North Vietnam Itinerary: 4 Examples from 1 to 3 weeks

Subjects

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Help me write the ultimate guide about:

This will also be the main keyword for this guide.

We do this in 2 simple steps.

First step: Create an outline

Second step: We use the outline to write the guide. We do this section by section.

First step explained:

To make a Google ranking winning guide, we need to create a outline that will outrank all other guides.

We do this by analyzing different sources:

1. Competition. I copy + paste the top 2 ranking guides

2. Additional guide (optional) -> sometimes I find guides that write more natural or I think is better than the actual top guide. This is a often – but not always – more important source (more believable) that the top 2 ranking guides. I notice that with many guides about Vietnam vinpearl websites and Vietnam Airline website rank very high, sometimes also other Vietnamese websites. But I notice their content is often translated, clearly written by people who have never been their themself. Just for SEO / Google to be found online. They have huge authority, so ranked top, but not neccarly most trusted.

3. Reviews

This is something very strong. I use reviews for two reasons:

First: they often include inside information that are not on the online guides. They share more practical information, while many high ranking guides more focus on background information.

Second: they are honest about a place. My guide need to be honest too, to really show a difference between other guides that often praze everything in Vietnam is the best “best waterfall, best pagoda, most amazing etc”.

Do keep in mind:

  • If I copied 10 reviews and one say it is bad, does not neccarly mean it is bad. But if it really make sense the negative part, can take it into account. If more reviews say the same, you can deffenrily use it.
  • Also when review is very old, also threat it like that. If the review is old, but could still be very relevant, can use it. If it is very old, but say something about was trashy, and all newer reviews don’t say anything about it, leave it.
  • Threat foreign reviews higher than Vietnamese. Foreigners are our target audience, so what they think is more realistically suitable to what our reader opinion is too.

4. My own opinion (option)

If I add this here, please take this into account higher than reviews and other guides what they mention. I am the writer, so what I say, should be used.

5. My outline idea (optional)

When I share my outline idea, please use it as much as possible. In my outline idea I sometimes already give insights. about where you can add more

1. Competition (highest ranking)

Number 1 highest ranking

Number 2 highest ranking

2. Additional guide (optional) -> High trust

3. Reviews

How to use reviews:

1. Check for practical things, negative things and positive things

2. When only 1 reviewer mentioned something very negative or very positive, only use it if it makes sense or can be threated as trust worthy. Otherwise ignore it

3. If a few or many people mention something, threat it as something useful.

4. Check dates when mentioned. When some people mention very dirty, but many years ago, check fi recent review also mention that before use it. When opening times or prices are mentioned through multiple reviews and they are different, use the latest reviews as true.

5. If you notice a difference between vietnamese reviews and foreign reviews, use foreign reviewers as more trusty (more useful to our readers as they are also foreigners. You can sometimes identify if reviewer is Vietnamese, because the review is weirdly written (automatic translated often).

6. use reviews as source for practical information and to set the tone. It puts more light as what other travel guides online mention. However, dont refer too much to “what people say” or refer to reviews. We are the expert, can not sound like we write this guide, only based on what other people have to say and we dont really visited this place of know much about it. Refering to reviews can only be used when really adds depth and does not interfere with our reputation as expert.

Review 1:

Review 2:

Review 3:

Review 4:

Review 5:

Review 6:

Review 7:

Review 8:

Review 9:

Review 10:

Review 11:

Review 12:

4. My own opinion (option)

5. My outline idea (optional)

1. Introduction (3 sentences)

  • First sentence: use main keyword.
  • Last sentence, explain what is in this guide

2. title = [name of place or thing to do] – [something that defines this place/thing to do in a few words]

Max 2 paragraphs. See this more as a real introduction and sort of summary of the whole guide. After this, you already understand this place in basics and help you to understand the rest of the guide.

Can mentiong things

– Location -> but not how to get there

– Is there a history -> but not a detailed history story

– How does it general look -> But not a detailed description of the architecture and things to see

This section should not overlap coming sections, but make it stronger and set a nice base.

– is it a nice visit and long/short -> but not a conclusion if it is worth it or not

3. Main section. Choose either: Highlights of [name];Things to do and see at [name]; What to expect of [name]; or something simular.

Describe the place or thing to do. Use sub-headers (ex. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 etc) to “highlight the highlights”. Give a clear idea.

Next section.

4. Location & getting there

4.1 Where is [name]

4.2 How to get there

Describe the options

4.3 Nearby to combine a visit

Keep it simple and useful. Describe the places or things to do nearby. It is nearby or far but on the route. What it is, but keep it very brief. Each thing to do nearby or place nearby is short paragraph maximum. Each short paragraph start with bold term (tem = the place or thing to do). Followed with the description as described.

5. Practical tips & visiting information

Add here everything that is not mentioned in earlier sections (ex. not from: getting there, things to see/do) and coming sections (ex. not from worth to visit) AND is important to know for (foreign) visitors to this place. Mostly practical section; can include both information and tips. Devide them in categories and use subheaders like 5.1, 5.2.

Example subjects below:

Opening times; how long to spend here; entrance fee or donations; facilities, like toilets, ac, shops, restaurants; english signage, English speaking guides, audio tours; cultural things for visitors to know like dress code, photography, respecting etc; what to bring

Only add subjects when they apply to this sight. Don’t write about there is no dress code for example if this sight is a beach or theme park. It would not make sense. If this is a brief visit, no need to mention things like what to bring, unless it is in the open and you recommend bringen something against the sun or cash for entrance fee if card is not accepted.

Don’t limit yourself to earlier mentioned example subjects. If there is something, like somehting very specific to this sight, that really need to be addressed because very useful, please add! if there is not much practical information to share, don’t feel obligated to make this a long section.

7. Is it worth visiting?

Honest take.

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