5 backpacking trips you can take during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year)

Travel bloggers suggest 5 domestic and international trips that tourists can easily take during Tet (Lunar New Year) at a reasonable cost.

Based on their experiences, bloggers offer suggestions for easy and affordable travel itineraries during the Lunar New Year holiday that don't require a visa for overseas trips .

Buon Ma Thuot

Blogger Vinh Gấu chose Buon Ma Thuot because of its easy accessibility, with an airport near the city center and flights from major cities like Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Southern tourists can also choose to travel by bus to save money.

Buon Ma Thuot enjoys cool weather and a less crowded pace of life compared to Da Lat. Furthermore, visitors have a wide variety of choices, from homestays to 5-star hotels. Food is inexpensive, and Vinh Gấu hasn't encountered any instances of price gouging while traveling here. Some delicious dishes include red noodle soup, crab noodle soup, grilled pork rice rolls, savory pancakes, and cold rice cakes.

5 backpacking trips you can take during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) — NaN

The Seven Branches Waterfall area in Buon Don. Photo: Vinh Le

This blogger suggests a 4-day, 3-night itinerary to explore all the main tourist attractions in Buon Ma Thuot.

- Day 1: Explore the city center, visit the Dak Lak Ethnic Museum to learn about the soil, specialties, and culture of the people of the Central Highlands. Afterwards, visit the Coffee Museum to learn about coffee trends, different ways of enjoying coffee around the world, and local coffee culture.

Additionally, visitors should also go to Ako Dhong (Buon Co Thon) and visit the stilt houses of the Ede people, and Sac Tu Khai Doan Pagoda - the largest and oldest pagoda in Buon Ma Thuot.

- Day 2: Explore Buon Don, home to Yok Don National Park, ancient villages, and famous for stories of the elephant-hunting king and the art of taming wild elephants.

- Day 3: Experience a dugout canoe ride on Lake Lak, the second largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam. Enjoy M'Nong cuisine. Explore the Mother Elephant Rock.

- Day 4: Explore the famous Dray Nur - Dray Sap waterfall complex before returning.

Vinh Gấu estimates that the average cost of accommodation is 1 million VND per night for two people; food is about 100,000 VND per day per person; and motorbike rental and fuel costs are about 250,000 VND per day.

Hoi An

Vlogger Phan Thanh Quoc (The Nomad) says he has been to Hoi An more than 10 times and loves the place. Quoc also spent two weeks in Hoi An during Tet (Lunar New Year) because he wanted to slowly experience the peaceful atmosphere of the ancient town.

"Whether it's day or night, Hoi An has its own unique beauty," he said.

On the first day, Quoc suggested that tourists spend time enjoying the atmosphere of the old town and the local cuisine. He particularly liked chicken rice, Quang noodles, and cao lau, signature dishes of Hoi An, priced at around 30,000-40,000 VND per serving.

The following day, visitors should take time to explore the Bay Mau coconut forest, costing 85,000 VND per person. Quoc said he enjoyed the experience of sitting in a small basket boat, traveling through the forest, and immersing himself in nature. In the evening, Quoc once took a boat trip on the Hoai River to Hoi An Memory Island and released floating lanterns.

According to him, tourists with limited time can spend at least two nights enjoying Hoi An. Those with more time can leisurely enjoy Hoi An in their own way. The weather in Hoi An this season is beautiful, and transportation is convenient, making it suitable for both young solo travelers and families.

Singapore

Vinh Gấu was torn between Laos and Singapore, but he felt Singapore would be more vibrant and better suited to the Tet holiday atmosphere. His suggested itinerary lasted 3 days and 2 nights, with costs including airfare (approximately 5.5 million VND round trip per person); accommodation (approximately 3.5 million VND per night for two people); food (approximately 1.2 million VND per person per day); and sightseeing and transportation (approximately 5 million VND for two people).

Detailed schedule:

- Day 1: Explore downtown Singapore with attractions including Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, and shopping on Orchard Road.

- Day 2: Enjoy the fun at Universal Studios Singapore and the SEA Sentosa Aquarium.

- Day 3: Explore Chinatown, Little India, experience the ArtScience Museum, then return to Vietnam.

Regarding food, this blogger suggests trying chili crab, frog porridge in Geylang, Hainanese chicken rice at Boon Tong Kee, Singaporean-style breakfast set Ya Kun Kaya Toast, and pork rib soup Bak Kut Teh.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Travel blogger Phan Thanh Quoc suggests another suitable and easily accessible destination for a relaxing and fun Tet holiday: Kuala Lumpur, a city he has visited more than 10 times.

Round-trip airfare from Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur costs approximately 2.5 million VND per person. Quoc believes this price is reasonable and Kuala Lumpur would be an interesting destination during Tet (Lunar New Year).

On the first day, Quoc suggested focusing on the city center and not venturing too far, emphasizing that first impressions are always important. Merdeka Square, the flea market, and the surrounding architecture are all beautiful and free. Afterwards, visitors should head to Chinatown and check out the unique and famous BookXcess bookstore on the second floor of RexKL (the former movie theater).

Quoc emphasized that you must try the Panda ice cream, priced at 13 ringgit (approximately 70,000 VND). In the evening, Chinatown is always bustling and there's no shortage of interesting experiences to explore.

The following day, visitors should head to Batu Caves, one of Kuala Lumpur's top attractions, located about 15 km from the city center. The inside of the caves remains cool even in the hot weather outside. The most convenient and cheapest way to get there, according to Quoc, is by using a ride-hailing service.

In the afternoon, visitors can explore the Petronas Towers, Malaysia's iconic twin towers. According to him, taking pictures of the towers during the day is perfectly fine, but waiting until the Petronas Towers light up at night creates a truly stunning scene. Getting around downtown Kuala Lumpur by bus is completely free, and most attractions are also free.

Bangkok, Thailand

Travel blogger Phan Thế Anh shared that he prioritizes Thailand during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) because of the short flight times and the many airlines to choose from. Additionally, Thailand is always bustling, so there's no need to worry about shops and restaurants closing during Tet. For many Vietnamese, Tet is a good time to visit temples, so Thailand is also an ideal destination with many famous temples and pagodas such as Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew, and Wat Traimit.

"During Tet (Lunar New Year), I don't prioritize exploring much; I mainly enjoy relaxing in hotels with good service and close to the city center," he said. Typically, a trip to Bangkok combined with Phuket or Krabi for The Anh lasts 6 days and 5 nights, costing around 30 million VND for both him and his parents.

This blogger says Thailand has countless delicious dishes that many people already know about. However, one dish he suggests tourists try is "foythong" - a simple dish made from eggs and sugar, with a sweet, easy-to-eat flavor and affordable price.

According to vnexpress.net

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