Vietnam, located in Southeast Asia, boasts a rich history, stunning landscapes, and incredible street food, making it a dream destination for any traveler. If you are from Bangladesh and seeking a budget-friendly international adventure, Vietnam should be at the top of your list. Vietnam can make it to the top of your list. This guide can provide you with the steps to accommodate a budget-friendly tour to Vietnam. The following guide provides procedures for visas, flights, food, sightseeing, and staying.
Obtaining Vietnam Visa
Bangladeshi citizens need to obtain a visa to visit Vietnam. There are two primary ways to secure a visa:
E-Visa: Bangladeshi citizens can obtain a multiple-entry e-visa, which is valid for 90 days. The applications can be processed online through the online portals:
National web portal on immigration
Ministry of Public Securities Service Portal
The visa fees and the standard processing depend on the service providers. The processing time can take 3-5 working days. Some agencies can charge up to USD 63 for a single-entry 30-day visa, including government fees.
Visa on arrival: To obtain a visa on arrival, you need to have an approval letter from a certified Vietnamese travel agency before departure. Upon arrival in Vietnam, you need to show your approval letter to get your visa stamped. The service for the visa processing would be around $150, and the stamping fee would be $25 for a single-entry trip.
You need to ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months from your arrival date and has at least two blank pages.
Budget flights
Several airlines operate flights from Dhaka to major Vietnamese cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. You can take flights to airlines like AirAsia via Kuala Lumpur or Thai Airways via Thailand. Or you can even go to Thailand; first stay there for a few days and enjoy the diversity and beauty of Thailand, and then you can take flights from Thailand to Vietnam.
A round-trip ticket from Dhaka to Vietnam can cost you around 25,000 to 35,000 BDT if you book in advance. You can get the best deals if you book the flight tickets 2-3 months prior to the trip.
Budget accommodation
You need to ensure a suitable accommodation is covered in the budget to conduct a comfortable tour. Vietnam offers a wide range of budget accommodations to travelers. For instance, there are hotels, Airbnbs and homestays typically ranging from $5 to $25 per night.
In major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, some recommendations for accommodations would be Hanoi Backpackers Hostel, Old Quarter View Hanoi Hostel, Saigon Cozy Hotel, Long Hostel, Rom Casa Hostel, and Minh Boutique Hotel.
Getting around cheaply
Getting around in Vietnam can be very easy and affordable. Vietnam has a very well-connected transportation system. You can take public buses to move from one place to another at a cheap fare of $0.30 to $1; you can also use Grab as a cheaper and more convenient alternative to taxis. You can even rent bikes for a day to move around and for sightseeing.
Affordable food options
Vietnam has a diverse and affordable culinary scene. You can have traditional Vietnamese food at a very affordable price. Some must-try dishes are:
Pho, which is a noodle soup. And you can have it for approximately $2-$3. You can also try Banh Mi, which is a Vietnamese sandwich, for $1/$2. Again, there are street food stalls and local eateries known as “quánthat offer authentic food for $1-$5.
Sightseeing
Vietnam offers a marvelous landscape for sightseeing at a very affordable cost or even for free. Some sights in Hanoi are free, like the Hoan Kiem Lake, Old Quarter, and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. In Ho Chi Minh City, you can visit Ben ThanhMarket for free and the War Remnants Museum for $2. You can also visit My Khe Beach and Marble Mountain in Da Nang. You can sail on a budget-friendly cruise at Ha Long Bay for only $30.
Following this guide, you will need approximately BDT 50,000-70,000 to have a budget-friendly tour to Vietnam. You will have to make some preparations to conduct the tour on budget. Like reserving flights and lodging in advance to secure the best rates, utilizing public transportation and ride-sharing applications to travel around at a reasonable cost, dining at street food vendors and local eateries to experience authentic cuisine for value, negotiating at local stores for the best offers, and journeying with a group to distribute the expenses.
An international does not need to be expensive. There are countries near Bangladesh, like Vietnam, offering cultural diversity, rich history, and magnificent landscapes at an affordable budget. You just need to plan properly to travel without breaking the bank.
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Writer
Zabin Tasmin
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE