There is a popular saying of “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. But, what happens when perhaps you go on a Vietnam business trip that provides you with the ability to work and play at the same time?
Knowing how to strike a good work-play balance during the Vietnam business trip boils down to planning your route and activities as seen below:
- Always plan for the best route
- Be deliberate on your means of transportation
- Can a hotel work for the duration of your stay?
- Declutter and pack light
- Engage and utilise technology
- Figure out how to keep your energy levels up
- Get familiar with the locals
However, when in a foreign place, it is quite easy to get lost. To prevent such, here are essential must-haves to prevent this:
Must Have Essentials to Prevent Getting Lost on a Business Trip
When exploring a new place, one thing you have to be careful about is getting lost. Having foresight to plan ahead for such a case is what prevents you from walking around in circles. Therefore, ensure you have these tools or skills:
- Get a map and know how to read it: if Vietnam is your travel location, then ensure you purchase a local map. Apart from buying the map, you need to know how to interpret it.
- Buy a compass: if you happen to wander off to a remote area, it can be hard to retrace your steps. A campus should show you where North is and also help you effectively make use of your compass.
- Download Google Maps: perhaps out of all the map applications on phone devices, Google happens to be the only one with the most up to date data about locations. The voiceover and location services feature will make it easy for you to backtrack.
How Can I Balance Work and Play on a Vietnam Business Trip?
Below, we discuss some tips that should help you in achieving that much sought after work and play balance.
Tip 1: Always Plan for the Best Route
Since you are looking to save time and, more importantly, achieve comfort, you must take care to choose the best route for your business trip. Remember, the goal is to complete the business part and still have some time for fun during your trip.
When I traveled to Vietnam on business, I wanted to seize the opportunity to see the country. So, before I left home, I made sure to develop a line chart for my journey. A line chart highlights the major cities of your journey together with the duration you would be spending on each of them.
My line chart cuts through all the major cities in Vietnam. I kicked off my journey in Hanoi and ended my trip at Saigon This way, I was able to tour and still do business. Here’s my line chart below. You can use my template when creating yours:
| Hanoi | 3-4 days |
| Sapa | 2-3 days |
| Halong Bay | 2-3 days |
| Ninh Binh | 1-2 days |
| Phong Nha | 2-3 days |
| Hue | 1-2 days |
| Hoi An | 2-3 days |
| Da Lat | 2-3 days |
| Mui Ne | 2-3 days |
| Saigon | 3-4 days |
Tip 2: Be Deliberate on your Means of Transportation
You’d be doing a lot of moving around during your business trips, so it’s best to find a comfortable means of doing that. Transportation is something you must never ignore while preparing to travel for business.
I advise that you take extra care to carry out background checks on the city you would be visiting. Find out what means of transportation is available and how much it costs.
This is quite important because you are working within your budget. You don’t want to overshoot your budget.
For instance, in Vietnam, taxis are quite accessible and safe, and moving around in them is friendly on the pocket. There are also the cyclo and motorbike. I prefer the motorcycle to the cyclo, but if you ever visit Vietnam, you could try both out and see whichever works better for you.
Tip 3: Can a Hotel Work for the Duration of Your Stay?
Another important thing is accommodation. You need a comfortable place to lay your head as you go about business and fun. Just as with transportation, you have to do a background check on accommodation offers at your travel destination, their availability, and what they cost.
Travel apps like Luxtay and Agoda can help you find the best accommodation option for you! In Vietnam, there were guest houses, hotels, and homestay services. However, I chose to stay with a native family so I could learn more about Vietnamese culture.
Tip 4: Declutter and Pack Light!
Resist the temptation to travel with anything and everything! Be sure to take only the necessary things along. I agree that packing for a trip can be an arduous task.
An easier thing to do is to draw up a priority list of items before you begin packing. This way, you’d leave nothing important behind. Read our article on packing laptops for travel in case you plan on traveling with one.
There are also articles online that can teach you how to pack light and effectively.
Tip 5: Engage and Utilise Technology
You know, it’s the 21st century for a reason. A reason we seem not to have enough time for other activities during business trips is that we drown ourselves in so many tiring tasks — tasks that could easily be managed via web through a business laptop or via mobile applications.
So, when you go on your next business trip, free up your desk and get technology to work for you! Get a laptop for travel and move with your gadgets so you could work from wherever you are during your free time.
Find out more information about your travel destination by reading travel reviews online. Also, don’t forget to make your travel and hotel bookings online.
Tip 6: Figure Out How to Keep your Energy Levels Up
The last thing you want is to break down on your business trip. This is why you must take extra care to remain at optimum energy levels all the time. In other words, “know when to stop.”
Don’t stay out late if you’d be having an early day tomorrow. However, don’t hesitate to party late if you’re sure you’d have time for enough rest the next day. In all, always get enough sleep every day and make sure you eat healthily.
Tip 7: Get to Know the Locals
Traveling is a fantastic opportunity to get familiar with new cultures, people, and places. So, make the best of your trip by touring your business destination. For example, Vietnam has an amazing nightlife and several diving hot spots you can try out.
Some of the hotspots you can visit to see the city come alive at Night include:
- Ho Chi Minh City: disco, carbaret dancers, the best views and craft beer are some of the things you can look forward to at this location.
- Hanoi: if you’re worried about the midnight curfew, well you shouldn’t be. The city is gradually loosening the reins making it easy for you to enjoy dance music and cool cocktails at night.
- Phu Quoc: one of the best places to enjoy a beach bonfire and vacation by the sea. Feel free to also enjoy a dive during the day to encounter lovely sea creatures.
Tip 8: Have a Taste of Local Cuisine
A trip to Vietnam is not considered complete without you trying out the local food. The cuisine is dynamic and complex thereby making it one of the most fascinating aspects of the culture.
Some of the dishes particular to certain regions include:
Bun Cha – This is Hanoi’s specialty dish most likely to be sold as street food and in restaurants. The dish comprises of barbecued pork with rice noodles and vegetables.
Cao Lau – Hoi An is touted as the city to be in to get the best Cao Lau. If you can’t make it there, then ensure you at least visit a place in Central Vietnam to have a taste of this rice noodles with bean sprouts and pork rind crouton soup.
Com tam – This “broken rice dish” is one of South Vietnam’s popular cuisine. It consists of pork chops, pork skin, seafood, vegetables and egg among other spices.
Tip 9: Itinerary Planning is Important
Ensure you find out about these activities way ahead of time, to give you some forehand knowledge. Before visiting Vietnam, I put together a list of things I wanted to try out and places I wanted to visit, and this is shared below:
Try a motorbike visit tour and enjoy Ta Hien at night.Participate in a cooking class.Making incense in SapaTrekking Nho Que River in Ha GiangDyeing cloth in Mai ChauDiving |
Conclusion
There you have it! Nine sure tips to help you make the most out of your next business trip. From choosing the best route to ensuring you get familiar with the locals, all of these tips work together to make your next business trip a remarkable one.
Most importantly, ensure that your business travel plans sit well within your budget so you don’t go into debt after having the time of your life. Now you know, traveling for business can be fun! Feel free to share these tips with friends and family.
Featured Image Source: Pexels
