How planning with us works

What happens after you enquire

The planning form asks five short questions: where you would like to go, what kind of trip, when, who is coming and how to reach you. Children's ages, dietary needs and a WhatsApp number are optional.

An email confirming what you sent arrives straight away. Reply to it if you think of anything else. Our team in Thailand and Vietnam then reads your answers and writes back by email. If something we need is missing, such as your dates or the kind of hotel you like, we ask before we start planning.

Once we have what we need, we send a proposal: the route day by day, the hotels, what is and is not included, the price and the terms. We adjust it until it fits. A hotel named in a proposal is not booked until we confirm it to you in writing.

Prefer to talk it through? Book a call or message us on WhatsApp.

Who plans your trip, and where we are

Pai Dai is led by Sally, who grew up in the Thai tourism industry and holds professional certifications as a tour guide and tour leader. Our team plans and runs trips from two offices, Bangkok for Thailand and Ho Chi Minh City for Vietnam, with licensed local guides on the ground in both countries.

Each country has its own licensed company: Paidai Online Co., Ltd. in Thailand (Tourism Business Licence No. 11/13335) and PAIDAI VIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED in Vietnam (International Tour Operator Licence No. 79-2057/2025/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT). Your quote names the company you book with.

You can meet the team on our About page.

Deposit, payment and cancellation

We usually ask for a 30% deposit to confirm your trip, and the balance 30 to 14 days before you arrive. We agree the exact amounts and dates with you case by case, and your quote sets them out, along with the cancellation terms. Some hotels and cruises ask for payment earlier, and your quote shows you any that do.

You can pay by credit or debit card, or by bank transfer, in the currency you prefer.

Read the terms before you confirm, and ask us about anything that is unclear. Our booking information page lists what to check.

What a private trip costs

Private trips with 4-star hotels usually come to about USD 180 to 220 per person per day. With 5-star and luxury hotels, they start at around USD 250 per person per day.

That covers the land arrangements: hotels, private transport, guides and the activities in your plan. International flights are extra. Your quote gives the exact price for your dates and group.

Travelling with children

Tell us each child's age. When you choose a family trip on the form, a box for ages appears. Ages shape much of the plan: how long each day runs, how far you drive between stops, which rooms and beds suit you, and when you eat.

We can arrange what your family needs, from child seats and cots to connecting rooms, babysitting and children's meals. Put it in your message and we confirm each arrangement in writing before you book.

Diet and faith

Use the dietary box on the form, or your message, for halal, vegetarian or vegan meals, allergies and anything you don't eat. If faith shapes your day, for example prayer times, modest dress or travelling during Ramadan, you can mention that in your message too. Share only what you are comfortable sharing.

We arrange halal, vegetarian and vegan meals and cater for allergies throughout your trip, and we plan around prayer times, prayer spaces and travel during Ramadan. We confirm the arrangements in writing before you book.

Choosing your season

Thailand and Vietnam don't share one weather pattern, so the best route depends on your dates. Our city guides go into detail. Here is the short version.

• Bangkok: November to February is cooler and drier. From June to October the monsoon brings heavy afternoon downpours.
• Chiang Mai: November to February brings cool, clear days. Smoke from the burning season, roughly February to April and usually worst in March, can make the air very unhealthy.
• Phuket and Krabi: November to April is the dry season on the Andaman coast, with the calmest seas from November to February. May to October brings the monsoon and rough surf, and Maya Bay closes in August and September.
• Hanoi and Ha Long Bay: October to November and March to April are the kindest months. December to February is cool and grey, and July to September is the main typhoon season, when cruises can be cancelled on the day.
• Hue and Hoi An: February to April is the driest window. Autumn, roughly September to November, is the wet season, with a real risk of floods, above all in Hoi An's low-lying Old Town.
• Ho Chi Minh City: December to February is dry and at its most comfortable. March and April are dry but hot, and May to November brings short, heavy afternoon rain.

That is why the order of a trip matters as much as the dates. Give us your dates, or tell us how flexible you are, and we plan the route around the weather.