Tailor-made private tours from $780 USD. Mountains, beaches, street food, history — all in one trip. Designed by locals, built for Americans.
Curated for Americans
Vietnam-only or multi-country — every itinerary is a starting point — your consultant Kurt will reshape it around your dates, pace, budget, and interests. Nothing is fixed until you say so.
No surprises
Fill in the form or message Kurt on WhatsApp. Dates, budget, interests — as much or as little as you like.
Kurt sends a detailed day-by-day plan with hotels, activities, and transparent pricing. No obligation.
Change hotels, swap activities, extend days. Unlimited revisions, zero extra cost. Your trip, your rules.
Pay a small deposit (refundable 60 days out). We handle every detail. Kurt stays on WhatsApp throughout your trip.
The honest math
Twice the culture. Half the price. And your dollar goes 5× further than Mexico. Here's what the same budget gets you.
Ask Kurt to CompareVerified credentials
We know Americans do their homework before booking. Good. Here's everything you'd find anyway — verified, in one place.
International Tour Licence #01-153/2010/TCDL-GPLHQT issued by Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Business Registration #0104143940. Offices in Hanoi, Da Nang & HCMC.
American Society of Travel Advisors — the world's largest travel trade association. Our membership guarantees adherence to strict ethical standards and consumer protection.
Working toward Travelife Certification — the international sustainability standard backed by the EU. Monthly team workshops on responsible tourism. Member of Vietnam Responsible Travel Club.
Official Google Partner status — recognised for meeting Google's standards in digital marketing, customer experience, and business transparency.
Travellers' Choice winner for 10 consecutive years. Independently verified reviews from real guests — including hundreds of Americans. Read them yourself.
“Excellent” rating with 581 independently verified reviews. Not curated, not filtered — every review is from a real booking. Check for yourself.
Why Travel Sense Asia
We're a licensed Vietnamese operator (est. 2009) with offices in Hanoi, Da Nang, and HCMC. Kurt, your US-market specialist, has helped hundreds of Americans plan trips that actually match how they like to travel.
A shared history
For many Americans, Vietnam is more than a vacation — it's a journey through living history. From the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Reunification Palace to the War Remnants Museum, Vietnam offers a chance to see the other side of a story most of us only learned from one perspective. Today, the two countries share one of the warmest diplomatic relationships in Southeast Asia, and Vietnamese people consistently rank among the most welcoming hosts American travelers encounter anywhere in the world.
Crawl through Cu Chi Tunnels, stand in the War Remnants Museum, visit the Reunification Palace where the war ended, and see the former US Embassy — all with expert local guides who give you the full picture, not a one-sided narrative.
Harvest herbs at Tra Que vegetable village in Hoi An, learn to cook phở from a family in Hanoi, make lanterns with artisans, cycle through rice paddies, and weave sedge mats in the Mekong Delta. These are real communities, not tourist setups.
Americans often worry about how they'll be received. The reality? Vietnam is overwhelmingly forward-looking. You'll be greeted with genuine curiosity and warmth. Over 60% of the population was born after 1975 — for most Vietnamese, America is an ally, not an adversary.
Ready to start planning?
or WhatsApp KurtPractical info
Everything you need to plan confidently. We'll handle logistics — but here's the cheat sheet.
90-day e-visa, $25, apply online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Processed in 3 business days. Passport must be valid 6+ months. We send you step-by-step instructions after booking.
Nonstop: Vietnam Airlines SFO → SGN (16h, 4x/week). One-stop from LAX, JFK, ORD, SEA via Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, or Hong Kong. Budget ~$800–$1,400 round trip. Book 6–8 weeks ahead for best fares.
Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND). $1 ≈ 25,500 VND. ATMs everywhere, Visa/MC widely accepted in cities. Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory — $3–5/day for guides, $2–3/day for drivers is standard.
No mandatory vaccinations. CDC recommends Hep A, Typhoid, and routine vaccines. Tap water is not potable (bottled water provided daily). Vietnam is very safe for tourists — violent crime against foreigners is extremely rare.
GMT+7 (11–14 hours ahead of US depending on timezone). Excellent 4G/5G coverage nationwide. Free Wi-Fi in most hotels, cafes, and restaurants. We provide a local SIM card on arrival.
Vietnamese is the official language. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. All our guides are fluent English speakers. A few Vietnamese phrases go a long way — locals love it when you try.
Small deposit to hold your dates (typically 30% of tour cost). Balance due 30 days before departure. We accept Visa, Mastercard, and bank transfer. No hidden fees — the price we quote is the price you pay.
Free cancellation up to 60 days before departure — full deposit refund, no questions asked. 30–59 days: 50% refund. Plans change, we get it. Reschedule anytime at no extra charge.
What Americans say
From 538 Trustpilot reviews and 1,496 TripAdvisor reviews.
“Kurt put together an incredible 2-week Vietnam trip for us. Every hotel was outstanding, guides were knowledgeable, and the food — oh my God, the food. Way better value than our trips to Mexico. Already planning to go back.”
