Vietnam Travel Forum

Hi All,

I will have a very short trip to HCMC; my arrival in HCMC is late night on 11/26 and departure will be early in the morning 11/29; namely, two full days!

Currently I am planning to spend my first day in the downtown and rent a motorcycle; the next day I will want to take a local trip. Since this is my first trip there and I have rather little knowledge about that city, could anyone give me a suggestion of where I should go for my second day?

Many thanks!

Cheers,
THLIN

HI

I am uk citizen and due to the postal strike i am un reluctant to post my passport to the embassy to obtain my visa, does anyone know of any other way (safe and reliable ) to obtain the visa for my trip, (which starts 19-12-09 for 3 weeks) i will be flying into Hanoi and i know there is an approval letter that certain agencies can arrange (on receipt of payment and certain details), anyone know of any honest and trustworthy websites that i can approach that accept payment in £ sterling?

Thank you!!
x

Just an update for fellow travellers. On Tuesday last, when waiting to board our Air Vietnam flight to Cam Rahn Bay ( for Nha Trang)The Flight was initally posponed for 4 hours, then cancelled. We were left like shags on a rock. "Not my problem" "Any flights tomorrow..can we re-book" "Don't know, no, no re-book"
Bad weather was the problem up north. One guy we met ( Dutch or German)had been trying for 3 days to get to Nha Trang where he lives.So following the good advice I've received on this site, I sought out a Vinasun Taxi. "To the Carvelle Hotel and don't spare the horses!" Despite not having any booking were greeted like long lost friends, the assistant Mgr. was terrific. He brought forward our booking from next week at the contracted rate, put us up in a Signature Suite, free WiFi, complimentary drinks. Great room with a view over the Opera House. Fabulous Hotel, great staff, very friendly...I've already had one marriage proposal even though my wife is with me!..It's been a long time since anyone called me .."You handsome man...I marry you on holidays when you come to Saigon" Very flattering.
So we won't be travelling up to Nha Trang, just a slight problem of a Cyclone called Mirinae and terrible flooding that's now killed 31 people with 20 missing.I'm amazed we didn't get any forward inf. on bad weather up north. I phoned my Travel agent in Brisbane and gave him an update with the news link to Viet Nam News http://vietnamnews.vnanet.vn Wed. Nov. 4, 2009
I've informed him that he's now in the Finals of the WWTAA's (World's Worst Travel Agent's Awards)His only competetion is an agent from Chechnya who's been organising tours for Russian vetrans in used Armoured Personnel Carriers...and I mean used...with RPG entry and exit holes with some grey matter still stuck to the walls...he's calling it "A trip down memory lane."In the meantime, The Caravelle is not a bad spot to recover from being punted from Vietnam Air. HCMC is a very warm city, terrific people, very user friendly and NO hints of any possible or probable travel dangers ...like lurking bag snatchers. I'llcertainly be coming back to HCMC..even if it's to get married to the lady who reckons I'm still handsome.

cho xin hoi khi toi di tu sg toi long xuyen thi co nguoi dua den nha khong?

toi di 3-4 nguoi nhu vay thi lam sao xe honda cho du?

lam on tra loi de toi biet

Have one day to do one of these tours. For those of you that have done both which one stands out as the best. Thanks.

1)Is going to Cu Chi Tunnel from District 1 by taxi expensive? How much would it cost?

2)Or are there any good reliable and cheap tour that goes to Cu Chi tunnel?

Hi all,

I am planning a visit to Vietnam with a friend this December and has come up with a tentative itinerary. Please help me see if it is a little too much or we are missing out some great stuff:

Day 1 - Arrive in HCM ard noon. Check into hotel/hostel (deciding between Mdm Cuc's and Long Guesthouse, please advise). Visit Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum etc)

Day 2 - Visit Cu Chi Tunnel

Day 3 - Visit Mekong Delta

Day 4 - Ben Thanh Market etc (shopping)/Cholon (recommended?)

Day 5 - Fly to Hanoi. Reach Hanoi around noon time. Check into Hanoi Boutique Hotel. Catch the water puppet show.

Day 6 - Halong Bay (Please recommend a junk cruise, USD 100 is the max)

Day 7 - Halong Bay

Day 8 - Ard Old quarters

Day 9 - Ard Old quarters (Is 2 full days in Hanoi itself too much?)

Day 10 - Depart back home.

Please give me comments and advice..thank you!!!

ckoyen~~

We plan to visit Vietnam (North and South ) next year together with Angkor. Which are the best months to visit?

have found this hotel it looks good on there website but has anyone stayed at it any info would be great , we are only looking at a couple of nights stay , is it in a good area to eat, shop , and get around ???? thanks fiona

Hiya,

In January I am travelling with my parents for 2 weeks in Vietnam. They are in their early and mid sixties. We were thinking about flying into HCMC and travelling up to Hoi An by bus but I am worried that would be too long and uncomfortable a journey for them, as they aren't used to travelling. Can anyone recommend the must see places without too much travelling? Happy to fly but don't want to spend days going in and out of airports. None of us have ever been to the country and I am finding it overwhelming with so many choices. They would be happy with anything cultural, boat cruises, beaches, ect. just nothing too physically straining. Would appreciate any advice to get started in the right direction. Thank you in advance!!

1) We are planning a couple days in the northeast and heard Cat Ba is less touristy and just as beautiful as Halong Bay. Is it? Also, we'd like to do an overnight on a junk but heard you can't do this in Cat Ba (Lan Ha Bay), is this true?

2) We will also being going northwest and would like to know if we should do Sapa or Bac Ha. We will only have 2 nights/3 days for this area. We heard the Sunday Bac Ha market is really good but are there enough hill tribes to see in the area? Can you do a home-stay there? We also know the Saturday Sapa market is good but more touristy these days. Thoughts?? Advice??

Thanks,
Andy

You can tell I am not used to this.

April 16 - PP
April 17 - Siem Reap

Thanks to betska and seagypsy for your comments. It makes total sense to us to fly into Hanoi and depart from Saigon. I have booked arriving Hanoi April 4 at 10:00 in the morning and department Saigon April 24 in the p.m. This is the itinerary we have so far that will give us a good all around feel of Vietnam.
April 4 - Hanoi
5 - Hanoi
6 - Hanoi
7 - Hanoi - night train to Sapa
8 - Sapa
9 - Sapa - night train to Hanoi
10 - Hue (flight from Hanoi)
11 - Hue
12 - Hoi An
13 - Hoi An
14 - Hoi An
15 - Flight to Saigon - bus to PP

hi all we are traverling to vietnam in april 5 of us in total we have done a bit of traverling in bali , thailand and malaysia and have stayed in beach huts on the beach in each of these countries , so does any one know anywhere or recommend somewhere on the beach where we can stay , we have no real plans as yet as places to stay but we are starting in hcm city and working our way up the coast , we love the beach and are hopeing to stay in some form of beach huts on our way up the coast ...... thanks fiona

Does anyone know what the temperature is like in Sapa in Mid December? Does it get below freezing?

Also, will Halong Bay be cold or will we be able to wear shorts? Will it be warm enough to go swimming?

Finally, we are heading south to HCMC and Phu Quoc. Will it be hot enough to swim?

Thanks,
Andy

Hi, I'll be in Nha Trang from the 2nd Nov. Is there a market there where I can buy shirts (Polo's or similar) at a reasonable price. I don't want to pack too much if I can avoid it.
Thanks for any advice.

Hi, it's me again. We want to go to as many places as we can but I just wanted to let you know that we will begin in Hanoi, plan to visit Saigon and Siemp Reap and depart from Hanoi. Hope I have made our plans clear to you.

Hello all my new VT forum friends. I am travelling with my husband (in our 50's) to Vietnam/anghor wat for three weeks in April. Trip is planned as follows: Hanoi - Saigon - Siem Reap - Hanoi. Can you all help me with an itinerary with the amount of time to spend in each place, how to get to each place and must things to do while there. I know it is a lot to ask but this is the first trip like this we have taken. We are so excited. Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Hi! I am passing by Ho chi Minh this December and have only 1 1/2 days. Can anyone please recommend the must must sees in Ho Chi Minh so I can maximize my stay there? How do I get to those places? How much will it cost me? I heard the food in Ho Chi Minh is very delicious. Can you please recommend any cheap restaurant that serves good food? We want to be able to try their authentic cuisine.

