Buzz
Note: When in Bali, the currency used is Rp (1,000 Rp is approximately 1,800 Vietnamese đồng). When taking a taxi, simply ask for the fare and divide it by 2 to get the approximate Vietnamese amount, to avoid any confusion.
It's advisable to exchange money at Bali airport, even though the exchange rate might seem slightly lower than in Kuta, it's safer. In many places, you might receive what seems like the correct amount at first, but upon counting again, you may find a shortage of 1-2 notes, which is normal.
2. Booking Budget Airfare
This arguably plays a decisive role in the cost of your trip. Personally, I believe that when flying to distant countries with flight durations over 6 hours, opting for reputable airlines is a wise choice, as they often include meals and a 20 kg check-in luggage allowance. However, for shorter distances, budget airlines are convenient and cost-effective.
When flying to Bali, there's no airline that competes with Air Asia. To secure cheap tickets during the airline's promotional periods, I recommend signing up for Napas payment service at your bank.
From Ho Chi Minh City, it's advisable to book separate flights for the following legs:
Ho Chi Minh City – Kuala Lumpur (round trip)
Kuala Lumpur – Bali (round trip)
The price range for the 4 flights is approximately from 3.5 to 5 million Vietnamese đồng.
3. Accommodation: Hotels and Resorts
Booking hotel rooms took me over 3 months, not because it was difficult to book, but because the hotel and resort services here are exceptionally good. It's challenging to choose between them, with the constant dilemma of which one to pick and which one to let go. I booked, then canceled, then booked again, it's quite a struggle.
I stayed in Bali for 4 nights: 1 night in Bali, 1 night in Ubud, and 2 nights in Kuta. Despite staying in 4-5-star hotels, the highest price was only around 1.5 million Vietnamese đồng, while the lowest was less than 700,000 đồng (which is incredibly cheap compared to the average prices in other Southeast Asian tourist destinations).
4. Travel Itinerary
If it's your first time traveling abroad or you're not familiar with Bali, you might consider purchasing a tour from your hotel. However, after the trip, I found it unnecessary because renting a motorbike or car in Bali is quite cheap, and the tourist attractions are easy to navigate. Going on a tour seemed like a waste of time (motorbike rental costs around 80,000 Vietnamese đồng, while a car costs about 600,000 đồng per day for 4 people with a private driver, excluding tips).
Day 1: Saigon – Kuala Lumpur – Bali (Indonesia)
From Ho Chi Minh City, it's advisable to take the earliest flight to Malaysia, although it may be tiring, it's safer because connecting flights will take more time, with immigration checks in 3 countries. If your flight is delayed, you'll have time to handle it, but if the flights are close together, there's a high chance of missing the connecting flight from Malaysia to Bali. Aim to have at least a 6-hour gap between these flights for safety.
Flying with Air Asia, you'll land at KLIA2 airport. If you have time before your next flight, head to the food and shopping area on the second floor. The food here is easy to eat and not too expensive (perhaps the easiest to eat are McDonald's and KFC).
Remember to bring a 3-prong charger, as running out of phone battery would be inconvenient. Malaysia only uses 3-prong plugs, and buying one at the airport is expensive, around 400,000 Vietnamese đồng, while in the city it's only about 60,000 đồng.
Flights from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Bali (Indonesia) usually depart in the late evening, between 8 pm and 10 pm. The Airbus planes are beautiful, with 9 rows, spacious legroom, and meals costing around 100,000 Vietnamese đồng per serving. It's advisable to pre-order your meal. If you choose to purchase it directly with cash, you'll need to exchange money to Indonesian rupiah at KLIA2 airport. However, I don't recommend exchanging money here because you'll have to convert from USD to Malaysian ringgit first, then from Malaysian ringgit to Indonesian rupiah, resulting in a significant exchange rate loss.
Arriving at Bali airport around 1 am the next day. Taking a taxi to Kuta, I fell asleep immediately due to exhaustion.
Day 2: Kuta – Visiting Temples near Kuta, Kuta Beach, Shopping Center
- Taman Ayun Temple is located in Mengwi village, about 18 km from the island's center, known as the 'Temple in the Green Park.' It's one of the most beautiful temples with intricately carved wooden doors, majestic towers covered with lush vegetation, and surrounded by a sturdy moat. The deep black color of the palm leaf roofs on the towers exudes a sense of sanctity and mystery.
- Tanah Lot Temple is approximately 20 km from Denpasar center. It's one of the seven famous seaside temples in Bali, attracting millions of domestic and international tourists annually. Standing at any point in the series of seven temples, you can all see Tanah Lot Temple.
- Kuta Beach: Not as pristine but vibrant, with lively surfing activities and a bustling atmosphere.
Day 3: Kuta – Ubud
The distance from Kuta to Ubud isn't too far; just rent a motorbike and go, no need for a tour. Note that traffic in Indonesia flows on the left-hand side, so those who are used to driving on the right in Vietnam might have some experience, but serious individuals like myself still stick to the right, which might result in fines. (Remember to bring your Vietnamese driver's license; if called upon, present it. I haven't seen too many traffic officers here).
In Ubud, there are places like the Monkey Forest (remember to bring sunglasses and a phone), Ubud Palace, and especially don't forget to visit Pura Tirta Empul Temple. This temple dates back to 926 AD. Balinese people believe that the water in this temple is blessed by spirits and has healing properties. Additionally, you can also visit the Mother Temple (or Besakih Temple, but you must hire a local guide and cannot explore independently).
You should stay in Ubud for 1 night. Ubud is beautiful, blending antiquity with modernity. I fondly remember lounging by the resort pool, overlooking the terraced rice fields, in a very refreshing atmosphere.
5. Cuisine
In the city center, head to Kuta Square; you won't miss major brands like Mc Donald’s, Burger King, KFC, Gongcha... Prices are globally standardized, so there's no significant difference from Vietnam. You can have Indonesian rice right in front of the hotel for around 25,000 Rp/person, with options like fried rice or fried noodles, but they're a bit oily. Or you can try bakso, which are meatballs made from beef surimi and tapioca flour. They look similar to Vietnamese beef balls but are much larger, equivalent to 4-5 balls in Vietnam. This dish is usually eaten with bread, bihun noodles, vegetables, tofu, and eggs. It's also very cheap, around 15,000-20,000 Vietnamese đồng, but I didn't feel full. Additionally, Indian rice dishes are quite delicious; go for fried dishes, as other dishes with curry are a bit challenging to eat, priced around 50,000-60,000 đồng.
6. Travel Budget
Flight tickets: 3.5 million Vietnamese đồng (4 flights), purchased during Air Asia's promotional period. You need to keep an eye out because this airline often releases cheap tickets at midnight.
Accommodation: 4 nights around 2 million Vietnamese đồng/person (or if you stay in a 3-star hotel or lower, it's only around 350,000 đồng/night/room for 2 people).
Food and drinks: 2.5 million Vietnamese đồng/person.
Sightseeing: Ticket prices for temples range from 60,000 to 100,000 Vietnamese đồng. The cost of renting motorbikes, cars, or joining tours is up to you to decide.
These are just estimated expenses because each person has their own travel style, whether it's budget-conscious or luxurious. I don't recommend traveling to Bali too frugally, as you won't fully experience the local culture and cuisine.
Attention
- Prepare a 3-prong charger.
- Be cautious of strangers because while Balinese people are gentle and friendly, there are always exceptions. Bali is no different.
- Bargain, bargain, and bargain. Remember.
According to Nguyễn Đức Duy Wings/Zing news
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourMay 5th, 2017
