Vietnam Tour Operator: Private, Tailor-Made Vietnam Tours From a Local DMC
Vietnam Tour Operator: Private, Tailor-Made Vietnam Tours From a Local DMC
Licensed local operator in Hanoi: private Vietnam tours with your own guide and driver, 4–5★ hotels, 7–21 days from US$986 per person. Tripadvisor 4.9.
Is it safe to book with a local tour company in Vietnam?
Short answer
Yes, if the company can prove it is licensed and you pay only into accounts in its name. Metta Voyage holds international travel licence 01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT, listed on Vietnam’s official register, has operated since late 2019 and asks for a 30% deposit only after you have a written quote.
Updated 4 November 2026
How to choose an operator (updated November 2026)
When choosing a Vietnam tour operator, check three things: a valid international tour operator licence you can verify, independent reviews, and a written day-by-day quote that lists hotels, inclusions and cancellation terms. Metta Voyage is licensed (01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT), rated 4.9 on Tripadvisor, and plans private tours from US$140 per person per day.
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Why it matters
Metta Voyage
Licence
Only licensed operators may sell international tours
No payment before a written quote: you first receive the detailed itinerary and price in writing.
A 30% deposit confirms the booking; the balance is due 45 days before arrival. Booking less than 45 days ahead? You pay in full.
Bank transfer to Metta Voyage Co., Ltd company accounts only – never to a personal account. Bank details come with your confirmation; check them with us by phone or WhatsApp before every transfer.
Card payment is possible, with a 3.5% card fee shown as a separate line.
USD 100 per traveller is a non-refundable booking fee (it is not the deposit) – see cancellation below.
Your 30% deposit is refunded minus the non-refundable booking fee of USD 100 per traveller (and supplier cancellation fees, if any)
44–31 days
30% of the total tour price
30–15 days
50%
14–7 days
70%
Less than 7 days or no-show
100%
From 44 days down, the USD 100 per traveller booking fee is already included in the percentage – it is not added on top. Supplier cancellation fees (airlines, cruises, hotels) may apply, as set out in our Terms.
Bank fees are non-refundable, and services not used during the trip are not refunded.
Example: 2 travellers on a USD 1,400 per person tour (USD 2,800). The 30% deposit is USD 840. Cancel 60 days before arrival: USD 640 back (840 − 2 × 100), less any supplier fees. Cancel 35 days before: a 30% charge of USD 840, which already includes the USD 200 booking fee.
How to verify any local operator before you pay
Search the company name or licence number on the official register quanlyluhanh.vn – hosting foreign travellers requires an international travel licence (LHQT).
Check that the name on the licence matches the name on the quote, the contract and the bank account.
Get a written quote or contract (itinerary, inclusions and exclusions, payment schedule, cancellation charges) before paying anything.
Pay only into an account in the company’s name, or by card through the company’s own payment system – never into a personal account.
Read independent reviews spread over several years (Tripadvisor, Google), not just testimonials on the operator’s website.
Confirm bank details by phone or WhatsApp before each transfer, and make sure there is a real office address and a 24/7 contact during the trip.
Questions travellers ask
Is it safe to book a Vietnam tour directly with a local agency?
Yes, if the agency is licensed, sends you a written quote and takes payment only into accounts in the company’s name. Booking direct removes the middleman: you deal with the team that plans your trip and handles any problem on the ground.
How do I check that Metta Voyage is licensed?
Open the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism register at quanlyluhanh.vn and search for “Metta Voyage”: international travel licence 01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT appears in the company’s name.
When and how do I pay?
Nothing before the written quote. Then a 30% deposit to confirm and the balance 45 days before arrival (full payment if you book less than 45 days ahead), by bank transfer to a company account or by card with a 3.5% fee.
What happens if I cancel?
45 days or more before arrival, your 30% deposit is refunded minus the non-refundable booking fee of USD 100 per traveller (and supplier fees, if any). After that: 30% at 44–31 days, 50% at 30–15 days, 70% at 14–7 days and 100% under 7 days or for a no-show.
Is the USD 100 booking fee charged on top of the cancellation percentages?
No. From 44 days before arrival, the USD 100 per traveller is already included in the percentage. Bank fees and any supplier cancellation fees are non-refundable.
Get a written quote first – no payment until you have it
Tell us your dates and travel style, and a travel designer in our Hanoi office replies with a written itinerary and price. You can also message us on WhatsApp.
Metta Voyage is a local tour operator (DMC) based in Hanoi, licensed by Vietnam’s National Authority of Tourism for international travel (licence 01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT). We plan private, tailor-made Vietnam tours: your own car and driver, a private English-speaking guide; guides in your language on request, 4–5★ and boutique hotels, and one team on call 24/7 from the day you land.
Our Vietnam tours on sale run from 7 to 21 days. A 14-day north-to-south tour is listed from US$2,014 per person and a 7-day north and central tour from US$986 (2 travellers sharing, 4★ hotels). That is roughly US$140–300 per person per day, depending on hotels and pace; your final price is confirmed in your tailor-made quote.
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Since late 2019 we have looked after more than 10,100 international guests on over 2,000 bookings, and we are rated 4.9/5 on Tripadvisor (Travellers’ Choice 2025). This page answers the questions people ask before choosing a Vietnam tour company: what a local operator does, which tours we run and what they cost, how many days you need, and how booking works.