Thanks!

We are considering to go to Vietnam next year for 4 weeks ; Hanoi-Sapa-Bac Ha -Can Cau -Lao Cai- Ha Long Bay (with junk)- Hue- Hoi An- Ho Chi Minh City - Chau Doc - travel on to Cambodia: Phnom Penh- Siem Reap
---> Does anyone know a Vietnamese trustworthy agent that can arange a tour--> transport and hotel (breakfast only).
Does anyone have (recent) experience with Khiri travel?

During our 3 week trip in April from Hanoi to Saigon (Hanoi-Sapa-Halong Bay-Hue-Hoi An-Saigon)we would like to chill on the beach for 3-4 days (or more). Which beach would be ideal for someone that likes a layed back atmosphere with a little activity, walking distance to town and a variety of restaurants. I have read so much about Dai Lanh beach (Nha Trang), China beach (Hue), Cua Dai beach (Hoi An), Mui Ne beach (Phan Thiet) and Danang Beach. We would preferrably like to stay on the beach rather than a taxi ride away. Look forward to hearing your comments.

Is it possible to take a taxi from Danang to Hue? Is it safe to just pick up any taxis at the airport? What will the cost be like? Thanks!

We are honeymooning for 2 weeks in Vietnam in early December. We are flying in to Hanoi and flying out of HCMC. We plan on packing the first 10 days or so ending up on Phu Quoc. We want to chill in Phu Quoc the last couple of days. We like off the beaten path type of things but don't want to miss the big stuff too. We can afford to fly if need be.
---thoughts on what to see?
---thoughts on what to skip?
---how much time should we spend in Hanoi and HCMC?

Any advice would help.

Thanks,
a

Has anyone experience with, or suggestions for an overland bus or bus/train combination to get from Saigon to Bangkok in the shortest time? Flying is not an option for me. I need tranquilizers to fly and it takes a day to come down from from the drugs for a few hours flight.

hello i was just wondering how safe it was to cross the border from hanoi to cambodia via bus or train?where do i buy the tix and how far in advance do i buy it?im a solo fem traveller and its my first time abroad so i really am scared.any advice wld be great!!!!
ps:ill be in hanoi from jan 22 to jan 27

melody

During our three weeks in Vietnam we will have 4-6 days that we can relax on a beach somewhere. I have read so many different reviews about the beaches. We will be in Hoi An so don't know if we should stay in a beach resort there or go to Nga Trang, Mui Ne or somewhere else. What we like to do is spend time on the beach during the day and walk into town for dinner and to see all the sights and activities. We do not want to be far away from any activity even if it is only by taxi. We want the best of both worlds, does it exist in Vietnam? Your help is appreciated.

Hi - I plan to take the overnight train from hanoi to sapa on a friday night in november and the overnight train from sapa to hanoi on a sunday night in november. do you think there's any chance the trains will be overbooked or can I safely plan to book train tickets when i arrive in hanoi a couple of days before?
My connections are tight so I absolutely cannot miss these trains!!

I am very interested in taking a tour to Tam Coc. Can I purchase a tour anywhere in Hanoi? How long of a tour is it and what is the approx. cost?
Thank you

I will be in Sapa for 4 nights in April but with the itinerary I have now it dosen't look like I will be there on a Saturday or Sunday when the two most popular markets are taking place. Are there other markets and sights of interest that I can get to see all the different minorities, etc. I imagine it is quieter during the week but is there much going on. Appreciate hearing from anyone who can give me a picture of what I can see.

Hi - Whats the best way to get from Halong Bay to Sapa? Do I need to go back to Hanoi and then take the overnight train to Sapa, or is there an easier way??

Also from Sapa is there an easy way to get to Saigon without taking the overnight train all the way back to Hanoi in order to fly to Saigon? How far is the nearest airport to Sapa??

Thanks in advance...