A Guide To Planning A Round The World Trip

Tom and I were idealistic and focused when we started to plan our RTW trip two years ago. We possessed an enthusiasm and basic backpacking knowledge which helped compensate for the overwhelming task of being prepared for a full year of travel. We had a map in every room of our apartment, even in the bathroom where brushing our teeth at night we would both trace our fingers across cities we had never heard of. We absorbed Lonely Planet’s advice on each country we were interested in visiting, we subscribed to blogs specifically about long term travel, and nightly we read suggested books on travelling the world on budget. We had a 4ftx5ft chalkboard calendar in our living room that had savings goals, vaccination schedules, research days and a growing list of countries we wanted to see. It also had a count down to our departure day, July 1st, 2016.

336 days into our RTW trip. Siem Reap, Cambodia

When we left, we wanted to hit every continent with the exception of Antarctica. We dreamt of some spectacular activities along the way like traveling the Trans Siberian Railway and trekking in Patagonia. We also hoped to visit at least five of the seven wonders of the world. We wanted to see everything and with genuine hopes we felt that 12 months was an adequate amount of time. Over the past year most of our plans didn’t happen. We didn’t make it to Patagonia, the Trans Siberian Railway would have been in the dead of winter, and traveling in Africa and Australia will have to come at a later date, but we’re not fixated on what didn’t happen. What did happen was worth all the mistakes and unexpected beauty we uncovered. We expected to accomplish a life time of travel goals in just a year, but after our first month in South America we discovered the beauty of traveling slow, leaving possibilities open and saving places for the inferred next time. We’re far from where we thought we would be physically on the map, but the growth we’ve undergone because we went with the flow far exceeds our expectations.

The truth is you never know where the road will take you. We did our best to plan, to be prepared, but it wasn’t until we were actually traveling that we began to feel prepared. It wasn’t until our first big mess up, or when we got robbed that we understood it was ok not to have everything planned. We learned more in a year of travel than I could have hoped for in a lifetime of school. We have put our best efforts together to answer questions we had when we left with the knowledge we've acquired since last July. 

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Where To Begin

It really began for us when we bought our one-way ticket from our home in Denver, Colorado to Santa Marta, Colombia. From that moment on the reality set in that we were leaving and it surged our efforts to make sure we were prepared to leave. We had spent a few months beforehand whispering about the big trip, but there was a great deal of anxiety circling the fact that no one else we knew was doing something like us; leaving their life behind for a year, selling everything they own and traveling the world. 

1 month until we leave

Guatape, Colombia

We ended up taking a trip to Colombia in the summer of 2015 with our dear friend Dillon. We only spent ten days covering three major destinations and getting our first taste of South America, but we were all three like kids in this giant playground of possibility with new food, backgrounds and people. We met dozens of travelers that were pursuing long term travel goals and people taking the risk of selling it all to live out of their backpacks. We subtly uncovered that there’s no perfect recipe for who can travel and for how long. It’s up to the individual to make it happen, so with the perfect combination of bewilderment and luck we set our sites on July of 2016 to begin our travels.

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How To Start a RTW Itinerary

The itinerary we left with in July consisted of four critical phases: South America, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and Europe. We came up with this outline in order to follow the summer season leaving in July and following warm weather around the globe. We also knew that we would need to find work as we traveled. New Zealand was a pivotal point in our trip, because with a working holiday visa the plan was to collect enough funds to support the second half of our trip in Southeast Asia and Europe. 

Seoul, South Korea

Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

When we normally build an itinerary we load our days with the specifics of when, where, and how, leaving a bit of room for adjustment, but with a RTW trip, it was more skeletal. It’s a barebones itinerary if you will, deciphering which months to spend in certain continents rather than exact dates. We uncovered that it was unrealistic to expect to know where we would be in a year so we traveled according to our budget and the opportunities in the present moment. 

We discovered that the slower we traveled the better our trip would be. Instead of rushing through an extensive list of countries, we fell into a routine of slower travel. We savored new experiences and we avoided the rush of cramming it all in. We often extended our stay in places we really enjoyed, and because of this I believe that we saved ourselves from getting burnt out. We aren’t exhausted from constantly packing and repacking our backpacks because we were able to stay in places for weeks at a time rather than days and we’re still excited by long-haul bus rides because we have the time to space them out. 