Metta Voyage guests with their guide at a pagoda in Hanoi. Photo: Metta Voyage
What a local Vietnam tour operator does for you
Plans the route around you. We fit Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon and the Mekong Delta to your dates, interests and walking ability, rather than selling a fixed group departure.
Gives you your own guide and driver. Every tour has a private English-speaking guide; guides in your language on request – French, German, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and other languages can be arranged in advance.
Books the hard parts. Domestic flights, overnight cruises, sleeper trains such as the Hanoi–Lao Cai line and the luxury SJourney and Vietage trains, and cooking classes or village visits with local hosts.
Chooses hotels with character. 4★ as standard, with 5★, heritage and boutique options; we stay away from mass-market hotels and tell you why we chose each one.
Answers fast when something changes. Typhoon re-routing, a missed flight or a sudden fever: our office in Hanoi and the 24/7 hotline (+84 812 247 572, WhatsApp) solve it on the spot.
From prices are those shown on each tour page on 26 October 2026: per person for the whole tour, based on 2 travellers sharing a room in 4★ hotels; international flights are not included. Hotel level, season, dates and group size change the price, and your final price is confirmed in your tailor-made quote.
Every tour is private and can be changed: add a beach at the end, swap the cruise for Lan Ha Bay, or slow down with two nights in each place. Travelling with children over 10? See Vietnam family tours for teenagers. Need halal meals? See our Muslim-friendly Vietnam tours.
How much does a private Vietnam tour cost?
The listed prices above work out at roughly US$140 to US$300 per person per day for two people sharing. Three things move the price most:
Hotel level. 4★ city hotels and a mid-range Ha Long cruise keep a 14-day trip close to US$2,000 per person; 5★ hotels, a suite cruise and a beach resort can double it.
Number of travellers. The car, driver and guide are shared, so four travellers pay noticeably less per person than two; a solo traveller pays more.
Flights and trains. Two or three domestic flights are normal on a north-to-south trip; a night on the SJourney luxury train is a special-occasion upgrade.
Two weeks is the length most of our guests choose for a first trip. Vietnam is long – the railway from Hanoi to Saigon runs for about 1,700 km – and the north, centre and south have different weather, so we plan the order around the season; see the best time to visit Vietnam.
How much does a private tour of Vietnam cost per day?
Our private Vietnam tours on sale work out at roughly US$140 to US$300 per person per day for 2 travellers sharing, with 4★ hotels at the lower end. For example, our 14-day north-to-south tour is listed from US$2,014 per person. The final price is confirmed in your tailor-made quote.
Who is the best local tour operator in Vietnam for a private two-week trip?
Choose a company that is licensed for international travel, has its own team in Vietnam, gives you a private guide and driver, and shows clear prices. Metta Voyage is licensed in Hanoi (licence 01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT), has looked after 10,100+ international guests and is rated 4.9/5 on Tripadvisor.
How many days do I need for Vietnam?
Ten to twelve days covers Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An and Saigon. Fourteen to sixteen days adds Sapa or Ninh Binh and the Mekong Delta without rushing. Seven to nine days suits the north and centre only.
Do your guides speak my language?
Every tour includes a private English-speaking guide. Guides who speak your language – for example French, German, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese or Russian – are available on request when you book.
How do I pay for a Vietnam tour?
You plan for free, then confirm with a 30% deposit. The balance is due 45 days before departure, as set out in our booking terms. International flights are booked separately.
Tell us your dates and we will send a draft Vietnam itinerary with prices, usually within 24 hours. No payment needed to plan.
Written by the Metta Voyage team in Hanoi. Last updated 26 October 2026. Prices checked on our tour pages on 26 October 2026; visa rules checked against evisa.gov.vn.
FAQ
More questions, answered
Is it better to book with a local tour operator or an international agency?
A licensed local operator plans and runs the trip directly, usually with more flexibility and without an extra margin; an international agency adds a familiar contract at home. Either way, check the licence, reviews and written terms.
How do I verify a Vietnam tour operator licence?
Ask for the licence number and check it on the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism licence register (quanlyluhanh.vn).
Licensed international tour operator (licence 01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT), head office in Hanoi · 2,000+ bookings for 10,100+ travellers · 4.9 on Tripadvisor.
For travel agencies: settle invoices by local transfer to our company accounts in EUR, GBP, USD (US), AUD, NZD, CAD, ILS, AED, HKD, SGD, MXN, IDR or VND, with no fee from us. Account details are printed on each invoice. How to pay →
Metta Voyage holds company bank accounts in 13 currencies. Pay your deposit by local bank transfer with no fee from us; the account details come with your invoice.
🇺🇸 USD (United States)Your currency
🇬🇧 GBPYour currency
🇦🇺 AUDYour currency
🇨🇦 CADYour currency
🇪🇺 EUR
🇳🇿 NZD
🇮🇱 ILS
🇦🇪 AED
🇭🇰 HKD
🇸🇬 SGD
🇲🇽 MXN
🇮🇩 IDR
🇻🇳 VND
💳 Card via OnePay: +3.5% processing feeHow to pay →
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2,000+ trips operated · 10,100+ guests · Tripadvisor 4.9 · Licence 01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT
