I want our two-week trip to cover a lot. I never went backpacking round South East Asia when I finished school, so now is my big chance to fit it all in to two weeks. From everything I’ve read about Vietnam it feels like Nha Trang is party central – Adventurous Kate’s tip off about the party boat is a definite must do as far as I’m concerned. I’m going to check out Mamma Linh’s party boat and snorkeling trip. Looks like for $7 I get to eat, drink, party and check out some paradise islands too. A backpacker’s dream.

One of the things I’m most excited about doing in Hoi An is checking out the custom clothing possibilities. Adventurous Kate got some wicked trainers custom made on the Hoi An market stalls for just $65 (£40). She even got adventurouskate.com emblazoned on the side – I need some VickyFlipFlop flip flops for sure. You can get a custom-made suit for around $130 too.

I really like the idea of doing a cooking lesson like this one Micheal Tieso from artofadventuring.com did in Hoi An at the White Lotus restaurant. For $18, which all went back into the Project Indochina NGO, he got a private lesson in making Vietnamese pancakes, spring rolls and sautéed chicken. The morning started with an informative trip around the local market, followed by a boat ride before getting back into the kitchen. The best part is no doubt getting to eat all your hard work at the end.

If you’re not eligible for a Vietnam visa-free stay, and you’re travelling to Vietnam by air, then apply for a Vietnam visa on arrival.

This way, you only need to submit an online application form and pay the service fee; no document is required. You then get a visa approval letter via email, print it out and take it with you to board the flight to Vietnam. You’ll get your visa stamped upon arrival at Vietnam airport by paying the stamping fee in cash.

The processing time for the tourist visa approval letter is 2 working days. If you’re in an emergency, it can be processed in 2 to 4 working hours, during the weekend or public holidays of Vietnam. This is for people on a last minute urgent trip or who didn’t know they needed a visa until they reached the airport.

It’s all about the junk boat cruises up here, so my research tells me. I checked out the Halong Bay party cruises from Hanoi Backpackers again as recommended by Adventurous Kate, but looks like they don’t do them any more. Shame, looks like she had an amazing time on that trip.

Maybe at 28 I should be looking at something a little more mature anyway. I’ll always have the party boat in Nha Trang for that behavior. Looks like Jayne from 40before30.com had a great time on a more upmarket Junk Boat – she saw a floating sweet and snack shop. That’s the kind of thing I’m into now, and the monkeys, and the views. A junk boat cruise around Halong Bay is a definite for my trip to Vietnam.

Travel insurance is more important than ever. Make sure you have your travel insurance sorted well in advance before you leave home. Always read the Ts and Cs, so you know what you’re covered for if you should need it.

SafetyWing specialise in travel insurance for digital nomads, so if you’re visiting Vietnam for longer than normal, then check their options out. They also offer the opportunity to sign up while you’re abroad, to have your children covered, and to be covered in your home country if you’ve been travelling for 90 days.

And then it’s back to Ho Chi Minh City again via a 2-hour plane from Hanoi. I have absolutely no desire to go down the Chi Chi Tunnels like Dave from theplanetd.com did in his Vietnam travel blog. Just the thought of those claustrophobic crawl ways is enough to make me feel weak and breathless. I’ll just take his word for it that they’re worth a look.

Instead I’ll be stuffing my face on the streets and in the shops – check out the dinosaur egg full of chips in Adam from travelsofadam.com’s post on getting spoilt in Saigon. Looks epic, and weird. And what’s that thing next to it? His post has got me excited for the wedding we’re going to.

Ooo yeah. Not sure about the Balut egg he scoffed though. The fertilised duck embryo is boiled and eaten in its shell and is a popular snack on the street food stalls – have to see how many Bia Hoi’s I have before I can even think about doing that.

I’ve picked up a few top tips along the way in my research. I know I have to watch out for the cyclo drivers’ billing as Jayne from 40before30.com points out – they’re slippery buggers. Kristin from camelsandchocolate.com got some cool dresses made in Ho Chi Minh City – just a note to self in case I don’t get time in Hoi An. And turns out Matt from nomadicmatt.com didn’t even like Vietnam.