Viet Nam, end of Jan to middle of feb.
Discussion
Hello all,
Well, I have the visa, valid for 30 days.
I am in China just now.
I was planning to go to Ha Noi, then a trip to ha Long Bay.
However, some of you say it's freezing cold there now?
Would it be worth our while to forget Ha Noi in the north, and just head to Saigon down in the south, and expect better weather?
A little detail,
Arrive ha Noi, and spend two to 3 days there in a hotel.
Then, we rent a motor bike, or scooter, and head to Ha Long Bay.
About a day of very easy riding away. It's an easy days ride, being about 90 miles. 2 up on a small bike, is never going to be any more than 40 mph.
Stay around Ha Long Bay for about 3 days, then back to ha Noi to give the bike back.
Then get train to Saigon, stay there for two or three days, before getting a noth bound train, to the various costal 'interesting' places,
eg: Hue,
Hoi An,
etc,
Experiences any one,
Suggestions ?
Comments please
'vette
Well, I have the visa, valid for 30 days.
I am in China just now.
I was planning to go to Ha Noi, then a trip to ha Long Bay.
However, some of you say it's freezing cold there now?
Would it be worth our while to forget Ha Noi in the north, and just head to Saigon down in the south, and expect better weather?
A little detail,
Arrive ha Noi, and spend two to 3 days there in a hotel.
Then, we rent a motor bike, or scooter, and head to Ha Long Bay.
About a day of very easy riding away. It's an easy days ride, being about 90 miles. 2 up on a small bike, is never going to be any more than 40 mph.
Stay around Ha Long Bay for about 3 days, then back to ha Noi to give the bike back.
Then get train to Saigon, stay there for two or three days, before getting a noth bound train, to the various costal 'interesting' places,
eg: Hue,
Hoi An,
etc,
Experiences any one,
Suggestions ?
Comments please
'vette
Edited by uk_vette on Saturday 15th January 09:31
I was there this time last year, and "freezing cold" would be pushing it.
Hanoi and Ha Long were a bit misty and probably around 15c.
Hoi An was pretty grey with the odd burst of torrential rain, and it only really warmed up enough to turn marginally pink in Hue for an afternoon or so.
Saigon was 30c plus constantly.
If weather is a big concern then I'd suggest starting in the South and working your way north to give it as much time as possible to warm up.
Plenty to see and do without it being blazing sunshine.
Ha Long is spectacular whatever the weather, I just took the mist to be steam from the dragon landing in the water!
The water at Ha Long was warm enough for a spot of kayaking even without the sun being out.
Hanoi and Ha Long were a bit misty and probably around 15c.
Hoi An was pretty grey with the odd burst of torrential rain, and it only really warmed up enough to turn marginally pink in Hue for an afternoon or so.
Saigon was 30c plus constantly.
If weather is a big concern then I'd suggest starting in the South and working your way north to give it as much time as possible to warm up.
Plenty to see and do without it being blazing sunshine.
Ha Long is spectacular whatever the weather, I just took the mist to be steam from the dragon landing in the water!
The water at Ha Long was warm enough for a spot of kayaking even without the sun being out.
If you're online, why not check the long-range forecast.
Halong Bay tends towards cloud/rain/fog a lot anyway (it's worth a visit regardless - quite a special place, despite the circus environment of the port - amazing how you can lose a few dozen junks once you're out there!), and I'd go there whenever it looks like sun, regardless of temperature.
That said, the Southern Vietnamese are defintely warmer and friendlier - more like the rest of SE Asia. Whereas the Northerners have some of that 'Chinese inscrutability', and some seemed downright rude to tourists.
Halong Bay tends towards cloud/rain/fog a lot anyway (it's worth a visit regardless - quite a special place, despite the circus environment of the port - amazing how you can lose a few dozen junks once you're out there!), and I'd go there whenever it looks like sun, regardless of temperature.
