family businesses, and staying in characterful places.

We don’t follow generic templates; every itinerary is shaped by our own on-the-ground knowledge and feedback from travelers.

Yes. All tours designed by Local Vietnam are private, so you can easily make adjustments to fit your interests, pace, or preferences. You can also contact us to create a completely new tour from scratch if you have specific ideas or destinations in mind.

Yes. Our team has traveled across Vietnam and built a strong local network through years of experience in the travel industry. We can arrange tours to lesser-known or remote destinations, although availability of English-speaking guides may be more limited in some areas.

Private tours allow for a good level of flexibility. If you want to stay longer in one place, start later or skip an activity, your guide can usually change the plan. It has to fit the transport and timing. For small group tours, the itinerary is more fixed due to shared schedules.

Yes. We regularly design tours for families and senior travelers. We can adapt activities, travel distances, or accommodations to make the trip more comfortable and suitable for your group.

Yes. Please inform us in advance, especially if your tour includes remote regions with limited dining options. We’ll communicate your dietary needs to local partners and guides to ensure suitable meals throughout your trip.

Our guides speak English. Drivers, however, usually do not. English-speaking drivers are available upon request, though they are less common and may involve an additional fee. In Vietnam, it’s standard to have a separate driver and guide for the best local experience.

We mainly run tours in English, but in some places we can arrange French, German or Spanish-speaking guides on request. For Dutch travelers, visit localvietnam.nl, and for German travelers, visit localvietnam.de. For other languages, feel free to contact us and we’ll do our best to assist.

We focus on small-scale, locally owned accommodations that reflect the character of each destination, from boutique hotels and eco-lodges to authentic homestays. You can also upgrade or adjust your accommodation preferences when booking a private tour.

Package tours and tailor-made trips

Understand how our private Vietnam package tours and tailor-made trips are created, and how flexible they can be.

All Vietnam package tours offered by Local Vietnam are private tours. We don’t organize large group departures. Some activities in your package, such as a cycling tour or a street food tour, can be in a small group, depending on your wishes and budget. The overall trip itself remains completely private.

Yes. Most travelers use our Vietnam package tours as a starting template and then adapt them to their personal interests. In practice, almost all our package tours become customized versions to match each traveler’s pace, preferences, and travel style.

No. There’s no extra fee for customization. Once you share your wishes, we build a proposal and adjust it until you’re satisfied. You only pay once the itinerary is finalized and confirmed.

Tell us your travel wishes: destinations, activities, group size, budget, and travel period.

Our team creates a proposal based on that information. You can give unlimited feedback until the itinerary feels perfect. Once you approve the final plan, you can book it securely. No payment is required during the planning stage.

Generally not. All tours listed on our website exclude international flights, as our guests travel from different parts of the world. However, if you prefer a complete service, we can include flights upon request or advise you on the best international flight options.

Yes. If your package or customized tour includes domestic flights, these are already included in the total price.

Everything clearly listed in your itinerary: typically accommodation, transfers, local guides, and activities. Meals are included when part of a specific tour or experience. International flights, personal insurance, and optional extras are not included unless specified. Travel insurance is your own responsibility. We recommend insurance that covers medical costs and repatriation, cancellation, and the activities on your trip, such as motorbike tours.

Upon arrival, every traveler on a package tour or tailor-made trip receives a Vietnam SIM card with data for easy connectivity. On these trips, you have WhatsApp support 24/7 from your Local Vietnam travel expert, who follows your itinerary, provides updates, and assists with any questions or changes along the way.

Yes. Most of our tailor-made trips combine several regions. You can travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, or mix highlights such as Ha Giang, Hoi An, and the Mekong Delta in one itinerary.

We recommend booking at least two months in advance. This allows time for itinerary adjustments and ensures availability at our favorite boutique hotels and local lodges. Last-minute bookings are possible, but the best small-scale places often fill up early.

Payments and bookings

Everything you need to know about deposits, payment methods, booking safety, and cancellation policies.

Yes. Local Vietnam is an officially registered travel company in Vietnam with many years of experience and verified reviews. All payments go directly to our company bank account or are handled through PayPal for credit card transactions (a 3% card fee), which adds an extra layer of protection for you.

For day tours, simply follow the booking instructions on our website.
For package tours or custom-made trips, once you agree on the itinerary, a 30% deposit is required to confirm your booking. This allows us to secure hotels, domestic flights, and activities. The remaining 70% is due one month before the start of your trip. Payments can be made by credit card via PayPal (a 3% card fee) or international bank transfer.

If your trip starts more than one month away, a 30% deposit is enough to confirm. The full payment is required one month before the start of your trip.

For day tours, full payment is usually made at the time of booking unless you’ve arranged something different with our team.

The balance should be paid no later than one month before the start of your trip. If you book a package tour or tailor-made trip within one month of the start, you pay in full at once.

We accept PayPal payments (for credit cards, with a 3% card fee) and international bank transfers. Both methods are secure and widely used by our international travelers.

Yes. You can pay easily by credit card through PayPal, even if you don’t have a PayPal account. A 3% card fee applies. Day tours booked directly on our website are paid at the checkout. For tours booked on request, package tours and tailor-made trips, your travel expert sends you a PayPal payment link.

We have multi-currency accounts with our Vietnamese bank, so you can transfer payments in Vietnamese dong, US dollars, euros, Canadian dollars or Australian dollars. If your currency is not one of these five, send one of them, or ask your travel expert which is best.

No. We do not accept cash. The full price is paid before the trip starts, by bank transfer or card.

You’ll receive an invoice and confirmation once payment is received. For package tours, we’ll send a clear overview of all booked services.

In Vietnam, you don’t need separate vouchers for each activity: your name is sufficient for check-ins. We’ll send train and domestic flight tickets about three weeks before the start of your trip.

Yes. We provide official company invoices and confirmations for every booking and payment, following Vietnamese business regulations.

Our cancellation policy differs between day tours, multi-day tours, and package trips. You can view all details here: Cancellation and travel terms

Usually yes, especially for tailor-made trips. It depends on what you’d like to change and how close it is to your travel date. Contact your Local Vietnam travel expert to discuss your options.

Yes. All credit card payments are processed through PayPal, and bank transfers go directly through our secure bank accounts. We don’t store or handle your card data ourselves, only official payment receipts, which are kept securely on encrypted servers.

Other services

Car rental with a driver and local guides.

Yes. We work with a network of reliable, professional drivers across Vietnam. Based on your travel plans, we’ll connect you with the right driver and can also help design a simple itinerary if needed.

No. We only offer car rental with drivers. Self-driving is not possible for foreign travelers in Vietnam without special permits.

Drivers in Vietnam usually speak only basic English. Communication is fine for simple instructions like stops or lunch breaks, but they aren’t guides and can’t provide explanations about sights. You can request an English-speaking driver if needed, though this depends on availability and may cost slightly more.

Yes. You can hire a car with driver for multi-day trips, one-way journeys between cities, or sightseeing itineraries across Vietnam. Many travelers use this service to explore at their own pace without joining a tour group.

Yes. We have a large database of local guides throughout Vietnam, from major cities to remote provinces. However, availability, especially of English-speaking guides, can vary in lesser-visited areas.

Our guides speak English. In some places we can arrange French, German or Spanish-speaking guides. If you have a language preference, let us know in advance so we can check availability.

You can ask for one with our form: Request a local guide in Vietnam

Just share where and when you need the guide, and our team will get back to you with options and pricing.

Traveling in Vietnam

Personal advice from our team about visas, safety, transport, and the best times to visit Vietnam.

Most travelers need a visa before they enter Vietnam. Vietnam has no visa on arrival. Many nationalities can apply online for an e-visa, which usually takes 3 to 5 working days. Some countries are exempt from visas for short stays. It’s best to arrange your visa at least one week in advance, and even earlier during busy travel seasons.

Read our complete guide here: Vietnam Visa Guide

We do not arrange visas. Most travelers apply online for an e-visa. Our visa guide explains how.

Yes, Vietnam is one of the safest countries in Asia for travelers. Violent crime against foreigners is extremely rare. The most common issues are small scams or overcharging in tourist areas, but they are usually harmless. The biggest safety concern for visitors is traffic, especially when crossing busy roads or renting motorbikes.

Read more tips here: Is Vietnam Safe to Travel?

Yes. Vietnam is considered very safe for solo and female travelers. Harassment is uncommon, and people are generally respectful and helpful. As anywhere, it’s wise to take standard precautions such as avoiding dark, empty streets late at night and keeping valuables secure.

More insights here: Solo Female Travel in Vietnam

There are no mandatory vaccinations for entering Vietnam, but several are recommended depending on where you plan to travel. Common ones include Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, and Tetanus. For rural or long-term travel, additional vaccines may be advised.

Detailed advice here: Vaccinations for Vietnam

Vietnam’s weather varies widely between the north, center, and south. In general, October to April offers pleasant weather across most regions. Summer months (May to August) bring more rain but also lush landscapes and fewer crowds. There is no single best time; each season is different.

See our full overview here: Best time to visit Vietnam

The rainy season depends on the region:

  • North Vietnam: May to September
  • Central Vietnam: September to January
  • South Vietnam: May to November

Rain is usually short and heavy rather than all-day. Many travelers enjoy the green scenery during this time.

Learn more here: Vietnam Rainy Season Guide

Vietnam’s long, narrow shape makes domestic travel easy and varied:

  • Flights connect major cities quickly and cheaply.
  • Trains offer scenic, comfortable routes, especially along the coast.
  • Buses reach most towns and rural areas, though slower.
  • Private cars with drivers are ideal for flexibility and comfort.

Read more in our detailed transport guides:

Yes, but it’s not as straightforward as it seems. You need a valid license that’s recognized in Vietnam (an International Driving Permit with a motorcycle category). Motorbike rental is common, especially in places like Ha Giang, Ninh Binh, and Phu Quoc, but traffic and road rules can be challenging for inexperienced riders.

Learn more here: Motorbike rental in Vietnam

Vietnam is very varied: mountains and rice terraces in the north, heritage towns and beaches in the center, and floating markets in the south. Top highlights include Ha Giang, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Phong Nha, the Mekong Delta, and Phu Quoc.

See our list: Best things to do in Vietnam

Still have questions?

Ask us on WhatsApp or through our contact page. We answer within one working day, and often sooner on WhatsApp.

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