Vietnamdrive team gives helpful tips below for choosing a suitable travel agency in Vietnam for your trip to this tropical country. Below are five steps.
1. Determine the type of service you want the agency to perform for you
When looking for the right travel agency, the first step you need to do is to determine the type of service you want. The question you need to answer is: Do you want a package tour or individual services?
If you only need a specific service, such as a car rental, hotel room, or airline ticket, you should choose an agency specializing in that sector. For example, if you need to rent a car, select an agency that specializes in providing this service because it has a team of professional drivers who know how to serve customers without a tour guide, like in a package tour. Their staff can also help you plan self-guided tours on suitable routes.
If you are looking for hotels, an accommodation agency will have a better list of rooms and prices, helping you find a suitable place to stay comfortably.
A package tour firm is better if you need a complete trip, including a car, tour guide, and other services. These firms are skilled at combining all the services to create a smooth journey, saving you time and effort in planning.
2. Determine the type or theme of travel you want
Next, determine the type of travel that suits your interests and needs, such as:
- Beach tourism
- Explore nature and mountains
- Family travel
- Learn about history and culture
This makes it easier to choose an agent known for its strengths in the type of tourism you love.
However, many agencies in Vietnam often announce that they provide “all types of tourism,” making it difficult to identify a specialized unit.
Suggestions to help you find out the strengths of a travel agency:
2.1. Local agencies specializing in an area will be proficient in that area’s tourism topic. For example, travel agencies in Phu Quoc often work on island and sea journeys. Agencies in Ha Long specialize in sightseeing boats and overnight cruises in the bay.
That means when your trip is limited to a particular area or city, choose a local one in that region.
2.2. View featured programs on the main page and information on the introduction page.
You can check the highlight programs on the website’s main page. They often emphasize which travel packages or programs are the most popular.
You look at the content in the “Introduction” section on the About Us page to determine their development direction. Do they repeat a particular theme or type of tour regularly?
If the featured program on the main page matches the orientation on the About page, it shows that this agent specializes in that tourism theme and is not just following a short-term trend. Consider whether that theme is suitable for your needs.
2.3. Look at the number of programs and articles on that travel theme to recognize the agency’s strengths.
For example, a tour operator skilled at organizing tours to the northern mountainous regions offers many programs to explore Sapa, Ha Giang, or trekking villages.
However, do not miss an agency with only one or two programs. This one is even more specialized in the theme it implements.
You need to pay attention to the program content to ensure its correctness. Is it specific to that theme? If so, this will confirm that the agency fundamentally understands that tourist topic.
3. Check if the agency’s website is well organized
In the age of technology, the website is the face of the travel agency, providing the first information to customers from afar. Therefore, the website is a highlight for evaluating how the firm operates.
You need to visit its website. The first condition for continuing is seeing new images, clearly presented information, specific addresses, and contact information.
On the contrary, if the website is old, lacks updated information, and is difficult to view on the phone. These agencies may focus on developing their services and partners in other ways, not online.
Therefore, customers from far away will have to consider this factor when choosing a “travel bridge” for their trip to Vietnam.
4. Find out if the agency is good at groups or individuals
Each Vietnamese travel agency often has a different development orientation, focusing on groups or individuals. This orientation directly affects how the agency organizes, operates, and cares for customers.
How to identify an agency specializing in groups:
- On the website menu: There is usually a separate section for groups.
- Program content: Programs often have specific departure dates or 5-10% discounts for large groups.
How to identify a firm that specializes in individual travelers:
- Flexible departure dates: Tours often depart independently, which is suitable for small groups, families, or honeymoon couples.
- Customization: Itineraries or services can be adjusted to individual needs.
In addition, many firms have two separate teams, one for developing and operating group tours and one for individual tours. These tour agencies are usually large, so you can consider choosing the one that best suits your needs.
5. Contact directly to select
This is the final vital step to finding the right travel agency for your journey to explore Vietnam.
After having a list of potential agencies and companies, contact them directly to verify the information and make a decision.
How to contact:
Visit the agent website, go to Contact Us, or look at the bottom of the page for information such as email, phone number, or online chat channels (e.g., WhatsApp, Messenger, Zalo). To get started, you can find the contact details of one of the famous online travel agencies in Vietnam.
Send specific questions about the service or request advice to evaluate the quality of the response.
Things to look for:
- Response speed: Evaluate whether the agency responds quickly and professionally.
- How replying content is: Do they answer your question to the point?
- Customer service quality: Do you feel supported?
Note for international travelers:
Please pay attention to time zone differences, which can affect response speed. For example, your daytime in Europe or the US may be nighttime in Vietnam, when offices are often closed.
Through communication, you can test the expertise, and caring attitude of an agent. This process will help you choose a suitable travel one, an ideal companion for your trip to Vietnam.
The above suggestions will help you choose a travel agency that suits your travel needs and interests. If you do not have much time to do each step, we have prepared a list of leading travel companies in Vietnam for you to refer to and choose from.
This article is mainly for direct customers who want to find a Vietnamese travel agency for their trip.
On the other hand, if you are an international travel agent looking for a partner or cooperation in the form of B2B, an important point to note is to find out whether the travel firms in Vietnam specialize in providing services for international partners, often called land tour agencies.
