Is it possible to explore Vietnam by public transport?

I am a solo older female traveller and I plan to visit Vietnam in September 2027 to travel the country by public transport for two weeks. I am interested in landscapes and food. Where should I arrive, travel through and depart from to get the best experiences, and any tips?
K. Brown, Mildura, Vic

Travelling through Vietnam on public transport is possible, but it requires diligent organisation. For example, selecting hotels close to bus or railway stations, packing lightly and booking ahead. Despite the general warmth of the Vietnamese people there are other downsides including unfamiliar language and food. Overall, for a solo woman traveller on a first-time visit, I strongly recommend an all-inclusive, guided group tour.

Travel is richer, and more fun, when you have someone to share it with – the surprises, the moments of revelation, the fragrant delights of Vietnamese cuisine that you’ll experience – and a sympathetic ear to listen when things go wrong. A fully inclusive package tour is usually going to be less expensive than constructing your own itinerary of the same standard. Take a look at some of the tours of Vietnam offered by Bunnik Tours, Wendy Wu Tours, APT Touring and Inspiring Vacations. I prefer small-group tours that travel at a slower pace and don’t try and pack in everything. Free time to wander about on your own is precious.

We are off to Italy in a couple of months and our first stop is Milan. After a long flight, what is the best option for getting us and our luggage from Milan’s Malpensa Airport to our accommodation in the city centre – train, taxi or hotel shuttle?
R. Marcon, Glen Waverley, Vic

If it’s available, the shuttle service provided by your hotel is the cheapest option. However, if your flight arrives late at night or very early in the morning you might have a long wait before your shuttle arrives. Check the frequency of shuttle departures with your hotel. Another option is the train, and the Malpensa Express departs about every 30 minutes for Milan’s three main train stations, Milano Centrale, Cadorna and Milano Porta Garibaldi. The journey takes between 30-55 minutes, depending on your destination station, and costs €14 ($23). The cost of a taxi to the city centre is between €95–€110 ($155-$180) and you can expect that journey to take 45–60 minutes depending on traffic. That’s a high price, but Malpensa is almost 50 kilometres from the city centre. A better option might be a train followed by a taxi to your hotel.

I am attending a conference in Greece in July. We were planning to go to Lebanon for four weeks afterwards. If we decide not to go, due to the current conflict, where would you recommend nearby as a suitable alternative?
W. Harty, Maroubra, NSW

Lebanon currently has a “Do not travel” warning from the Australian government. That means you would not be covered by travel insurance, and you could find it difficult to leave if the ongoing conflict intensifies. Turkey could be a good alternative. Whether you’re looking for deep and meaningful cultural experiences or reliable sunshine with a Mediterranean accent, Turkey is intensely satisfying. A rich and spicy soup of cultural cross-currents, its architecture encompasses Byzantine palaces, crusader castles, the cave dwellings of Cappadocia, some of the finest mosques of the Islamic world and ruins from the time of the Old Testament. The food is wonderful, the coastline is sensational, the trekking is some of the best in the Mediterranean and you can whirl like a dervish in the discos of Bodrum.

Since you have a generous amount of time, you might include a cruise aboard a gulet, one of the broad-beamed sailing vessels that ferry small groups along Turkey’s southern coast. Standards vary, but at the upper end you can expect sunbeds, snorkelling and fishing gear, hot showers, air- conditioning, windsurfers and a music system. The coast is delightful – bleached cliffs with fishing villages tucked away in tiny coves, the scent of pine and wild thyme mingled with the sea air, glorious beaches and enough archaeology to make your feet ache. Given the present climate in the region, it’s worth noting that Turkey is safe.

We have an eight-week European holiday, arriving in Amsterdam and leaving from Helsinki, with two weeks in the UK. We intend to enter Amsterdam on Australian passports. Both of us hold UK passports. How do we register leaving and re-entering the Schengen area on Australian passports and still comply with requirements to enter/leave the UK on UK passports before entering Finland for our journey home?
D. Jackson, Brunswick, Vic

The new rules for Australians entering the Schengen area spell out exactly what you need to do. When you arrive in Amsterdam you will have your fingerprints and photograph taken. This is a requirement for non-EU nationals that recently came into effect under the Schengen area’s Entry/Exit System (EES). If you are entering the Netherlands on your Australian passport, your EES data will be linked to that passport. Therefore, for the remainder of your travels throughout the area you will need to use your Australian passport. When you enter and leave the UK, as British citizens you must use your British passport. Entering Finland from the UK is not a problem, you will use your Australian passport. Your movements within the Schengen area will be recorded by the EES.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances