Vegan North & Central Vietnam: A Culinary & Cultural Adventure (2026)

We do realize our prices seem high.   However, when compared to many other tours to the region, we are actually comparatively priced when you take into account that our trips include all meals (and vegan to boot!) and drinks, all the tips for drivers and local guides, and many other extras like a amenities/essentials bag, a free laundry day and the support of 2 full time tour leaders (most tours have only one).

It’s also worth noting that there aren’t many 100% fully vegan tours to Vietnam.  Veganism is still somewhat of a new concept, despite their cuisine being very vegetarian-friendly at its base.   Our trip cost does factor in the lengthy and hard work done with all our hotels, restaurants and local partners in educating and preparing them for our visit (meals, advocacy, toiletries, etc), which is far beyond any tasks that other tour companies are faced with.  This work begins several months before the trip, and approaches full-time hours around 2-3 months prior to the trip’s start date.

We also realize that for many, these types of trips are something they’ve dreamed about for many years.  As such, we’ve constructed an itinerary that will make this trip truly memorable in regards to our accommodation, meals, and choice of activities.   

Absolutely!   We have many people on our trip that sign up as solo travelers.   ​Please see our COST & SIGN-UP section for more information. 

FLIGHTS
You are in charge of your own transportation — whether it be flights, train, bus, car, etc. — to our starting city, and your return transportation from our departure city. 

For your arrival, we ask that you try and arrive early on the first day, as our first meeting tends to be in the early afternoon.  This exact time and place will be confirmed at a later date, but do plan ahead adequately to leave you enough time to get to our meeting place by that time.  Even better is arriving one or more days before.  This would provide you with a chance to take care of jet-lag and visit the town.

Please note that your transportation to our first meeting point is not included.  

VISAS

Most travelers joining us—especially from the USA, Canada, Australia, and many other countries—will need a visa to enter Vietnam. The easiest option is to apply for an e-visa online, which is available for single or multiple entry and allows stays of up to 90 days.

However, some nationalities do not require a visa for short stays. For example, citizens of the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and several other countries can enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days for tourism purposes.

Once you’re booked on the trip, we’ll send you detailed guidance tailored to your nationality, including how to apply for a visa if needed. The process is straightforward, and we’re here to help every step of the way.

TRAVEL/MEDICAL INSURANCE

Medical travel insurance is mandatory on our trip.    We need to have assurances that you are fully covered in the event of a medical emergency, including repatriation.  You will need to send us your policy detail and emergency contact number before the trip’s start date.

Trip Insurance (trip cancellation, lost baggage, etc.), on the other hand, is entirely up to you, though we highly recommend purchasing it.  It often comes packaged along with medical travel insurance, or you may get coverage simply by paying for the trip using a credit card (inquire with your card supplier). 

As we are not a travel agency or booking agents, we can’t book any flights or ongoing travel (ie hotels, transportation, etc) for you. However we can surely help with recommendations, suggestions and tips as you look into flights, or extending your holiday. It never hurts to ask, so don’t hesitate to contact us with any queries whatsoever!

Vietnam is large enough to have several distinct climate zones, and we will visit two during our trip.

The North experiences a transition from cooler, dry winter to warmer, more humid summer in late March and early April. You can expect mild to warm temperatures, generally ranging from 15-25°C (59-77°F) in March and slightly higher in April. There should be lower humidity and clearer skies, with only occasional rain showers. This is a favorable time for exploring the northern regions and enjoying outdoor activities.

In the Central regions, the Hải Vân Pass separates slightly different weather patterns, but late March and early April fall within the generally warm and dry season for this area, particularly south of the Pass in places like Đà Nẵng and Hoi An. It will be warm to hot, with temperatures in Đà Nẵng typically ranging from 21-31°C (70-87°F). This period is excellent for visiting the beaches and historical sites in Central Vietnam, with minimal rainfall expected.

While we don’t have a luggage restriction on this trip, we recommend you not to bring more than 1 suitcase per person. You will need to carry your bags only from the bus to the hotel a few times, but also when you arrive/leave at airports.  You should still make sure you can lift it by yourself (ie it’s not too heavy).

We do have one free laundry included on the trip, so hopefully this can help in not over-packing. Laundry will also be available on other days at a fee.

In terms of clothing, it’s a good idea to bring some late-summer garb, such as light cotton pants, t-shirts, etc. It will get hotter when we get to Hoi An, so you should bring summer clothes.

Don’t forget a swimsuit as our hotels have a pool, and we’ll also stop by the beach in Hoi An.  A hat and/or umbrella is a good idea to block off the sun.

A sweater or light jacket for the cooler evenings up north is a good idea. A rain jacket or a small umbrella could prove useful.

Do bring some comfortable, but sturdy, shoes, as we have many walking tours. 

• Other essentials should include:
• sunglasses
• Cameras and plenty of batteries and storage cards is a must.
• sunscreen lotion

We will be sending an info packet several weeks before the trip that will include, amongst other bits of information, a packing list.

Your phone should work in Vietnam, provided you have an international roaming package from your home carrier, or you can purchase a local SIM card once you land in Vietnam.  We will send you all pertinent information once you book the trip. 

Yes, our hotel has WIFI, and we will also have internet connection on-board our coaches. For the latter, connection speeds may vary, as will the connection itself.

We provide all accommodation, transportation and meals. All expenses during our included activities are taken care of, including tips for guides and drivers.

You will then only need cash for extra purchases such as souvenirs, extra drinks outside of what’s included, extra snacks, etc. There are ATMs in every town and credit cards are accepted in many places. This mostly means Visa and MasterCard, with American Express having quite a lower acceptance rate outside of hotels and higher-end restaurants.

The tour leaders will be carrying extra cash. If you decide to go on an optional activity at the last minute but don’t have enough money, we will be able to help you out and you can simply pay us back when we find an ATM.

Tipping hotel and restaurant staff is not necessary and entirely up to you.

If you have any specific dietary needs or food preferences, we kindly ask you to contact Brighde at [email protected] before finalizing your booking. Please provide her with detailed information about your dietary needs or preferences, and ensure you receive a written response from Brighde before finalizing your trip booking. Your cooperation and understanding in this matter are greatly appreciated.

Please note that any additional requests made after the booking has been completed might not be able to be accommodated.

We have some guided walking tours around Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An, and a short walk in hills and possibly jungle when tracking the Langurs. Overall, nothing too strenuous or difficult, but you should be able to walk a few hours a day. 

Youth above 16 years young are welcome.    We are currently not accepting any younger children. ​

There’s no upper age limit, though do note that there is a fair amount of walking on this trip. 

We will provide water, juice, coffee, tea, some cocktails and wine/beer during lunches and all dinners and some activities. We will make it clear what’s included and what’s not. Premium alcoholic drinks (ie expensive cognac, whiskey, champagne, etc) are not included. You can pay for those on the spot or sign it to the room and pay when checking out.

World Vegan Travel aims to be a safe place for all LGBTQ travelers. We have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination of any sort.

Vietnam is a relatively hassle-free destination for LGBTQIA+ travelers. In recent years, the country has made positive strides recognizing the role of the LGBTQIA+ community. Same-sex relationships and same-sex sexual acts are legal, and a ban on same-sex marriages was lifted in in January 2015. Viet Pride marches take place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and gay characters appear in mainstream television and films.

Still, Vietnam is not perfect and very much remains a socially conservative nation.  Travelers, however, are typically exempt from social stigma and usually find Vietnam to be an extremely hospitable and welcoming destination. While displays of affection will likely draw disapproving glares, the same holds true for straight couples. 

As long as LGBTQIA+ travelers display some discretion and respect local culture, they will have no problem visiting Vietnam.