You’ve made a decision. You want to see the rolling hills of Sapa, the motorbike-filled streets of Ho Chi Minh and the Old Quarter markets of Hanoi (or you’ve read our Vietnam tourism statistics article, and you’re feeling inspired). Not only that, but you’ve even got a list of attractions you want to visit, but there might still be one question lingering in your mind.
Do I need a tour guide for Vietnam? Each of our travel styles is different, as is the amount of time we have away, so for some, a local tour guide in Vietnam is a win-win. For others, not so much. Vietnam tour guides can create some of your best memories in this country, but more on that later. For now, let’s go over why you should, and shouldn’t hire a Vietnam travel companion.
The Benefits Of A Vietnam Tour Guide
A local tour guide in Vietnam can be well worth your time, saving you hassle, and money and allowing you to see more of the city that you actually want to see. Here are some reasons to book a tour guide that might align with you:
You’ll Save Time & Money
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Time: If you only have a short period of time in Vietnam or a particular city, your guide can make sure you visit only the locations you want, such as the Temple of Literature, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and St. Joseph Cathedral in Hanoi, which are all within walking distance of each other. If you book a large group tour, you might visit locations you’re not interested in, so a personalized tour can save you time.
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Money: We all know that time is money, so spending your time researching locations, only to get there and realize that the venue or activities that weren’t listed online. With a local guide that knows the rates on the ground, you avoid hidden fees, and might get a few discounts along the way.
You’ll See Locations Only Locals See: Our private tour guides in Ho Chi Minh took us on the back of their motorbikes and showed us dining locations we would have never had the confidence or the knowledge to go to, such as a small Bahn mi store on the side of a roundabout and an absolutely delicious bun bo restaurant tucked away in an alleyway. Food was included in the tour, so everything was convenient, and the tour was the highlight of our trip.
You’ll Learn More Than The Surface Of The City: A private tour guide can tailor their locations and information to your interests. For example, we enjoyed history, so our guide took us to the oldest residence area of Ho Chi Minh and explained how the families live communally. Such intricate information was something we would have learned, otherwise, and really gave us an understanding of life in the city.
Travel Q&A: Can you go to Vietnam only speaking English? While it’s always respectful to go to a country with some knowledge of their language, such as hello, excuse me and thank you, in Vietnam, especially the tourist locations, you don’t need to speak Vietnamese. While most people aren’t fluent, more than half the population speak some English (Vietnam ranks number 58 out of 113 in proficiency for non-native English-speaking countries) and you won’t need to worry about getting lost in translation.
When Are Private Tour Guides Not Worth It?
As we mentioned at the start, sometimes, a tour guide might not suit your needs. Each of our travel situations is different, so if these points match you, then you may not need to book a guide.
You Enjoy Letting Your Feet Guide You: In Vietnam, we followed a crowd in Ho Chi Minh and stumbled upon Bui Vien Street, a beer and bar street filled with music that gets PACKED. Nearby, we wandered down some stairs and found a local underground food court, places we wouldn’t have known we would have enjoyed. So if you prefer to let your feet guide you and don’t mind getting lost in the action, you might not need a guide.
You’re Confident In Your Self Navigation Skills In Vietnam: It’s super easy to get a data sim at the airport, which allows you to use maps to find your way around. You can use Grab to book a motorbike or taxi to travel around, too, which is all done with the click of a button. If you ever feel like going somewhere that’s a bit out of the way, such as Ninh Bình, you can use mobile navigation and transport apps to create a spontaneous tour. So if you’re used to using navigation tools and don’t mind spending extra time doing this, you can.
English Is Widely Spoken: As mentioned above, English is spoken by many in Vietnam, especially in the cities. While they might not be the most fluent (we were constantly passing people saying “Hello, masa?” meaning, ‘Hello, do you want a massage?’), you won’t struggle speaking to people or asking for directions. The locals there are so incredibly friendly, and they’re happy to chat as they also want to practice their English, so it’s a win-win!
Travel Q&A: Can you tour Vietnam on your own? While booked private tours can get you to some incredible destinations, give exclusivity, and are more convenient than organizing a day tour of your own, like a bike ride through Ninh Binh, Vietnam can also be navigated with planning, research, time taken, and open-mindedness. It just depends on how you want to travel.
How Do I Hire A Guide In Vietnam?
Is it easy to book tours in Vietnam? Very much so, and we’ll show you through these three simple steps:
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Check out our Vietnam local guides page. If you already know where you want to go (like Ben Thanh Market, the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Tower in Ho Chi Minh City), choose guides who specialize in those areas. Look for guides with good reviews, who have good set itineraries, and who seem interesting.
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Once you find a guide you like, you have a few options. If there's a tour with an already perfect itinerary, you can book it right away by clicking ‘Reserve’. If you have specific places you want to visit or things you want to skip, just click the blue ‘Message’ button and fill in the details (tour date, tour time, guest number and any other preferences). Then press “Send A Message”.
