Discussion
Just booked my tickets, first time i'm going or indeed the first time for any holiday of this magnitude!
Ok, can you lovely lot point me in the direction of some (cheap) decent travel insurance?!
WOOO! I really cant wait to fly out! Ive now got to organise vaccinations and visa's, so anyhelp would be massively appreciated!!!
Thanks!
Darren
Ok, can you lovely lot point me in the direction of some (cheap) decent travel insurance?!
WOOO! I really cant wait to fly out! Ive now got to organise vaccinations and visa's, so anyhelp would be massively appreciated!!!
Thanks!
Darren
For the visas, use "visa on arrival" which is where you pay a vietnamese company to sort you out a visa and they reply with an email that you just print off and hand in at the airport. Its cheaper than going via the embassy as well as being far, far simpler.
I used http://www.vietnamvisapro.com/ who were really good and were cheaper than the companies that came out top on google.
Oh and make sure you rent out a motorbike. I'm living in Ho Chi Minh and the motorbike traffic is f
king insane. Riding in it is seriously fun (providing you don't end up sitting at the side of the road shaking)
I used http://www.vietnamvisapro.com/ who were really good and were cheaper than the companies that came out top on google.
Oh and make sure you rent out a motorbike. I'm living in Ho Chi Minh and the motorbike traffic is f
king insane. Riding in it is seriously fun (providing you don't end up sitting at the side of the road shaking)Edited by Shay HTFC on Thursday 2nd September 14:35
You will not regret it! Spent 6 weeks there May and June this year. How long you going for and where are you planning on going?
We got our insurance through www.esentialtravel.co.uk but that was for a full 10 months travelling.
As for visa's they are pretty easy to do on the Vietnamese embassy here http://www.vietnamembassy.org.uk/
Any other info you need just ask and i will try and help you.
We got our insurance through www.esentialtravel.co.uk but that was for a full 10 months travelling.
As for visa's they are pretty easy to do on the Vietnamese embassy here http://www.vietnamembassy.org.uk/
Any other info you need just ask and i will try and help you.
Firman and Shay, thanks for your help 
I'm going for two weeks in November, flying into Ho Chi Mien City!
I dont know if you saw the Top Gear episode earlier this year when they rented some scooters and travelled South or North? Well thats what inspired us, so thats what we will be doing! but I have just realised I have NEVER even sat on a scooter, let alone ridden one!
The Visa will be sorted out this weekend!
Is there anything else I need to know that would help us out?
Thanks guys!
I'm going for two weeks in November, flying into Ho Chi Mien City!
I dont know if you saw the Top Gear episode earlier this year when they rented some scooters and travelled South or North? Well thats what inspired us, so thats what we will be doing! but I have just realised I have NEVER even sat on a scooter, let alone ridden one!
The Visa will be sorted out this weekend!
Is there anything else I need to know that would help us out?
Thanks guys!
One thing I would do is make sure your insurance covers riding motorcycles. Some explicitly exclude it.
As for other stuff, don't worry. You can get spare clothes and stuff like that here for dirt cheap. Renting bikes is easy and a fair few people do the same trip as the one you are thinking of, so its all pretty well established stuff.
It'll be an amazing trip. Its a great country with great people and great scenery. And you'll pick up how to ride a scooter in no time. You'll learn double quick when your training ground involves trying to turn across the path of 100 scooters all driving straight at you, honking like mad, while a man riding a bicycle with 10 big bags of potatoes on the back wobbles around you precariously. It really is something else to ride here!
As for other stuff, don't worry. You can get spare clothes and stuff like that here for dirt cheap. Renting bikes is easy and a fair few people do the same trip as the one you are thinking of, so its all pretty well established stuff.
It'll be an amazing trip. Its a great country with great people and great scenery. And you'll pick up how to ride a scooter in no time. You'll learn double quick when your training ground involves trying to turn across the path of 100 scooters all driving straight at you, honking like mad, while a man riding a bicycle with 10 big bags of potatoes on the back wobbles around you precariously. It really is something else to ride here!
DarrenL said:
Firman and Shay, thanks for your help
I'm going for two weeks in November, flying into Ho Chi Mien City!
I dont know if you saw the Top Gear episode earlier this year when they rented some scooters and travelled South or North? Well thats what inspired us, so thats what we will be doing! but I have just realised I have NEVER even sat on a scooter, let alone ridden one!
The Visa will be sorted out this weekend!
Is there anything else I need to know that would help us out?
Thanks guys!
TG travelled North.I'm going for two weeks in November, flying into Ho Chi Mien City!
I dont know if you saw the Top Gear episode earlier this year when they rented some scooters and travelled South or North? Well thats what inspired us, so thats what we will be doing! but I have just realised I have NEVER even sat on a scooter, let alone ridden one!
