Hanoi -
Why worry about the Rand's depreciation when there is an amazing world of travel opportunities waiting to be uncovered and best of all - they won't cost the earth.
The Far East has long been a fantastic value option for travellers. Visas are inexpensive or not required, street food is cheap and tasty and the opportunities to step outside your comfort zone and discover a whole new culture are immeasurable.
Busabout takes a look at how affordable it is to spend two weeks travelling through Vietnam and we know you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Making up a one of the biggest expenses is your accommodation and transport. You could travel independently but local bus and train schedules may not be reliable, safe and they certainly aren't built for comfort. While the accommodation could also be turn out to be a cesspit of fleas and questionable cleanliness. So don't get yourself into a complete stress out about it, Busabout can take care of all this hassle for you.
A photo posted by Mari.A (@mari44xx) on Apr 6, 2016 at 3:21am PDT
Apart from a place to sleep and the means to get where you want to go you also need to factor in your food costs, sightseeing, entertainment, drinks and more. A bottle of water will cost about R4, a coke will set you back just under R7 and a local beer (they're very good) costs only R11. Take a look at this breakdown and you'll soon discover how easy (and cheap) it is to travel Vietnam with Busabout on a shoestring.
Your Busabout Adventure: R1 037 per day
(This includes hotel accommodation and one night's special stay, breakfast daily, sightseeing, transport in air-conditioned mini bus, and selected meals)
Daily meals: R60 per day
Entertainment: R40 per day
Drinks (booze and water): R60 per day
TOTAL Cost: R1197 per day
From less than R1 200 per day you will get to experience the length and breadth of the rice paddy of Asia (Vietnam is the world's largest exporter of rice).
Busbaout's top tips when travelling in Vietnam
* Eat at the local markets - the food is fresh, delicious and very well priced at about R30 per meal.
* When shopping in the markets for souvenirs you must haggle. The store owner will throw out a price which is usually three times more than what he or she will accept. Offer them less than half and start the negotiations. Be prepared to walk away if the price is not right - they'll follow you.
* You simply must try Pho - traditional Vietnamese soup made with the most incredible stock and loaded with tasty noodles and fresh vegetables
* When in Ho Chi Minh pay a visit to the War Remnants Museum - a stark reminder of the Vietnam War of the sixties and seventies which lays bare the good and the bad on both sides of the conflict.
* South African travellers need a visa to enter Vietnam. These can be issued on arrival at the airport and must be paid for in US dollars
* The currency in Vietnam is ... wait for it... the Dong. Yes, you can laugh now.
* Tipping is not expected, with the exception of your travel guide.
A photo posted by Vietnamese Foodlovers (@vietnamese_food) on Apr 7, 2016 at 12:23am PDT
* Never leave your chopsticks sticking up in the bowl, this is symbolic of death. Always use the chopstick holder or place next to your bowl.
* The iconic conical Vietnamese hat is known as a Non La
* There might be nine million bicycles in Beijing but there are at least 10 million motorbikes on the roads of Vietnam every day. And despite it not being the safest option it is fun to take a ride on the back of one.
For more information visit www.busabout.com or speak to the team on (011) 280 8455. Follow Busabout on social media using the #freespirited hash tag - you'll find them on Facebook and Twitter (@BusaboutSA).
Adapted from a press release for IOL