Vietnam - what to see, where to stay?
Discussion
I have 10 days with the Mrs in Vietnam that are fast approaching.
We fly into Hanoi and then out from Ho Chi minh 10 days later. I have booked nothing else. I want a hotel for the 1st night in Hanoi as we're arriving late and so don't want to mess about finding somewhere. Only other accomodation I want to book is a nice posh beach hotel for the last 2 nights near Ho Chi Minh.
The middle part of the holiday I want to travel around back pack style, I had fully intended to go North -> South on train but a few friends have said don't bother, the middle of the country doesn't really offer a lot and I'd be better off going north from Hanoi then flying straight south.
Any advice or suggestions?
We fly into Hanoi and then out from Ho Chi minh 10 days later. I have booked nothing else. I want a hotel for the 1st night in Hanoi as we're arriving late and so don't want to mess about finding somewhere. Only other accomodation I want to book is a nice posh beach hotel for the last 2 nights near Ho Chi Minh.
The middle part of the holiday I want to travel around back pack style, I had fully intended to go North -> South on train but a few friends have said don't bother, the middle of the country doesn't really offer a lot and I'd be better off going north from Hanoi then flying straight south.
Any advice or suggestions?
Your friends suggested missing out the middle of the country? Really? Hue and Hoi An are a must see, the latter being most peoples favourite place in the country. There's a massive difference North to south - north is more traditioanl and always overcast, HCM is the daddy, and they are not afraid to show it, South is more Western (ish!), with less clouds (still silly humidity). The centre, around the 17th parralel is cool as that's where alot of the fighting was, round the DMZ. Very different again, big craters and eucalyptus trees everywhere (only thing that would grow after the agent orange). You'll probably see a few ex US river boats and jeeps kicking around too. Trains are nasty, but an experience. DO visit the war museum in HCMC.
Have fun - great country!
Have fun - great country!
VxDuncan said:
Your friends suggested missing out the middle of the country? Really? Hue and Hoi An are a must see, the latter being most peoples favourite place in the country. There's a massive difference North to south - north is more traditioanl and always overcast, HCM is the daddy, and they are not afraid to show it, South is more Western (ish!), with less clouds (still silly humidity). The centre, around the 17th parralel is cool as that's where alot of the fighting was, round the DMZ. Very different again, big craters and eucalyptus trees everywhere (only thing that would grow after the agent orange). You'll probably see a few ex US river boats and jeeps kicking around too. Trains are nasty, but an experience. DO visit the war museum in HCMC.
Have fun - great country!
Have fun - great country!
What he said. Plus Da Nang & Da Lat. Also, if you can, spend some time out in the countryside as well. You will see a totally different side of Vietnam. The contrast between Hanoi & HCMC is absolutely staggering. to be honest, I much prefered Hanoi, but HCMC was very interesting, if not a lot more westernised (although, there was still no McDonalds or Burger King when we went in 2001
)The Cu Chi tunnels are definitely worth seeing if you have some time in HCMC, as is a river boat ride up the Mekong Delta
Hue is lovely old town, loads to see and do round there, and great to be away from the madness of the city for some real relaxation.
Stayed at the Inter Cont in HCMC and Planet Hotel in Hanoi, both excellent.
Super food and very friendly people. Just be wary at night if walking about , as bag snatchers are about and go by on mopeds - same as any big city really.
All in all,superb country - met my wife whilst backpacking there many moons ago!
Enjoy it.
Stayed at the Inter Cont in HCMC and Planet Hotel in Hanoi, both excellent.
Super food and very friendly people. Just be wary at night if walking about , as bag snatchers are about and go by on mopeds - same as any big city really.
All in all,superb country - met my wife whilst backpacking there many moons ago!
Enjoy it.
Edited by Nicholas Blair on Monday 5th October 15:34
I went there last year and loved the place. With the avoiding the middle of the country idea it depends which bit you'd say is the middle. I took an overnight train from Hanoi to Hue and that misses out a big chunk that could be classed as less interesting I guess. The trains are definitely worth doing, an experience for sure!