That said, the Southern Vietnamese are defintely warmer and friendlier - more like the rest of SE Asia. Whereas the Northerners have some of that 'Chinese inscrutability', and some seemed downright rude to tourists.
Long old train ride, but if you're game for it why not?!
Personally I'd fly to Saigon then probably train it north again. Whilst the trains are an experience worth having, you can have too much of a good thing. Maybe I'm just getting old though!
Ha Long Bay on the 15th Jan.
Ming Manh's Tomb gardens (just outside Hue) on the 17th.
Dusk at the Perfume River the same day.
Hoi An on the 18th.
Puddles, ponchos, and herding cattle through Hoi An on the 20th.
Versus blazing sunshine at Reunification Palace in Saigon on the 22nd.
Cloudless skies over Saigon Opera House on the 21st. Not massively weather helpful, but I really like this picture.
Some good advice from Havoc there too. North is different to the south, although personally I didn't experience that much rudeness. (Although everyone does just barge past you).
Final thought, watch out for the traffic!
Personally I'd fly to Saigon then probably train it north again. Whilst the trains are an experience worth having, you can have too much of a good thing. Maybe I'm just getting old though!
Ha Long Bay on the 15th Jan.
Ming Manh's Tomb gardens (just outside Hue) on the 17th.
Dusk at the Perfume River the same day.
Hoi An on the 18th.
Puddles, ponchos, and herding cattle through Hoi An on the 20th.
Versus blazing sunshine at Reunification Palace in Saigon on the 22nd.
Cloudless skies over Saigon Opera House on the 21st. Not massively weather helpful, but I really like this picture.
Some good advice from Havoc there too. North is different to the south, although personally I didn't experience that much rudeness. (Although everyone does just barge past you).
Final thought, watch out for the traffic!
If you've not been to Cambodia, then add that to the list too. I went the length of Vietnam, across Cambodia to Bangkok, and probably preferred Cambodia.
Group cyclo tour heading past the independence monument in Phnom Penh.
A couple of monks heading across the temple courtyard.
Buddhas with their cash and food in the temple at Wat Penh.
Dawn at Angkor Wat.
Sunset at the Angkor complex.
And again.
The dying embers of a memorable day.
Group cyclo tour heading past the independence monument in Phnom Penh.
A couple of monks heading across the temple courtyard.
Buddhas with their cash and food in the temple at Wat Penh.
Dawn at Angkor Wat.
Sunset at the Angkor complex.
And again.
The dying embers of a memorable day.
BigAlinEmbra said:
Long old train ride, but if you're game for it why not?!
Personally I'd fly to Saigon then probably train it north again. Whilst the trains are an experience worth having, you can have too much of a good thing. Maybe I'm just getting old though!
Ha Long Bay on the 15th Jan.
Ming Manh's Tomb gardens (just outside Hue) on the 17th.
Dusk at the Perfume River the same day.
Hoi An on the 18th.
Puddles, ponchos, and herding cattle through Hoi An on the 20th.
Versus blazing sunshine at Reunification Palace in Saigon on the 22nd.
Cloudless skies over Saigon Opera House on the 21st. Not massively weather helpful, but I really like this picture.
Some good advice from Havoc there too. North is different to the south, although personally I didn't experience that much rudeness. (Although everyone does just barge past you).
Final thought, watch out for the traffic!
.Personally I'd fly to Saigon then probably train it north again. Whilst the trains are an experience worth having, you can have too much of a good thing. Maybe I'm just getting old though!
Ha Long Bay on the 15th Jan.
Ming Manh's Tomb gardens (just outside Hue) on the 17th.
Dusk at the Perfume River the same day.
Hoi An on the 18th.
Puddles, ponchos, and herding cattle through Hoi An on the 20th.
Versus blazing sunshine at Reunification Palace in Saigon on the 22nd.
Cloudless skies over Saigon Opera House on the 21st. Not massively weather helpful, but I really like this picture.
Some good advice from Havoc there too. North is different to the south, although personally I didn't experience that much rudeness. (Although everyone does just barge past you).
