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Gecko Travel & Tours offers you luxury, private tours in Cape Town and the Garden Route, shuttle services and airport shuttle services in Cape Town and the Garden Route as well as Otter Trail transfers and other stunning hikes done by our knowledgeable and passionate tour guides.

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Gecko Travel and Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Gecko Transport & Tours

Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, South Africa

With Gecko Tours your holiday safari in the Garden Route will reach more than your expectations. Gecko Transport & Tours offers you the ideal way to see the Garden Route. Our private, luxurious tour and transport services are safe and dependable, but best of all, it`s flexible… we go where you want to go and stop where you want to stop!

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• Option 1 Plettenberg Bay, South Africa Plettenberg Bay (Ultra City)
• Option 2 Knysna, South Africa Knysna (Knysna Quays Hotel)
• Option 3 George, South Africa George (BP Garage, N2)
• Option 4 Mossel Bay, South Africa Mossel Bay (Ultra City)
• Option 5 Riversdale, South Africa Riverdale (Engen Garage)
• Option 6 Swellendam, 6740, South Africa Swellendam (BP Garage, N2)
• Option 7 Caledon, 7230, South Africa Caledon (Caltex Garage)
• Option 8 Somerset West, Cape Town, South Africa Somerset West (Sasol garage opposite mall)
• Option 9 Stellenbosch, South Africa Stellenbosch (Old Station)
• Option 10 Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa Bellville (McDonald's, Durban Rd, across from Tyger Valley Mall)
• Option 11 Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town (Waterfront Caltex)
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Near public transportation
• Infant seats available
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 13 travellers
• All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

