Sam and Rach Travel

Getting around Vietnam is actually much easier than most first-time visitors expect. Whether you’re travelling between cities or exploring locally, Vietnam has plenty of affordable transport options including Grab, domestic flights, sleeper trains and buses. The traffic can definitely be a culture shock at first, especially in cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, but once you understand how it works, travelling around Vietnam becomes much easier. Here are the main things to know about transport in Vietnam before you arrive. Using Grab Instead Of Taxis We would highly recommend downloading Grab as soon as you arrive in Vietnam. Grab is basically Southeast Asia’s version of Uber and is by far the easiest way to get around. Download it before arriving and connect your card so you’re ready at the airport and can avoid the taxi queues. Make sure you also have your eSIM ready so you are not stuck trying to use airport wifi and can find the details of your accomodation as ea...

If you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh City and want to explore more of Vietnam beyond the busy streets and traffic, two of the most popular day trips are the Mekong Delta and the Cu Chi Tunnels. Both tours are easy to book and offer a completely different experience from the city, giving you the chance to see more local life, beautiful scenery and Vietnam’s fascinating history. Your options are to do each tour on separate days for a longer and more in-depth experience, or combine both into one big full-day adventure through this tour! Book the combined Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta tour here Mekong Delta The Mekong Delta is one of the most popular day trips from Ho Chi Minh City. It is known for peaceful rivers, coconut trees, floating markets and local village life. Most tours include: A boat ride through the canals Tropical fruit tasting Coconut candy factories Traditional Vietnamese music Seeing the Mekong Delta River and its communities is a great way to expe...

First of all, congratulations. You are all now millionaires. The Vietnamese currency is Vietnamese Dong, also called VND, and the numbers can feel absolutely ridiculous at first. Don’t panic when you withdraw 3,000,000 VND from the ATM and suddenly feel like a billionaire. As people who have lived in Vietnam for over a year now, trust us when we say it takes a while for your brain to adjust. Understanding Vietnamese Dong The numbers in Vietnam can feel completely overwhelming at first, especially if you’re visiting from countries like Australia, the UK, Europe or the US. 100,000 VND is only about $5 USD or £3 GBP 1,000,000 VND sounds terrifying but is actually very normal to carry around Street food might cost 30,000-70,000 VND A coffee is often around 40,000-60,000 VND After a few days your brain weirdly adjusts and suddenly spending 500,000 VND doesn’t feel stressful anymore. Cash vs Card In Vietnam Vietnam is becoming far ...

When booking your Kinabatangan River Trip, the most important thing is choosing who to trust in showing you what is one of the most amazing places in the world. Our Kinabatangan River Cruise with Sukau Greenview was one of the greatest trips we've done in our lifetime. The whole experience gives you a true appreciation for our earth and the incredible wildlife that lives on it in a genuine jungle experience. Seeing animals like pygmy elephants, orangutans and rhinoceros hornbills in the wild is something you can really only do in Borneo, and with a bit of luck you may even spot all of the famous Borneo Big 5.  What's important now is choosing the right company. If you want to see our full experience, you can watch our Kinabatangan River vlog here . Why We Chose The Kinabatangan River When researching Borneo, the Kinabatangan River was the experience that stood out the most to us. The chance to see wildlife in its natural habitat rather than in a zoo or sanctu...

Planning a day in Sandakan? You cannot leave without visiting the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and its neighbour, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Located just 40 minutes outside of town and right next to each other, these two Borneo wildlife sanctuaries are the perfect addition to your Kinabatangan River Cruise trip. If you are visiting Sabah in Borneo and want to see orangutans and sun bears in a way that feels ethical, educational and conservation-focused, this is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. Quick Facts For Visiting Sepilok Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Sun Bear Conservation Centre Price 30 MYR + 10 MYR camera fee 50 MYR Payment Cash only Cash/card when we visited Best time to visit Morning and afternoon feeding sessions Over lunch between orangutan sessions Feeding/viewing times 9:30am, ...

Our Kinabatangan River Cruise was one of the greatest trips we've done in our lifetime. The whole experience gives you a true appreciation for our earth and the incredible wildlife that lives on it in a genuine jungle experience. Seeing animals like pygmy elephants, orangutans and rhinoceros hornbills in the wild is something you can really only do in Borneo, and with a bit of luck you may even spot all of the famous Borneo Big 5. If you want to see our full experience, you can watch our Kinabatangan River vlog here . Why We Chose The Kinabatangan River When researching Borneo, the Kinabatangan River was the experience that stood out the most to us. The chance to see wildlife in its natural habitat rather than in a zoo or sanctuary felt incredibly special. The Kinabatangan River is one of the best places in Southeast Asia to spot wildlife in the wild, particularly proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, crocodiles and orangutans. We chose to stay with Sukau Greenv...

