Vietnam - travel advice
Discussion
So, I finally have some time off work, and quite fancy Vietnam for a week's break.
I'm planning on flying into Ho Chi Minh, and then heading up towards Da Lat by car, and then Phan Thiet, before going back to Ho Chi Minh by train.
Key questions are:
What's Ho Chi Minh like - I'm not a big fan of dirty congested cities, and would rather head out to the hills and beach as soon as possible, so will I be missing out on anything?
Also, has anyone been to Da Lat and Phan Thiet - I'm travelling alone, so what has the most to do (ie sights, activities)?
Also, should I take dongs or dollars?
Probably a long shot, but I know that there are some well travelled people on here!!
I'm planning on flying into Ho Chi Minh, and then heading up towards Da Lat by car, and then Phan Thiet, before going back to Ho Chi Minh by train.
Key questions are:
What's Ho Chi Minh like - I'm not a big fan of dirty congested cities, and would rather head out to the hills and beach as soon as possible, so will I be missing out on anything?
Also, has anyone been to Da Lat and Phan Thiet - I'm travelling alone, so what has the most to do (ie sights, activities)?
Also, should I take dongs or dollars?
Probably a long shot, but I know that there are some well travelled people on here!!
I am not going to be particularly helpful regarding your questions, just be careful there.
I have not heard the full story yet, but some friends got back from Vietnam last week, at least two are still suffering from some form of food poisoning and they all got robbed twice.
I am sure someone will be along soon to say how nice it is there but I thought a heads up might be handy.
I have not heard the full story yet, but some friends got back from Vietnam last week, at least two are still suffering from some form of food poisoning and they all got robbed twice.
I am sure someone will be along soon to say how nice it is there but I thought a heads up might be handy.
Bing o
I work in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh is the same as any other Asian city, its vibrant, lively, cheap, and good food, It has its down sides as all Asian cities do. Its the people visiting and not understanding the culture. Ive been here six years, never been robbed or ripped off, you just need to open your eyes.
Ive been to Phahn Thiet many times, Mui Ne to be precise, a great place to go and chill, some fantastic resorts, food and beer, great beach too. 4 hour drive from HCMC and only costs $7.5 to get there on air cond coach.
I work in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh is the same as any other Asian city, its vibrant, lively, cheap, and good food, It has its down sides as all Asian cities do. Its the people visiting and not understanding the culture. Ive been here six years, never been robbed or ripped off, you just need to open your eyes.
Ive been to Phahn Thiet many times, Mui Ne to be precise, a great place to go and chill, some fantastic resorts, food and beer, great beach too. 4 hour drive from HCMC and only costs $7.5 to get there on air cond coach.
Bing o said:
That's interesting - did they go back packing?
I've heard that it's supposed to be safe - I'm planning on taking my golf clubs, so don't really fancy getting robbed!!
Maybe Thailand isn't looking so bad after all...
Thailand is good, but now showing signs of being too commercialised, whereas in Vietnam that has not happened as much, many of the cities and sites are as they were hundreds of years ago, not much has changed. Bring a decent camera as theres lots to photograph.I've heard that it's supposed to be safe - I'm planning on taking my golf clubs, so don't really fancy getting robbed!!
Maybe Thailand isn't looking so bad after all...
Sorry i should put all of this into one post but ive gone back and re-read it.
Dollars or Dong?
Bring US$, you will get a better exchange rate here than you will overseas, at present you can get between 16,600-17,500VND to the US$. Any hotel will exchange for you, restaurants will also exchange, they will also take payment in US$.
Dollars or Dong?
Bring US$, you will get a better exchange rate here than you will overseas, at present you can get between 16,600-17,500VND to the US$. Any hotel will exchange for you, restaurants will also exchange, they will also take payment in US$.
Phumy - what's it like if you are travelling on your own? I'm not dozy when it comes to personal safety, but I can tend to be too trusting sometimes....