• GoPlaces26138040836 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The Jewel of The Garden Route What a wonderful trip! I used Gecko Tours to travel from Plettenberg Bay to Cape Town and return. Everything about their operation and service speaks of excellence, from having exceptionally well kept vehicles, punctual schedule, most professional and friendly drivers. I would highly recommend them, great shuttle product! Madeleine Brummer Read more Written 15 April 2024
• KABLAB 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An Amazing Experience We had the most amazing experience on the Garden Route. Eugene was our guide from start to finish. He picked us up in George and drove us to Plett. We visited the Elephant Sanctuary, Knysna Heads, the FeatherBed, saw beautiful views, Tsitsikama kayaking and lilo, Bramon winery, and Eugene drove us to Capetown stopping in Hermanus en route and driving the scenic route from there. Our experience was greatly enhanced by the the knowledge Eugene shared with us at every opportunity. We felt respected, cared for, and much more educated about South African life and customs. Thank you Eugene! Thank you Gecko tours!! Read more Written 6 February 2024
• AdrianHarris660 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles First class service from start to finish Gecko were recommended to me by a friend, and so pleased they were. From the outset, Sharon and the office team considered our requests and built us a tour which met every bit of our requirement. We played simply the best golf courses (inc Fancourt Lynks & Montagu, and Pinnacle Point plus Arabella); organisation was perfect. 4 of us had a personal minibus and driver/guide service for our entire stay, our guide Eugine was fantastic. Our hotels were pre-booked and always of great quality, Eugine was always on time and ensured we kept to our busy schedule - he even took care of arranging for us to go Shark Cage diving t very short notice. Eugine became part of our trip, enjoying lunches with him and learning so much from his passion of his home country . Gecko showed flexibility throughout, nothing was too much trouble. Only regret in recommending them so highly is the potential for them being too busy for me next time. Thanks all at Gecko, a first class service, you should be very proud of what you do. Read more Written 4 December 2023
• katrin02 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Garden Route Tour We really enjoyed our trip with Gecko Tours. Everything was well planned and Sharon organised a personalised tour for us. We loved everything but especially the Meerkats, Botlierskop Safari and Tsitsikamma National Park. Eugène was the best guide and chauffeur we could imagine and amazing company. Always on time and flexible if we wanted to change something on the programme. He taught us a lot about South Africa's history and culture , nature and wildlife, took us to the best vineyards and wine tasting and got us the best tables in the best restaurants. Thank you again Eugene ! The hotels Gecko Tours booked for us were out of this world, some of the nicest we stayed in and we have been travelling a lot. We highly recommend Gecko Tours ! Read more Written 15 November 2023
• Rajmukh 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wondrous and more! It is not often one runs out of superlatives while visiting a place. But that is exactly what happened to us in our South Africa, garden route trip. We are a family of four who have never visited Africa, let alone the rainbow nation. We arrived with trepidation. I put all my trust in Gecko Tours to book the whole trip for us. All we did was to book the flights. Sharon, the owner of Gecko Tours planned the itinerary and Nelis, her husband executed it to perfection. We were picked up from Cape Town airport by Nelis in his luxury vehicle and we stayed in the Commodore hotel at the V&A waterfront. The hotel was great to live in, and the food served was fantastic. It was fresh with excellent choices and cooked to perfection. We had 2 dinners in the hotel and were very pleased. V&A waterfront was as expected with shops and entertainment. Although the food we had there was good, we felt it to be slightly overpriced. But you get to have the ambience and the excitement of being in the V&A waterfront. At Cape Town, we went up the Table Mountain in the cable car. The views were stunning, and the terrain, wildlife and flora were unique. Besides multiple experiences like the vineyards wine tasting or chocolate tasting, the Seal Island, penguin watching, Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope and whale watching in Hermanus which were brilliant experiences, our absolute highlight would be the visit to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Nelis, as ever, pointed us to the unmissable bits and the canopy walk is certainly not to be missed. Gecko tours organised the places to stay, the experiences and the travel. All the places we stayed were wonderful. We were pleased with the Commodore Hotel at Cape Town but our stay at Mooiplaas guest house or Amanzi Lodge at Knysna was out of this world. The Sky Villa hotel at Plettenberg Bay had views to die for while the final days of the tour were at Lalibela Safari Park which was once in a lifetime experience. The food we ate in South Africa was amazing. Nelis suggested places to eat which varied from great restaurants with stunning views to lunch in a vineyard. The ambience and the culinary experience will be in our memories forever. Where else can you see a humpback whale jumping while you are having your fish or a magnificent giraffe joining you for lunch from the other side of the lake? The travel was comfortable with stunning views. Finally, the animals. We were blessed with great weather and were lucky to see whales, ostriches, penguins, hundreds of birds, big cats, small cats, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, hundreds of antelopes, and lots and lots of other animals. It was a humbling experience seeing animals in their habitat at liberty to behave as they want. Gecko Tours organised everything for us except the flights and we did not feel we could have done better doing it ourselves. The whole trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience done in luxury. The places, the experiences, the travel, the food, and the animals were all perfect. We recommend Gecko Tours wholeheartedly. Nelis was extremely knowledgeable, gave us plenty of background information, and made the perfect recommendations for restaurants. Thanks to the Gecko Tours team, we had our best holiday so far. Read more Written 1 November 2023