Here’s exactly how we spent 24 hours in Singapore, including Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Marina Bay and some of our favourite food spots. For many travellers, including us, Singapore is often a stopover on the way to somewhere else. This has meant the city has to wow you as quickly as possible, and it definitely succeeds. We arrived in Singapore late on a Tuesday night, with the whole next day as our time to spend exploring as much as we could. We immediately noticed how clean, calm and walkable the city is. This was an immediate tick for travellers like us as it made it so easy to explore without having to find transport everywhere, particularly given the price of Singapore compared to other countries in the region. But given we only had about 24 hours, we had to quickly get our walking shoes on, and this is what we saw. If you want to see our trip, you can watch our Singapore vlog here . This was our first ever vlog, as you may be able to tell! S...

If you plan on visiting markets in Vietnam, especially places like Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, just know that bargaining is completely normal and expected. Markets in Vietnam are fun, chaotic and definitely part of the experience, but it helps to know how bargaining works before you go. The First Price Is Rarely The Final Price The first price is very rarely the final price, especially in tourist markets. Vendors often start higher because they expect people to negotiate.  For bigger ticket items (1,000,000vnd+) you can often counter their first offer with 50% or less of what they begin with. Ben Thanh Market Tips Ben Thanh Market is one of the most famous markets in Vietnam and is definitely worth visiting, even just for the experience. You’ll find: Clothes Bags Souvenirs Shoes Snacks Coffee Literally anything you can think of That being said, it is very touristy and prices are usually heavily inflated for foreigners. ...

One of the best parts about visiting Vietnam is definitely the food. We genuinely think Vietnam has some of the best food in the world, and one of our favourite things to do is wander around and try random local places. Honestly, some of the best meals we’ve had here have been sitting on tiny plastic stools on the side of the road. If you want some more comfortable Vietnamese locations, check out Bep Me In or Hoang Tam in HCMC, but this is what you should look for on any menu; Bun Cha One of our personal favourites. Bun Cha is grilled pork served with noodles, herbs and a sweet, savoury dipping broth. It is especially famous in Hanoi and so good. If you only try one thing in Hanoi, make it Bun Cha. Pho Pho is Vietnam’s most famous dish. It is a noodle soup usually made with beef or chicken and is honestly perfect at any time of day. Banh Mi Banh Mi is a Vietnamese baguette filled with meats, pâté, herbs, pickled vegetables, chilli and sauces. It is cheap, q...

Ho Chi Minh City is huge, so where you stay honestly makes a massive difference to your experience. If it is your first time visiting, choosing a comfortable and central hotel can make the whole trip feel much easier. Where Should You Stay In Ho Chi Minh City? For first-time visitors, we would personally recommend staying somewhere central in District 1 so you can easily walk to cafés, restaurants, bars, markets and tourist attractions. Vietnam also has accommodation for literally every budget, from backpacker hostels to some of the fanciest hotels we’ve ever seen. Our Hotel Recommendations There are lots of flash hotels in this city, many of which are chains worldwide, like the Sheraton or the Hilton We’ve put together a list of 13 hotels we have seen and would personally recommend across a range of budgets and locations, including: Luxury stays Mid-range hotels Budget-friendly options Rooftop pool hotels Best areas for first-...

Choosing where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City can completely change your trip. The city is huge, busy and full of very different neighbourhoods, so picking the right area makes everything feel much easier, especially if it is your first time visiting Vietnam. Understanding Ho Chi Minh City’s Districts 📍 Ho Chi Minh City is made up of lots of different districts and each one has a completely different vibe. We’ve included the districts we think are worth knowing about before you book your stay. District 1 The main tourist hub filled with rooftop bars, nightlife, shopping, markets, cafés and many of the city’s biggest attractions. If it is your first time in Vietnam, this is our number 1 recommendation. District 2 / Thao Dien A trendy expat area known for brunch cafés, boutique gyms, western restaurants and a much more relaxed atmosphere. This is where we live, and it has a very different feel to the centre of the city. District 3 A quieter and more local-feel...

Vietnam Travel Guide: Everything To Know Before Visiting Vietnam  Planning a trip to Vietnam can feel a little overwhelming at first, especially if it is your first time visiting. From where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City to what food to try, how to cross the road, what apps to download and where to travel afterwards, this guide covers the things we wish every visitor knew before arriving. Vietnam Travel Guide: Everything To Know Before Visiting Vietnam  Planning a trip to Vietnam can feel a little overwhelming at first, especially if it is your first time visiting. From where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City to what food to try, how to cross the road, what apps to download and where to travel afterwards, this guide covers the things we wish every visitor knew before arriving. Understanding Ho Chi Minh City’s Districts 📍 Ho Chi Minh City is huge, and where you stay can completely change the feel of your trip. Ho Chi Minh City is made up of lots of different dist...