Some vaccines need 2–3 doses spread over weeks or months (a standard Hepatitis B course takes 6 months), so start now. Essential: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Tetanus (check your booster is current). Consider: Rabies if you're spending time in rural areas or near animals — the Sapa villages and treks qualify. Malaria prophylaxis is generally not needed for this itinerary (no deep jungle), but confirm with your doctor. Budget $65–175/person (~1,400–3,700 Kč) depending on which you already have.

Book the Hanoi ↔ Lao Cai overnight sleeper train tickets ahead of time, both directions — sleeper cabins on the popular tourist-oriented services (Victoria Express, Chapa Express, Sapaly Express) sell out during peak season. Regular Vietnam Railways soft sleeper berths are the cheaper option.

Two domestic flights: HAN→SGN (Day 9) and Can Tho (VCA)→HAN (Day 13). Flying back from Can Tho saves the drive back to Saigon. Book on VietJet or Vietnam Airlines (Bamboo Airways has cut its domestic schedule) — prices are ~$35–65 each if booked in advance, but they can more than double for last-minute seats. Book both together.

Get standard travel insurance with trekking cover (up to moderate altitude, non-technical trails) and medical evacuation — hospitals in rural northern Vietnam are basic, and evacuation to Bangkok or back to Europe is expensive. Check AXA Assistance, ERV, or Allianz. Make sure you have at least $1M in medical evacuation cover. Cost: ~$40–70 (~800–1,500 Kč) for 14 days.

For a group of 5–6, you want to lock in Hanoi (nights 1–2, plus nights 7–8 after returning from Sapa) and Saigon (nights 9 and 10) at minimum, plus the Mekong stays (Ben Tre homestay night 11, Can Tho night 12). Sapa town hotels (nights 4–5) are worth booking ahead too, since good ones near the trekking trailheads fill up. Look for places that can accommodate the full group — a private apartment or whole guesthouse is often cheaper and more fun than individual dorms.

Vietnam is largely cash-based, especially in rural areas. Bring a mix: USD for large payments (some guesthouses and tours quote in USD and prefer it), and Vietnamese Dong (VND) for everything else — street food, local buses, market stalls. Get VND from ATMs on arrival (Vietcombank and Techcombank have the lowest fees). Revolut or Wise works well for ATM withdrawals. ATMs exist in Sapa town, but take enough cash for the trek days since villages along the trail are cash-only.

Grab (taxi and food across all cities), Maps.me with Vietnam downloaded offline (useful on the Sapa trekking trails where signal is patchy), Google Translate with Vietnamese downloaded offline, XE Currency, and Splitwise or Settle Up for splitting group costs.

You'll want a small 20–30 L daypack for the trekking days (Cat Cat, Ta Van/Lao Chai) — leave the rest of your luggage at the Sapa hotel. Key items: rain poncho or light waterproof jacket (Sapa is misty and cooler than the rest of the trip), sturdy walking shoes (trails can be muddy), a warm layer for evenings, quick-dry clothes, sunscreen, DEET repellent, and a basic first-aid kit.

Passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date, with at least 2 blank pages; no visa needed for Czech citizens, visa-free stay up to 45 days, valid until 14 Aug 2028; other passports check their own rules), international driving permit (issued on top of your Czech licence at any obecní úřad obce s rozšířenou působností, 200 Kč, usually issued on the spot; ask for the Vienna 1968 version, valid 3 years, and bring a 35 × 45 mm photo), travel insurance documents with the emergency number saved in your phone. Upload digital copies to Google Drive or iCloud so they're accessible even if your phone is stolen or lost.

Available at Noi Bai Airport arrivals. Viettel is the best network for rural coverage in northern Vietnam. A 30-day SIM with 20–30 GB of data costs around $3–5 (~60–100 Kč). Everyone in the group should get one. Note: signal can be patchy on the Ta Van/Lao Chai trekking trail — download offline maps before you leave Hanoi.

Use a Vietcombank ATM inside the terminal — lowest fees, most reliable. Withdraw enough for the first few days plus the Sapa leg (budget ~$150–200 (~3,200–4,200 Kč) in VND per person for the 4-day Sapa stretch including food, accommodation, trek guide, and the Fansipan cable car ticket). The exchange rate at airport ATMs is fair; avoid cash exchange desks at the airport.