Traveling slowly and breaking up long trips along the way also helped expand our budget. We traveled South America strictly overland, which was cheaper than flying and we were able to do that because we had time to do it. This freedom of a loose itinerary allowed us to see places we never imagined we could visit. It allowed us some time in Japan and South Korea while in transit to Vietnam and inspired us to spend five months in New Zealand rather than the planned two. Traveling open ended in a country also allowed us to delve deeper into the culture and bridge a connection with the people.

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What Plane Tickets Should You Buy Ahead

On our way to Tokyo, Japan

Before we left Colorado, we bought just two plane tickets. One of course, was our one-way out of the states to Santa Marta, Colombia and the the second was our flight from Santiago, Chile to Auckland, New Zealand. It was critical that we purchase our New Zealand flights ahead of time because we wanted to be able to recuperate our budget while we were still working in the States. It also ended up saving our trip. We were way over budget at the end of our four months in South America and we weren’t in a place that we could have purchased an expensive plane ticket.  Having already bought and payed for our plane ticket across the Pacific allowed us to keep traveling for longer.  Traveling between continents takes a bit more planning and foresight than transportation between connecting countries. We found it helpful to purchase our long haul flights while still working. We did this again while working in New Zealand. We purchased flights to Southeast Asia and then to Europe with a few months to recuperate our budget.  

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Is a Round The World Plane Ticket Right For Your Trip

Amazing view from our flight to Vietnam

There’s two strategies to executing a RTW trip. One is booking flights as you go and the other is pre-booking flights. Round the world plane tickets are ideal when you have a specific itinerary and because the flights are purchased as one consecutive journey, they will be cheaper. The majority of RTW tickets do have restrictions such as limiting travelers to continue in one direction around the globe or limiting the amount of stops you can take, but we have heard positive feedback when backpackers have the time and schedule for a RTW ticket. The major downside is the limitation of sticking with an exact schedule. Some RTW tickets allow you to adjust dates of travel, but usually not destinations so the itinerary you set up is the one you have to follow. We believe that RTW tickets are best when you have a limited amount of time and you know you want to cover lots of ground. Nomadic Matt has a good breakdown of when to purchase RTW tickets and more information on how they work.  

 

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The Packing List

In retrospect packing for a RTW trip is no different than packing for any other trip, except it’s likely that you should encounter different climates and thus might need to adjust the clothes you pack. We expected to be following summer around the globe, but ended up experiencing cold temperatures in Peru and Chile as well as hitting Southeast Asia during the beginning of Monsoon season. We ended up having to buy cold weather clothes, like thick socks, scarves and long johns, which we then donated when we were back to warm weather climates. The key to a long trip, or really any trip is to pack comfortably, keeping the weight of your pack down, but also having everything you need. 

We set out our items a few days before we left, and then cut the amount we had in half before packing our 65 liter Gregory backpacks. We’ve encountered more people saying they over packed rather then under packed. We narrowed down a few items that we’ve found that made our life easier in the last year. 

*Head lamps have come in handy for hiking as well as on buses and when hostels down have the individual reading lights.

*Dr. Brawner’s soap which we used to wash our clothes when necessary and we always had soap when restrooms didn’t. 

*Bungee cords, which we used as clothing lines to dry out clothes or towels.

*An external charger for the phone or iPod which really came in handy while stranded with a dead phone and no map in Peru.

*Hand sanitizer or hand wipes are an absolute must. We can definitely handle dirt and germs, but there’s times when you just need to feel clean, especially on overnight buses

*Handkerchief was a must have when traveling in humid climates. It’s so nice to have when it’s 90+ degrees fahrenheit and 100% humidity outside. Plus, they’re easy to wash in the sink at the end of the day.

*A sarong which we’ve used to create a curtain for privacy in hostels, used as a blanket for the beach, or as a towel, certainly fashionable as well.

*A first aid kit, which we didn’t pack at first, but after consistently needing bandages and ointment, our friend Scott gifted us his first aid kit before his trip in Peru was over and he headed back home.

*After Bite cream for the hundreds of bug bites we’ve endured over the last year.