• katewD2123BX 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great experience! My husband and I hired Gecko Tours to be our private guide for our 9-day trip on the Garden Route from Cape Town. We were in communication with Sharon who initially gave us a great sample itinerary to work with and then we were able to customize it to our liking. The quote was affordable. Our driver, Nelis kept us safe and entertained with stories and titbits of the towns we drove through. He also gave great recommendations of where to eat. He got to each destination efficiently and gave us a good timeframe of how much time we had at each place. We were able to check off all the activities we wanted to do. The accommodations were amazing! The vehicle was comfortable. Although Cape Town and the Garden Route don’t seem to be unsafe, it gave us peace of mind to let a local drive us. Thank you Sharon and Nelis for such a memorable experience in South Africa! Read more Written 18 September 2023
• davidod86 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Garden Route tour Fantastic tour organised by Gecko Tours along the garden route including a stop at Botlierskop game reserve. Eugene our tour guide was an excellent guide and helped us fill do extra visits as requested and gave us the encouragement to do Bloukrans Bungee. Read more Written 29 April 2023
• bgale1984 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A fantastic experience! Working with Gecko Tours was a fantastic experience! Knowing we had 3 days unplanned when we arrived in Cape Town South Africa before our official 21 day tour with another company we worked with Shannon to create a custom 3 day 2 night tour of the Garden Route. Our guide Eugene and all of the activities done were a wonderful way to start our month in Southern Africa. I would highly recommend Gecko Tours! Next time I will definitely spend more time in South Africa. Read more Written 13 February 2023
• akverma123 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Nice Garden Route Trip We did a 10 day Garden Route Trip with them and it was marvelous. I was travelling with my wife and daughter. I had done the itinerary and stay with Sharon and her understanding of the route is super. The hotels she had selected for us were superb - location and comfort wise. Everything was done by her. We were collected from Port Elizabeth and we did all the activities on Garden Route during our ten day trip with stays at Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Oudstroon, Hermanus and CapeTown. While all activities were nice we especially enjoyed Cango Wildlife Ranch and Whale watching tour where we not just watched whales but also sharks, penguins and seals. Our guide Nelis was our guide who is a wonderful person with a wonderful sense of humour and plenty of knowledge about all the places en route and much more. He took good care of us. If one has to plan tour of Garden Route, just leave it to Sharon and I can assure you you will not regret it. Read more Written 10 October 2022
• 598penem 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Flower Tour Written by Daphne Hennessey re Flower Tour Thank you for making this flower tour possible and transporting us. We realky did enjoy it and the company we were véry much part of. We made the most of the cold wet days by sight seeing ..,..even boating in a gale. When we did see flowers they were spectacular and we had a taste of the hospitality of the farming community. ALWAYS with Neelis at our beçk n call for anything we might require. Our route was àltered very wisely to take in interesting places. The unexpected boat trip was great fun....and the accomodation...after a hiccup the first night was.....excellent and the food always good. Read more Written 26 August 2022
• PaySah 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Super Amazing Trip When booking Eugene the tour guide / driver from Gecko Tours is a must to ask for. We did Garden route with him and the service was super amazing. So many a times we had to change our route due to weather change and all our requests were accommodated. Sharon who did all our bookings also guided us so well in planning the tour. Definitely highly recommend them. Read more Written 13 August 2022
• MichaelAndLilly 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Garden Route tour with safari We just came home from our fourth visit to South Africa. Everyone had a great time doing safaris and visiting towns along the beautiful Garden Route. Big thanks to Sharon of Gecko Tours, whom I first contacted in December 2020. Since then, she has been so patiently working with me to decide on our itinerary and lodging, based on our time and budget and interests. Things change between then and this May, on our side. Sharon always helped me adjusting our plan. We also want to thank Nelis, who is our guide and driver. Like Sharon, he has our interest in mind. We can always count on him to introduce us to the best scenery, trails, winery, restaurant… And Nelis does everything with great patience and professionalism. South Africa is such an amazing country! We know we will come back for our fifth and sixth etc. visits. When we come back with our children and grandchildren, we would love to again work with Gecko Tours! Thank you, Sharon and Nelis! Read more Written 9 June 2022
• Toyah1992 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best holiday ever Seven of us booked Gecko Tours for our two week trip to SA. We all had the most amazing holiday ever thanks to Eugene who was our tour guide and driver. He went above and beyond for us and we will never forget him. We left SA with wonderful memories and a desire to someday return. Thank you Sharon for all your help in creating such an exciting itinerary for us. We wouldn’t have changed a thing. Everything exceeded our expectations. Thank you! Read more Written 5 May 2022
• bunny335 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent Garden Route Tour Eugene was the perfect ambassador for South Africa. He offered to wait for us to drive us about two blocks down the pier after our boat cruise was done, and was fine to do that even if it was waiting an hour and a half. We didn’t ask him to do that, as it was very very close for us to walk. He also adjusted our trip to accommodate the late arrival of our plane and the weather. Then he worked with the company to make up for the activities we didn’t do the day before. Not his fault! Completely out of anyones control and the Gecko company did their best to make this trip work! Eigegne’s knowledge of the area history, culture, languages, and I even some local stories areas educational and entertaining. He was patient, he was kind, and very helpful. I would absolutely recommend this group to anyone coming to this part of the world, and I think Eugene for being a part of our memorable trip. Read more Written 26 March 2022
• PWCheshire 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Enjoying the Garden Route Had a private tour along the Garden Route with Cornelius. Enjoyed lots of different activities and sights. Everything went like clockwork and nothing was too much trouble. Accommodation was superb, mainly in top of the range guesthouses (better than most hotels) and views from the rooms were magnificent. Meerkat watching at dawn will be an abiding memory. Read more Written 12 February 2022

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Gecko Transport & Tours 

WELCOME TO GECKO TRANSPORT AND TOURS

Gecko Transport & Tours offers you the ideal way to see Cape Town and the Garden Route during your travel tour. Our private, luxurious tour and transport services are safe and dependable, but best of all, they’re flexible… we go where you want to go and stop where you want to stop!

From airport transfers to inter-town shuttles, pickups and drop offs to the starting and finishing points of the famous Otter trail in Tsitsikamma, sightseeing tours along the Cape Peninsula, city tours or day tours to adventure bases for bungy jumping and zipline slides, we will ensure that your journey is relaxing and fun. With our vast experience and knowledge of the area, we can show you the best of the Western Cape and Garden Route. Let us take the stress out of travelling

Choose from one of our tried-and-tested tours, led by accredited tour guides.

We delight in custom-designing private tours which include the very best of Cape Town and The Garden Route. Talk to us about what you would like to see……from whale watching, learning about our history or spectacular scenic  tours, to shopping, we are happy to design a personalised tour which allows you to experience the trip of your dreams.

Airport Transfers  Relax in the comfort of our new 8-seater luxury air-conditioned vehicles and enjoy a stress-free scenic drive between:

• Cape Town Airport, George, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay
• George Airport, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay
• Port Elizabeth Airport, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna

With Gecko Tours your holiday in The Garden Route will reach more than your expectations!

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Tel: +27 (0)44 533 3705 Fax: +27 (0)880 44 533 3705 Mob: +27 (0)82 325 5620 Email:  [email protected]

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Unveiling Vietnam’s Treasures: An Unforgettable Journey from Hanoi to Saigon

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Discover Vietnam

Vietnam feels like a life-changing country . It’s the kind of place where every street has a story to tell or a lesson to teach. Whether it’s educating you on its violent but rich history through its historical sites like the Cu Chi Tunnel. Or showing you the epitome of resilience which is displayed by the locals living their life every day. 

Vietnam’s world-famous cuisine is likely to teach you a thing or two about what brilliant food should taste like. How street food can taste better than any Michelin Star restaurant and why the perfect balance of flavours and spices is so important.

We’ve created this ultimate guide to Vietnam to share with you everything that this unique country has to offer.

Is Vietnam worth visiting? 

It’s not all about education though. Vietnam is a country brimming with fun adventures and experiences.

Like trekking through the magnificent rice terraces in Sapa , experiencing the true kindness and warmth of locals along the way. Even Vietnam’s markets feel like an adventure with the plethora of goods to buy, chaotic atmosphere and an array of smells drifting from street food stalls. 

We can’t mention it enough and will continue to bring it up. Visiting Vietnam for its food alone is worth it. Pho and Banh Mi are two of Vietnam’s most famous dishes. They’re addictively tasty, but there are so many more Vietnamese dishes to try as well as these. 

And when you’re not eating your way through Vietnam, you can be relaxing on its white-sand beaches or cruising along the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay . 

Vietnam is also a very affordable destination, making it accessible to every type of traveller. 

Is Vietnam safe?

Generally, Vietnam is considered a safe place to travel . Like with almost every other country in the world, petty theft and pick-pocketing can occur, especially in busier areas. Always make sure to keep an eye on your belongings.

Another thing to be aware of is that Vietnam’s traffic can be pretty chaotic , especially in the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Take caution when crossing the roads.

And, if you’re going to rent a moped or motorbike, make sure that you’re confident driving one, understand the rules of the road and wear a helmet. 

Destinations in North Vietnam

Destinations in Central Vietnam

Destinations in South Vietnam

Top 3 places to visit in Vietnam

Vietnam is a diverse country offering bustling cities, lush countryside and paradise islands. That makes choosing where to visit, especially if you’re tight on time, somewhat difficult. To help you out a bit, here are our three favourite places in Vietnam:

Halong Bay — stunning limestone karsts and vibrant waters

An aerial view of Halong Bay is one of the most iconic images associated with Vietnam. The thousands of towering limestone karsts erupting from the emerald waters is a mesmerising and stunning sight. 

Aside from admiring this UNESCO World Heritage Site’s beauty, there are a number of things you can do in Ha Long Bay — boat trip, kayaking, rock climbing, visit floating villages and spend the night on an island. Most people stay on Cat Ba , the largest island in Ha Long Bay and one of the only islands you can stay on. 

Most people visit Halong Bay from Hanoi. Here’s how to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

Sapa — some of Vietnam’s best rice terraces and hiking

Sapa isn’t a destination that everyone visits during their time in Vietnam, and that’s exactly why you should. Nestled in the northern mountains of Vietnam , it’s an awe-inspiring region known for its mist-shrouded valleys, terraced rice fields and towering peaks. 

Sapa is also home to several ethnic minority groups , who have preserved their unique traditions and colourful attire. Here you embark on multi-day hikes through the stunning rice terraces, visiting these villages along the way. 

Here’s how to get from Hanoi to Sapa .

Tam Coc — Halong Bay on land

Tam Coc is another destination in Vietnam that not everyone has discovered yet. Located near the more popular city of Ninh Binh , that’s where most people stop. Hearing that it’s been given the name ‘Halong Bay on land’ should be enough to convince you to visit. 

It offers dramatic limestone karsts, lush greenery and meandering rivers. Hopping on a boat is the best way to explore this stunning landscape. One of our favourite things about Tam Coc is that it’s a lot more relaxed than most of Vietnam. 

When is the best time to visit Vietnam?

There’s a pretty large distance between the north and south borders of Vietnam, around 1,650 km, which is a similar distance between Amsterdam and Rome. This means that different parts of the country have their own climate.

That being said, generally, the best time to visit Vietnam is between November and April . This is when most of the country is experiencing the dry season and the best weather.

How to get around Vietnam

Vietnam is a surprisingly large country, so be prepared for long journeys and adventurous ones at that! Thankfully, Vietnam has a pretty well-established transportation network.

Here are the best ways to get around Vietnam:

By bus 

Buses are the most popular way to get around Vietnam. They’re often the cheapest option and faster than the train.

There are both government and privately-owned buses. In general, private companies offer more comfortable buses with air conditioning, sometimes a toilet on board and more comfortable seats. They also provide sleeper buses for overnight journeys . 

These sleeper buses allow you to recline to almost flat and give you space to lay your legs out. One thing to note is that these buses weren’t made with Westerners in mind, so if you’re tall, good luck!

Another thing to be aware of is that a lot of Vietnamese bus drivers drive like there are no rules on the road. Their driving style can be a bit crazy , flinging you around corners, and unsafe. This is why some people opt for the train instead.

How to buy bus tickets in Vietnam

Chances are you’ll be using the private buses rather than the government ones. These buses have separate bus stations, so make sure you know the correct one to buy your tickets. 

You can also buy tickets online, in advance, on websites like 12Go.Asia and Bookaway . 

Continue reading about bus and train travel in Vietnam . 

Most train journeys take longer than the bus, but there are many advantages to taking the train over the bus. The scenery is often more beautiful than the bus , travelling through Vietnam’s countryside. The train is also considered a lot safer than the bus which often involves a number of near-miss incidents. 

Vietnam’s main railway line runs from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, passing through Nha Trang, Da Nang and Hue.

Taking the train all the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi can take 30-40 hours, so we don’t really recommend this, but the train can be good for covering the shorter distances between the cities on the way. 

Buying train tickets in Vietnam

When buying your train ticket, you’ll need to consider which class you’d like. Third class usually has hard seats that aren’t very comfortable. Anything above third class should be fine. 

If you’re taking an overnight train, we recommend getting a berth , which is essentially a bed in a cabin. The number of beds in the cabin varies between classes and trains. 

If you’re booking a sleeper berth, I recommend getting your tickets a few days in advance before they sell out. These can be bought at the train station or online via Baolau .

By plane 

Distances in Vietnam can be pretty big, so some people opt to catch a flight if they’re tight on time or can’t sit on transportation for that long. 

There are a number of airports throughout Vietnam in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Nha Trang. Vietnam has several domestic airlines including Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, and Vietravel Airlines. Flights can be affordable if you book in advance.

It’s important to keep in mind that taking a short-haul flight can be up to 10 times more polluting than taking a more environmentally-friendly option like a bus.

By motorbike

Hiring a motorbike is a popular way to explore parts of Vietnam. It gives you ultimate freedom and it’s affordable . On average, bike rental costs around $7 a day and can be negotiated lower if you’re hiring it for a longer period of time. 

Popular routes that travellers like to take on include the Ha Giang Loop, Ha Giang Loop and the bravest of them all take on Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

If this is something that you’d like today, make sure that you’re a confident motorbike rider. Vietnam’s roads are no joke and it’s not uncommon for tourists to get involved in accidents. 

By taxi 

Taxis in the form of cars, tuk-tuks and cyclos (pedicabs) are mainly used to get around the city that you’re in. You’ll never have to wait too long before one of these drives past you, honking its horn. 

You can either hail one of these directly from the street or use the popular ride-hailing app, Grab. It allows you to order a ride and pay via the app, saving you from having to haggle over the price. Grab is often cheaper than local taxis too.

If you do pick up a taxi from the street, always make sure to agree on the price before getting in. 

