What Meals in a Vietnam Quote Include
The quote says 'meals included', but which meals, and who pays for drinks?
“Meals included” in a Vietnam tour quote usually means the meals named in the itinerary, not every meal of the trip. Read each day, count the breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and ask about drinks and special diets. The five lines below turn a vague quote into a clear one.
What does each meal line mean?
| Line | What it usually means | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Hotel buffet or set breakfast | Is it included in every hotel? |
| Lunch | A group meal or set menu | Fixed dishes, or choice? |
| Dinner | Sometimes a set dinner, sometimes free | How many dinners are covered? |
| Drinks | Tea or water only, in some quotes | Soft drinks, coffee, beer? |
| Special diets | Needs a written request | Who confirms it? |
If a line is missing, assume it is not covered.
How do you read a quote day by day?
Write the days in a list. Beside each day, mark which meals are included. A day with only breakfast included needs a lunch and dinner budget. A day with all three needs only drinks and snacks.
Then compare the quote with your own plan. Our Vietnam food budget in ringgit guide gives a method for the days that are not covered, and the package inclusion comparator lays two quotes side by side.
What is a set menu, and what is the trade?
A set menu is a fixed meal for the group. It saves ordering effort and keeps the day on time. The trade is limited choice and a risk of repeated dishes from one day to the next.
Ask what the set menu looks like, and whether it changes by city. If you want local variety, plan some meals outside the package. The food tours guide explains when that is worth it.
How do you handle halal, vegetarian and children?
State your needs when you ask for the quote and ask for them to be written into it. Request the names of the restaurants or kitchens, and ask how halal status is checked. Do not accept a general answer.
Our Muslim travellers meal and prayer checks list the questions. For children, ask whether child portions are priced separately.
What should you send the agency?
Send these questions in writing.
- How many breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included?
- Are meals set menus or choice?
- Which drinks are included, and which are extra?
- Can you confirm special diets in writing?
- Who runs the ground arrangements in Vietnam?
- What is the licence status of the agency?
MOTAC’s homepage links to a travel agency check for Malaysian operators1. Use it before paying a deposit. For the full list of enquiry items, read What to include in a Vietnam package enquiry. For breakfast choices see hotel breakfast or local breakfast, and for the wider picture, Food and daily travel.
If you already hold a quote and want help reading the meal lines, send us the wording and your group and we can point out what to ask before you pay.
Common questions
What does 'meals included' normally cover?
It usually means the meals named in the itinerary, not every meal. Breakfast is commonly the hotel buffet, lunch is a set menu or group meal, and dinner may be left free. Drinks are commonly extra. Ask for the number of breakfasts, lunches and dinners that the quote covers.
What is a set menu, and can I change it?
A set menu is a fixed list of dishes served to the group. It is simple and predictable, but you cannot always swap dishes. Ask whether vegetarian, child, halal-friendly or no-shellfish menus are possible, and whether the agency confirms them in writing before travel.
Are drinks included in the meal price?
Not always. Some quotes include tea or water with a group meal but charge soft drinks, coffee, beer and bottled water separately. Ask what drinks come with each meal, and what happens if you order more. Add a drinks line to your own budget.
How should I check halal and other special diet requests?
State your needs when you ask for the quote, and ask the agency to name the restaurants or kitchens and how they confirm halal status. Do not accept 'halal-friendly' without detail. Ask who prepares the food, whether pork is cooked in the same kitchen and what alternatives exist.
Should I ask the agency about their licence?
Yes. Malaysian travel agencies can be checked through the tourism ministry. The homepage of MOTAC (Malaysia's tourism ministry) links to a travel agency check for tour operators and travel agents. Do this before you pay a deposit, and ask who runs the Vietnam ground arrangements.
Sources
- MOTAC's homepage links to a travel agency check (Agensi Pelancongan, TOB/TAB) at motac.gov.my/kategori-semakan-new/agensi-pelancongan-tobtab/. MOTAC. Link read from the homepage; the lookup page itself was not opened. Owner: click-test it.
Keep planning
If you already hold a quote and want help reading the meal lines, send us the wording and your group and we can point out what to ask before you pay.