Conquering South Korea in 9N8D made easy and budget-friendly

Traveling to Korea is a breeze and surprisingly affordable. Wondering how to explore this land without sharing a common language? Check out the travel itinerary for Korea by the adventurous Travel Blogger Tô Thái Hùng and see if it's really as challenging as it seems!

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Google Translate: This app comes in handy for translating both text and speech to help vendors understand you.

Naver Map: In Korea, this map is your go-to, as Google Maps might be a bit confusing.

Seoul Discovery Pass: This app compiles a list of must-visit places and details about the card, which I'll discuss below.

Klook: Easily check out entertainment spots or vouchers you've pre-booked.

Cash and Cards

Passport: Needed for tax-free shopping at certain places.

Tmoney: Load money onto this card for convenient use on public transportation.

Power Outlets: Here, all electrical outlets are round, so bring a converter with a flat port to charge devices like iPhone and MacBook.

Probably, South Korea is one of the most exploited destinations for tours. I found many airlines operating Vietnam - South Korea routes extensively. I booked a budget round-trip ticket with Vietjet, costing 4 million VND.

From Incheon Airport, I opted for the AREX Express train because it's fast, affordable, and easy to find. The pre-booked Klook ticket is 129,000 VND, while buying directly at the station costs 8,900 won (around 180,000 VND). Booking in advance is recommended for a better deal.

I purchased the Discover Seoul Pass on Klook, opting for the 72-hour version. This pass works like magic, perfect for first-time travelers exploring Korea independently. With the pass, I enjoyed free entry to 55 tourist spots in Seoul, and the card came with a list of these locations. The magical part? It also integrates T-money for seamless travel. My entire itinerary revolves around the places listed on this card.

All the places I noted down below are completely FREE thanks to the card mentioned above ❤

>> Grab your Discover Seoul Pass for 24/48/72 hours on Klook

I picked up a free hanbok following the instructions provided with the Discover Seoul Pass and visited some palaces.

📸 Gyeongbokgung (Palace of Shining Happiness) is the largest and most visited palace. Arriving around 10 AM, you can witness the ceremonial changing of the guard with actors in traditional attire reenacting the Joseon-era guard-changing ceremony.

📸 Bukchon Hanok Village: Built over 600 years ago, it boasts a unique architecture, simple yet robust, with harmonious interior decor. Located near Gyeongbokgung, it's within walking distance.

📸 Namsangol Hanok Village: This place captures the daily life of Joseon-era residents, reminiscent of scenes from the drama 'Jewel in the Palace' (although filmed at a different location quite far from Seoul).

If time allows, consider exploring other palaces like Changdeok (Prosperity Palace), Changgyeong (Rejoicing in Kindness), Deoksu (Virtue Longevity), and Gyeonghui (Respected Wisdom). Due to my penchant for virtual experiences, by the time I reached Namsangol Hanok, it was already dark.

📸 In the evening, indulge in shopping at Dongdaemun. Dongdaemun Market has become one of the major markets in Korea, specializing in wholesale clothing. With over 20 shopping districts, you'll find a wide array of fashion items from head to toe here.

📸 Namsan Seoul Tower: I hopped on the free hop-on-hop-off bus with the Discover Seoul Pass to get here. From the tower's summit, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Seoul, reaching as far as Gangnam across the river. This place is stunning anytime—I visited both in the morning and one evening.

📸 Ewha Womans University: Truly a picturesque spot, with the ladies looking exceptionally beautiful from afar, varying up close. Beyond the people, the views here are breathtaking, boasting numerous photo-worthy corners. The architecture is reminiscent of the setting in the Harvard Love Story movie, giving off a Western vibe.

📸 Hongdae is a must-visit area, with its lively nightlife, including bars, pubs, late-night eateries, and affordable shopping at the 'university village' in Hongdae.

📸 Running Man: Here, you'll experience all the activities inspired by this reality TV show. It was so much fun, I lost track of time.

📸 MBC World: Korea's first Hallyu-themed park, featuring everything related to TV shows and reality shows. A MUST-GO for K-drama and K-pop enthusiasts.

📸 63 Building – a unique architectural landmark in Korea, and the world's tallest gold-clad structure. On the 63rd floor, there's also a cafe museum. Quite fascinating. Additionally, on the first floor, you can explore the aquarium.

📸 Itaewon: Similar to Hanoi's Ta Hien or Saigon's Bui Vien, but the specialty here is exceptionally handsome guys and beautiful girls, like a gathering of actors and singers. I visited on a Saturday night, bustling and crowded, didn't want to leave…

📸 Haneul Park: A park with silver grass and pink muhly grass.

📸 Insadong: Insadong features charming alleys, beautiful houses, art and cultural centers, street food, and Ssamzigil – a place to buy souvenirs, paintings, pottery, and more.

📸 Myeongdong Market: Located in the heart of Seoul, Myeongdong Market is the representative shopping district of Korea.

📸 Nami Island

📸 Gangchon Rail Bike

📸 Petite France

Details of this day are documented here.

Busan, find all the details in the article here.

Flight ticket: 5 million VND (Round-trip including 15kg checked luggage on the way there and 20kg on the way back)

Visa: 400,000 VND

Accommodation: 2.4 million VND

Klook Booked Activities: 3.6 million VND

Seoul – Busan Transportation: 1.2 million VND

Tmoney Reload for Transportation: 1 million VND

Dining: 4 million VND

Total expenditure was 17.6 million VND for food, transportation, entertainment, flight tickets, and visa.

Spent 5 days in Seoul and it feels like I haven't explored much, so I'm definitely planning to come back to Korea several more times.  >> Explore Seoul with countless activities and interesting attractions