I'd recommend Hoi An and Hue again for the reasons others have given and also Sapa in the far north for its superb forests and hills - a very cool place in both temperature and vibe. I'd also head to the Mekong Delta if you can, even just a day trip from Saigon as although the easily accessible places are a bit touristy, it is a very different way of life to most other areas. We did an overnight boat trip from just outside HCMC and ended up in Cambodia - great fun.
I'd finally recommend Phu Quoc island off the south coast. It is less than an hour to fly from Saigon and flights were about £20 each way last year. It is what I imagine Thailand was like 30 years ago with some tourists, but mainly locals and still boasting truly deserted beaches and traditional villages. We stayed near the main town in a nice beach resort and hired mopeds to go into the very non-touristy centre and north coasts. It was the only place in the region I found a genuinely empty white sandy beach - there were 3 of us and we were the only ones there.
Few photos here if anyone is on Facebook
I'd recommend Hoi An and Hue again for the reasons others have given and also Sapa in the far north for its superb forests and hills - a very cool place in both temperature and vibe. I'd also head to the Mekong Delta if you can, even just a day trip from Saigon as although the easily accessible places are a bit touristy, it is a very different way of life to most other areas. We did an overnight boat trip from just outside HCMC and ended up in Cambodia - great fun.
I'd finally recommend Phu Quoc island off the south coast. It is less than an hour to fly from Saigon and flights were about £20 each way last year. It is what I imagine Thailand was like 30 years ago with some tourists, but mainly locals and still boasting truly deserted beaches and traditional villages. We stayed near the main town in a nice beach resort and hired mopeds to go into the very non-touristy centre and north coasts. It was the only place in the region I found a genuinely empty white sandy beach - there were 3 of us and we were the only ones there.
Few photos here if anyone is on Facebook
Herman Toothrot said:
I have 10 days with the Mrs in Vietnam that are fast approaching.
We fly into Hanoi and then out from Ho Chi minh 10 days later. I have booked nothing else. I want a hotel for the 1st night in Hanoi as we're arriving late and so don't want to mess about finding somewhere. Only other accomodation I want to book is a nice posh beach hotel for the last 2 nights near Ho Chi Minh.
The middle part of the holiday I want to travel around back pack style, I had fully intended to go North -> South on train but a few friends have said don't bother, the middle of the country doesn't really offer a lot and I'd be better off going north from Hanoi then flying straight south.
Any advice or suggestions?
If you want a beach stay close to Saigon then the nearest half-decent one is Vung Tau about 2 hours by road or 1.25 hours on the hydrofoil (interesting in itself) there are a few nice hotels there too, one very new on is the Imperial, right on the sea front. Get down there for a couple of days hire a moped and get around the fishing villages and up the mountains, and try the seafood its superb. Or, you go further a field to Mui Ne, thets about 4 hours drive frm Saigon, beach is better, hotels are better but its packed with them, a bit overkill on the resorts. Lots of watersports and beachcombing, a nice place when the weather is good, seafood is great too.We fly into Hanoi and then out from Ho Chi minh 10 days later. I have booked nothing else. I want a hotel for the 1st night in Hanoi as we're arriving late and so don't want to mess about finding somewhere. Only other accomodation I want to book is a nice posh beach hotel for the last 2 nights near Ho Chi Minh.
The middle part of the holiday I want to travel around back pack style, I had fully intended to go North -> South on train but a few friends have said don't bother, the middle of the country doesn't really offer a lot and I'd be better off going north from Hanoi then flying straight south.
Any advice or suggestions?
Hoi An, near Da Nang is worth a visit, steeped in history and a heritage centre, very nice and colourful too.
Hue is good and very cultural.
Mekong Delta is different too.
Saigon has the War Museum, Cu Chi tunnel are ok if youre not claustrophobic, Binh Thanh market is interesting if youve not been here before, do try the market stalls around the market in the evening (after 7pm) they offer some great dishes and well cheap too. Try Pham Ngo Lau street (back packer area) for some great night sights too. Just walking around with the camera firing off shots is a great pastime of mine, you'll get some fantastic pictures.