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Now that you’re chatting with the guide, you can personalize your tour — that benefit we’ve been talking about! Share who you're traveling with and any preferences you and your group have (locations to visit, food allergies, or something you really want to eat). Once the guide has all the information needed, they’ll create a custom tour just for you. Go over the details, and if you like what you see, press the “Book Tour” button, and would you look at that? You’ve hired a guide in Vietnam!
Welcome To Vietnam: Tips & Tricks For A Smooth Tour
Alright, so you’ve decided a guided tour of Vietnam is for you. Here are some tips and tricks to make the experience worthwhile.
Keeping Comfortable: What To Carry/Buy In Vietnam
In Vietnam, make sure you have travel insurance and are up-to-date with your vaccinations. You might also want to bring:
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Insect repellant to ward off mosquitos and the risk of malaria and dengue fever
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Ibuprofen
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Sunscreen
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Diarrhea treatment
If you’re extremely unwell, hospitals in the major cities have English-speaking staff, so you don’t need to be too stressed if anything occurs.
Loving The Language: Phrases to Try Out
If you do want to learn some Vietnamese to help you get around, I’ve compiled some phrases that will help!
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Hello: Xin chào! (sin chow!)
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Goodbye: Tạm biệt (tarm byeet)
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Thank you: Cảm ơn bạn (gahm un ban)
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Please: Làm ơn (lam uhhn)
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You’re welcome: Không có gì (khome co xi)
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How are you? = Bạn khỏe không? (ban kwe khome?)
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I’m fine, thank you! = Tôi khỏe, cám ơn! (thoy kwe cam on)
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Yes: Vâng (vung)
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No: Không (khome)
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Good: Tốt (thote)
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Bad: Xấu (szoh)
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Excuse me: Xin lỗi (seen loy)
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Can you help me?: Bạn có thể giúp tôi được không? (ban co teh zoop thoy duc khom?)
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How much?: Bao nhiêu? (baow nyew)
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Can you reduce the price?: Bạn có thể giảm giá? (Ban co teh zam za)
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Where is the bathroom? = nhà vệ sinh ở đâu
The Guide To Guides In Vietnam: Dos and Don’ts
Dos:
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Communicate With Your Guide The Day Before: Know exactly what they’re offering so you go into the tour with the right expectations. You should know where you’re visiting, if you’re stopping anywhere to eat, or if you’re heading inside a venue, like the pink church, Tan Dinh Church, in Ho Chi Minh.
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When Touring Sacred Places, Wear Modest Clothing: You don’t want your guide to be uncomfortable when they ask you to wear something over your legs or shoulders. If you’ve booked a guide, there’s a high chance you’re going to sacred places, which require respect.
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Tip Your Guide If You Enjoyed The Tour: While tipping isn’t necessary in Vietnam, if your guide has taken the time to tailor your tour to your interests, and you feel they’ve done a phenomenal job, be sure to show your appreciation.
Travel Q&A: How much do you tip a day tour guide in Vietnam?
In Vietnam, keep it simple with tipping — either skip it or be generous. A tiny tip might be seen as rude. The amount depends on how good the service is and if you're happy — but starting at 200,000 to 400,000 VND (around $8 to $16 USD) per day is a good idea.
Don’ts:
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Suddenly Change The Itinerary While On The Tour: Yes, it’s private, and customizable, but your guide has put in the effort to plan this tour according to destinations you want to see, and asking them to take a sudden detour can make them feel nervous and frazzled, especially if where you want to go is far/not safe or not fully accessible.
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Asking Your Tour Guide To Only Take You To High-End Locations: Especially with street food, because this is where you truly experience the local culture. Make sure to bring small denominations of Vietnamese dong for a quick shopping experience and sample everyday street culture.
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Talking About War Or Politics: Unless you’re on a history tour, don’t ask your guide for their opinions on sensitive and emotionally charged topics, especially regarding the Vietnam War and political history. It can lead to awkward and clashing conversations.
Ready To Go? Here Are Some Tours to Explore!
Guides and tours can truly make all the difference to your trip, as they allow you to have cultural experiences you wouldn’t have had otherwise. Here are some that might pique your interest:
The Highlight of Vietnam: If you’re after a tour in Ho Chi Minh, Saigon, Ha Long and more, these day tours take you through the largest cities in Vietnam, showing you the wet market, Chinatown, a boat ride, the war remnant museum as well as many other locations while you walk around. It’s a bit of everything!
Tasty Food Tours By Scooter, Walking & More!: Be amongst the energetic city traffic on the back of a scooter through Hanoi’s streets, stopping in different districts and seeing the sights while tasting some of the best foods the city has to offer.
Half-Day Beautiful Coastal Nha Trang City Tour: See what Nha Trang is all about, witnessing musical performances, its historic architecture, attractions like the Cathedral and Long Son Pagoda as well as a picturesque view of the whole city.
Hanoi Full-Day Highlight City Tour: These Hanoi tours are perfect if you don’t have long in the city and want to see all you can. See sights like Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature and the Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology, along with lunch at a local restaurant.
It’s time to book some of the best Vietnam tour guides! That way, you get to truly experience what Vietnam has to offer and bring home lasting memories.