Entry requirements and visa for Vietnam

In 2023, Vietnam updated their visa policy. Now, e-visas are available to all countries offering a 90-day stay and valid for multiple entries.

Citizens from 13 lucky countries can stay in Vietnam for 45 days visa-free. These countries include Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus.

You can apply for the e-visa online via their portal. The application usually takes around 20-30 minutes and should be processed within three days. There is a $25 visa fee.  

Your passport will need to be valid for longer than 6 months. Also, ensure your passport is in good condition when entering Vietnam. The border officers have been known to turn people away if their passport is too damaged. 

Must-try Vietnamese food

Vietnamese cuisine is famous all around the world. Chances are you’ll have a Vietnamese restaurant in your city or town, but we promise you that it won’t come close to the real thing. The best way to experience Vietnamese food is by sampling it from the street stalls and night markets. 

Here are some dishes that you can’t leave Vietnam without trying:

• Pho — pronounced as ‘fuh’ is one of Vietnam’s most popular dishes. It’s a delicious noodle soup where the rice noodles are submerged in a flavourful broth, usually made from slow-cooked beef or chicken bones, infused with herbs and spices. Pho is served with tender slices of meat, bean sprouts, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lime.
• Banh Mi —  is also incredibly popular and a remnant of French colonisation. Banh Mi is similar to a crusty baguette filled with savoury grilled meats (such as pork or chicken), pâté, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and a dash of chilli sauce. It’s the perfect street food lunch.
• Fresh Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon) — these translucent rice paper rolls are filled with a medley of fresh ingredients, such as shrimp, pork, vermicelli noodles, herbs, and vegetables. The rolls are usually served with a peanut dipping sauce, creating a light and refreshing appetizer or snack.
• Banh Xeo — is a savoury Vietnamese pancake made from a rice flour batter infused with turmeric, coconut milk, and scallions. The pancake is filled with shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, and herbs. 

Essential travel tips for Vietnam

Here is a selection of the best tips and pieces of information to make your trip to Vietnam that little bit easier:

Paying with Vietnamese Dong in Vietnam

Vietnam uses Vietnamese Dong (VND) .

While card payments are becoming more popular in big cities, upscale restaurants and hotels, it’s good to always have some cash on you just in case. You’ll need cash for things like taking the bus, markets and local restaurants.

TPBank and VPBank both offer free withdrawals and a reasonably high withdrawal limit of 5,000,000 VND ($195).

If you can’t find either of these, Agribank has a withdrawal fee of 22,000 VND ($0.90). However, it does have a low withdrawal limit of around 3,000,000 VND ($120). 

When using an ATM, it might ask you which conversion rate you would like to accept. Always decline the ATM conversion rate. Your bank will always give you a much better exchange rate than the ATM.

Buying a sim card in Vietnam

While a lot of cafes, restaurants and hotels offer free Wi-Fi, it’s likely that you’re going to want internet whilst out and about. We recommend getting a local sim card.

The three main mobile providers in Vietnam are Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobifone. You’ll be able to buy a sim card from one of these providers at most international airports in Indonesia or at a mobile provider’s store. 

Out of the three, we recommend Viettel . It has the best coverage, fast speeds and is very cheap.

You’ll need to make sure that your phone is ‘unlocked’ which means that you can put any sim card in your phone, rather than being locked to a specific provider. 

Vietnam’s language cheat sheet

The language spoken in Vietnam is Vietnamese , with English considered to be the second language.

It’s always good to know a few essential words before travelling to a place, so here are a few to get you started:

• Hello – Xin chào
• Thank you – Cảm ơn
• Please – Xin
• Sorry – Xin lỗi
• Beer – Bia

The perfect packing list for Vietnam

Vietnam is a pretty warm country all year round and can get pretty humid as the rainy season approaches. It’s best to bring loose-fitting, cool clothes and of course, your swimsuit if you’re heading to one of Vietnam’s beaches. 

Though, if you’re planning on heading to the far north parts of Vietnam, it can get pretty chilly during the winter and at night. It’s always good to have a jumper or jacket with you.

Aside from the essential travel gear, here are some that have become permanent fixtures on our packing list: 

• Reusable water bottle – they’re better for the environment and can save you money on water.
• A portable charger – there’s probably going to be a time when your phone’s battery is on red, at a time that you desperately need it.
• An adaptor – Vietnam uses type A, C and F plugs. A universal travel adaptor is a great buy if you’re travelling between different continents.

