Advice for a first time trip to Vietnam?
Apr 7, 2016, 11:02 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Dalat, Vietnam
Programs: Vietnam, Asiana, Singapore, EVA, Southwest
Posts: 934
4 days SGN
4 days DAD for Hue and Hoi An
3 days Hanoi
3 days Siem Reap
I just came home from 5 weeks in Vietnam (trip #8). As far as my preferences go, I would adjust that itinerary slightly since I'm not a big fan of HCMC or Hue, and I am a very big fan of Hanoi. You're missing some of the best of Vietnam in my opinion (Sapa, Dalat, Mai Chau and Quy Nhon). I was just in the small village of Bai Xep, a beach location just south of Quy Nhon - a total little paradise of a place because I had an ocean front room at Haven Vietnam Guesthouse.
I would actually skip HCMC entirely and spend those 3 days in Bai Xep (Quy Nhon airport), 4 days in Hoi An, 4 days in Hanoi and 3 days in Cambodia.
4 days DAD for Hue and Hoi An
3 days Hanoi
3 days Siem Reap
I just came home from 5 weeks in Vietnam (trip #8). As far as my preferences go, I would adjust that itinerary slightly since I'm not a big fan of HCMC or Hue, and I am a very big fan of Hanoi. You're missing some of the best of Vietnam in my opinion (Sapa, Dalat, Mai Chau and Quy Nhon). I was just in the small village of Bai Xep, a beach location just south of Quy Nhon - a total little paradise of a place because I had an ocean front room at Haven Vietnam Guesthouse.
I would actually skip HCMC entirely and spend those 3 days in Bai Xep (Quy Nhon airport), 4 days in Hoi An, 4 days in Hanoi and 3 days in Cambodia.
Apr 8, 2016, 2:08 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Hanoi
Programs: BA Silver, Accor + Hilton Gold, YHA Life member
Posts: 64
^ for Haven. Spent the bit between Christmas and New Year there. Good place, decent food, Cham temples around are pretty cool. There's a posher Avani resort down the beach if that's more your sort of thing.
Apr 13, 2016, 1:56 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3
Things to do before travelling:
Stock up with medication that you might need.
Read the guide books!
Prepare a schedule of what/where to go.
Things to remember:
For good telephone/internet service make sure that you buy your sim card through an established service provider in Vietnam. You can also consider to buy Tourist SIM right at the airport. There are usually have some telecom booths or shops for you to choose from. The most-used brand there is Viettel, Mobifone and Vinaphone.
Avoid buying sim cards, tours, airport transfers etc from your hotel, they put a premium on all these services.
Do not drink tap water and choose only good mineral water kept away from the sun.
Take a cyclo ride, if you enjoy breathing traffic fumes.
Avoid motorbike taxis (xe om), they charge a bit less than a taxi for the same distance but the risk of injury through accident is great, and you might not like the dandruff in the helmet they give you to wear
There are three or four reliable taxi companies in the south, Mai Linh and Vinasun are the most common and the most reliable. Some more reliable taxi brand can be Taxi Group in the North, but the fare is a bit high compared to other taxi companies. Smaller companies may literally take you for a ride. Rogue taxis are known to lock their doors and refuse to let you out unless you pay an exorbitant fee. Always insist on a metered taxi. Hanoi taxis are less reliable and rip off whoever they can, including other Vietnamese. Try a small Hanoi taxi company called 'Hanoi Star' for reliability and honesty.
Dress modestly and appropriately when visiting local dwellings and religious sites, etc. Make an offering to the gods and put a donation into the box if you want to make a good impression.
Leave your valuables behind in the hotel safe box at all times.
When crossing the road – especially in HCMC – always keep looking to the left and right and walk slowly! Make eye contact with oncoming motorbikes and check that they see you so that they can avoid you. Be prepared for zebra crossings to be ignored and for motor vehicles to expect you as a pedestrian to give way to them.
At rush hour motorcyclists take to the pavements in droves in attempt to beat traffic jams, endangering the lives of pedestrians.
Wear a mask when walking in the cities, to avoid breathing in vehicle fumes and other noxious smells.
Be prepared to walk in the streets with the traffic. The pavements are for motorbikes to park on, people to sit and eat, or just lounge around on!
When walking be prepared for people to stroll casually into your path and expecting you to navigate around them.
Don't offer money directly to beggars or minority people – instead donate to a local charity or offer a small gift, such as pens.
However frustrated, don't lose your temper (“losing face”), as it won't get you very far!
By all means, sample the delicious street food but for hygiene's sake only at venues that are busy with a big turnover.
Diaharrea pils are cheap and readily available in Vietnamese cities. You WILL need them. Avoiding milk drinks, smoothies, dicy street food, etc will help to minimize stomach problems.