*A good travel towel that dries quickly and won’t smell after months of humid climates. We use Kathmandu’s Microfiber Pack & Go travel towel.

*A light weight down blanket which we’ve used on bus rides and airplane journeys. We’ve also had our fair share of overnight stays in bus terminals and airports where it’s been a nice comfort to have a blanket.

*A blow up travel pillow which meant a world of difference on the numerous overnight bus journeys we took. 

*The Life Straw water bottle saved us so much money in South America where we didn’t need to buy water. We could also drink out of rivers and actually drank the rain water in Machu Picchu because of the awesome filter it comes with. 

Things we didn’t worry about packing included beauty products such as shampoos and conditioner because we could buy them on the road as we needed them. We did find however that many countries outside of the States use roll on or spray deodorant rather than the stick, so personally for us that has been difficult to adjust to.  

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How To Save For A RTW Trip

There’s no perfect recipe on how to save for an open ended trip. Adventurers from all over the world have their own methods, but in our experience it’s good to first identify what type of traveler you are and then create a realistic budget that includes attainable goals. If you travel like us and plan to enjoy good beer along the way, then the budget has to reflect that. If comfort to you means staying in hotels rather than hostels, than the budget needs to reflect that as well. There’s no wrong way to travel and what works for some may not work for others, but the key is to be realistic so that you enjoy your time on the road rather than worrying about every penny spent. 

Kokopelli Hostel in Paracas, Peru

After buying our flights out of the USA and to New Zealand, we started to asses how much money we could put aside each month after paying for bills and still enjoying everyday life. We set a goal of leaving with $12,000 each which we planned to make over a year of working. We ended up down sizing our living situation, Tom picked up extra hours at work and I got a second part-time job all in hopes of saving what we needed to. We each had a gallon glass jar to collect money the old school way in hopes to put at least a $200 cash away a week and just before we left we sold our cars, all of our furniture and most of our possessions in order to squeeze a bit of extra money into our budget. But over the course of a year, we had some unexpected expenses to pay for and we ended up taking a trip to Colombia as well as several trips to different States just because travel is in our nature. Tom also bought an engagement ring, no complaints here, but needless to say we didn’t meet our goal. Instead we left with roughly $7,000 each. 

The biggest thing we learned from not meeting our initial goal is that you can make any budget work. We learned that you have to choose carefully where you travel to, avoiding expensive countries, and for us that meant sticking to visa free countries in South America and Southeast Asia, traveling strictly by buses. We had to abide by a strict daily budget, and we were open to the possibility of working on the road, but we’re still traveling a year later.
In leaving with less than we planned, we put a lot of hopes in making money in New Zealand and that is the biggest difference between in a long term trip and a trip with a foreseeable end. It takes a lot of work and unless you have the funds, most of the time you’ll have to work to continue traveling.

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What To Save Money On and When To Splurge

When breaking down our monthly expenses we found that most of our money went to room and board, two very important and unavoidable facts when traveling. But there are times when we spent more on accommodation and less on food or vice versa. We also found a few jobs that covered accommodation which saved a bit of our budget and we worked in the service industry which meant discounts on food at our work. We found that at the beginning of each month, and with the start of a new country we were pretty conservative on our budget. Mainly because it takes a few days to adjust to the change in currency and understanding the everyday cost of things. What cut the budget quite a bit in South America being able to cook in hostels. We ate out only at local street stalls and really tried to refrain from eating at restaurants. We always buy beer from the local shops rather than in hostels and at restaurants, but be mindful that some hostels don’t allow outside food or drink. It also helped that we didn’t have to buy water for four months because we had a Lifestraw.  

Huacachina, Peru

San Gil, Colombia

We splurged when it came to activities. We created what we called the fun budget. Ours was pretty small to start, only $1,000, which we decided we would put towards adventure activities over the year. We went rafting, bungee jumping, biking, sand boarding, dune bugging, snorkeling and island-hopping with our fun budget. We picked out a few key things we wanted to do in each place before hand and tried to assess the best and most affordable places to do things we wanted to. For example, we both wanted to bungee jump, and initially the Nevis Swing in New Zealand, the largest buggy in the world seemed like the best place to do it. We ended up jumping in Colombia with an incredible view and spent $13 rather than $195. We also skipped out on the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, but with that money we climbed Machu Picchu, hiked the Colca Canyon, and trekked the Santa Cruz in Huaraz, Peru.  It’s a continuous balance between making sure the budget lasts and splurging on once and a lifetime experiences.  