The Visa will be sorted out this weekend!
Is there anything else I need to know that would help us out?
Thanks guys!
I met the guys at the Hanoi Sheraton before they went off to Halong Bay.
I really enjoyed my visit to Vietnam, and hope to go again before too long. I didn't go south, only Hanoi, Danang, Hoi An and Halong Bay.
Halong Bay is THE BEST if you can get on a cruise for 2 days/1 night.
Hope you have a great time.
There is a bit of a north/south divide in Vietnam.
The south seems to embrace western culture a bit more (which is not necessarily a good thing),they say Ho Chi Min City (still called Saigon by the locals)is where Bangkok was 20 years ago in terms of tourism, whereas the north is more traditional and conservative. I actually preferred the architecture and style of Hanoi.
It's a beautiful, fascinating country
As for your visa, I'd go with the embassy option, as someone else has said, it's fairly easy.
There is a bit of a north/south divide in Vietnam.
The south seems to embrace western culture a bit more (which is not necessarily a good thing),they say Ho Chi Min City (still called Saigon by the locals)is where Bangkok was 20 years ago in terms of tourism, whereas the north is more traditional and conservative. I actually preferred the architecture and style of Hanoi.
It's a beautiful, fascinating country
As for your visa, I'd go with the embassy option, as someone else has said, it's fairly easy.
For the Visa I faxed the application to the Embassy in London then went there with my passport when I was in London on business. I can't remember how much that "express" service was - £40 or something?
I did get some questions when I went to the U.S. in July/August as my Passport opens with my Chinese Visa on 1 page, then flips to the Vietnam one on the page prior to my photo!
I did get some questions when I went to the U.S. in July/August as my Passport opens with my Chinese Visa on 1 page, then flips to the Vietnam one on the page prior to my photo!
As said above, make sure you have insurance that covers for driving crotch rockets!! The number of blood spills we saw every time we went on the bus anywhere in Vietnam was quite worrying - and I mean serious amounts of blood on the road! I would also look at getting all of the necessary Hepatitis jabs as one or two of these I think can be transmitted in blood - which the hospitals will be pumping in to you when a lorry runs you over etc..
We booked our Visa online whilst in Laos, we got a letter back about two days later which we presented on arrival and about $30. If you are stopping in Bangkok first and have time it may be simpler and cheaper to do it at the Vietnamese embassy.
Have fun, allow lots of time as the country huge, make time for stuff south of Hanoi and don't plan to spend too long in Hanoi - ideally less than a day as it is pretty rancid! Hoi-An is wonderful!
We booked our Visa online whilst in Laos, we got a letter back about two days later which we presented on arrival and about $30. If you are stopping in Bangkok first and have time it may be simpler and cheaper to do it at the Vietnamese embassy.
Have fun, allow lots of time as the country huge, make time for stuff south of Hanoi and don't plan to spend too long in Hanoi - ideally less than a day as it is pretty rancid! Hoi-An is wonderful!
I loved my trip to Vietnam, just wish I'd seen more of it by scooter so you're doing the right thing!
I was in Northern Laos heading into the mountains and stunning scenery on a scooter a few weeks ago. Few pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/v15ben/sets/721576246...
I could happily have gone on into Vietnam and covered the entire country!
I spoke to someone in Vientiane who bought a Minsk for about $400 in Ho Chi Minh city and rode it right to Hanoi then kept going to Northern Laos and worked down to Vientiane. Sold the Minsk for $350 which is probably cheaper than hiring one for the month or so it took!
I was in Northern Laos heading into the mountains and stunning scenery on a scooter a few weeks ago. Few pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/v15ben/sets/721576246...
I could happily have gone on into Vietnam and covered the entire country!
I spoke to someone in Vientiane who bought a Minsk for about $400 in Ho Chi Minh city and rode it right to Hanoi then kept going to Northern Laos and worked down to Vientiane. Sold the Minsk for $350 which is probably cheaper than hiring one for the month or so it took!
As V15Ben says there are tons of Minsk's and/or scooters for sale in District 1 in Ho Chi Minh for less than $500 and you can sell it at the other end.
Also as someone else said Halong Bay is a MUST we did 2 nights/3 days which was one night sleeping on a Junker and one night sleeping on Monkey Island some of our blog and pics can be seen here http://mapvivo.com/journey/11229
We found the south to be a bit more friendly than the north but all in all it is an amazing place and we will be going back sometime.
Also as someone else said Halong Bay is a MUST we did 2 nights/3 days which was one night sleeping on a Junker and one night sleeping on Monkey Island some of our blog and pics can be seen here http://mapvivo.com/journey/11229
We found the south to be a bit more friendly than the north but all in all it is an amazing place and we will be going back sometime.
