Discussion
Me and a mate are planning to have a 2 week trip to Vietnam.
Obviously we would like to find a nice resort or two with nice hotels / bars / beaches etc. (Too old for backpacking and hostels)
But would also like to do a bit of the 'old' Vietnam. A bit of history and culture, and also anything to do with the Vietnam war would also be of interest.
Don't mind doing a bit of walking, boat trips etc. but don't really want to spend days in clapped out minibuses.
Can anybody suggest any areas that might cover some or all of these wants / needs.
Also are either of the capitals Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi particularly worth visiting or better avoided ?
Any help or suggestions much appreciated.
Obviously we would like to find a nice resort or two with nice hotels / bars / beaches etc. (Too old for backpacking and hostels)
But would also like to do a bit of the 'old' Vietnam. A bit of history and culture, and also anything to do with the Vietnam war would also be of interest.
Don't mind doing a bit of walking, boat trips etc. but don't really want to spend days in clapped out minibuses.
Can anybody suggest any areas that might cover some or all of these wants / needs.
Also are either of the capitals Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi particularly worth visiting or better avoided ?
Any help or suggestions much appreciated.
Hanoi's the capital 
I've only visited north Vietnam
- Hanoi: loads to see & do, dodging motorbikes, mostly.... watched Top Gear in Vietnam?
That's worth 3 days.
- 2 days/1 night sailing around Halong Bay (reach Halong from Hanoi by an old military helicopter)
a bit further south
- Danang, 1 day (trip from Hoi An)
The locals in the Danang suburbs were shocked to see 2 white people walking around their neighbourhood. It was quite funny.
- Hoi An ... I'd stay there forever!
loads of war memorial stuff around there
Hoi An's a Unesco Heritage site. It's a beautiful place to visit.
When there we stayed at the Nam Hai hotel. That in itself was a BRILLIANT experience. It's expensive, but well worth it. Service beyond all expectations.
As you've 2 weeks, you could then fly or take the train further south to Ho chi Minh.
Be careful on the time of year you choose. If I remember correctly, the south's weather can be bad, the noth's good, and vice-versa, depending when you go.
I was in north Vietnam in September 2008. We had 1 day of torrential rain, and I mean torrential. Danang city centre was knee deep in <2 hours of rainfall!
Fortunately we were wearing shorts & flip flops.
I've only visited north Vietnam
- Hanoi: loads to see & do, dodging motorbikes, mostly.... watched Top Gear in Vietnam?
That's worth 3 days.
- 2 days/1 night sailing around Halong Bay (reach Halong from Hanoi by an old military helicopter)
a bit further south
- Danang, 1 day (trip from Hoi An)
The locals in the Danang suburbs were shocked to see 2 white people walking around their neighbourhood. It was quite funny.
- Hoi An ... I'd stay there forever!
loads of war memorial stuff around there
Hoi An's a Unesco Heritage site. It's a beautiful place to visit.
When there we stayed at the Nam Hai hotel. That in itself was a BRILLIANT experience. It's expensive, but well worth it. Service beyond all expectations.
As you've 2 weeks, you could then fly or take the train further south to Ho chi Minh.
Be careful on the time of year you choose. If I remember correctly, the south's weather can be bad, the noth's good, and vice-versa, depending when you go.
I was in north Vietnam in September 2008. We had 1 day of torrential rain, and I mean torrential. Danang city centre was knee deep in <2 hours of rainfall!
Fortunately we were wearing shorts & flip flops.
Vietnam is superb. Excellent country - I was out there last year. Some of the best food I have ever eaten, friendly people, and beautiful country. Also very clean.
I went with my wife, and we are also too old for backpacking. However we did backpack around the country, but with a difference. We went from the South in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) -> the North in Hanoi using trains, and buses, but stayed in quality hotels. You can do both!
The post above has some good info on places to go.
Danang has had a huge investment since 2008 when referenced above, and last year when we were there lots of new 5 star golf complexes were springing up. Only 20 mins in cab/scooter from Hoi An to Danang. I second the above that Hoi An is stunning. We actually stayed on An-Hoi peninsula overlooking the river.
