North Vietnam
Central Vietnam
South Vietnam
For Malaysians, Vietnam represents the perfect long weekend getaway - a land full of incredible places to visit and one that lies under two hours away by flight. In Vietnam’s beautiful cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hue, Malaysians can find excellent locations in which to base themselves, spending a few days around such locations to find stretching paddies of golden rice, dramatic tree-topped mountain ranges and placid rivers opening into shimmering lakes. The proud country of Vietnam is certainly a destination for everyone, but for Malaysians in particular, there is an awful lot to discover and cherish.
With this in mind, Incredible Asia Journeys would like to introduce our Vietnam tour packages from Malaysia, a collection of tours specifically suited to our Asian neighbours to the south. In these tours, we visit areas of the most interest for Malaysians, as well as ensure that our Malaysian customers are kept happy with tailored services throughout. We keep the itineraries of our Vietnam tour packages for Malaysians to less than a week, giving you a chance to enjoy your work break in a comfortable land lying right on the doorstep of beautiful Malaysia.
Please note that the following tours do not feature airfare from Malaysia to Vietnam or vice versa.
As more and more people in Malaysia move from their rural homes to the big cities of Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Ipoh or Johor Bahru, many still yearn for their past lives and miss the attractively simple nature of the countryside and its gorgeous scenery. On these tours, we feature an excellent mix of city life and their rural surrounds, where the best of Vietnam can be seen across history-soaked architecture and scenery that spans the traditional to the outstandingly individual.
The capital of Vietnam draws a lot of similarities with Kuala Lumpur and other Malaysian cities, but also some very noticeable differences. From its foundations, Hanoi was built on prevailing Asian principles, where the ‘land of the dragon’, as Vietnam is sometimes called, is manifested in spectacular dragon statues at ancient temples and a strongly spiritual side that keeps Hanoi’s roots strong.
During the era of colonialism however, as Malaysia was dealing with their British occupiers, so was Vietnam dealing with their French. Both colonial powers made vast architectural changes across their respective colonies, and now colonial architecture stands vividly amongst the ancient and the modern of both Hanoi and much of Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur’s vast growth into an Asian metropolis has seen the loss of some of its ancient culture, which is one of the aspects that Malaysians moving to the city will miss about their countryside home. On a Vietnam tour package from Malaysia to Hanoi, visitors are treated to a step back in time, where Vietnamese culture is prized over the expanding of the city’s skyline.
The province of Ninh Binh in the north of Vietnam is where traditionally gorgeous scenery is delivered in abundance. Visitors are amazed by the diversity of the region but are usually drawn to two spots that promote the best of its history and nature – Hoa Lu and Tam Coc.
Those on a tour package from Malaysia to Vietnam can find a wealth of history at Hoa Lu, one that stretches back to the 10th century and is displayed within an enclave of stunning architecture nestled into the embrace of forested mountains. Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam for 42 years during the reigns of two separate dynasties, before it was seized and Hanoi become the seat of power.
At Tam Coc, visitors can find a verdant world of green and yellows hues, shining vividly from rice paddies and the luxuriant foliage that covers its incredible limestone mountains. The Ngo Dong River cuts through the centre of Tam Coc, presenting the region’s beauty on a silver platter for tourists who cruise through it on a simple wooden sampan boat.
The jewel in the crown for most tours, not just Vietnam tour packages from Malaysia, is Halong Bay. The destination about 3.5 hours east of Hanoi is universally recognised by everyone, but that takes nothing away from its jaw-dropping appearance, one that has been largely left unaltered by the hand of man. Across its thousands of limestone islands, rising directly out of an untroubled sea, visitors can find beaches and caves, as well as fishing villages in the water and perfect cruising conditions on the boat.
Cruises in Halong Bay come in daytrip, 2-day and 3-day forms and are constantly improving their services for the passengers who cruise with them. One can now find luxurious restaurants, gyms, spas, swimming pools, modern cabins and wide-open sundecks, all of which comprise the highly comfortable state in which cruises now operate. With cooking classes, fruit carving demonstrations, themed dinners, live traditional music and tea ceremonies, tourists from Malaysia on a Vietnam tour package will be treated to some fantastic elements of Vietnamese culture that are still linked to the strong cultural identity of the country.
Though there are cultural differences, our ties with our Malaysian brothers and sisters stays strong, and Incredible Asia Journeys believes that there are many reasons for Malaysians to come to Vietnam on any of the following tours.
Religious Respect – The majority of Vietnamese citizens follow a folk religion that has no particular international ties. That being said, when a follower of other religions come to our country, traditional Vietnamese hospitality dictates that we take care of them and welcome them with open arms. In Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other major hubs, visitors from majority Islamic Malaysia can find mosques in which to pray during salat times, and our tour guides are very accommodating of Muslim tourists who need to take a break in proceedings to pray.