Huaraz, Peru

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Ultimate Day-Of-Travel Checklist

Every time we move from place to place we typically check a few things off the list and ensure that we have everything we need before we set out into the world without a signal. 

Crossing the Cook Straight in New Zealand

*Does the country you’re traveling to require a visa? Can you get it on arrival or do you need to apply ahead of time.

*Ensure that your bank card and bank have been set with the appropriate travel plans so that you have access to money when you arrive.

*Ensure that you either have a map of where you’re headed or perhaps you’ve downloaded Maps.Me for the region. 

*Have you written down the name and address for the accommodation you are headed to?

*Do you know the currency conversation rate of the country you’re traveling to?

*Do you have an idea of what transportation should cost before you head to a bus terminal or try to use a taxi service.

*Check that your phone charged.

*Check that you have water and snacks for any long haul journeys ahead as well as hand sanitizer and toilet paper. Buses with bathrooms won’t necessarily have toilet paper and rest stops along the way may not either. 

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Staying Safe

It’s worthy to be attentive to the possibilities of theft and violence, but it’s very very unlikely that you will come in contact with trouble on the road. We like to say that there are good people and bad people everywhere in the world, and being aware of your surroundings will help you to keep living your life outside of fear.  

Takeshita Street, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

*When you’re out walking around and exploring during the day, just take what you need; a bit of money and maybe your phone. No need to bring everything if you can keep it locked up in your hostel room.

*When touring around keep any valuable items in your front pockets or in a money belt (something that securely hides underneath your clothing). It’s easier for a thief to take from your back pockets or something hanging around your neck or waist.

*When taking public transportation keep your hands on your personal items (i.e. in your pocket if you have a phone/wallet, or step on the strap of your bag if you put it on the floor). Most often we just stand and wear our backpacks forwards which also helps create space on public transportation.

*When in restaurants don’t leave your phone out on the table. Use it when you need it and then keep it in your pocket or purse.

*Having an over the shoulder bag or a double strapped backpack is better than having just a one shoulder purse.

*If you feel the need to travel with large amounts of cash then spread it out. Tom recently discovered that putting money in his shoes has been an effective way to travel with lots of cash. Usually this is when we first go to the ATM and we have to bring it back to the hostel.

*Most importantly be aware of your surroundings. There’s not much you can personally do about the actions of others, certainly in situations of violence or terrorism, but you can certainly be aware of your environment and control how you react. When traveling in crowds, be alert to the people around you and listen to your gut instincts. It may sound crazy and hyperbolic, but if something doesn’t feel right then change your environment— exit the crowd or find a different method of transportation if you feel unsafe. 

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Itching For More Information About DIY Travel?

Greece

From the breathtaking caldera view in Santorini, the nightlife on the island Mykonos, to the ancient ruins of Athens, Greece has something to offer every tourist. This country is chalk full of adventure, delicious cuisine, picturesque moments, rich wine, tasty sweets and some of the kindest people we have met in Europe. Greece is a perfect destination for a budget vacation.

Sunset view over the caldera, Santorini City view of Athens

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Why Travel To Greece

Apart from the obvious facts of its historic status, Greece as a country and its people are a perfect excuse to travel and visit. The culture reflects a focus on food and family which plays a major part in all parts of the country from the islands to Athens. We loved all the rich flavors of meats and cheeses, freshly baked pastries, traditional dishes like moussaka, and their unique style of gyros which includes french fries wrapped in alongside all the other delicious toppings. Moving throughout the country was a treat and whether we visited a party island like Mykonos, a picturesque island like Santorini, or a locals only island like Paros we found great people and comfortable places.

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The Nitty Gritty Facts

The National of Flag Greece

Almost 11 million people live in Greece and 665,000 of them are concentrated in Athens, the capital.

Greece’s national language is Greek. 

Roughly 16.5 million tourists visit Greece each year which is more than the country's population, making up 16% of the country’s GDP. 

