Vietnam Shore Excursions – Cruise Ship land tours 2024 – 2025

With a coastline of over 3,000 km, many beautiful beaches and exotic local culture, Vietnam has recently become an interesting cruise destination and drew increasing interest from overseas cruise tourists who wish to spend time in our country.

In 2018, Vietnamese International ports attracted 493 visits with around 300,000 cruise passengers from America, United Kingdom, Australia and Asia countries. Vietnam was ranked fourth in the number of cruise ship arrivals, just after Japan, China, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Our Vietnam shore trips are designed for cruise passengers who love to discover the main highlights of our country within a short period of time. Whether you hope to take in ancient historical spots, vibrant cities, exciting beaches or lesser-known mountains, Vietnam will never disappoint you. For Vietnam shore excursions, travelers can stop over Hanoi for impeccable street food and enchanting old street, explore mysterious caves and swim in turquoise water in Halong Bay, immerse in the unforgettable Hoi An with romantic views of thousands of lanterns, enjoy outrageous nightlife at a fancy bar in Ho Chi Minh City and many many other memorable experiences.

Proud to be a prestigious travel agency in Vietnam, Paradise Travel is capable of all services for your hassle-free Vietnam tour. We offer all services from arranging visa, transportation, professional tour guides on your day tours in our country which suit your time and budget. Take a look at some tips for your perfect Vietnam shore excursions and book a tour to make the most of this country!

Vietnam has several international ports which are equipped with world-class facilities and professional staff to accommodate big overseas cruises. Here is the list of seven international ports in Vietnam.

• Hai Phong Port
• Cai Lan Port (Quang Ninh)
• Chan May Port (Hue)
• Tien Sa Port (Da Nang)
• Cau Da Port (Nha Trang)
• Phu My Port (Vung Tau)
• Nha Rong Port (Ho Chi Minh City)

Cruise ship timetables with arrival and departure times of major cruise lines are subjected to change yearly. From the timetable, you can select a port you plan to visit, and book a tour with us to take advantage of your time in Vietnam.

Some cruise providers you can check itineraries are Aida, Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Fred Olsen, Holland America Line, Hapag Lloyd, MSC, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea, Star Clippers, Viking Ocean Cruises, Windstar, Costa Cruises, Pullmantur and TUI.

Founded by experienced travel experts, Paradise Travel promises you hassle-free on-shore Vietnam excursions from any seaport in Vietnam. We offer essential travel services such as land transportation, accommodation, restaurant, and tour guide.

Our friendly and experienced guides are the key to getting the most out of your travel to Vietnam. Each guide is your intimate link to the daily life in the region; and through their insight and extensive local knowledge, you will be rewarded with unique and fascinating glimpses into Vietnamese culture.

Vietnam Shore Excursion Tour Packages

Paradise Travel designs and operates many tour packages for cruise passengers to get to know the history, culture, and people in Vietnam. Don’t waste your time at shopping spots, let Paradise Travel take you to amazing places where you can have authentic experiences and bring home great travel stories to tell. Check out our Vietnam daily tours for your information

Private Car Rental in Vietnam

Unlike bus or taxi, car rental service in Vietnam will offer you flexibility and save a lot of waiting time.

Some popular car brands you can book with Paradise Travel are Toyota Altis, Toyota Yaris, Honda Civic, and Ford Focus. All cars are well-maintained and equipped with essential amenities like air conditioners and baby seats. Our drivers are all well-trained and have a sound knowledge about traffic rules and regulations to ensure the utmost safety on your trip.

Famous for being a peaceful country with mesmerizing landscapes and light-hearted people, Vietnam will never let you down in these beautiful destinations. These are six places you should spend time on your Vietnam shore excursions.

Halong Bay

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage in 1994 and 2000, Halong Bay is a surreal landscape with a system of imposing limestone mountains, magnificent grottoes floating on the emerald water, as well as mist-shrouded bays dotted with various fishing villages. This place is dotted with 1,600 islands and islets with a wide range of biodiversity. Halong Bay is unsurprisingly the must-visit destination in Northern Vietnam and this place is predominantly accessed by cruises.

