Miscellaneous · Vietnam

Hi, we're planning a month-long trip to Vietnam and we've received a quote from a local agency (AGENDA TOUR VIETNAM CO.LTD). Does anyone know this agency and can tell us about it?

Thanks for your comments! JLB

I panicked a bit about this during my last trip. My phone said it was connected to the network but had no data. Turns out the issue was with the APN—I had copied an APN code from a Vietnamese operator I found on a forum, thinking it would help, but it actually broke my connection on a travel eSIM. I removed it, reset to default, and it worked right away.

Also, FYI: it’s normal for a travel eSIM not to activate until you’ve landed and turned airplane mode back off. Don’t panic and delete the profile before landing—it’s not broken.

I found a solid troubleshooting guide that covers other cases (no service, signal but no data, etc.) here: https://sogdiaroam.com/fr/blog/esim-ne-fonctionne-pas-au-vietnam

Hey everyone, I’m prepping for a long trip (3 months between Asia and Eastern Europe), and I’m looking for a backpack that can go everywhere with me while properly protecting my laptop (15 inches).

The goal isn’t a big 70L backpack, but rather a secondary bag I can keep with me in the cabin, to carry my laptop, documents, a change of clothes or two, chargers, etc. I work remotely as a freelancer, so I’ll be opening it often in cafés, co-working spaces, and airports.

Any recommendations? What do you take with you when you need to work while traveling? Any reliable brands or models to suggest?

Thanks in advance for your tips—it’ll help me avoid a bad purchase right before my departure!

We're planning a trip to Vietnam with La Palanche, a travel agency in Hanoi. If anyone here has used them, could you share your experience with this agency, please? Thanks

Huge disappointment. I’d seen that Friendly Shoe Shop was recommended by a blog. I went there with the intention of buying a small leather backpack. I visited once for a look around, then went online to compare prices with shops in Europe, like Marius, which specializes in leather. I realized that for the same price ($145 US), I could find the same thing in Paris. I went back to Friendly Shoe Shop and tried to see if it was possible to negotiate. The saleswoman immediately reacted. With a smile, she took the bag, put it back on display, and told me: "If you want to negotiate, go to the market!" Basically, she was telling me to get lost. You can easily apologize by saying prices are fixed and non-negotiable, but it’s unacceptable to react that way when the prices are excessive. It’s really taking tourists for a ride.

When you know the cost of living in Vietnam, this price is nothing short of a scam. I’m not questioning the quality of the product. If the workers were paid 3 or 5 times the normal rate, I wouldn’t mind. But there’s no indication that’s the case.

In summary, in Hoi An, you have the choice between: - Quality shops where you’ll pay the same price as in a European capital, which gives the owner a huge margin since they don’t pay import taxes, transportation costs, and manufacture directly, etc. - Counterfeit shops where you won’t pay much for mediocre quality.

Friendly Shoe Shop has nothing friendly or fair about it. It’ll suit people who travel for two or three weeks, have the means, and want to say when they get home that they bought a bag or shoes in Hoi An. For everyone else, there’s nothing fair about it…

Hi there. In Phu Quoc in January 2025, where can I safely buy a quality pearl with a certificate? Thanks