The perfect season
Describing the weather in Vietnam is a difficult task, as it varies depending on the area. The best months to visit the country are between April-May and October. We were there in August, we experienced some rain in the north, but the rest of the country was fine.
What to wear
The heat can be suffocating, and there is a lot of humidity. Wear light, neutral-colored clothing to avoid attracting insects. If your schedule includes Sapa valley, we would definitely recommend a pair of spare shoes/sandals and a rain jacket. The weather is often rainy and trekking through the valley might easily turn into a small ford crossing.
Transportation
Vietnam has a good railway network. You must be careful when booking. At the station, it is not always easy to find seats because local tour operators buy them in advance to sell with an extra fee.
To go from Vietnam to Cambodia by river, there are various offers of local tour operators who also provide visa. We used Sinh Café and had a great experience.
Where to stay
This is really the least of your problems. We only booked the night of our arrival in Hanoi (located in the old quarter) and very few other hotels. You can find accommodations very easily. As in many other parts of Asia, you can ask to see the room before deciding whether to stay in the hotel or not. As for negotiation, we found it rather difficult in Vietnam. If they offer you a certain price, that will be it.