Hanoi

Thanks to its vibrant streets, splendid boulevards, and out-of-this-world culinary arts, this one-thousand-year-old capital city will be an unforgettable experience on your discovery tours in Vietnam. Hanoi Old Quarter area is where tourists can find literally everything, from handicrafts and daily products to delicious street food! You cannot find anywhere on earth which have a wide range of street food like this area. Then, spend time at Temple of Literature, Hanoi Opera House, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to understand the history of this dazzling city!

Hue

Proud to be an ancient imperial capital of Vietnam dating from the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1954), the city of Hue has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. ‘Poetic, romantic and dreamy’ are three adjectives people use to describe this wonderful city. With its imperial citadel, temples, pagodas and monuments, Hue contains a rich imperial part of Vietnam. Booking a boat tour to Perfume River (Huong River) is undoubtedly the best thing to do in Hue.

Da Nang – Hoi An

Praised as ‘the most liveable city in Vietnam’, there is no lack of entertainment in this city. Da Nang is a perfect combination of the quaint Hanoi and dynamic Saigon. Do not forget to capture the scenery of Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills at dawn! Your trip to Da Nang will not be complete without visiting Hoi An Ancient Town. Enjoy a cooking class in Hoi An to learn about Vietnamese cuisines and cook your own dishes with fresh local herbs and spices. Walk around Japanese Covered Bridge, Cantonese Assembly Hall, Tan Ky Ancient House and many other temples and pagodas.

Nha Trang

Nha Trang is recognized as the ‘diving capital of Vietnam’. You can enjoy every water sport in this city: diving, surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, and water skiing. Nha Trang Bay is the home to 19 islands and islets in which Hon Tre is the largest one with an area of 32.5 square kilometers. Some most irresistible islands in Nha Trang are Hon Mun, Hon Mieu, Hon Tam and Hon Tre.

Ho Chi Minh City

When arriving in Phu My Port, do not miss Ho Chi Minh City of your Vietnam shore excursion. On your tour to Ho Chi Minh City, you can see Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of the war in April 1975, and some French colonial structures including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Central Post Office. Go shopping at Ben Thanh Market for cheap clothes and souvenirs.

Best Time to Visit Vietnam

The weather in Vietnam can be split into three regions. The country has a tropical climate with four seasons in the north and two seasons (dry and wet season) in the center and the south. In the north, it is sultry from May to August and cold from December to the beginning of February. In summers, Northern Vietnam is mainly affected by typhoons, which interrupted your outdoor excursion. The Central and Southern Vietnam usually rains from June to October and stay dry and hot from March to May. In general, the best time to travel to Vietnam is from November to April.

Northern Vietnam Shore Excursions

Northern Vietnam’s weather is characterized by its distinct four seasons. The humidity level is usually high in this region, especially during spring (February – April) and summer (May – August).

It is cold in the north during winter (December – early February), and the temperature may drop to 0 degree Celsius in the mountainous area. After Vietnamese Lunar New Year, spring comes, the weather starts getting warmer and it is the best time for Halong Bay shore excursions. The sky is blue and clear, which is perfect for cruising and kayaking.

This region is affected by heavy rains, storms and typhoons from July to September, so be careful if you want to travel to mountainous areas at this time. Autumn (late September – November) is the best time to visit Hanoi since tourists will be rewarded with pleasant weather with light breeze, flower blooming, and rustic sceneries.

Central Vietnam Shore Excursions

Generally speaking, Central Vietnam is warm all year-round with the temperature ranging from 25 to 35 degrees Celsius.

It is usually hot in Da Nang and Hoi An during summers, and it is also a high domestic tourism season. Thus, it is recommended that you visit these places between February to July, before the region is affected by the monsoon and heavy rain from September to early January.

On the contrary, the weather is more stable in South Central Coast (Nha Trang, Quy Nhon) with warmth and sunshine all year-round. However, it drizzles from September to November and there might be heavy rains.

Southern Vietnam Shore Excursions

The South of Vietnam has only two distinct seasons: dry season and rainy season with the average temperature of 25-35 degrees Celsius year-round. It is mostly hot all the time and there is no chilly winter like the Northern area.

