Travel Plan
Who are Vietnam Travel Plan?
Vietnam Travel Plan is a small internet based tour operator, offering you a unique way of travelling around Vietnam with our bite-sized Vietnam tours or our suggested holidays in Vietnam. Travel how you want to, when you want to. Our Vietnam travel specialists will help you build your own Vietnam trip, handing you control of your holiday. We pride ourselves on providing excellent service levels which continue throughout the life of your booking; just give us a call on 01273 322 041.
Vietnam Travel Plan is part of Rickshaw Travel, an online adventure tour operator made by travellers for travellers. It is born out of the idea that there are hardly any independent travel options available for more adventurous travellers.
Our Vietnam trips are very individual, so we’re able to use small-scale, authentic accommodation with local character and warm welcomes. With Rickshaw Travel, you won’t find large group coach tours but instead you’ll travel by trains, buses, private car, planes, and sometimes minibus. Flexibility and independence are fundamental, which is why we organise as much or as little as our clients wish.
We also like to give something back to local communities, which is why we sponsor various charity projects. See our responsible travel page for more information.
We’re able to keep our prices low because we don’t produce flashy brochures or run luxury shops. However, you’re more than welcome to visit our Vietnam travel specialists during your travel planning! We are based in Brighton, on the South Coast and we’re the sister company of round the world specialists, Travel Nation.
Your financial security:
Vietnam Travel Plan is part of Rickshaw Travel Ltd which is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator.
We hold an Air Travel Organisers License (ATOL number 9728) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This means that in the unlikely event of our insolvency, any holiday arrangements made with us in conjunction with flights from the U.K. are 100% protected.
In addition we are also members of ABTA (ABTA number Y0484). This means that in the unlikely event of our insolvency, any land only trips are 100% protected (i.e. where international flights haven’t been booked through us).
Staff Profiles – Our Vietnam Specialists
Jennifer Parker
Vietnam Travel Supervisor & Product Specialist
I’m not really sure what drew me to Vietnam in the first place, but I was absolutely determined to go there. Now I know why. Vietnam has everything- beautiful weather, friendly locals, incredible landscapes, deserted beaches, food to die for, and… erm… karaoke.
I would definitely recommend independent travel to Vietnam. My memories of this magical country range from eating scorpion (not recommended), to drinking beer on the pavement in a monsoon, to watching a load of tuk-tuk drivers sing Celine Dion, to playing football on the beach near Hoi An. There is so much travel to be done and things to see and do that it’s impossible to get bored. Halong Bay is, I think, one of the most beautiful places on earth and Hanoi is a fantastic Asian city. If you have time, head for a cocktail in one of the jazz bars in the Old Quarter.
I had to drag myself away from Vietnam, and I can’t wait to return. One day I dream about retiring in Hoi An and munching banana pancakes all day.
Alex Castle
Vietnam Travel Specialist
After finishing my degree in Psychology in 2006, I bought a one-way ticket to New Zealand and my passport has been my best friend ever since.
I first visited Vietnam in 2009, sailing down the coast and back again. Since then I have been back many times to get my fix of amazing food, wonderful people and tailored suits! Halong Bay is so stunning I believe everyone should experience a Junk cruise at least once in their life! The thousands of mini-limestone rocks jutting out of the water are an incredible natural wonder. I went in March and the light mist made the whole experience feel like a surreal dream.
In Ho Chi Minh City, I happily played the tourist for days at a time. Having suits made by day and sipping cocktails at the famous Rex Hotel by night. I can’t wait to go back and see some of Vietnam’s hidden treasures. A trip to the unspoilt Phu Quoc Island is definitely on the cards!
Fiona McLaren
Vietnam Travel Specialist
Having travelled much of Africa, the next destination on my radar is South East Asia! I cannot wait to visit this part of the world to explore the breath-taking landscapes, taste the sensational food and meet the incredible people! In preparation for my adventure in April/May this year to Vietnam, I have been soaking up as much as possible from travel blogs and books. I cannot wait to go trekking with the Hill Tribes in Sapa and to learn about Vietnamese cuisine in the central Vietnam town of Hoi An.
I’m of course really interested in animals and I am really looking forward to spending a day with the elephants in Buon Ma Thuot, which just sounds incredible! It should be a completely different experience to interacting with their African counterparts, and I just cannot wait to spend a couple of days with these fascinating creatures!
Haydn Wrath
Vietnam Travel Plan Manager
Vietnam Travel Plan is run by Haydn Wrath.
I left the University of East Anglia in 1984 and escaped what seemed a very grim England by spending the rest of the 1980s travelling independently and working myself round the world. During this time I put in some usual stints as an English teacher in Tokyo, a landscape gardener in Sydney and a tarmac layer’s assistant in Alaska. In 1990, I joined Bridge the World Travel Centre in London as manager of the World-wide department, where I was able to put my degree in Politics and Philosophy to good use.
I fulfilled my ambition to set up a specialist travel company in 2001 when I founded Travel Nation, and later in 2007 set up Rickshaw Travel and Vietnam Travel Plan.
I have travelled independently to Vietnam twice over the years, and am always utterly charmed by the people and the atmosphere there. Vietnam has so much going for it that it really can be all things to all people. Also of course, in common with so many other visitors, when in Vietnam, I am in food paradise…especially that beef noodle soup they do….
Vietnam Travel Plan, part of Rickshaw Travel
Vietnam Travel Plan is part of Rickshaw Travel. Rickshaw Travel is a UK based ABTA / ATOL bonded tour operator. We specialise in providing solutions for holiday makers who want to travel independently, taking in the highlights of a country, but with arrangements made in advance. Our travel style is to use comfortable, but smaller scale accommodation that has an authentic feel. We promote responsible tourism and also sponsor a number of community projects in the countries in which we operate.
We also operate in the following 10 other countries in Asia and Latin America, where we offer trips of a similar style:
Asia: South America:
Thailand Travel Plan Peru Travel Plan
India Travel Plan Argentina Travel Plan
China Travel Plan Brazil Travel Plan
Indonesia Travel Plan
Malaysia Travel Plan
Cambodia Travel Plan
Laos Travel Plan
Click here to see our bite-sized Vietnam tours
Click here to see our suggested holidays in Vietnam