For the 20% of Buddhists and 10% of Christians that make up Malaysia’s religious base, Vietnam has got you covered. Temples and churches abound in major cities as well as small towns, as the influence of both religions reached many corners of Vietnam in the past. Whatever your religion, these Vietnam tour packages from Malaysia will ensure that you will have time to express it in the most proper of areas.
Suitable Food – Buddhism is still a strongly followed religion in Vietnam and many food places around temples in major cities and rural surrounds cater for Buddhist locals and tourists. For Muslims, halal food is available in the big cities and delicious vegetarian food is available in the places where meat is not. Many types of international food are available in Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City, while areas like Halong Bay and Ninh Binh are very well-equipped to serve outstanding vegetarian cuisine in the absence of halal meat.
Short Tours – Vietnam’s location under 2 hours from Kuala Lumpur means that the country presents a viable option for short tours and even weekend trips. These Vietnam tour packages are all below a week in length, meaning that you have time to visit our beautiful country with minimal disruption to your work. Though the tours are short, you will still be leaving Vietnam with a comprehensive view of the country, its long history and its evocative nature.
Between AirAsia, VietJet Air, Malindo Air, Malaysia Airlines and Vietnam Airlines, you will be sure to find a suitable method of transportation to start your package tour to Vietnam. The following is a quick look at some of the important information on flights between our two countries.
| From | To | Length | One-Way Price From (USD) |
| Kuala Lumpur | Hanoi | 3 hrs 10m | $55 |
| Kuala Lumpur | Ho Chi Minh City | 1 hr 55m | $35 |
| George Town | Hanoi | 3 hrs | $32 |
| George Town | Ho Chi Minh City | 1 hr 45m | $48 |
| Johor Bahru | Hanoi | 6hrs - 12hrs (No direct) | $73 |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 2hrs | $50 |
The following is a list of frequently asked questions that we have received before from our visitors from Malaysia:
You don’t need to arrange a visa beforehand if you are coming to Vietnam for 30 days or less, simply turn up to the airport and proceed through customs, where you will be given a free VOA (Visa On Arrival) for the duration of 30 days.
If staying longer than 30 days, then you need to arrange your visa prior to arrival. The options for these are single or multiple entry for a period of up to 3 months and can be applied for in one of two ways:
1. Apply Online – To enter Vietnam through this method, you have to be formally ‘invited’ to the country by a local operator. These can be found online by searching for ‘Vietnam visa online’; once you have chosen a single or multiple entry visa, you simply pay the fee and await your invite document and application form, which should be emailed in the next few days. After this, complete the application form and take it, with the invite document and two passport-sized photos, to the airport, where your visa will be processed.
2. Apply at your Embassy – Applications can be made at the Vietnamese embassy in Kuala Lumpur, where an appointment must be made. Once the application fee is paid and the passport is handed over, you should receive your visa fairly swiftly.
It is exceptionally difficult to find money exchange services anywhere outside of Vietnam that will have the local currency, dong, in stock. It is much easier to change your Malaysian ringgit to U.S dollars and take those to Vietnam before you leave Malaysia. U.S dollars can be used to paid for most tours but are begrudgingly accepted at shops in the city centres, so you should consider changing dollars to dong at regular intervals throughout your trip.
In terms of transportation, Vietnam is a few years behind Malaysia. The public transport system is not particularly good and most people opt to get around via motorbikes and cars, which is why the traffic in Vietnam is so legendary outside of it. There is no MRT, subway or tram, so the only alternatives for tourists are the bus, taxi or motorbike taxi services.
On one of our Vietnam tour packages from Malaysia, your transport is already organised for you by professional tour organisers and executed by professional drivers. This includes transport for everywhere except during your free time; either before a tour has started or after it has concluded for the day. For these times, customers can use the public transport mentioned above or download the Grab app for a private, reliable service.
English in Vietnam is not a strong suit, though it is improving rapidly due to the vast rise in touristic interest in the country. Many people in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, centre of Hoi An and District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City will be able to converse, though locals selling fruit on the street might have more trouble. Try and embrace the language and learn a few phrases before you arrive; it will always be appreciated by the locals.
Vietnam has a world-renowned street food scene, leading many to believe that improper sanitisation and hygiene must run rampant around small streetside stalls selling rice, noodles, sandwiches and desserts. This is certainly not the case in Vietnam and the vast majority of tourists leave with stomachs full but without a hint of sickness from the food that they ate. Of course, exercise a bit of caution when checking out a restaurant or stall, just as you would in any other country, but you can feel completely safe in Vietnam when it comes to food.
After your Vietnam tour package from Malaysia is over, you may want to head onto another destination. From Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, this is very easy via flight, which is by far the quickest, safest, most comfortable and usually cheapest option. Buses are available from Hanoi to Laos or China and from Ho Chi Minh City to Cambodia, but these are long, arduous journeys taking at least 6 hours but up to 20 in other cases.
Please see the list of Vietnam tour packages from Malaysia below and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any enquiries!