Athens is the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, political science, Western literature, historiography, and Western theories of tragedy and comedy.

Greece has roughly 2,000 islands, 170 of which are populated.

Continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years, Athens is one of the oldest cities in Europe.

The National currency of Greece is the Euro €. 

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Our Route

Crete — Santorini — Paros — Athens — Thessaloniki

There’s essentially two ways to approach travel in Greece: one, start from the mainland and then tour the islands or two, start from the islands and travel the mainland. From two separate trips to Greece, we highly suggest starting mainland and working towards the islands for a few different reasons. Athens and Thessaloniki are wonderful cities, full of cool places to visit, however coming from Santorini, paradise, it’s hard to take in and fully realize the beauty and potential of these places after such tranquility. Their cities are dirty and crowded, loud and somewhat of a shock after days alone on the beaches. It’s also a good idea to start in Athens, explore more of the history, freshen up on mythology and then visit places like Crete which plays a major role in Greek mythology. 

Travel by train in Greece is fun and easy. Major train stations and routes are Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, and Larissa.

Interrail pass for 3 days within one month for Greece start at €59 ($69 USD)

Eurail pass for 3 days within one month for Greece start at €101 ($118 USD)

Ferry travel in Greece include: 

Blue Star Ferries (discount with Eurail pass)

Superfast Ferries (discount with Eurail pass)

Minoan Lines (discount with Eurail pass)

Aegean Speedlines

Hellenic Seaways

Budget airlines for Greece include:

RyanAir

EasyJet

Volotea

Aegean Airlines

Vueling

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The Rugged Budget

The official currency in Greece is the Euro 1€ = $1.16 USD

Transportation for intercity trains €22— €50

Transportation for island ferries (Blue Star):

Athens — Heraklion €38 ($44 USD)

Athens — Santorini €20 ($23 USD)

Athens — Paros €20 ($23 USD)

Accommodation in a 4 bed mixed dorm in Athens €17 ($20 USD)

Private room in a 4 star hotel in Santorini €25 ($30 USD)

Beer at a bar €5 ($5.80 USD)

Beer from a shop €2 ($2.3 USD)

Gyro €2 ($2.30 USD)

Sit down restaurant €12— €24 ($15—$30 USD)

A pack of 20 cigarettes €4.20 ($5.60 USD)

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Greece From From The Scratch My Pack Lens

Sunset view over the caldera, Santorini

Oia, Santorini

The Old Port of Heraklion, Crete

Chania, Crete

Oia, Santorini

Chania, Crete

Imerovigli, Santorini

Chania, Crete

Santorini

Chania, Crete

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Helpful Hints For Traveling In Greece

Sunscreen in Greece is quite expensive, €20 on the islands, and the sun is powerful so bring your own to save yourself the change and the pain of a sunburn. 

There are bakeries everywhere in Greece where you can get a filling meal for just a few bucks. Bakeries specialize in Spanakopita (feta and spinach pies), traditional moussaka, and of course sweets like baklava and galaktoboureko. 

Because hostels in Greece aren’t the best, not as nice as other European cities, we found that hotels were actually cheaper and nicer than the listings we came across on hostelworld. 

Traveling by ATV and motorbike is the best way to get around on the islands— specifically Santorini. ATVs are affordable and accessible and give visitors the opportunity to navigate all over the island at their own convenience. 

Santorini can get quite expensive if staying in the center of the island, Fira, or the luxurious part of the island, Oia, but staying in Akrotiri, Perissa, and Imerovigli means spending less money on accommodation and food all while being only 15-30 minutes away from the picturesque parts of the island. 

Greece uses the European and Russian plug. They have sockets using 220 - 240 V so citizens from countries such as the US, Canada, and most of South America need a voltage adapter to charge their devices. 

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Activities That Won’t Scratch Your Budget

Mars Hill or Filopappos Hill, Athens: Free

It costs €20 to visit the Acropolis, which was under construction when we visited summer of 2017, but climbing either of these hills in the public park surrounding the Acropolis offers a completely free view of the Parthenon as well as a great view of the city.   

