Ask us about Vietnam
Dec 9, 2018, 1:49 am
#91
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Saigon/Hanoi/San Francisco
Posts: 1,779
Any suggestions for day tour from HCMC to/from Mekong Delta? Any way to avoid 3-4 hours each way by car? Willing to spend a little more.
any other excursions suggestion from HCMC? Have 3.5 days/4 nights family of 4 end of this year ( btw Xmas and NYE). Temple Leaf Spa and leisurely brekkie probably takes up the half day. TIA.
any other excursions suggestion from HCMC? Have 3.5 days/4 nights family of 4 end of this year ( btw Xmas and NYE). Temple Leaf Spa and leisurely brekkie probably takes up the half day. TIA.
Dec 11, 2018, 1:29 am
#92
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Chairman, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, GA Pilot
Posts: 3,225
Looking for some advice/suggestions on our trip to Vietnam for the upcoming Christmas/New Year.
We are arriving in SGN late on 22 DEC, and will be staying 1 day/2 nights before flying to Phu Quoc where we have 3 nights. On 27 DEC will fly to Da Nang. Then our flight home is from Hanoi on 2 JAN. We are looking to have at least 2 nights in Hanoi (including New Years Eve).
Question is how to split our time between Hoi An, Hue and Hanoi and whether to visit Halong Bay?
Is it feasible to have 2 nights in Hoi An, transfer by car or motorcycle to Hue for 1 night, fly to Haiphong (from DAD) in the morning for a Halong overnight cruise and transfer to Hanoi the next day? In the case of an overnight cruise, how early can we expect to arrive in Hanoi? Sea plane seems to be out of our budget, but we will opt for private transfer, especially if it can save us some time.
Alternatively if we skip Halong Bay (this is difficult to decide based on feedback/reviews - but we are not really flexible on dates so need to commit before we know the weather forecast) should we extend Hanoi to 3 nights and still stay 3 nights in Hoi An/Hue or add another day there?
If we decide to do both Hue and Hoi An is there one we should do before the other ( considering Hanoi or Halong Bay is the next stop ) ?
I see there are flights from both HUI and DAD to HAN, both only from DAD to HPH.
All and any comments and suggestions are welcome!
We are arriving in SGN late on 22 DEC, and will be staying 1 day/2 nights before flying to Phu Quoc where we have 3 nights. On 27 DEC will fly to Da Nang. Then our flight home is from Hanoi on 2 JAN. We are looking to have at least 2 nights in Hanoi (including New Years Eve).
Question is how to split our time between Hoi An, Hue and Hanoi and whether to visit Halong Bay?
Is it feasible to have 2 nights in Hoi An, transfer by car or motorcycle to Hue for 1 night, fly to Haiphong (from DAD) in the morning for a Halong overnight cruise and transfer to Hanoi the next day? In the case of an overnight cruise, how early can we expect to arrive in Hanoi? Sea plane seems to be out of our budget, but we will opt for private transfer, especially if it can save us some time.
Alternatively if we skip Halong Bay (this is difficult to decide based on feedback/reviews - but we are not really flexible on dates so need to commit before we know the weather forecast) should we extend Hanoi to 3 nights and still stay 3 nights in Hoi An/Hue or add another day there?
If we decide to do both Hue and Hoi An is there one we should do before the other ( considering Hanoi or Halong Bay is the next stop ) ?
I see there are flights from both HUI and DAD to HAN, both only from DAD to HPH.
All and any comments and suggestions are welcome!
Dec 11, 2018, 1:43 pm
#93
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,155
For a family of 4, it's probably better to hire a car for a day (~$50 USD) and do a private tour at your leisure to the Mekong delta. Saigon is a large city, you can easily fill 2.5 days in town. Do the typical tourist stuff such as....river cruise, night time drinks & live music at the Majestic hotel rooftop bar, "OMG" rooftop bar near Ben Thanh market after dinner. Ben Thanh Night Market, Cho Lon district and Thu Thiem (district 2) for lunch at a riverside restaurant.
Jan 1, 2019, 8:21 pm
#95
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Saigon/Hanoi/San Francisco
Posts: 1,779
I assume picking up a metered Mai Linh or Vinasun taxi from Hanoi airport to the Old Quarter is straight forward. I've used both companies in HCMC but my previous short trip to Hanoi included a pre-booked airport to hotel pick up. This time I'll use a taxi to save a few pennies. Any ball-park estimate on what that would cost?
Thanks
Thanks
I would suggest an airport car service, it should be around 300K VND. PM me if you need recommendation.