“We flew from New York to Hanoi, did the whole north-to-south route over 14 days. Ha Long Bay cruise was incredible. Hoi An was our favorite — the cooking class alone was worth the trip. Can't say enough good things about TSA.”
“Third time using Travel Sense Asia. This time we did Vietnam + Cambodia over 3 weeks. The local guides are genuinely knowledgeable, not reading from a script. Worth every penny.”
Destinations
Free resources
Written by our local team with 17 years of on-the-ground experience. No sign-up required — just download and start planning.
Your dedicated consultant
Kurt graduated in business administration, but his passion for travel turned his career toward tourism — and he never looked back. As a dedicated tour advisor, he doesn't just plan trips from a desk: he travels extensively across Vietnam and Indochina, constantly collecting and updating on-the-ground information so every recommendation is current and personal.
He's helped hundreds of American travelers turn their Vietnam plans into reality — from couples on their first Asia adventure to veterans returning for the first time since the war. When you message Kurt, you're talking to one person who handles your trip from first question to final day. No handoffs, no call centers, no scripts.
The smart choice
You could book through Intrepid, G Adventures, or a US-based agency. Here's why travelers who've done both choose us.
Good questions
Yes, but it's easy. You can apply online for an e-visa that costs about US$25, takes 3 business days, and gives you 90 days with multiple entries. We'll send you the exact link and walk you through it when you book.
Vietnam Airlines flies nonstop from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City (about 16 hours, 4x/week). From other US cities like LA, New York, Chicago, or Seattle, you'll connect via Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, or Hong Kong — total travel time is typically 19–22 hours. Plenty of airlines to choose from: EVA Air, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Japan Airlines, and more.
Very far. $1 USD gets you roughly 25,500 VND. A proper sit-down meal is $3–5, a craft beer is $1.50, and a 4-star hotel runs about $40–60/night. It's genuinely one of the best-value destinations in Asia — your dollar stretches 3–5x further than in Mexico or the Caribbean.
Yes. Vietnam is consistently rated as one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia for tourists. Petty theft can happen in crowded areas (like anywhere), but violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. Our guides and drivers are with you throughout.
Vietnam stretches 1,650km, so weather varies by region. Generally: North (Oct–Apr is dry and cool), Central (Feb–May), South (Dec–Apr). But there's always somewhere good to visit year-round. Kurt can help you pick the best dates for your itinerary.
Simple: you tell us your dates, budget, and what you're interested in. Kurt sends you a custom itinerary within 24 hours. You can tweak it as many times as you like — no charge. Once you're happy, you pay a deposit (refundable up to 60 days out) and we lock everything in.
Vietnamese cuisine is naturally diverse and accommodating. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal — we handle it all. Just let Kurt know upfront and every restaurant will be briefed.
We strongly recommend it. All our packages include basic coverage worth up to VND 10 million (~$400 USD), but we suggest supplementing with your own comprehensive policy from a US-based provider like World Nomads or Allianz for full peace of mind.
This is one of the most common concerns — and the most unfounded. Vietnam is overwhelmingly forward-looking. Over 60% of the population was born after 1975. In surveys, Vietnamese people consistently rank the US among their most-liked countries. You'll be met with curiosity, warmth, and genuine hospitality. Many of our American clients say this surprised them the most.
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory in Vietnam. A good guideline: $3–5/person/day for your guide, $2–3/person/day for your driver. For restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10% is generous. We include tipping guidance in your pre-trip briefing so there's no guesswork.
There are no mandatory vaccinations for Vietnam. The CDC recommends Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and ensuring routine vaccines (Tetanus, MMR) are up to date. If you're heading to remote highland areas, your doctor may suggest anti-malaria medication. We recommend consulting your physician or a travel clinic 4–6 weeks before departure.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, and shops in cities. Smaller vendors and rural areas are cash-only. ATMs are everywhere and dispense Vietnamese Dong. We recommend bringing $100–200 in US cash as backup — USD is easy to exchange at any bank or gold shop.
Vietnam is 11–14 hours ahead of the US (depending on your timezone). Most travelers need 2–3 days to adjust. We design your first day to be relaxed — arrival, hotel check-in, and a light evening activity — so you can ease into the trip without pressure.
Kurt will reply on WhatsApp within 2 hours to confirm your preferences. Within 24 hours, you'll receive a detailed day-by-day itinerary with hotel names, activities, and transparent pricing. There are no follow-up calls, no email blasts, no pressure. You review the plan on your own time and reply only if you want to move forward. Even if you don't book, the itinerary is yours to keep.
Once you approve your itinerary, you pay a deposit (typically 30% of the tour cost) to lock in your dates and hotels. The balance is due 30 days before departure. We accept Visa, Mastercard, and international bank transfer. The price we quote is the price you pay — no hidden fees, no surprise surcharges. And if your plans change, you can cancel for a full refund up to 60 days out.
Tell us a bit about your trip and Kurt will send you a custom plan within 24 hours. Zero obligation.
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