Nelly- flights were 650 (Inc a 2% credit car booking fee, bds!)
I will deffo make sure infurnace includes scooter riding!
Deffo planning on goon round Halong bay (sp) and the islands!
Talk to me about food! I will eat anything and try anything once! And if I don't like it I'll try it again to make sure! So what wonderful, weird, strange food can I get there?!?!
ds!)I will deffo make sure infurnace includes scooter riding!
Deffo planning on goon round Halong bay (sp) and the islands!
Talk to me about food! I will eat anything and try anything once! And if I don't like it I'll try it again to make sure! So what wonderful, weird, strange food can I get there?!?!
DavesFlaps said:
Dog is considered a delicacy in the north.
I didn't try it though.
My dad asked me if I would try Dog yesterday, and was shocked when I said yes. We had a dog for 14 years. I didn't try it though.
I went on to explain that if we had lived on a farm and had piglets for pets, would he still eat that Ham Sarnie he was stuffing his gob with...
Insurance Question guys- we're looking to rent a couple of Mopeds- when we go out to the 'nam, but my mate was told by his insurance company (NatWest) that he needs to have held a licence for 3 years, but he reckons he only has been holding it for 2.5 years- what can we do, can you recommend someone who will insure us?
Thanks!
Darren
Thanks!
Darren
DarrenL said:
Insurance Question guys- we're looking to rent a couple of Mopeds- when we go out to the 'nam, but my mate was told by his insurance company (NatWest) that he needs to have held a licence for 3 years, but he reckons he only has been holding it for 2.5 years- what can we do, can you recommend someone who will insure us?
Thanks!
Darren
AMEX travel insurance.Thanks!
Darren
DarrenL said:
Insurance Question guys- we're looking to rent a couple of Mopeds- when we go out to the 'nam, but my mate was told by his insurance company (NatWest) that he needs to have held a licence for 3 years, but he reckons he only has been holding it for 2.5 years- what can we do, can you recommend someone who will insure us?
Thanks!
Darren
Erm, not to sound too much of a nanny, but you DID hear about that lad who had a scooter/moped accident in Bangkok and is now paralysed over >80% of his body, didn't you?Thanks!
Darren
Traffic out there IS a f'n nightmare in the cities, and on the open roads 'might is right' - our coach to/from Halong Bay (a MUST MUST MUST see - preferably overnight on a junk) frequently bullied moped riders into what passes for a verge.
So if you are going to do it, please be careful chap! Careful and VERY observant!!!
That said, it's a really interesting place.
- DO go to Cu-Chi - a little touristy but rather eye-opening, even more so when you understand that the tunnels there have been enlarged for tourists. Plus you can shoot AK47s or M60s afterwards!
- Saigon has a pretty cool vibe overall.
- Hoi An is very pretty and a relaxed place to be, plus only a few k's from some decent beaches.
- Hanoi felt distinctly less friendly to us - the locals are more reserved and (certainly amonst the young) rather anti-tourist. But it's still an interesting place to be. Worst experience of all our travels in SE Asia, in terms of locals/culture.
When ever i travel i always use BMC (british mountaineering council) insurance. Fantastic cover which covers you for pretty much any stupid thing you choose to do. I now just use their annual world wide alpine policy, costs £220 a year and gives brilliant peace of mind. I had to make a claim when i was hospitalized in Cambodia, i just gave the hospital my policy card and i never had to lift my wallet, deal with paper work or speak to anyone.
A word of advice for traveling anywhere in Asia, don't trust any food or drink no matter how smart the establishment is. Saying this don't be put off from eating from the street sellers as their food can often be the most authentic and tasty. Always drink bottled water and it could save you a lot of bother if you eat vegetarian.
There is no other experience like sitting in the old town part of Hanoi enjoying a 15pence fresh Bia Hoi!
I would recommend a motor bike tour. I went from Hoi Ann down to Sigon with a fella called Mr Binh. He is a great guy, very funny and informative. Message me if you would like his details as i guarantee he wont rip you off.
Have a good trip!
A word of advice for traveling anywhere in Asia, don't trust any food or drink no matter how smart the establishment is. Saying this don't be put off from eating from the street sellers as their food can often be the most authentic and tasty. Always drink bottled water and it could save you a lot of bother if you eat vegetarian.
There is no other experience like sitting in the old town part of Hanoi enjoying a 15pence fresh Bia Hoi!
I would recommend a motor bike tour. I went from Hoi Ann down to Sigon with a fella called Mr Binh. He is a great guy, very funny and informative. Message me if you would like his details as i guarantee he wont rip you off.
Have a good trip!
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff