Vietnam

[Rib]

Hi guys

Right I have my 1st solo travelling holiday in a few weeks, heading to phuket for my sisters wedding the decided to do Vietnam afterwards (done thailand a few times and cambodia already) just wondering who has been and what they felt were the best and worst places? just trying to decide whether to do 2 or 3 weeks so ideas would be very useful!

also whilst I am familier with that part of the world, it is the 1st time I will be going on my own, I plan to stay at hostels (though a private room) to hopefully meet up with people as I go along.

rough idea was

1 full day in Hanoi
Ha Long bay - 1 or 2 nights, is 1 enough?
2 day 3 night trek to sapa
another day in Hanoi to relax
2-3 nights in HUE
3 night Hoi an
2 nights Da lat
2-3 nights HCMC
Mekong Delta trip for a couple of nights

Now this takes me over the 2 weeks so either need tocut abit out, or add a few days here and there (would like to return to bangkok for the weekend markets before I fly back)

I love my photography so like the landscapes and adventure side of things. I enjoy some of the history but dont want to end up with death by temple like cambodia was

any advice much appreciated

[Beggarall]

Looks like a pretty good itinerary to me - we did something similar earlier this year. When are you going? Weather in the north can be pretty chilly in winter but hot in Saigon so you will need a range of clothing. How are you planning to travel between your destinations - your trip covers quite a lot of miles!! We had a fantastic time and photo-opportunities abound!

[Stevanos]

I think 3 nights in Hui might be too much, also how have you factored travel time between each place? travelling by bus or train is very slow and it is a big country!

[Shaoxter]

Stevanos said:

I think 3 nights in Hui might be too much, also how have you factored travel time between each place? travelling by bus or train is very slow and it is a big country!

Yeah not much to see in Hue, worth stopping by for a day but you're probably better off spending more time in Hoi An or hitting the beach at Nha Trang.

[5potTurbo]

Hanoi: 2 nights, there's a lot to see in the city.

Halong Bay, a junk trip with 1 night is enough, I found.

Hoi An, recommended. An amazing little town. Fantastic beaches close by. Probably 3 nights, max.

(Avoid Da Nang as a place to visit, aside from the airport, which you'll need!)

I didn't head further south than Hoi An, sadly.

[phumy]

5potTurbo said:

Hanoi: 2 nights, there's a lot to see in the city.

Halong Bay, a junk trip with 1 night is enough, I found.

Hoi An, recommended. An amazing little town. Fantastic beaches close by. Probably 3 nights, max.

(Avoid Da Nang as a place to visit, aside from the airport, which you'll need!)

I didn't head further south than Hoi An, sadly.

In my opinion you missed the best part, you missed Nha Trang beaches and night life, Mui Ne for lovely beaches, cheap hotels and seafood, Saigon for everything, Mekong Delta for the real Vietnam Southern culture, its great.

[Rib]

I'm not massively fussed about the beaches, got a week in phuket and from what I've read they're not as good as Thailand, plus I get bored easily. Obviously if they are next to where I am anyway I may have a day to chill, I'm thinking of making it a month long trip, will just make the trip a bit less rushed.

[Kenty]

Hue and Hoi-an for two nights each is fine, Halong bay is best done with a longer trip than the standard trip so an overnight trip is recommended. Other than that the trip looks good, we didn't get to Sapa but friends say it is very good.
Look out for a side trip in hoi-an - three different ways to catch fish, it is really good fun and better than it sounds!

[Rib]

thanks, fishing sounds like fun!

[Rib]

is HUE really worth doing do you guys reckon?

[Philplop]

Can't say I'd particularly recommend Nha Trang or Mui Ne. Both Russian beach resorts. Mui Ne is the nicer of the two though, and has the sand dunes; a patch of desert just outside the town.

2 nights in Hue is plenty. Hoi An is fantastic. Probably don't need much time there but it's a great place to relax for a few days, lots of cool bars and restaurants and loads of photo opportunities.

Saigon is great too. Had five nights there and could easily have done more. Loads to do within walking distance of the Pham Ngu Lau backpacker district.

The trains are pretty good for getting about. And no need to book guesthouses in advance if you want to go free and easy and make it up as you go along. Don't take hotel recommendations from the hotel you're leaving, always have a look first and a wander. They're always in groups and the only one we had that we were disappointed with was booked in advance by our previous hotel.

[Beggarall]

Rib said:

is HUE really worth doing do you guys reckon?

Like many places the longer you are there , the more you find it has to offer. Hue is not Hoi An which is a picturesque sea port catering for tourists. Hue is on the Perfume river and at first glance not much to offer apart from the obvious Forbidden City. But, there are markets and River trips and a chance to get out into the local community. There is also an unforgettable restaurant at Tha Om Garden House - probably a bit pricey - but fantastic - and the proprietor will personally meet you. Of course there are beaches and night clubs - but why go to Vietnam if that is what you want to do? However, given your time constraints 2 nights would be OK. When are you going.

[Rib]

I'm landing in phuket on the 21st nobember and got 5 nights there, then off to VT

[Stevanos]

Rib said:

is HUE really worth doing do you guys reckon?

I spent one day there and explored the old city, that was pretty fascinating but the rest of the town was a bit meh! If you are passing through I think one day is enough, but it is not a big loss if you miss it out altogether!

[Ej74]

I would rather spend more time in HCM
Also try to get a trip into the Mekong Delta - well worth it

Da Nang - is worth it if your staying at the Intercontinental (fine dining in a rainforest)

[seefarr]

We got back from Vietnam on Sunday! I would say at least one night on Ha Long Bay but I would think even that would be rushed - it's a 4 hour drive from Hanoi. We did 2 nights and made it up to Bai Tu Long Bay which is a bit less crowded / polluted. We used the Indochina Junk company and were very pleased.

I would also suggest you spend more time in Hanoi. The food and bia hoi (fresh beer served on street corners) are fantastic and the town just has a really cool vibe. We did a tour of the street food places with these guys and they were great too:

http://www.hanoistreetfoodtour.com/

[Rib]

thanks guys, booked my return flights now and decided to scrap bangkok, was mainly going for the weekend market and the Mrs, but now she isn't coming it doesn't make sense to go just for shopping, so I have from the 26th November to the 16th December, so nearly 3 weeks, already started a slightly more detailed Itinerary and seeing just how easy/expensive it is to get from place to place so will stick that up a bit later on and see how it looks.

[Shaoxter]

Rib said:

thanks guys, booked my return flights now and decided to scrap bangkok, was mainly going for the weekend market and the Mrs, but now she isn't coming

All the more reason to go to Bangkok surely...?

[Rib]

26th - transfer to Hanoi
27th - explore Hanoi - depart for Sapa tour with overnight train
28th Sapa
29th Sapa - return on over night train
30th - chill day - Hanoi
1st - Ha Long Bay
2nd - Return from Halong bay - overnight sleeper to HUE
3rd - HUE - chill/explore
4th - HUE - hike
5th - Move to Hoi An
6th Hoi an
7th Hoi An
8th - fly to dalat
9th - dalat
10th - dalat
11th - dalat
12th - HCMC
13th - Mekong
14th - Mekong
15th - HCMC
16th - HCMC
DEPART HCMC 23:55

Might look to swap a day of HCMC for another in Hoi an

[Stevanos]

A trip to the Viet Kong tunnels from HMC is a good full day.