Final thought, watch out for the traffic!
.
Fantastic,
I like the ordered list.
Maybe we fly to Saigon, or overnight train it down there.
Then a day or two in Saigon, before a slow travel back up north, stopping off at many of the good places you have mentioned.
'vette
I didnt have much time for Halong Bay, it's a bit touristy these days. Try and do more than one night on a junk, and under no circumstances stay in the Town!
Having got back from Hanoi 2 weeks ago, I can't speak highly enough of Sapa and Ninh Binh. You can do the latter in a day, but Sapa is an overnight train ride, but gorgeous when you get there. As it's on the Chinese border, this may or may not appeal, but I loved it and would happily go back.
Having got back from Hanoi 2 weeks ago, I can't speak highly enough of Sapa and Ninh Binh. You can do the latter in a day, but Sapa is an overnight train ride, but gorgeous when you get there. As it's on the Chinese border, this may or may not appeal, but I loved it and would happily go back.
The main sites in Ha Long are a bit touristy, but when you're out on the water hiding behind an island it's easy to forget they're all there!
Havoc, think the majority of the photos up that temple were taken with a mere TZ6! I had the D40 with me, but couldn't be bothered changing to a long lens so just used the zoom on the wee pocket camera. Turned out nice imo.
Havoc, think the majority of the photos up that temple were taken with a mere TZ6! I had the D40 with me, but couldn't be bothered changing to a long lens so just used the zoom on the wee pocket camera. Turned out nice imo.
Cheers chap - already scanned them in, thanks. TBH none of them are sharp enough to put on canvas* - got some better photos from the little Powershot A75 we also took!
* Manual focus Canon T70 combined with my dominant eye being short-sighted...and old lenses - half the photos were a little soft.
Would love to go back with the current set-up as the place was fantastic and the temples and people were very photogenic...but am a little afraid it'll have changed in 6 years and be more commercial/busy/restricted.
* Manual focus Canon T70 combined with my dominant eye being short-sighted...and old lenses - half the photos were a little soft.
Would love to go back with the current set-up as the place was fantastic and the temples and people were very photogenic...but am a little afraid it'll have changed in 6 years and be more commercial/busy/restricted.
Hello all, and many thanks for the guy's that have given me some good ideas what to see in Vietnam.
What do you think about this, amd please, I am really open to all ideas and suggestions.
I got the train tickets today, that will take me to Nanning, in South China.
1st Feb, Arrive in Nanning about 5pm.
We will have hotel in Nanning for 1 night.
2nd Feb, get bus leaving Nanning, about 9:00am (leave every hour) to Hanoi, via border crossing at Pingxiang.
Travel is about 3 hours to Pingxiang, and 3 hours to Ha Noi.
Stay the night in Ha Noi hotel some where.
3rd feb, Fly Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City, this is a 2 hour flight, depart first flight around 07:30am.
Stay in Ho Chi Minh City hotel for about 3 nights.
4th Feb, do some thing, go some where ??????
5th Feb, do some thing, go some where, ???????
6th Feb, Fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, half way up, on the East coast, just an hour flight.
6th, what to do remainder of day, ? hire scooter?
Hotel needed for that night.
7th, do some thing, go some where ??????
may be ride little south to Hoi An for the day.
Starts to get sketchy from now, I did say they were loose plans,
8th go to Hue for the day on the scooter. ?
9th, get train up North from Da nang to Ha Noi,
This takes some thing like 9 hours.
May be it's all going to go pear shaped around here ?
Any way, plan to arrive back in Ha Noi, then hire another scooter, and take the road to Ha Long Bay, which should be about 4 hours, so I guess a full day to take it nice and easy.
or maybe just get a bus, havent decided, see what the traffic really is like.
If its same as China, then thats fine.
Then back to Ha Noi,
Hotels as required
[b]Our train back from Nanning is important, must depart Nanning 12th at 23:50h Feb.[b/]
I even get myself a little lost on this plan.
'vette
What do you think about this, amd please, I am really open to all ideas and suggestions.
I got the train tickets today, that will take me to Nanning, in South China.
1st Feb, Arrive in Nanning about 5pm.
We will have hotel in Nanning for 1 night.
2nd Feb, get bus leaving Nanning, about 9:00am (leave every hour) to Hanoi, via border crossing at Pingxiang.
Travel is about 3 hours to Pingxiang, and 3 hours to Ha Noi.
Stay the night in Ha Noi hotel some where.
3rd feb, Fly Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City, this is a 2 hour flight, depart first flight around 07:30am.
Stay in Ho Chi Minh City hotel for about 3 nights.
4th Feb, do some thing, go some where ??????
5th Feb, do some thing, go some where, ???????
6th Feb, Fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, half way up, on the East coast, just an hour flight.
6th, what to do remainder of day, ? hire scooter?
Hotel needed for that night.
7th, do some thing, go some where ??????
may be ride little south to Hoi An for the day.
Starts to get sketchy from now, I did say they were loose plans,
8th go to Hue for the day on the scooter. ?
9th, get train up North from Da nang to Ha Noi,
This takes some thing like 9 hours.
May be it's all going to go pear shaped around here ?
Any way, plan to arrive back in Ha Noi, then hire another scooter, and take the road to Ha Long Bay, which should be about 4 hours, so I guess a full day to take it nice and easy.
or maybe just get a bus, havent decided, see what the traffic really is like.
If its same as China, then thats fine.
Then back to Ha Noi,
Hotels as required
[b]Our train back from Nanning is important, must depart Nanning 12th at 23:50h Feb.[b/]
I even get myself a little lost on this plan.
'vette
Doesn't look too bad.
For your ??? days around Saigon, I would suggest.
1) Trip out to Cu Chi tunnels, start early enough and you'll be back in time for one of the war museum or reunification palace, I missed out on war museum as did the palace but war museum meant to be good.
2) Other of war museum and palace and possibly some lounging, you are on holiday after all.
If you're up for more of a trek then heading out for a boat trip on the Mekong Delta is good, although if you've done other "river life" stuff in the region might not tickle the fancy.
I was lucky, as we had a South Vietnamese Army veteran as our guide on Cu Chi and Mekong, a truly fascinating man.
Hoi An to Hue on a scooter would be a beast of a ride, as you're going up over the Hai Van pass. Top Gear guys did it, but I wouldn't fancy it. From memory it was about 4hrs on a minibus when I went in the opposite direction.
For your ??? days around Saigon, I would suggest.
1) Trip out to Cu Chi tunnels, start early enough and you'll be back in time for one of the war museum or reunification palace, I missed out on war museum as did the palace but war museum meant to be good.
2) Other of war museum and palace and possibly some lounging, you are on holiday after all.
If you're up for more of a trek then heading out for a boat trip on the Mekong Delta is good, although if you've done other "river life" stuff in the region might not tickle the fancy.
I was lucky, as we had a South Vietnamese Army veteran as our guide on Cu Chi and Mekong, a truly fascinating man.
Hoi An to Hue on a scooter would be a beast of a ride, as you're going up over the Hai Van pass. Top Gear guys did it, but I wouldn't fancy it. From memory it was about 4hrs on a minibus when I went in the opposite direction.
Cu Chi and War Museum are good suggestions - glad we did both.
- At Cu Chi you can shoot AKs or M60s after the tunnels, albeit at $1 a round the M60 could get expensive...
- I didn't use the word 'enjoyed' in the first line as you don't enjoy the War Museum...you leave it feeling very sober! Eye opening doesn't even begin to describe the place...but you should go. 2 hours would be enough.
- At Cu Chi you can shoot AKs or M60s after the tunnels, albeit at $1 a round the M60 could get expensive...
- I didn't use the word 'enjoyed' in the first line as you don't enjoy the War Museum...you leave it feeling very sober! Eye opening doesn't even begin to describe the place...but you should go. 2 hours would be enough.
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