Pilgrimage From Fira to Oia, Santorini: Free

This a peaceful and scenic four-six hour walk along the Caldera in Santorini, from the center (Fira) to the northern tip (Oia) is an enjoyable afternoon activity. Hike to the very edge of the island to grab a seat amongst other backpackers to the best sunset over the Aegean sea. Buses back from Oia to Fira are €1.60.

Atlantis Books, Santorini: Free

By far one of the coolest book stores we’ve been to and it’s all housed in a cave, like most shops on the island of Santorini, except they’re home to a range of cats, dogs and travelers. Opened in 2005, by two British travelers, the bookstore is an enthralling maze of all kinds of classics and contemporary books. It’s artful and adventurous. It’s of course free to visit, but they kindly ask for a donation if you’re going to take a picture. 

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Where Did We Stay (Accommodation We Recommend)

Galatia Villas, Santorini $35/night for a private room with a double bed

This was our first taste of Santorini’s charming beauty. We loved that there were pockets of Santorini that were super affordable, like outside of Fira. The rooms here were cozy and clean. We enjoyed the location being close to Fira, but not in the congestion of town. The staff was friendly and helpful. 

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Itching For More Information About Europe?

Vietnam

With more than 10 million tourists visiting annually, Vietnam is quickly becoming one of the most travelled to countries in Southeast Asia. From the endless rice fields in northern Sapa, the ever famous limestone islands of Ha Long Bay, and the french quarter in Hanoi, to the center of the country where you will meet Da Nang - the fastest growing city in Southeast Asia, which is surrounded by multiple UNESCO World Heritage Cities like Hue, Hoi An, and My Son. Take a trip further south through the mountains of Da Lat, the beach town on Nha Trang and make your way to the biggest, fastest and most populated city of Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City. The country remains one of the cheapest in Southeast Asia and is a great starting point for a backpacking tour of Southeast Asia.

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Why Travel To Vietnam

We were captivated by almost everything is Vietnam. The country boasts beautiful beaches leading into crystal clear water, incredibly interesting history, crazy traffic, bustling nightlife, a communist government, and hardworking locals that welcome tourists with a smile, cold fresh beer and a plate of Bún Chả, a local favorite. There's much to do and see in this long and narrow country and we feel like we have just scratched the surface. We love this country for the never ending access to all sorts of landscapes and activities that fit a tight budget. Vietnam is an easy country to travel within and is one of the most accessible countries in Southeast Asia. 

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The National Flag of Vietnam

The Nitty Gritty Facts

92.7 million people live in Vietnam, 7.6 million of them live in Hanoi, the capital.

The worldwide known food, Pho, is the national dish.

Ho Chi Minh City was called Saigon until 1975 when it was renamed Ho Chi Minh City following its capture by North Vietnamese communist forces.

Vietnam has 3 major religions, Buddhism, Taoism, and Catholicism.

The war in Vietnam war started in 1954 and didn't end until 1975.

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Our Route

Hanoi — Sapa — Da Nang — Tam Ky —Hoi An — Ho Chi Minh City

Roughly a thirty two-hour journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by bus and costs around $40.

There are many stops in between these two cities (Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh in the south). Most backpackers follow this route (in one direction or the other) and stop at the different cities along the way.

The most traveled cities in Vietnam are: Hanoi, Hoi, Hoi An, Sapa, Halong Bay, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat & Mui Ne

Traveling throughout Vietnam is easy because everything is so well connected. It can be very affordable if you're ok with putting in long hours on bus rides. However, there are also regular cheap flights from the north to south or visa versa. 

Airlines for Vietnam include:

Vietnam Airlines - The flagship airline of the country

VietJet Air - A budget airline

AirAsiaX - A budget airline

Jetstar Pacific Airlines - A budget airline

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The Rugged Budget

The national currency in Vietnam is the Dong 22,800 Dong = $1 USD

Local buses $.50—$2 USD

Intercity bus $5—$25

Accommodation in a 8 bed mixed dorm $4—$6 USD

Private room in a 4 star hotel start at $20 USD

Beer at a bar $1-2 USD

Beer from a shop $.50 USD

Street food $1—$4 USD

Sit down restaurant $4— $6 USD

A pack of 20 cigarettes $3 USD

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Vietnam From The Scratch My Pack Lens

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Helpful Hints For Traveling In Vietnam

It's more economical to travel by bus, but it does take more time; a lot more time. If you have a limited amount of time to travel through the country by bus the there are a few other options. Depending on the length of your travels, where you want to go, and your route, there are flights into most of the heavily touristed cities, and Vietnam boasts a rail system that is affordable, clean and efficient. 

