Hanoi Travel Forum

Dear everyone,

I am going to Hanoi end of next week. I would probably stay in Hanoi and arrange some day trips or overnight trips in and around Hanoi. Does anyone know which travel agents I should avoid or approach?

Thank you.

Kaplan

Hi,

I am travelling to Hanoi end of march till early april. Heard it is raining badly in Hanoi nowadays....how bad is the rainy season now? Is the weather going to get warmer end of march?

Thank you.


Yours truly, Kaplan

Flying out of Sydney very soon (24hrs) Need to decide on best value for money v experience hotel in Hanoi. Not interested in Blaaaa..... want to meet locals and have clean good food experience.
thanks in advance, jeff

I'll be going to Hanoi next week and would like to know what the weather has been like? I don't know what to pack. BBC weather forcast says it will be about 20°C during the day and 14°C in the night the next few days. Can that be right? Please advice.

The general consensus seems to be that Handspan is the company to use for a Halong Bay tour. If anyone has anything to add to that would be great. My question relates to price. The prices I see people saying on sites like this that they paid is alot cheaper than the prices quoted on Handspans website. So where did you book for these prices? Also whats the weather like in May. Any info appreciated. Thanks

Hi, Heard there is a large dept. store or mall in Hanoi-anyone have the address?
Also I love markets! Anyone have names and address of your favorite one in Hanoi? Leaving in 14 days! Thanks for your help! Darla

Hi everybody!

Just want to ask where I can find cheap souvenirs like t-shirts, key chains and cute figurines in Hanoi. I would really appreciate it if somebody could give me their estimated prices because I am not good at haggling.

Thanks a million!

Does anyone know if the Ho Guom Hotel in Honoi has reopened after renovations and if it any good. Also any opinions on the Army Hotel. If you have any other suggestions of quiet clean central hotels we would love to know. We will be there in late March. thanks Jeff

I'll be moving to Hanoi at the beginning of July this year and I would very much appreciate if anyone can give me some advise or their own experience of Hanoi. I bought a travel guide but I still prefer to hear from those whose been there and done that things. Where is the best place to live? What's transportation is like overthere? Are the people as friendly as they say? Please share your thoughts and wish me luck for another new life in Hanoi.

Hello!
I wonder which hostel or cheap hotel in Hanoi would you recommend? This would be my first time to Vietnam and I do not really know what to expect, so your opinions would be very welcome
- as well as all other tips on how to spend three days in Hanoi (and area) the best (I can wake up very early, it's not a problem! I enjoy more seeing how people live then visiting museums...

(BTW: if any locals want to meet and chat - please write. I am going to be there between 6 and 9 March)

Happy travels to all,

Marcin

Will be travelling to Northern Vietnam with my kids (4 and 5 years old) at Easter. If you have any tips for things to do that might stimulate the kids, I would love to hear from you. We are trying to visit Sapa (2 full days, 1 night), Boat on Halong (24hrs) and a couple of days on the beach at Cat Ba(3days), then based in Hanoi (2days). Would welcome your thoughts. Cheers, Clive

Hello everybody!

Is there a need to pay the $14 departure tax at the airport? One forum said that there's no need and another says you have to pay. Anyone departed from Vietnam lately who did or didn't pay the departure tax.

Thanks!!!

Hello guys!

Can anybody suggest a cheaper flight from Hanoi to Dubai? Any airline would you reccomend? I dont mind stop-overs. Thank you!

Benjamin

Looking for info about sim cards, which compaines are the best and their rates and how easy is the process of getting the sim card? Also need a hotel close to the RMIT University that is not too pricey..

Cheers,

Mark

Hi, Coming to Hanoi again in March-is there a good place for massages (foot or otherwise)around Hanoi? Had one last year but definitly want to find a more experienced place to go. Also any good spas in Hanoi? Any idea what prices would be like? In Thailand I pay $6.00 an hour for a foot massage and a beer-would love to find a place in Hanoi-Thanks so much-Darla

Hallo...this july i want go hanoi because i have some work...now i want know in hanoi hace public university or not?if have what university?cantho university and hue university which area?hanoi or ho chi minh?how long go from hanoi to ho chi minh?can u help me?....thank you

We are considering a couple of weeks in the Sedona Suites in the Tay Ho District of Hanoi. As it is 15mins drive out of the city can anyone tell us if there are any restaurants, shops etc nearby, or is it somewhat isolated.
We are tossing up whether being out of the city is an advantage or disadvantage. Thanks.

I might attend a convention in October and would like to ask what hotel would you recommend that's located near (walking distance) the international convention center and where rooms are in the US$ 80-100/night range. Thanks.

Hi there,
I'll be arrving in Hanoi on the 30th JUne '08 9am, i have a few questions that i hope you guys could help me.

(1), can i get my tickets to lao cai when i arrive in hanoi? i'm planning to take train LC1 depart at 10.05pm to Lao Cai. I would like to take the hard seat class or the soft seat class. I thought of going to Hanoi train station directly on the same day that i would like to go to Lao Cai, will be there tickets left?? or should i do a reservation in advance?


(2), is there other ways to Ha Long Bay without going through travel agents? i would to stay overnight at the junk boat too. can i arrange it by myself when i get to hanoi or just for the sake of convinience i should go to the travel agent.


thanks!

Hi can anyone advise us on the best way to travel from Hanoi to Hong Kong,either Bus or train but preferably not foot.

Hi all

We are an oldie couple from Finish Lapland and first timer in VN. We are in Hanoi late January. Is there any other members who are interested sit down for a moment and maybe drink a glass of apricot wine or eat something?
Proper evenings for us are 26. or 27. Jan. and I have heard that for example Green Mango and Highway 4 could be nice places.

Arja and Pertti

Hello,

I read that this Hoang Long Transportation provides excellent sleeper coaches from Hanoi to Hue. But google is unable to come up with a working website for it.

Anyone know their webby, address and tel number?

And and and anyone took their buses recently - review please.

BTW - travelling from Hanoi - Hue- Hoi an- Nha Trang - Dalat - HCMC

PS: or reviews on Camel, An phu open tour buses

Thanks

Hi
Wondering anyone try Aquamarine Spa @ Ruby Plaza?
Just want to know what treatment they offer and the price

Thanks

Hi all,

Would like to know the cheapest and comfortable way to travel from Hanoi to Hue and then to HCMC. I know the ride from Hanoi to Hue is about 10 hours and from Hue to HCMC is about 20 hours by bus. Its going to be a long ride and thus i need to be as comfortable as possible. Sinf cafe offer busses from Hanoi to Hue with sleeping seats and i think you can take the reunification express train as well. Any advise or additional information to travel these routes?

Hi,
Are there any river cruises that one can take on the Red River-taking my daughter back to Vietnam again in March and she loves cruising on boats!
Also want to take her to unique restaurant-overlooking the lake,lots of character, beautiful surroundings in perhaps a garden or overlooking city-any suggestions? I've looked at the forum but looking for personal opinions-Thanks again for your help-Darla

Hi
I am thinking of staying in either places.
Prob 2 nights in Camellia 4 and 1 night in the other.

Anyone has any pleasant or horror stories about it. Is it recommended?
I really want to know about the condition or cleaniless of the place.

Thanks all

Hi,
We would like to take a cooking lesson while in Vietnam. We like the concept of Hoa Sua but their e-mail address is not valid. Does anyone how how to contact them... do they off cooking classes to tourists or just classes to disavantaged youth?

How about KOTO... either one would be great. Do they off cooking classes to tourists or just classes to disavantaged youth?

Also we can not book flights on Vietnam Airlines to Danang from Hanoi and returning from Hue to either Hanoi or Haipong. The English version does not seem fully operational and there is no contact in the U.S. Any suggestions?

Thanks...

Hi, will touch down on 03.Apr.2008(20:00hrs) from Tiger Airways, Plan to transit from Hanoi Airport to Hanoi train station to catch LC1(from Hanoi to Lao cai) within 2hrs, Can anyone advice me where to pre book the train ticket in advance(2 soft sleeper with a/c, 4 berths). How far away from Hanoi airport to Hanoi train station.. thank you!!

Warm Regards - Mike

Planning a visit to Hanoi next year. First time. I have heard of the Mirror Room in the hanoi opera house. I read in a memoir that there were bullet holes still visible in the walls of this room from 1946. Did the renovations that took place get rid of these historical vestiges? Does anyone know?

thanks,
Mack

hello, my name is laura and i want to make reservation for 14 december at 19.30 for 9 persons for dinner at restaurant 69 in hanoi.
My arrival is also 14 dec in hanoi i am now still in holland and i am tourleader of group snp, dutch people, thank you