Can anyone help (without taking the thread off topic) - when I was there four years ago we when to diner in a fantastic resturant in HCMC. It was in an old theatre, lots of red drapes. Think there was some entertainment, and the tables had goldfish bowls on them. Within a short walk of the Rex, and near the "underground" bar?
Very cool! Bit like the place in "The Quiet American" where they go dancing?
Very cool! Bit like the place in "The Quiet American" where they go dancing?
Nobby Diesel said:
Definately spend time in the middle and then in HCMC.
Staying in HCMC, there is only one place IMO - The Majestic.
A lovely hotel, pool on the roof, with traditional charm.
Cu Chi tunnels, War Museum, the post office and out of the city the taoist(?) temple are all worthwhile visits.
The Majestic has been extended, hugely now, and is very very nice.....Staying in HCMC, there is only one place IMO - The Majestic.
A lovely hotel, pool on the roof, with traditional charm.
Cu Chi tunnels, War Museum, the post office and out of the city the taoist(?) temple are all worthwhile visits.
phumy said:
Nobby Diesel said:
Definately spend time in the middle and then in HCMC.
Staying in HCMC, there is only one place IMO - The Majestic.
A lovely hotel, pool on the roof, with traditional charm.
Cu Chi tunnels, War Museum, the post office and out of the city the taoist(?) temple are all worthwhile visits.
The Majestic has been extended, hugely now, and is very very nice.....Staying in HCMC, there is only one place IMO - The Majestic.
A lovely hotel, pool on the roof, with traditional charm.
Cu Chi tunnels, War Museum, the post office and out of the city the taoist(?) temple are all worthwhile visits.
It was 15 years ago that I was there - that's progress for you???
I was there about 3 months ago and for us the highlight by far was Sapa.
It's very easy to get to from Hanoi, just take the sleeper train. Has beautiful scenery and a slightly cooler climate.
The place is filled with different tribes people, all in their original dress. At first you might think it is just for tourists but when you start to explore the nearby villages (by motorbike or guide) you realise that its not. Its also a hell of a lot less built up than the rest of Vietnam.
It's very easy to get to from Hanoi, just take the sleeper train. Has beautiful scenery and a slightly cooler climate.
The place is filled with different tribes people, all in their original dress. At first you might think it is just for tourists but when you start to explore the nearby villages (by motorbike or guide) you realise that its not. Its also a hell of a lot less built up than the rest of Vietnam.
Nobby Diesel said:
phumy said:
Nobby Diesel said:
Definately spend time in the middle and then in HCMC.
Staying in HCMC, there is only one place IMO - The Majestic.
A lovely hotel, pool on the roof, with traditional charm.
Cu Chi tunnels, War Museum, the post office and out of the city the taoist(?) temple are all worthwhile visits.
The Majestic has been extended, hugely now, and is very very nice.....Staying in HCMC, there is only one place IMO - The Majestic.
A lovely hotel, pool on the roof, with traditional charm.
Cu Chi tunnels, War Museum, the post office and out of the city the taoist(?) temple are all worthwhile visits.
It was 15 years ago that I was there - that's progress for you???
v15ben said:
I'd finally recommend Phu Quoc island off the south coast.
Sorry to take this a little off topic.....but Ben, I've been thinking about going to Phu Quoc over Christmas/New Year. Would you get cabin fever staying on the island for 2 weeks? The other option is to fly into HCMC and take the train to Nha Trang before heading up to Whale Island. This will be my first Vietnam trip, so any advice would be apprecieted!
Burnham said:
v15ben said:
I'd finally recommend Phu Quoc island off the south coast.
Sorry to take this a little off topic.....but Ben, I've been thinking about going to Phu Quoc over Christmas/New Year. Would you get cabin fever staying on the island for 2 weeks? The other option is to fly into HCMC and take the train to Nha Trang before heading up to Whale Island. This will be my first Vietnam trip, so any advice would be apprecieted!
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