Apply for an E-Visa before your visit. At the beginning of 2017, Vietnam started their E-Visa program (for 25 countries) where you apply for your visa online from anywhere in the world. Before that you would have to go to a Vietnamese embassy somewhere to apply for your journey. It will cost around $25 and only needs 3-5 days for processing. After 3-5 days you can log back into the website and find your approved letter from the government. Print this out and bring it with you upon your arrival into the country. 

Buses are a cheap option for local transport, however for $5/day you can rent your own moped and be free to explore whenever you want, wherever you want. But be careful, the traffic in HCM City is brutal. Make sure you always get off to the left, the opposite side as your muffler, or you might end up with what the expats call a "Saigon Kiss" i.e. a burn on your leg from the hot exhaust. If you don't feel comfortable with a moped and buses take too long, download the Grab App. It's Uber for Vietnam: Cheap, fast and efficient. 

 Buy beer from the local shops rather than the bars or restaurants to save a bit of extra cash.

Vietnam uses the same power plug as in the United States and Europe. I.e. any plug from the US or Europe will work in Vietnam. The voltage is 220v whereas the US is 110V - so your devices may get a little warm while charging.

Ho Chi Minh City is the Bangkok of Vietnam. The ever famous Bui Vien Street is where most backpackers and tourists young and old flock to during the evening. Whether you're looking to suck down a couple nitrous balloons, drink a bucket of beers, rave until the sun comes up, take shots until you can't move, play "find the hooker", or you just want to watch other people do these things, Bui Vien Street is definitely the place to go. If this seems like too much for you, there are dozens of surrounding rooftop bars with a view of the city, complete better sounding music, cocktails instead of shots, waiters instead of an overcrowded bar, and bathrooms that you won't mind using. Of course the price changes with the new scenery as well. Whatever your fancy, nightlife in HCM City is an ever present part of what makes this city so fun and memorable.

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Activities That Won’t Scratch Your Budget

Exploring the Rice Fields, Sapa: Free - $4 USD

You have two ways of exploring Sapa, by foot or motorbike. We personally prefer motorbike because the area is vast and there is lots to see. We rented a motorbike from our homestay for $4 a day and were able to explore all day, discovering lonely dirt roads, water buffalo walking the road, children playing in the rain and breathtaking views overlooking the surrounding rice fields. 

Women's Museum, Hanoi: $1.50 USD

This is a great museum that boasts five levels of women's history. Each floor has a different theme: fashion, war, marriage, motherhood, and daily life. This museum gives you a great insight into the role the Vietnamese women play in the country and in history. Give yourself about 2-3 hours to enjoy everything it has to offer. You can purchase an audio headset for an additional 50,000 dong, but we don't find it necessary as there are explanations for everything you see.

Hỏa Lò Prison Museum, Hanoi: $1.50 USD

Hỏa Lò Prison was a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War. This museum (which still looks like a prison) exudes Vietnamese propaganda and is full of pictures, videos and audio stories that will almost make you change the way you think about Vietnam history. 

Watch the Dragon Bridge breath fire and spit water, Da Nang: Free

This is super awesome. Every Saturday and Sunday, the Dragon Bridge will close down at 9pm. At around 9:05 the dragon will breathe fire for about 5 minutes and then spit water for about 10 minutes. This is a really cool sight so make sure to bring your camera but don't stand to close or you will get drenched.

Lady Buddha & Monkey Mountain, Da Nang: Free

This beautiful white statue of Lady Buddha is taller than Lady Liberty in New York. It is surrounded by Monkey Mountain where you can drive your motorbike for hours searching for monkeys or making your way to the very top for a 360 degree view of Da Nang and the ocean. 

Relax on the Beach, Da Nang or Hoi An: Free

Da Nang and Hoi An boast some of the best beaches in Vietnam. Head to the beach and grab a chair under an umbrella for 50,000 Dong ($2USD) or order drinks or food and your chair is free.

