Spend a Week in India, Vietnam, or Italy?
Feb 17, 2015, 11:20 am
#16
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India would certainly be a different experience, and would be fine if you're looking to see how much of the poorer world lives. I've been there three times and would never, ever think about going there on a vacation. Driving around the slums, seeing poverty, suffering, etc., isn't an enjoyable week for me. YMMV.
Personally, I'd skip Vietnam, as I suspect it will be like India, but that's solely based on reputation and external observation.
Personally, I'd skip Vietnam, as I suspect it will be like India, but that's solely based on reputation and external observation.
I've not been to Vietnam, but friends of mine who have gone have said it was their favorite place in SE Asia. I loved Thailand, personally.
Feb 17, 2015, 3:42 pm
#17
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Italy vs India or Vietnam is like chalk and cheese. You cannot say you have a full understanding of Western culture and art unless you have visited the major museums, galleries and sights in Italy. If, however, you have little interest in that but want something completely different (in the words of Monty Python), then India or Vietnam are the ways to go -even if they both display strong aspects of their former colonial identities, especially in the case of India.
Feb 17, 2015, 4:46 pm
#18
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India is the most un-American English-speaking (largely) country on earth.
(Not "un-American" in the Cold War sense, but in the "most unlike America" sense).
It's an assault on your senses, your common sense, your sensibilities and your generally accepted understanding on how a society functions. In five trips there, I've yet to figure out how a single person gets through their day alive, fed, hydrated, sheltered and employed; yet every day, a billion+ do just that.
If you want to turn your understanding of the world on its head: India.
(Not "un-American" in the Cold War sense, but in the "most unlike America" sense).
It's an assault on your senses, your common sense, your sensibilities and your generally accepted understanding on how a society functions. In five trips there, I've yet to figure out how a single person gets through their day alive, fed, hydrated, sheltered and employed; yet every day, a billion+ do just that.
If you want to turn your understanding of the world on its head: India.
Thanks for all of those that have responded. A couple of clarifying points:
2. Having not experienced non-Western cultures (outside of Ecuador?), this is something that is really intriguing to me. Based on airmotive's comments, India would be the perfect place to push my limits. I guess here the question is, am I ready to experience this?
3. Looking to keep this trip fairly reasonable -- less than $1,000 for the week including positioning flight from AUH/DXB (maybe a little more if I go to Italy). I'm looking for middle market hotels/ground transportation (US standards), is this budget sufficient?
5. For India, I discussed with a colleague and he suggested Delhi->Leh->Srinagar OR Delhi->Jaipur->Jaisalmer->Jodhpur (are one of these the triangle?) since it will be cooler this time of year compared to having my base in Mumbai.
7. For Italy, the big draw here is the history of the country and the ability to visit Vatican City. Not to mention it might be a little more comfortable surroundings if I'm traveling by myself.
Maybe I'll have a better feeling for what I'm looking for after I spend 2 weeks in Southeast Asia next month.... And I am a US citizen.
2. Having not experienced non-Western cultures (outside of Ecuador?), this is something that is really intriguing to me. Based on airmotive's comments, India would be the perfect place to push my limits. I guess here the question is, am I ready to experience this?
3. Looking to keep this trip fairly reasonable -- less than $1,000 for the week including positioning flight from AUH/DXB (maybe a little more if I go to Italy). I'm looking for middle market hotels/ground transportation (US standards), is this budget sufficient?
5. For India, I discussed with a colleague and he suggested Delhi->Leh->Srinagar OR Delhi->Jaipur->Jaisalmer->Jodhpur (are one of these the triangle?) since it will be cooler this time of year compared to having my base in Mumbai.
7. For Italy, the big draw here is the history of the country and the ability to visit Vatican City. Not to mention it might be a little more comfortable surroundings if I'm traveling by myself.
Maybe I'll have a better feeling for what I'm looking for after I spend 2 weeks in Southeast Asia next month.... And I am a US citizen.
I've been to Italy, Istanbul, and India.
