Genuine Vietnam tour company should I look for?

As we said in the previous part, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is the Government body in charge of  travel and tourism. This organisation requires its members to attend the bonded FUND similar to CTF (compensation travel fund- as some other countries) to protect the interest travellers and service providers. And members are rigidly monitored and annually reviewed their performance and integrity.

You can check their detail at www.vietnamtourism.com .

However, each Vietnam tour company  target different type of clientele: adventure travel, group travel, independent travel, budget travel... they then have to structure themselves to those targets. So tour operators are varied in their travel philosophy, network of service, or staffing. Nothing fits all and selecting the right one for you and family require some research and  interaction.
It is very simple, you can gather tour operator information through their site and consider if they can provide you the required trip. Start to engage with a couple of operators. A good operator should have a fair idea about customer expectation, provide opened information about intended plans, advised hotel and services, and more importantly up to date information about travel situation in  Vietnam. In most cases, the more you talk about yourself, the better chance you have the trip you like most. And only through engagement, you will see who is helpful and potentially can assist your with the booking.
But I don’t know if the program is right for me?

Is the trip right for me?

Many say travel to Vietnam D.I.Y is doable. Is that true?
It is true in some aspects. If you have a lot of time and ready for try and fail, then go ahead. The majority of us would travel with our friends, family, kids... and we travel because we need a HOLIDAY after all. And you don’t want to  MESS AROUND WITH FOR YOUR HOLIDAY!
So let’s someone arrange it for you professionally. Let us the tour operator, with our vast experiences and resources, knowledge and enthusiasm will guide you through the preparation, select appropriate destinations and suitable itinerary for you and your family. Open booking may avoid being caught in unwanted bun of tourists, program not for you or risk of being cancelled due to small number of booking.
You can always check your trip with good source of information on the internet, guide books or participate on travel blogs or forums seeking for advice from travel fellows.

Does the price sound right?

I like the old saying “Veni, Vidi, Visa”- “I came, I saw, and I spent a bit”
Now, you will have a good deals if you book directly with a local tour operator. You  can check around for proofs make sure you arent fooled either.
Check again with the detailed itinerary of what 'include' and what 'not'. Hotel list may give you a hint idea of what level of service you are going to expect. Five star hotel of Hilton or Decor would indicate fine banquet dinner to be accompanied or nice guide to be with. If you have any doubt, go to hotel website to check out. Tour operators will commit with their pricing strategy  because they are not lone in the market. Price would be sustainably competitive as they don’t want customer walk away after all hard work.
Paying  deposit on time also help you to secure the booking, as service is subject of availability. Vietnam is the country of 83 million people with assigned holidays. When they are on, you have few chance to get the services.

Back to the local – again.

“When you in Rome, do as Romans do”
That saying has never been better true in this case. Individual Vietnam tour company have far more interesting things to offer for your holiday, and they do them best too. Let’s take a close look a company who employ the network of tour leaders in different localities. Not only the each of those can guide you through the “nick and nag” in your holiday but willing do thing differently - that is the tourism all about. Your quote don’t have to cover their transport and accommodation fees...that normally charged elsewhere. You will get true value for your trip.
Keep away chain tour operators. That many just sell trips, and only one to run it. Your money doest stop with them, just commission!. When you place the booking, make sure they run the trip themselves. Same thing with franchise company. Many company offer expat tour leaders. Now, when you in New York, just take the NY guide and don’t muck around with the one in Adelaide. Very simple.

Your conscience question- whom will my trip benefit?
Many Vietnam operators paint themselves as Eco or Charity tourism. Actual operation is far different to what they wish for. Eco-tourism  requires real commitment. By travelling smartly, using more local services component not only to save your pocket but promoting tourism in the grassroot level. The only way to  encourage sustainable and Eco - tourism is to use local services which direct benefit to the community. Dont paint thing as  charitable when the community can demonstrate their profound cultural identity and diversity in dignified manner. Your support means a lot to the sustainable tourism and minimize the adverse impact and allow for natural development.
Working directly with Vietnam operator will benefit directly local communities and family businesses that benifit directly from your trip. And you will be part of that process, not only for the immediate satisfaction but for the lasting impression that they will leave with the local communities. /.

Niche Travel - Vietnam tour operator