Do your homework about where to eat - there are some excellent reasonably priced restaurants. The best choice of choosing where to eat is to look up information in local website or mobile applications. Some reliable one can be Hi Vietnam, diadiemanuong, foody etc.
Be prepared to receive 'cocktails' with little or no alcohol in them, and COMPLAIN when that happens.
Always ask permission first before taking photographs, especially in minority areas.
Arrange for medical insurance (including the provision for emergency evacuation) prior to departure, as there is no free medical treatment available in Vietnam and the standard of local health facilities is below international standards. Choose an international facility if you need treatment - there are some excellent ones, but they are usually expensive (Victoria International Clinic in Saigon is an exception).
Mind your change - the 100,000 and 10,000 notes look similar; the 20,000 and the 500,000 are both blue. While most Vietnamese are honest and used to tourists fumbling for the right currency values, a few will actively try to short-change you. Take your time to count the zeroes or you'll unintentionally make someone very happy.
Spring is a great time to travel in Saigon, Mekong Delta, Hoi An and Hanoi, and Halong Bay.
If you choose to go to Halong Bay, stay 2 nights because of the road trip, poor roads, it is a long way to go for 1 night, and you see a lot more in the 2 days.
Be prepared to bargain, especially at markets, where you should pay about half of the asking price (except at fixed price stores).
Avoid very cheap excursions (e.g. to Halong Bay, the Mekong, etc), because you will get what you pay for - lots of time on the bus, few of the sights you were promised.
In the summer, Vietnam is hot and humid, so you can leave your jeans at home. Unlike Saigon, Hanoi has four seasons with very hot and sticky summers and rather cold and humid winters. Pack accordingly if you plan to be there from November to January. can be extremely cold so be sure to pack a warm jacket.
Stock up with medication that you might need.
Read the guide books!
Prepare a schedule of what/where to go.
Things to remember:
For good telephone/internet service make sure that you buy your sim card through an established service provider in Vietnam. You can also consider to buy Tourist SIM right at the airport. There are usually have some telecom booths or shops for you to choose from. The most-used brand there is Viettel, Mobifone and Vinaphone.
Avoid buying sim cards, tours, airport transfers etc from your hotel, they put a premium on all these services.
Do not drink tap water and choose only good mineral water kept away from the sun.
Take a cyclo ride, if you enjoy breathing traffic fumes.
Avoid motorbike taxis (xe om), they charge a bit less than a taxi for the same distance but the risk of injury through accident is great, and you might not like the dandruff in the helmet they give you to wear
There are three or four reliable taxi companies in the south, Mai Linh and Vinasun are the most common and the most reliable. Some more reliable taxi brand can be Taxi Group in the North, but the fare is a bit high compared to other taxi companies. Smaller companies may literally take you for a ride. Rogue taxis are known to lock their doors and refuse to let you out unless you pay an exorbitant fee. Always insist on a metered taxi. Hanoi taxis are less reliable and rip off whoever they can, including other Vietnamese. Try a small Hanoi taxi company called 'Hanoi Star' for reliability and honesty.
Dress modestly and appropriately when visiting local dwellings and religious sites, etc. Make an offering to the gods and put a donation into the box if you want to make a good impression.
Leave your valuables behind in the hotel safe box at all times.
When crossing the road – especially in HCMC – always keep looking to the left and right and walk slowly! Make eye contact with oncoming motorbikes and check that they see you so that they can avoid you. Be prepared for zebra crossings to be ignored and for motor vehicles to expect you as a pedestrian to give way to them.
At rush hour motorcyclists take to the pavements in droves in attempt to beat traffic jams, endangering the lives of pedestrians.
Wear a mask when walking in the cities, to avoid breathing in vehicle fumes and other noxious smells.
Be prepared to walk in the streets with the traffic. The pavements are for motorbikes to park on, people to sit and eat, or just lounge around on!
When walking be prepared for people to stroll casually into your path and expecting you to navigate around them.
Don't offer money directly to beggars or minority people – instead donate to a local charity or offer a small gift, such as pens.
However frustrated, don't lose your temper (“losing face”), as it won't get you very far!
By all means, sample the delicious street food but for hygiene's sake only at venues that are busy with a big turnover.
Diaharrea pils are cheap and readily available in Vietnamese cities. You WILL need them. Avoiding milk drinks, smoothies, dicy street food, etc will help to minimize stomach problems.
Do your homework about where to eat - there are some excellent reasonably priced restaurants. The best choice of choosing where to eat is to look up information in local website or mobile applications. Some reliable one can be Hi Vietnam, diadiemanuong, foody etc.
Be prepared to receive 'cocktails' with little or no alcohol in them, and COMPLAIN when that happens.
Always ask permission first before taking photographs, especially in minority areas.