India would certainly be a different experience, and would be fine if you're looking to see how much of the poorer world lives. I've been there three times and would never, ever think about going there on a vacation. Driving around the slums, seeing poverty, suffering, etc., isn't an enjoyable week for me. YMMV.
Personally, I'd skip Vietnam, as I suspect it will be like India, but that's solely based on reputation and external observation.
India would certainly be a different experience, and would be fine if you're looking to see how much of the poorer world lives. I've been there three times and would never, ever think about going there on a vacation. Driving around the slums, seeing poverty, suffering, etc., isn't an enjoyable week for me. YMMV.
Personally, I'd skip Vietnam, as I suspect it will be like India, but that's solely based on reputation and external observation.
I loved India. Such an amazing trip. The country is very much an assault on the senses, in every sense. While there were slums and poor people...there were also poor and middle income people who were happy and healthy and glad to see us. I found Indians to be among the warmest people I've met, and I'd encourage the OP to not let the poverty unduly affect the experience. Besides, I can't imagine the OP would spend his/her time driving through slums.
I've not been to Vietnam, but friends of mine who have gone have said it was their favorite place in SE Asia. I loved Thailand, personally.
I've not been to Vietnam, but friends of mine who have gone have said it was their favorite place in SE Asia. I loved Thailand, personally.
Fo rthose who wonder how India functions or look down or marvel at it....remember it has more than 30 States that are widely different from each other, langauges galore ( 30) NOT dialects ! Religious sects that you cannot count....largest English speakers in the world, growth rate north of 6 %, etc.
And yet it is the largest Democracy in the world.
Feb 17, 2015, 6:17 pm
#19
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Feb 17, 2015, 6:58 pm
#20
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I'd agree that India would give you the most "non-American" experience. If you're looking to push your limits, I'd vote for India, followed by Vietnam. Both of these countries require visas for US citizens, but that shouldn't be a real problem given the amount of time remaining before your trip. (And my experience is that India's visa application is significantly more of a hassle than Vietnam's, and requires submitting your passport to the embassy for a few days -- not really a problem unless you need your passport for international travel during that time period. Vietnam's visa-on-arrival program is entirely electronic and easy to navigate. I'm pretty sure there's at least one thread on the visa process in the 'Asia' forum.)
Either India or Vietnam would likely be significantly less expensive than Italy.
Either India or Vietnam would likely be significantly less expensive than Italy.
Feb 18, 2015, 3:26 am
#21
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North Vietnam (now Vietnam) tortured and killed Americans, including Senator John McCain. They, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, invaded the Republic of Vietnam and inflicted much suffering to Americans and our troops. They are the enemy. They may be the enemy where hostilities are no longer fought, but to think that they are no longer anti-American is naive.
The fact that the U.S. and Vietnam has "normal relations" is just the state of diplomacy. The U.S. also has normal relations with just about every country in the world except Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and a few others.
The fact that the U.S. and Vietnam has "normal relations" is just the state of diplomacy. The U.S. also has normal relations with just about every country in the world except Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and a few others.
Feb 18, 2015, 5:35 am
#22
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I am an American and I am currently sitting in "North Vietnam" on a couch in Hanoi i can tell you there is no anti American sentiment sure they might charge you a couple extra dollars at an entrance to a touristy spot but they do that to the Russian gentleman standing in line behind me. In the past year I have spent almost 5 weeks here in Hanoi and never feel like I'm somehow behind enemy lines or something. I think you should come out here and take a look for yourself.
Comparing that to some of the anti-American sentiment and anti-semitism i've observed in Belgium, Denmark, Italy & The former Yugoslavian countries would make me feel perfectly comfortable to recommend a trip to Vietnam (and Cambodia if you can fit it in).
But of India, Italy or Vietnam i'd vote India as well.
Feb 18, 2015, 8:13 am
#23
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North Vietnam (now Vietnam) tortured and killed Americans, including Senator John McCain. They, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, invaded the Republic of Vietnam and inflicted much suffering to Americans and our troops. They are the enemy. They may be the enemy where hostilities are no longer fought, but to think that they are no longer anti-American is naive.
re: Indian visa. I completed the process entirely via Fedex and was pleasantly surprised to only be without my passport for about 5 days. I don't think they promise an SLA *quite* that fast, but it's an efficient process if you complete your paperwork correctly. Read about it online: they are picky about some things, such as the specifications of the photos, but all in all it wasn't a bad process.