It's really a toss up between Phuket and Vietnam now - I guess being a lone traveller Vietnam will have more of cultural interest (having been in HK for 3 months, it would be nice to go and see something a bit more like the real asia, without high rises everywhere)?
Also, have you been to Da Lat in the hills - they call it the Vietnamese Paris or something?
It's really a toss up between Phuket and Vietnam now - I guess being a lone traveller Vietnam will have more of cultural interest (having been in HK for 3 months, it would be nice to go and see something a bit more like the real asia, without high rises everywhere)?
Also, have you been to Da Lat in the hills - they call it the Vietnamese Paris or something?
Bing o said:
Phumy - what's it like if you are travelling on your own? I'm not dozy when it comes to personal safety, but I can tend to be too trusting sometimes....
It's really a toss up between Phuket and Vietnam now - I guess being a lone traveller Vietnam will have more of cultural interest (having been in HK for 3 months, it would be nice to go and see something a bit more like the real asia, without high rises everywhere)?
Also, have you been to Da Lat in the hills - they call it the Vietnamese Paris or something?
Never bee to Da Lat but friends here have and yes it is supposed to be very nice although not much nightlife, i suppose it depends on what you want, as its in hilly type landscape it has a pleasant climate. Also consider, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue, Mui Ne. Run Google and you will see what they are good for, I could go on for ages about what to do and see. It's really a toss up between Phuket and Vietnam now - I guess being a lone traveller Vietnam will have more of cultural interest (having been in HK for 3 months, it would be nice to go and see something a bit more like the real asia, without high rises everywhere)?
Also, have you been to Da Lat in the hills - they call it the Vietnamese Paris or something?
I was in Thailand on contract for 18 months up till last year, Phuket, very nice and very commercial and can be very pricey too, they know how the foreigners like to spend their money. but you really dont get to see the true Thailand, a lot of it is very false.
As i said it depends on what you really want to see and do
Da Lat is very "rural", its the coffee growing region of Vietnam (second largest coffee producer in the world according to a Viet based coffee trader buddy of mine)
Fantastic Scenery, nice climate, lovely people.
If you dont like dirty, smelly and crowded its a no brainer, avoid Phuket, you will not enjoy as much.
Phumy has covered everything else that you asked.
Fantastic Scenery, nice climate, lovely people.
If you dont like dirty, smelly and crowded its a no brainer, avoid Phuket, you will not enjoy as much.
Phumy has covered everything else that you asked.
Take Dollars or Pounds and change them up there into Dong. You will get better value if you use Dong. An example of costs, 4 people full local lunch with local beer in a nice restaurant comes in a about £15 and that's in a tourist restaurant, go local and its even cheaper.
There is a War museum in the centre of the city. If your interested in stuff like this then a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels is worth a try.
http://www.mishalov.com/Vietnam_Cu-Chi.html
There is a War museum in the centre of the city. If your interested in stuff like this then a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels is worth a try.
http://www.mishalov.com/Vietnam_Cu-Chi.html
My wife and I went to vietnam for our honeymoon a few years ago and it was brilliant. People were very nice, food was excellent and tiger beer was 50p a bottle!
To be honest in this day and age every city in the world has it's not so nice places. We never encountered any problems while we were there, just stick to the obvious, don't flash your cash always be polite etc and you'll have no hassle
We spent 2 weeks, one of the highlights being Hoi An.
To be honest in this day and age every city in the world has it's not so nice places. We never encountered any problems while we were there, just stick to the obvious, don't flash your cash always be polite etc and you'll have no hassle
We spent 2 weeks, one of the highlights being Hoi An.
Ciaran said:
My wife and I went to vietnam for our honeymoon a few years ago and it was brilliant. People were very nice, food was excellent and tiger beer was 50p a bottle!