Check out our full packing list for Southeast Asia.

Our favourite accommodations

Tam coc bungalow.

Do you prefer to stay close to the river? Tam Coc Bungalow has spacious bamboo bungalows right next to Tam Coc River.

What we really liked about this place is their common area. From the terrace, you can watch the locals paddling back to Tam Coc town during sunset. And in the evening, you can play a game of pool in the open restaurant area.

Bungalows from $32

Check availability & reviews

HaLo HomeStay

You think you can only find good banana pancakes in Thailand? Wait till you get them for breakfast at HaLo HomeStay. This homestay has it all: the high-end standard of a hotel combined with the family feeling of a homestay. The owners serve a lovely breakfast and will do everything to let you get the most out of your stay. You can explore Hoi An with their free bicycle rental and reach the Old Quarter or the beach within 5 minutes.

Double rooms from: $12

Thao Nguyen Homestay

Thanks to the great hospitality of the family, this homestay will feel like your own home. After a day of trekking, you can take a dive in the pool or sit back and relax with a Netflix movie. The homestay is located right in front of the bus stop in the centre of Phong Nha. Rooms with mountain views start from $23, including an outstanding breakfast!

Bonus: Free cancellation policy till the last day!

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Kate is a writer, (ex)Management Consultant and avid traveller. She recently returned from a 2-year career break exploring the world and decided corporate life wasn’t for her. She’ll soon be testing life as a digital nomad. She’s visited over 40 countries and fell in love with Latin America in particular. Her travelling has inspired a passion for yoga, salsa, hiking and Spanish.

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Airport Transfer

Rates: george airport to knysna or plett:.

• R1 450.00 for 1 - 2 passengers for a guaranteed private transfer
• R1 850.00 for 3 – 7 passengers for a guaranteed private transfer
• R2 100.00 for 8 – 13 passengers for a guaranteed private transfer

Rates: Port Elizabeth Airport to Plett

• R3 000.00 for 1 -2 passengers for a guaranteed private transfer
• R3 500.00 for 3 – 7 passengers for a guaranteed private transfer
• R4 200.00 for 8-13 passengers for a guaranteed private transfer

Rates: Port Elizabeth Airport to Knysna

• R3 600.00 for 1 – 2 passengers for a guaranteed private transfer
• R4 180.00 for 3 - 7 passengers for a guaranteed private transfer
• R4 990.00 for 7 - 13 passengers for a guaranteed private transfer

Rate: Transfer between Plett, Knysna or George and Cape Town from

• R7 500.00 for 2 passengers for a guaranteed private transfer
• R8 700.00 for 3-7 passengers for a guaranteed private transfer
• R10 250.00 for 8 – 13 for a guaranteed private transfer
• R17 500.00 for 14 – 20 for a guaranteed private transfer

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Isla Tortuga

Join us at a day tour to picturesque isla tortuga.

We are leaving from Playa Organos, where we will start a boat ride from about 20 minutes, on the way to the Island you are able to enjoy the beautiful coastline together with some marine life. We will pass the 'Arco Iris' (Rainbow Rock) where we will go with the boat through the hole in the rock, from here we will visit the group of Island called Morteros for snorkeling. The volcanic rock reef is surrounded by crystalline waters and famous for the large number of colorful fish and some corals. In the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica there´s not much hard coral, but lots of fish and shellfish that keeps your attention. You would be able to see for example Angelfish, Porcupine fish, Morays, Needle fish, Spotted Eagle Rays and many more tropical beauties that will make it a great snorkel experience. 

Changing the snorkeling mask for the sunglasses again, we are heading to the island itself where you can enjoy a swim in the warm waters, stroll along the sugary white sandy beach, hike the trail to the top of the island or relax in the shadow of a swaying palm tree. Here we will serve you some fresh fruits, drinks & a sandwich (ham & cheese, or cheese for vegetarian). There are sun beds for rent or you could just through down you towel in the nice sandy beach.

Schedule: 9.00am or 12.00 m.d

Duration: +/- 5.5 hours or 4 hours

Starting point: Playa Organos de Paquera

Includes: Water, Soft drinks, Fruits, Sandwich, Life Jacket & Snorkeling gear

Price: US $60 ,00 per person (minimum 2 persons)

What to bring: Bathing suit, Towel, Sunscreen, Sandals, Hat & Sunglasses

For reservations or questions, please use our request form!