Take a ride down the Thu Bon River, Hoi An: $5 USD

This is a rather famous tourist attraction in Hoi An. You can take a long-boat, boat ride down the river either during the day or at night when the city is lit up with lights and floating candles in the water.

Weekend Street Markets, Almost every city: Free

Almost every city you go to i Vietnam boasts a weekend street market. The market in Hanoi in especially long but every market you may go to will feature roughly the same things: lots of food & drink, clothes, souvenirs, and electronics. This is a fun way to interact with locals, try street food, take some action shots with your camera, and practise you bartering skills. 

Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City: $20.00 

 The tunnels are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels and were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War. The tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters. The tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces, and helped to counter the growing American military effort.

War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City :Cost $0.75

The museum comprises a series of themed rooms in several buildings, with period military equipment placed within a walled yard. One building reproduces the "tiger cages" in which the South Vietnamese government kept political prisoners. Other exhibits include graphic photography, covering the effects of Agent Orange and other chemical defoliant sprays, the use of napalm and  bombs, and war atrocities such as the My Lai massacre. Curiosities include a guillotine and three jars of preserved human fetuses deformed by exposure to Agent Orange.

Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral of Asia, Ho Chi Minh City: Free

Established by French colonists who initially named it Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saïgon, the cathedral was constructed between 1863 and 1880. It has two bell towers, reaching a height of 58 meters. During October 2005, the statue was reported to have shed tears, attracting thousands of people and forcing authorities to stop traffic around the Cathedral. 

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Where Did We Stay (Accommodation We Recommend)

 Chien Hostel, Hanoi $5/night for a 20 bed mixed dorm

This hostel is in the center of the old town, minutes away from the lake. The hostel features a free breakfast buffet (which includes eggs, fresh fruit, fried rice, noodles, toast, coffee, and juice). They also give out FREE BEER three times a day for 15 minutes increments. The hostel has wonderful staff, great air-con that is always on, a raging social scene, three rooftop patios, comfortable beds, and is only $5/night.

 Barney's Hostel, Da Nang $6/night for a 6 bed mixed dorm

We love this hostel. It is a little far away from everything else in Da Nang, so a motorbike rental is necessary (which they can set that up for you), but is right on the Han River and a five minute ride away from the beach. This hostel has some of the best staff we have ever come across in a hostel, a rooftop patio overlooking the river and surrounding city, lush bathrooms, huge beds, a nice common area and a How I met Your Mother theme. 

ZiZi Mekhoo Sapa Homestay, Sapa $6/night for a 8 person dorm

Zizi (the owner) and Meria (who is in charge of hospitality and communication between guests and family) are both really great! They both go out of there way to help you with anything you need and are sure to help you make the most of your stay in Sapa. You are 8km away from town staying in a little village with a real rice farming family so you will need a motor bike, but the family can set that up for you. When you arrive it is clear you enter their world, not the other way around. The house can be dusty, the area loud, & the bathroom a bit dirty, because you are living with a real family, not staying at a hotel. The family dinners and breakfast are amazing and include pancakes, coffee and a huge dinner buffet with multiple food options. This is a true and unique experience.

Mina Le Villa, Hoi An $17/night for a private

Hoi An is very touristy and features lots of accommodation options. We stayed at a hostel and thought is was barely average and didn't want to pay $8/night for a better hostel. Instead we decided to spend the same amount of money we would spend on a better hostel and get a private room. This place was amazing. It was about a 15 minute walk from the crazy part of the city (keep in mind this is a really small city, it shouldn't even be called a city). We had a huge room that features a balcony overlooking the river and road, a huge bathroom, king size bed, tv, mini fridge and floor to ceiling windows. It was a really comfortable room and a nice change of pace from the craziness of Hoi An. 

Vy Da Backpackers, Ho Chi Minh City $9/night for a 10 bed mixed dorm or $47/night for a private twin room

"Vy Da Backpackers Hostel is a hub for travellers who wish to meet new people and share stories of their journey around the world. We are located in the heart of Saigon, only a 3-minute walk from Ben Thanh Market and Reunification Palace, the most happening area in the city. Staying at our hostel, you will have full experience of the local perspective as you will get to explore around easily."

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