To be honest in this day and age every city in the world has it's not so nice places. We never encountered any problems while we were there, just stick to the obvious, don't flash your cash always be polite etc and you'll have no hassle
We spent 2 weeks, one of the highlights being Hoi An.
As mentioned, the War Museum is good as are the tunnels - you get to crawl about them! Plus you can shoot M-16's and AK-47's if you so wish - dollar a bullit. Great craic.To be honest in this day and age every city in the world has it's not so nice places. We never encountered any problems while we were there, just stick to the obvious, don't flash your cash always be polite etc and you'll have no hassle
We spent 2 weeks, one of the highlights being Hoi An.
holed on 3 quid, easy.
all of wot he said!!! 
Was there a fair few years ago - great place, friendly people and magic scenery.
HCMC is a mad house - bikes/mopeds everywhere.
Vetured up to Hue and the Purple Palace, and then onto Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, which was a lot more sedate than HCMC. Great old French influenes in the architecture in Hnoi, lovely parks and still loads of mopeds!
There was a fair bit of development going on then, so loads more hotels no doubt and fast food restaurants.
Same as any place, keep your wits about you and be sensible.I felt very safe whilst there TBH - no hassle at all.
Woud be worth while picking up a copy of the latest'Rough Guide' - plenty pointers in there.
Cheers
nick
HCMC is a mad house - bikes/mopeds everywhere.
Vetured up to Hue and the Purple Palace, and then onto Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, which was a lot more sedate than HCMC. Great old French influenes in the architecture in Hnoi, lovely parks and still loads of mopeds!
There was a fair bit of development going on then, so loads more hotels no doubt and fast food restaurants.
Same as any place, keep your wits about you and be sensible.I felt very safe whilst there TBH - no hassle at all.
Woud be worth while picking up a copy of the latest'Rough Guide' - plenty pointers in there.
Cheers
nick
Some good advice so far.
HCMC (everyone still calls it Saigon) has overtones, as phumy said, of other big SE Asia cities. It's not much to look at on a large scale, but go hunting and there are some beautiful parts - the Jade Emperor pagoda springs to mind. The war museum is well worth a visit, but take a strong stomach with you, and probably some tissues...very heart-rending. And Cu Chi is a must-see!
That said, it is just a big crowded city, so spend a couple of days there and move on...
We did Hoi An after Saigon, and we absolutely loved it - beautiful town, lovely countryside, lovely people (people in the South seem a lot friendlier/more welcoming than those in the north), some good restaurants and a nice beach 5km away...
And if you've the time to get up there (if just a week in-country you probably won't - it's 2-3 hours past Hanoi) then Halong Bay is also fantastic, albeit is often wet and overcast...
Final suggestion...have you been to Cambodia yet? Siem Reap / Angkor is fast becoming tourist-central, but you're in the rainy season right now so it should be quieter, and the temples are possibly my favourite place on the planet...absolutely amazing place, and the Khmer people are so very welcoming...
HCMC (everyone still calls it Saigon) has overtones, as phumy said, of other big SE Asia cities. It's not much to look at on a large scale, but go hunting and there are some beautiful parts - the Jade Emperor pagoda springs to mind. The war museum is well worth a visit, but take a strong stomach with you, and probably some tissues...very heart-rending. And Cu Chi is a must-see!
That said, it is just a big crowded city, so spend a couple of days there and move on...
We did Hoi An after Saigon, and we absolutely loved it - beautiful town, lovely countryside, lovely people (people in the South seem a lot friendlier/more welcoming than those in the north), some good restaurants and a nice beach 5km away...
And if you've the time to get up there (if just a week in-country you probably won't - it's 2-3 hours past Hanoi) then Halong Bay is also fantastic, albeit is often wet and overcast...
Final suggestion...have you been to Cambodia yet? Siem Reap / Angkor is fast becoming tourist-central, but you're in the rainy season right now so it should be quieter, and the temples are possibly my favourite place on the planet...absolutely amazing place, and the Khmer people are so very welcoming...
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