Jan 1, 2019, 8:25 pm
#96
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Saigon/Hanoi/San Francisco
Posts: 1,779
Jan 2, 2019, 12:38 am
#97
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SE England
Programs: AF-KL Platinum, ALL Platinum
Posts: 755
Returned from Hanoi about a week ago. Used ABC taxis outside the airport and cost about 320,000 - 330,000 VND to the Old Quarter hotel. Good taxi I thought and suprised how light the traffic was in the afternoon (flew in on VN610).
Jan 2, 2019, 2:32 pm
#98
Join Date: May 2014
Location: OSL
Programs: SAS EBD, QR Platinumr, HH Gold, Intercont Platinum Ambassador,CC Gold
Posts: 158
Hi, I just bought one of the silly-airfares from Hanoi to JFK.
I have not yet landed my entry / positioning flight to HAN, but thinking of arriving on QR-Qatar at 07:00 with direct transfer to CX flight to HKG.
Do I need to pass customs // immigrations ?
Regards
Fox
I have not yet landed my entry / positioning flight to HAN, but thinking of arriving on QR-Qatar at 07:00 with direct transfer to CX flight to HKG.
Do I need to pass customs // immigrations ?
Regards
Fox
Jan 3, 2019, 11:49 am
#99
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: SAN
Posts: 54
GF and I are looking to visit mid August 2019 for a 5-6N then head to BKK. I was initially thinking of flying into HAN since it's close to Halong but she wants to visit family l in Hue. I didn't realize how far Hue was from Hanoi or Halong lol. Is it possible/worth it to visit Hue and Halong in one trip? We are outdoorsy-walk-around-nature type, so halong cruises would be low interest compared to local hikes in the area. Thanks!
Jan 4, 2019, 12:48 am
#100
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Rowland heights, CA USA
Programs: PAL million miler (1.6 M ), AA Platinum ( almost 1 M)
Posts: 434
Hello guys, I am holding a Filipino passport and an American Passport, I recently purchased a cathay pacific first class error fare ticket HAN-SFO-HAN.
I am not planning to stay in Vietnam, I just want to have a connecting flight MNL- HAN then proceed with my ticket HAN-SFO-HAN then HAN - MNL
My question is, since I have a dual passport, Do I need to have a visa since I will be only staying inside the airport? and since I am not planning to go out of the airport I could have just show my US passport since i am connecting hanoi to sfo, am i right? just need some clarification. Thanks
I am not planning to stay in Vietnam, I just want to have a connecting flight MNL- HAN then proceed with my ticket HAN-SFO-HAN then HAN - MNL
My question is, since I have a dual passport, Do I need to have a visa since I will be only staying inside the airport? and since I am not planning to go out of the airport I could have just show my US passport since i am connecting hanoi to sfo, am i right? just need some clarification. Thanks
Jan 4, 2019, 4:22 am
#101
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Saigon/Hanoi/San Francisco
Posts: 1,779
GF and I are looking to visit mid August 2019 for a 5-6N then head to BKK. I was initially thinking of flying into HAN since it's close to Halong but she wants to visit family l in Hue. I didn't realize how far Hue was from Hanoi or Halong lol. Is it possible/worth it to visit Hue and Halong in one trip? We are outdoorsy-walk-around-nature type, so halong cruises would be low interest compared to local hikes in the area. Thanks!
Near Ha Long, Yen Tu mountain is a great for hiking.
Jan 4, 2019, 4:33 am
#102
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Saigon/Hanoi/San Francisco
Posts: 1,779
Hello guys, I am holding a Filipino passport and an American Passport, I recently purchased a cathay pacific first class error fare ticket HAN-SFO-HAN.
I am not planning to stay in Vietnam, I just want to have a connecting flight MNL- HAN then proceed with my ticket HAN-SFO-HAN then HAN - MNL
My question is, since I have a dual passport, Do I need to have a visa since I will be only staying inside the airport? and since I am not planning to go out of the airport I could have just show my US passport since i am connecting hanoi to sfo, am i right? just need some clarification. Thanks
I am not planning to stay in Vietnam, I just want to have a connecting flight MNL- HAN then proceed with my ticket HAN-SFO-HAN then HAN - MNL
My question is, since I have a dual passport, Do I need to have a visa since I will be only staying inside the airport? and since I am not planning to go out of the airport I could have just show my US passport since i am connecting hanoi to sfo, am i right? just need some clarification. Thanks
I don't think Hanoi has transit without Visa. You'll have to enter VN, then re-check in for your CX flight. I could be wrong.
Jan 4, 2019, 7:35 am
#103
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Omaha
Posts: 1,674
Jan 4, 2019, 1:48 pm
#104
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: SAN
Posts: 54
Just did a quick check on Google Flights... going to pass on flying to/from Van Don lol. Looks like the best/cheapest would be to back track to HAN, fly to HUI, train to DAD, then to BKK.