Okay, so last month my colleague Priya came back from Vietnam and wouldn't stop showing me photos. Like, I'm talking 200+ pictures of boats, temples, and noodle bowls. At first I was kind of just nodding along (you know how it is), but then she said something that got me: "I booked this random Vietnam tour package and honestly? Best decision ever. Didn't have to plan anything."

That got me thinking because I'm the worst at planning trips. Seriously, the worst.

Here's the Deal with Vietnam Packages

So I started looking into this whole vietnam packages situation, and honestly, it's kind of overwhelming at first? There's like a million options. But here's what I figured out after talking to Priya and doing way too much research at 2 AM (insomnia is real, folks).

Most vietnam travel package deals focus on three main things: Ha Long Bay, the ancient towns (Hoi An is the big one), and then usually either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Some throw in the Mekong Delta too, which... actually, I'll get to that later.

The prices I saw ranged from around ₹45,000 to ₹1,20,000 per person depending on how fancy you wanna go. Priya spent somewhere in the middle – I think ₹65,000? – and said it was pretty worth it.

Ha Long Bay is Actually Insane (In a Good Way)

Look, I've seen the photos online. We all have. But Priya showed me this video she took at sunrise from her boat and I literally said "wait, that's REAL?" out loud in the office cafeteria.

Ha Long Bay is basically these limestone karsts (fancy word for big rocky islands) jutting out of emerald green water. Most vietnam trip package options include an overnight cruise, which honestly seems like the way to do it. Priya did a two-day cruise and said the first day was kinda touristy – lots of boats, crowded caves – but the second morning? Almost empty waters, just them and a few other boats.

Here's something she warned me about though: apparently the cheap cruises are... not great. She met this couple who did a budget one-day cruise and they said the food was terrible and the boat was packed. So maybe don't go for the absolute cheapest option here? (I know, I know, I'm usually all about saving money, but hear me out.)

The cruise usually includes kayaking through caves, which sounds cool but Priya said her arms were dead for two days after. She's not exactly unfit either, so... just saying. Manage your expectations.

The Ancient Town Situation (Hoi An Made Me Cry... Kind of)

Okay so Hoi An. This is the ancient town everyone talks about. And by the way, when people say "ancient towns" in Vietnam packages, they mostly mean Hoi An. There's also the Imperial City in Hue, but Hoi An is THE one.

Priya described it as "Instagram exploded and became a town" and honestly? Perfect description. It's got these yellow buildings, lanterns everywhere (like, EVERYWHERE), and the river running through it. She went during the full moon festival and said it was magical but also insanely crowded.

Here's what got me though – she showed me this photo of herself in a custom-made dress she got there for like ₹3,000. Apparently you can get clothes tailored in 24 hours and the quality is actually good? Her cousin went last year and got two suits made and still wears them to work. That's kind of crazy when you think about it.

The ancient town also has this Japanese bridge that's on the 20,000 dong note (Vietnamese currency, stick with me here). She said it's pretty but you spend like 5 minutes there and you're done. Most of the magic is just wandering the streets at night when the lanterns are lit up.

Want to know the weird part? The whole town basically shuts down at 10 PM. Priya's a night owl (same) and she was so confused why everything closed so early.

What They Don't Tell You About These Packages

Alright, real talk. After grilling Priya for like an hour over coffee, here's what most vietnam tour package descriptions don't mention:

The internal flights can be rough. She had a 6 AM flight from Hanoi to Hue and said it was brutal. Check your itinerary carefully because some packages have you bouncing around a lot.

Also, the "free time" isn't always that free? Her package said "free afternoon in Hanoi" but their hotel was like 40 minutes from the old quarter, so by the time they got there and back, it was barely two hours of actual free time.

Food tours are hit or miss. She did one that was amazing (pho at dawn with a local guide), but another one that was just... okay. Apparently the guide took them to his cousin's restaurant and it felt kinda forced.

Wait, let me back up... I should mention the visa situation. Indians need a visa for Vietnam (annoying but whatever), and some packages include the visa support, some don't. Just check that. Priya almost missed that detail and it would've been a whole mess.

The Mekong Delta Thing I Mentioned

So about the Mekong Delta. Some vietnam packages include this, some don't. Priya's didn't, but she met someone at Ha Long Bay who did it and said it was "fine but skippable if you're short on time."

Basically it's floating markets and boat rides through these narrow channels. Sounds cool, but apparently it's becoming super commercialized? Like they stage a lot of the "authentic market" stuff for tourists now. That kinda ruins it for me honestly (I hate tourist traps), but if you're into it, go for it.

My Hot Take After All This Research

Here's my slightly controversial opinion: don't book the longest package you can find. I saw 14-day packages and honestly? That seems like too much for a first visit. Priya did 8 days and said it was perfect – enough time to see the main stuff without getting exhausted.

Also, I think going with a mid-range vietnam travel package makes more sense than going super budget or super luxury. The budget ones cut corners that actually matter (like the Ha Long Bay cruise I mentioned), and the luxury ones... look, unless money's no object, you're probably paying extra for stuff you don't need.

Oh, and go between November and March. Priya went in February and the weather was perfect – around 25 degrees, not too humid. She said her friend went in August and it rained basically every day. Not fun.

One More Thing Before I Forget

The Vietnamese coffee is apparently incredible? Priya brought some back and made me try it – it's super strong with condensed milk. She said she had it every morning there and kinda misses it now. (She's been trying to recreate it at home but says it's not the same.)

Also, the traffic in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh is legitimately scary. Like, crossing the street is an adventure. Just... be prepared for that. Wear good walking shoes too because you'll be doing a lot of walking regardless of what your package includes.

So yeah, that's basically everything I learned from Priya's trip and my late-night research spiral. I'm actually thinking about booking something for next year now – maybe around January or February when the weather's good. Gonna try to convince my sister to come with me because she's better at the planning stuff I'll inevitably mess up.

Anyone else been? Am I missing something obvious here?