The new program, which is modeled loosely after the brand’s popular offering by the same name in Thailand, features 15 short trips originating out of Ho Chi Minh City and seven more that allow for excursions further a field. It also permits customers to build their own itineraries, so they can do what they want to do, when they want to do it.

“You see Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding areas on your own terms, your own schedule, in the comfort of your own vehicle.” said Dan Cohen, Budget Vietnam’s general manager.

Unlike the World-Class Drives program in Thailand, the Vietnam version includes the use of a driver. The country’s roads are often congested with motorbikes - the primary mode of transportation for most Vietnamese - that can make those thoroughfares feel frenetic to foreigners.

Among the other half- or full-day trips World-Class Drives affords are journeys to the Mekong Delta, the seaside resort town of Vung Tau and the Binh Chau Hot Springs. There are even short tours specially designed for war veterans, cooking buffs, families and golfers.

Long-haul options include Ho Chi Minh City to Cat Tien National Park and the former French hill station of Dalat to a number of coastal destinations. They too come with the freedom to explore in much the same way a traveler would if they were behind the wheel themselves.

Budget, one of the world’s best-known car rental companies, became Vietnam’s first international standard vehicle hire service. Budget Vietnam focuses on delivering outstanding value and services to four key markets: high-end leisure travelers; inbound corporate travelers; corporate fleet solutions; and golf and resort transfers.