Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Quote
A few plain questions before you pay will show what a Vietnam quote really covers.
Before you accept a quote, ask a short set of plain questions about what is included, how long the price is valid, which supplements apply and what the terms say. Write the answers into the quote. A clear agency will not mind.
What should you ask about inclusions?
- What is not included in this price?
- Are airport transfers, entrance fees, tips and lunches in the price?
- Are flights included, or is this land only?
- Which hotel, or what level and area, for each night?
- Is the guide private or shared, and which language?
Compare the answers against your own needs with the package inclusion comparator.
What should you ask about dates and supplements?
- Until what date is this price valid?
- Does the price change if I confirm later or pay later?
- Are any of my dates peak dates? Tet, which falls on 6 February 20271, is one. National Day on 2 September gives a holiday of 2 days, or 4 days when it falls between Friday and Tuesday2.
- What supplements apply: single room, children, extra nights or late arrival?
Peak dates can raise prices and fill hotels, so ask early. Confirm the holiday dates on official sources before you pay.
What should you ask about terms?
- How much is the deposit, and when is the balance due?
- What happens if I cancel or change dates?
- What happens if weather or a closure cancels a day?
- Who do I contact during the trip if something goes wrong?
Our guides on deposit and payment terms and cancellation and change policies explain each of these in detail.
How do you tell a clear answer from a vague one?
A clear answer names the item, the amount or the date. A vague answer says “it depends” or “we will arrange”. Do not accept that.
Ask the agency to add the point to the written quote.
Keep a copy of every reply. If the quote and the chat disagree, the written quote is what you can show later.
What do you do next?
If you have two quotes, put them on the same basis with how to compare two Vietnam quotes. If you are still drafting your request, see what to include in a package enquiry. More help sits in the Booking and travelling well hub.
Send us the quote and your dates, and we can mark which lines are clear, which are vague and what is worth asking the agency before you pay a deposit.
Common questions
What is the single most useful question to ask about a quote?
Ask: what is not included? Agencies list what is in the price, but surprises sit in what is left out, such as entrance fees, tips, airport transfers or lunches. A clear answer names each item. If the reply is vague, ask them to write the exclusions in the quote itself.
How long should a quote stay valid?
There is no fixed rule, so ask for the date in writing. A quote with no validity date can be changed after you decide. If the date is short, ask whether the hotel and flight prices are held until then or only the agency's fee. Take screenshots of the quote.
Are supplements normal, and which ones should I ask about?
Yes, supplements are common. Ask about peak-season dates, single-room use, child pricing, late arrivals and extra nights. Peak dates in Vietnam include Tet, which falls on 6 February 2027, and National Day on 2 September, a 2-day holiday or 4 days when it falls between Friday and Tuesday. Ask whether your dates touch any.
Should the quote name the hotels and guides?
Yes, where possible. Ask for the hotel names or a stated star level with area, and for the tour language of the guide. If the agency will only say 'similar hotel', ask what the minimum standard is and whether you can approve a change before it is made.
What if the answers come late or sound unsure?
Treat that as information. A clear agency answers plainly and the answers stay the same. If replies are slow or change each time, compare it with another quote before you pay. A calm second opinion costs nothing. Send us the quote and we can point out the gaps.
Keep planning
Send us the quote and your dates, and we can mark which lines are clear, which are vague and what is worth asking the agency before you pay a deposit.