Ho Chi Minh is more modern than Hanoi. Lots of recent investment, and feels like a modern Asian city (think Bangkok rather than Singapore), Hanoi still has more of an old town craziness to it.
Mekong Delta (South) and Ha Long bay (North) worth a visit, but try to book the non-touristy places if you can. Hue does not have a lot going on once you have done the Royal city. No more than a day needed.
Na-Trang (South) is the beach-bum place to be if that is what you are looking for, but we never managed to get there. Sapa in the North for serious walking, but again we never got there. That is on a list of things to do when we go back.
If you check Tripadvisor for my username (Fats25) - I reviewed hotels and things to do on the trip.
I went with my wife, and we are also too old for backpacking. However we did backpack around the country, but with a difference. We went from the South in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) -> the North in Hanoi using trains, and buses, but stayed in quality hotels. You can do both!
The post above has some good info on places to go.
Danang has had a huge investment since 2008 when referenced above, and last year when we were there lots of new 5 star golf complexes were springing up. Only 20 mins in cab/scooter from Hoi An to Danang. I second the above that Hoi An is stunning. We actually stayed on An-Hoi peninsula overlooking the river.
Ho Chi Minh is more modern than Hanoi. Lots of recent investment, and feels like a modern Asian city (think Bangkok rather than Singapore), Hanoi still has more of an old town craziness to it.
Mekong Delta (South) and Ha Long bay (North) worth a visit, but try to book the non-touristy places if you can. Hue does not have a lot going on once you have done the Royal city. No more than a day needed.
Na-Trang (South) is the beach-bum place to be if that is what you are looking for, but we never managed to get there. Sapa in the North for serious walking, but again we never got there. That is on a list of things to do when we go back.
If you check Tripadvisor for my username (Fats25) - I reviewed hotels and things to do on the trip.
I was in Vietnam in February just stopping off three times during a cruise.We found it a fascinating country so much so we would like to return and spend much more time exploring.
One thing did surprise me though was the weather.South was very hot and humid,Da nang chilly and rain and Halong Bay was freezing cold. Or did we pick the wrong month??
A boat trip around Halong Bay is a must,stopping off at the famous caves.We also went round a fishing village in the north with this huge indoor market where anything living (or dead)was on sale,absolutely fascinating.The local people were always nice,friendly and polite.
One thing did surprise me though was the weather.South was very hot and humid,Da nang chilly and rain and Halong Bay was freezing cold. Or did we pick the wrong month??
A boat trip around Halong Bay is a must,stopping off at the famous caves.We also went round a fishing village in the north with this huge indoor market where anything living (or dead)was on sale,absolutely fascinating.The local people were always nice,friendly and polite.
As stated above - seasons change dramatically between North and South Vietnam.
We went end of April / start of May working our way from South to North, and it was definitely more humid in South, but warm everywhere. Not particularly sunny, and we had rain in parts every day, but we were never cold.
This was one of our views of Ha Long Bay (was actually of Bai Tu Long Bay - which is a bit quieter that Ha Long Bay).
We went end of April / start of May working our way from South to North, and it was definitely more humid in South, but warm everywhere. Not particularly sunny, and we had rain in parts every day, but we were never cold.
This was one of our views of Ha Long Bay (was actually of Bai Tu Long Bay - which is a bit quieter that Ha Long Bay).
I would recommend Mui Ne beach, it about 4 - 6 hours by bus from HCMC, there is also Vung Tao beach but I prefer Mui Ne. There's a wide verity of places to stay depending on your budget. You can get a bus from Pham Ngu Lao ( the backpackers district) straight there. I think there are three buses leaving each day. In Pham they also have a lot of travel agencies if you would like to book before you leave. The Mekong delta tour is also a nice trip to do. I did both the one and two day trips. But from personal experience I can tell you that the one day trip is the better option of the two. On the two day trip you will spend a lot of time on the bus and very little time actually sight seeing.