Arrange for medical insurance (including the provision for emergency evacuation) prior to departure, as there is no free medical treatment available in Vietnam and the standard of local health facilities is below international standards. Choose an international facility if you need treatment - there are some excellent ones, but they are usually expensive (Victoria International Clinic in Saigon is an exception).
Mind your change - the 100,000 and 10,000 notes look similar; the 20,000 and the 500,000 are both blue. While most Vietnamese are honest and used to tourists fumbling for the right currency values, a few will actively try to short-change you. Take your time to count the zeroes or you'll unintentionally make someone very happy.
Spring is a great time to travel in Saigon, Mekong Delta, Hoi An and Hanoi, and Halong Bay.
If you choose to go to Halong Bay, stay 2 nights because of the road trip, poor roads, it is a long way to go for 1 night, and you see a lot more in the 2 days.
Be prepared to bargain, especially at markets, where you should pay about half of the asking price (except at fixed price stores).
Avoid very cheap excursions (e.g. to Halong Bay, the Mekong, etc), because you will get what you pay for - lots of time on the bus, few of the sights you were promised.
In the summer, Vietnam is hot and humid, so you can leave your jeans at home. Unlike Saigon, Hanoi has four seasons with very hot and sticky summers and rather cold and humid winters. Pack accordingly if you plan to be there from November to January. can be extremely cold so be sure to pack a warm jacket.
Sep 3, 2016, 7:54 am
#19
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: DinHo Ecotour (Mekong Delta, Vietnam)
Posts: 130
4 days SGN - 2 nights in SG and 1 night in Mekong (Ben Tre or Can Tho)
4 days DAD for Hue and Hoi An - 2 nights in Hoian and 1 night in Hue
3 days Hanoi - 1 night in Hanoi and 1 night in Halong Bay
3 days Siem Reap
4 days DAD for Hue and Hoi An - 2 nights in Hoian and 1 night in Hue
3 days Hanoi - 1 night in Hanoi and 1 night in Halong Bay
3 days Siem Reap
Sep 3, 2016, 1:54 pm
#20
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Dalat, Vietnam
Programs: Vietnam, Asiana, Singapore, EVA, Southwest
Posts: 934
I absolutely loved Vietnam, particularly Hanoi. I did tours and pick ups with Vietnam Awesome Travel. I don't move around a lot so I am not a good person to ask. I spent a week in HCMC and a week in Hanoi.
In Hanoi, get up early and go and look at the locals exercising at Hoam Kiem Lake. It's just fascinating and fun as it is so different from what you see back home.
In Hanoi, get up early and go and look at the locals exercising at Hoam Kiem Lake. It's just fascinating and fun as it is so different from what you see back home.
Sep 3, 2016, 4:11 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NYC/Northern NJ
Programs: 1K - UAL, Platinum DL, Marriott, Hilton, SPG
Posts: 1,815
Like Nam (HCM and Hanoi and DaNang) but check your cost as stamping fees increase to $135 for one year which exceeds many other countries which issue 10 yr visa for the same price.
Change destinations if possible as can get equal in Thailand or Malayasia.
Change destinations if possible as can get equal in Thailand or Malayasia.
Jan 15, 2017, 5:29 pm
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Anyone get vaccinations before going?
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destina...ftnav-traveler
Jan 16, 2017, 2:59 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
That sounds fabulous. You might be low income USA but you'll be living and eating richer in Hanoi. It sounds like a great adventure!
Mar 29, 2017, 7:44 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,779
Suggestions for 2 week Vietnam itinerary in July?
I'm a first timer visitor to Vietnam (but has traveled extensively in other Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia and I have also been to Laos and Cambodia some years ago) and trying to put together a sensible 2 week itinerary in Vietnam in late July. I can't decide if it will be "too much" to include HCMC and Hanoi + Danang/Hue or someother places in between, or I should restrict myself to either HCMC + Danag/Hue etc OR Hanoi + Danang/Hue etc? I don't want to spend the majority of time moving around but rather keep my own (slow) pace with sufficient time to relax, go out, see some sights, meet/talk to peope etc. I'm gay but haven't researched yet if there is any difference between North and South (I travel alone and occasionally hook up with local guys).
I will arrive from HKG so whether to commence in SGN or HAN is immaterial. If doing the "entire Vietnam tour", including HCMC and Hanoi, do you recommend to start in Hanoi traveling south - or reverse from SGN?
Any comments? Any suggestions for 2 week itinerary? Thx
I will arrive from HKG so whether to commence in SGN or HAN is immaterial. If doing the "entire Vietnam tour", including HCMC and Hanoi, do you recommend to start in Hanoi traveling south - or reverse from SGN?
Any comments? Any suggestions for 2 week itinerary? Thx
Mar 29, 2017, 6:05 pm
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
I did about 2 weeks in February, from SGN to HAN, with flights from SGN to DAD and HUI to HAN before returning to HKG.