And if you're already abroad or otherwise can't part with your passport for 5 days, I'm sure there are more expedited processes in-person at a consulate. I just did the Fedex thing because I knew I had a full month between international trips and wasn't in a huge hurry.
Feb 18, 2015, 8:28 am
#24
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Having been to India 10+ times, I can no longer recommend it to friends for vacation. To me, at least, it isn't enjoyable being there (the many times mentioned "assault on the senses"), and if you are staying in western hotels the whole time you won't be getting the full experience anyway. But if you are looking for a completely different experience that you may or may not **enjoy** then do India. I'd do Delhi/Jaipur/Agra on your first visit, and if you have more time make it down to Udaipur and Jaisalmer.
Feb 18, 2015, 8:36 am
#25
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Having been to India 10+ times, I can no longer recommend it to friends for vacation. To me, at least, it isn't enjoyable being there (the many times mentioned "assault on the senses"), and if you are staying in western hotels the whole time you won't be getting the full experience anyway. But if you are looking for a completely different experience that you may or may not **enjoy** then do India. I'd do Delhi/Jaipur/Agra on your first visit, and if you have more time make it down to Udaipur and Jaisalmer.
I can see why 10 trips might lead you to say "OK, somewhere else now..." But my wife and I do want to go back...there was a lot there that we loved, even as our, um, "senses were assaulted"...
Feb 18, 2015, 9:29 am
#27
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If one were to do a 2nd trip to India, what region would you recommend? Somewhere in the far south? Mumbai and surrounding area? Something else?
I can see why 10 trips might lead you to say "OK, somewhere else now..." But my wife and I do want to go back...there was a lot there that we loved, even as our, um, "senses were assaulted"...
I can see why 10 trips might lead you to say "OK, somewhere else now..." But my wife and I do want to go back...there was a lot there that we loved, even as our, um, "senses were assaulted"...
Feb 18, 2015, 9:38 am
#28
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I don't think anybody here has given the impression that one week is enough time to fully experience all of any of these countries. It's simply what the OP has available.
Even in Italy, I would seek to minimize the total time I spent on trains or in a rental car in a one-week trip. I'd probably pick a region of interest and select a few locations in and around there.
Feb 18, 2015, 10:06 am
#29
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North Vietnam (now Vietnam) tortured and killed Americans, including Senator John McCain. They, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, invaded the Republic of Vietnam and inflicted much suffering to Americans and our troops. They are the enemy. They may be the enemy where hostilities are no longer fought, but to think that they are no longer anti-American is naive.
The fact that the U.S. and Vietnam has "normal relations" is just the state of diplomacy. The U.S. also has normal relations with just about every country in the world except Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and a few others.
The fact that the U.S. and Vietnam has "normal relations" is just the state of diplomacy. The U.S. also has normal relations with just about every country in the world except Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and a few others.
I've spent time in north Vietnam and loved it (much more than Saigon!). The war is ancient history. If you want to bring it up with someone old enough to remember it, they will talk about it. I never experienced the slightest hint of anti-Americanism anywhere I went.
Feb 18, 2015, 10:17 am
#30
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The fact that doing all of India would take years shouldn't deter one from spending a week there. I'd take advantage of the fact that you're close already (geographically), select a sensible one-week itinerary, and then decide if it's a country that you want to invest future time in.
I don't think anybody here has given the impression that one week is enough time to fully experience all of any of these countries. It's simply what the OP has available.
Even in Italy, I would seek to minimize the total time I spent on trains or in a rental car in a one-week trip. I'd probably pick a region of interest and select a few locations in and around there.
I don't think anybody here has given the impression that one week is enough time to fully experience all of any of these countries. It's simply what the OP has available.
Even in Italy, I would seek to minimize the total time I spent on trains or in a rental car in a one-week trip. I'd probably pick a region of interest and select a few locations in and around there.
+1