Basically, the Southern people experience dry season between December and April in which it is sultrier and more humid from February (after Tet holiday) to April.

The rainy season ranges from May to early November when this area will receive the highest rainfall in June, July, and August. However, you do not have to worry too much about the rains, since it usually rains in the afternoon and will not interrupt your sightseeing time.

Phone, Wifi, Internet Services and Power Socket in Vietnam

• Wifi connection is relatively good in hotels, coffee shops and restaurants in Vietnam. Take advantage of free wifi to contact your family and friends through Skype, Viber or Whatsapp.
• However, if you travel to rural areas where wifi connection is interrupted, we highly recommend you purchase a SIM Card in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for internet service. It is easy to find a Viettel and Vinaphone official store in the city center or at the airport. Check with us then we will prepare a free SM Card for you.
• We use 220V, 50Hz and 2 and 3-pin electricity socket in Vietnam. Most hotels will provide electric outlets which accept many plug shapes. Universal travel adaptors are needed if you travel with many devices.

Currency Exchange and ATMs

Vietnam’s official currency is Vietnam Dong (VND). Vietnam Dong comes in polymerized notes (there are no coins used in Vietnam). The smallest bill in Vietnam is VND 500 and the highest value note in Vietnam is VND 500,000.

There are many local and international banks in Vietnam (ANZ, HSBC, Shinhan, Public Bank). Do not worry about any issue with money exchange before your Vietnam shore excursion tour, it is very easy to exchange currency at banks in Vietnam.

Packing Tips to Vietnam

Don’t go crazy about packing. There are many supermarkets and convenient stores (Circle K, Shop & Go, Family Mart, etc.) around Vietnam, especially in tourist destinations such as Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City.

These are essential things you can prepare before Vietnam shore excursion:

• Passport, cash and visa card
• Clothing: Vietnam is hot and humid year-round, so make sure you pack light clothing. Cotton T-shirts and pants should be included in your luggage. Stay away from heavy fabrics because they will make you sweat. However, if you travel to the Northern area during winters, coats, sweaters, and hoodies are needed.
• Prescript medicines
• Mosquito repellent
• Sun-protection items: sunscreen and sunglasses. You can buy hats in Vietnam.

Transportation in Vietnam

Public transportation is currently not well-developed and well-integrated in Vietnam, therefore taxi and walking are the main way to go around big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Grab can be used in main travel destinations in our country.

If you travel to different towns within one region, bus and train are the main means of transport. Bus tickets range from VND 100,000 to 500,000 dong, depending on the distance. You can look for cheap deal on low-cost airlines such as Vietjet Air and Jetstar.

Safety Tips in Vietnam

There are several Vietnam travel risks related to the weather in Vietnam. As an elongated country, the temperature changes significantly from the north to the south. Do not participate in any outdoor activity at sweltering noon. Carry a bottle of water with you to avoid dehydration.

Do not flash your belongings, jewelry, and electronic devices. Refrain yourselves from taking a photo or using your smartphone while walking on the streets.

As the second largest motorbike ownership in the world, traffic here should be on your list of Vietnam travel risks. Traffic is inexcusably horrible on working hours, on peak hours of the weekends and on public holidays as well. Don’t be panic when crossing the street, the locals are always willing to help you.

Cultural Manners and Etiquettes in Vietnam You Should Know

Don’t wear shorts, skirts and sleeveless tops when entering a religious site. Wear long pants or dresses, cover your shoulders, remove your hats and leave your shoes at the door.

Vietnamese people dress conservatively and do not reveal too much skin, so make sure you respect our customs.

Tipping is not mandatory in Vietnam. However, a small tip is fine if you are satisfied with the service. Here are our suggested tipping amounts in Vietnam:

• Hotel and Restaurant: Service charges are already included in the bills.
• Porter: $1-$2 tip will be appreciated.
• Guide: $5-$10 per day per person.
• Driver: $2-$5 per day per person.

When meeting a new Vietnamese friend, it is not common for giving a kiss or a hug. A smile is fine and you may shake hands.

It is not common for couple’s public displays of affection in Vietnam, so refrain yourself.

Nude sunbathing is banned in our country, even on the beaches.