Depends on your interests but I didn't think much of the two big cities. I think the highlight for me was Halong Bay day trip out of HAN. Of course you can do overnight or 2 night cruises there or even another possibility is just to spend a couple of days in Halong.
Had mostly good weather in SGN and HAN and happened to choose a relatively clear day for Halong Bay. But didn't have good weather in Hoi An or Hue. If not raining it was overcast or cloudy so the colors of these historic towns were very muted.
I spent 3 nights in SGN including the first night when I arrived around 17:00. For me, 2 nights would have been enough, with one full day just walking around District 1 if the weather was good. I wasn't interested in doing the day trips to Mekong Delta nor visiting the caves.
HCMC did have good restaurants though, both Western and Asian places where you could get good lunch specials for $10-12.
In Hanoi, I was thinking about doing another day trip to a rural region to the south, with terraced rice paddies and temples. But the weather didn't look to be too clear so I didn't go.
If you're into the war, there are museums and such but I wasn't that interested. I thought more interesting were the planes and tanks the US left behind, which they display in Hue and Hanoi. I'm sure they display in other cities too.
Depends on your interests but I didn't think much of the two big cities. I think the highlight for me was Halong Bay day trip out of HAN. Of course you can do overnight or 2 night cruises there or even another possibility is just to spend a couple of days in Halong.
Had mostly good weather in SGN and HAN and happened to choose a relatively clear day for Halong Bay. But didn't have good weather in Hoi An or Hue. If not raining it was overcast or cloudy so the colors of these historic towns were very muted.
I spent 3 nights in SGN including the first night when I arrived around 17:00. For me, 2 nights would have been enough, with one full day just walking around District 1 if the weather was good. I wasn't interested in doing the day trips to Mekong Delta nor visiting the caves.
HCMC did have good restaurants though, both Western and Asian places where you could get good lunch specials for $10-12.
In Hanoi, I was thinking about doing another day trip to a rural region to the south, with terraced rice paddies and temples. But the weather didn't look to be too clear so I didn't go.
If you're into the war, there are museums and such but I wasn't that interested. I thought more interesting were the planes and tanks the US left behind, which they display in Hue and Hanoi. I'm sure they display in other cities too.
Mar 29, 2017, 9:39 pm
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
I used Uber a bunch of times in Hanoi. Most rides a few kilometers and $2-3.
Cars are air conditioned.
Also they navigate the crazy traffic especially at street crossings better than you can. It's unnerving trying to negotiate the swarms of scooters at first. You get used to it but also good to take a ride back to the hotel or cross the town in one.
There's also Grab Car app. Which seems to be cheaper but I didn't try because I hadn't set it up with credit card like my Uber account. But Uber was cheap enough.
Cars are air conditioned.
Also they navigate the crazy traffic especially at street crossings better than you can. It's unnerving trying to negotiate the swarms of scooters at first. You get used to it but also good to take a ride back to the hotel or cross the town in one.
There's also Grab Car app. Which seems to be cheaper but I didn't try because I hadn't set it up with credit card like my Uber account. But Uber was cheap enough.
Mar 31, 2017, 4:34 am
#30
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: London
Programs: BAEC gold, Marriott gold, Hilton gold
Posts: 1,922
Not sure if OP is from Europe. Following info is for UK passport holders. I believe it also applies to French German, Spanish and Italian visitors.
https://vietnam-visa.co.uk/
For UK Passport holders
The Vietnamese Government has approved to extend Vietnam visa exemption for UK Citizens. Accordingly, all UK passport holders holding every type of passports and getting to Vietnam for any immigration reasons, if they meet the conditions required by Vietnamese law, will be granted with 15-day Vietnam visa exemption until June 30, 2017. In case those cannot make sure to stay in Vietnam for less than 15 days, applying for a visa from the beginning is highly recommended as it is currently difficult to extend visa and the fee for visa extension in Vietnam is costly. Fortunately, UK passport holders these days are much easier to apply for visa to Vietnam, as there are two available ways to handle this matter.
https://vietnam-visa.co.uk/
For UK Passport holders
The Vietnamese Government has approved to extend Vietnam visa exemption for UK Citizens. Accordingly, all UK passport holders holding every type of passports and getting to Vietnam for any immigration reasons, if they meet the conditions required by Vietnamese law, will be granted with 15-day Vietnam visa exemption until June 30, 2017. In case those cannot make sure to stay in Vietnam for less than 15 days, applying for a visa from the beginning is highly recommended as it is currently difficult to extend visa and the fee for visa extension in Vietnam is costly. Fortunately, UK passport holders these days are much easier to apply for visa to Vietnam, as there are two available ways to handle this matter.