Third Mui Ne, tiny place, just a strip but really chilled. Big place for wind surfing.
Hoi An, one of the best places I have ever been and really up there for culture. Ask for Mr Kims resturant, it is by the bridge and he will show you his book and tell you his stories from Paris.
Na Trang I would avoid like the plague, Vietnams equivalent to Blackpool sea front.
Best thing about Vietnam is you aren't really a tourist stuck in your own bubble ( unless you try) you will find in Mui Ne and other places you are holidaying with Vietnamese which is brilliant.
I had a bad experience in Hanoi so that leaves my option as biased, you should go as other people say they have had a great time there. If you do a cruise pay the money and get a good one. There is a cafe called the Kangaroo Cafe and they can sort the s
t from the truly lovely for you.
Hoi An, one of the best places I have ever been and really up there for culture. Ask for Mr Kims resturant, it is by the bridge and he will show you his book and tell you his stories from Paris.
Na Trang I would avoid like the plague, Vietnams equivalent to Blackpool sea front.
Best thing about Vietnam is you aren't really a tourist stuck in your own bubble ( unless you try) you will find in Mui Ne and other places you are holidaying with Vietnamese which is brilliant.
I had a bad experience in Hanoi so that leaves my option as biased, you should go as other people say they have had a great time there. If you do a cruise pay the money and get a good one. There is a cafe called the Kangaroo Cafe and they can sort the s
t from the truly lovely for you.Having posted above yesterday morning, I was having a post work beer with a colleague last night and Vietnam came up in conversation. He spent 6 months travelling the world with his wife and 2 children in 2012, and said Mui Ne (sp?) was the best place they visited.
They stayed at a backpackers hostel there, up in the trees above the main strip, he described it. The place is owned by a gay Belgian bloke and his Vietnamese partner, and my colleague said they were excellent hosts. Family room + breakfast for $20/night! Really relaxed place, lovely pool, short walk down to the beach.
They stayed at a backpackers hostel there, up in the trees above the main strip, he described it. The place is owned by a gay Belgian bloke and his Vietnamese partner, and my colleague said they were excellent hosts. Family room + breakfast for $20/night! Really relaxed place, lovely pool, short walk down to the beach.
Saigon, now know as Ho Chi Minh City is worth a visit and I prefer it to Hanoi. From here you can also visit the Mekong Delta. If you're interested in war history check out the war remnants museum there. Very moving.
I also highly recommend Hoi An. Beautiful place and only 40mins by car from Danang which has an international airport and train station.
The food is brilliant. Do a little research to find the best restaurants. It is cheap and very tasty.
Take small denominations of Vietnamese Dong. If you pay in USD the price tends to be inflated.
I also highly recommend Hoi An. Beautiful place and only 40mins by car from Danang which has an international airport and train station.
The food is brilliant. Do a little research to find the best restaurants. It is cheap and very tasty.
Take small denominations of Vietnamese Dong. If you pay in USD the price tends to be inflated.
I went to Phu Quoc on a bit of a whim back in 2008.
It was very cheap to get there (£20 flights or very cheap ferry.)
I really liked it as it was undeveloped compared to a lot of the Thai islands or other parts of Vietnam.
Still plenty of decent accommodation available though.
I'm sure it will have developed a lot more since 2008, but I'd still recommend it.
I really like Hoi An as well.
Spent a week there in 2012.
Great food, great coffee (iced white is fantastic.)
It is a very photogenic little town with lots to see and do.
I also had some tailored suits made and had a few fun trips on rented mountain bikes (such as Cam Kim Island.)
Vietnam is a very nice place, easy to get around and plenty to see.
I'd also second the earlier recommendation of Mui Ne, lovely spot.
It was very cheap to get there (£20 flights or very cheap ferry.)
I really liked it as it was undeveloped compared to a lot of the Thai islands or other parts of Vietnam.
Still plenty of decent accommodation available though.
I'm sure it will have developed a lot more since 2008, but I'd still recommend it.
I really like Hoi An as well.
Spent a week there in 2012.
Great food, great coffee (iced white is fantastic.)
It is a very photogenic little town with lots to see and do.
I also had some tailored suits made and had a few fun trips on rented mountain bikes (such as Cam Kim Island.)
Vietnam is a very nice place, easy to get around and plenty to see.
I'd also second the earlier recommendation of Mui Ne, lovely spot.
Edited by v15ben on Saturday 26th April 11:30
Mui Ne sounds interesting but 6 hrs on a bus after the flight puts me off.I suppose a hire car,stopping on the way would brake it up??.Something tells me though driving on Vietnamese roads is a no no?
Any suggestions guys for the travel itinerary getting to Mui Ne ?? by the way,we are old farts and like the easy comfy life,so no back packers hostels etc.
Any suggestions guys for the travel itinerary getting to Mui Ne ?? by the way,we are old farts and like the easy comfy life,so no back packers hostels etc.
Old Merc said:
Mui Ne sounds interesting but 6 hrs on a bus after the flight puts me off.I suppose a hire car,stopping on the way would brake it up??.Something tells me though driving on Vietnamese roads is a no no?
Any suggestions guys for the travel itinerary getting to Mui Ne ?? by the way,we are old farts and like the easy comfy life,so no back packers hostels etc.
The buses there aren;t like ours. You can pay for a sleeper bus and kip the six hours or you can go for the luxury buses that have 70's style lazy boy recliners that you can sleep in. No real effort traveling on the buses there. Just have to get use to spare driver sleeping in hammocks in the isles.Any suggestions guys for the travel itinerary getting to Mui Ne ?? by the way,we are old farts and like the easy comfy life,so no back packers hostels etc.
I didn't find the sleeper buses too bad, but struggled to sleep properly on them.
Just accept that they'll be full of backpackers if they are the buses from the Pham Ngu Lao district (where many tourist buses leave from.)
You could also get a private transfer, plenty of companies offer these from Saigon for a reasonable price.
They won't be much quicker though as the roads are pretty small + winding once you get closer to Mui Ne.
Just accept that they'll be full of backpackers if they are the buses from the Pham Ngu Lao district (where many tourist buses leave from.)
You could also get a private transfer, plenty of companies offer these from Saigon for a reasonable price.
They won't be much quicker though as the roads are pretty small + winding once you get closer to Mui Ne.
I lived in Vietnam for two years. And I did own a bike while I was living there. It looks like a nightmare, but it not that bad. There is method to the madness. A few rules that you need to remember is to stay away from the buses. There are no such a thing as space in Vietnam. Generally people are very considerate and they do tend to sent text messages when they are driving so you have to look out for that. Once you are out on the country roads it is smooth driving.
Look out for the cops on the highways. Do not speak English or french to then if possible. They will fine you up to 500 000 dong. A mate of mine pretended to be dutch and they waved him off without having to pay the fine.
It's an amazing trip to do on your bike.
Look out for the cops on the highways. Do not speak English or french to then if possible. They will fine you up to 500 000 dong. A mate of mine pretended to be dutch and they waved him off without having to pay the fine.
It's an amazing trip to do on your bike.
Currently in Hanoi -its nuts !! There are quite a few museums and monuments here but don't believe you need to see them all to get a flavour of things, do a couple then gaze at the traffic and locals. I've been here 6 days and haven't got tired of the place, you only really need 2/3 days here as has been said. Drink the local draught beer on the street corners for 14p in the evening and have a laugh watching the nightlife.
Off to Sapa tonight for a few days, i'll report back in a few days on what its like.
I've heard about Hue and Hoi An so i'm going there after Halong Bay.
Good thread this, thanks for starting it OP !!
Off to Sapa tonight for a few days, i'll report back in a few days on what its like.
I've heard about Hue and Hoi An so i'm going there after Halong Bay.
Good thread this, thanks for starting it OP !!
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