Visiting Vietnam

[Bamboo Grove]

Buksida wrote:

For those that have been if you had to choose between Hue, Danang and Hoi An for 3-4 nights where would you go and why?

As I mentioned earlier, I'd visit both Hue and Hoi An, probably staying longer in Hoi An but if you can only choose one, then Hoi An. That's for the charms of this small town and the vicinity of the beach there. Danang is just a big city and the only attraction I seem to recall there is China Beach, which is just a beach, no matter of its history.

The trip by bus from Hue to Hoi An is spectacular, with scenes of sea, rice paddies and mountains. With the new tunnel, I'm not sure if all buses reach the summit of Hai Van pass but even though, that's time consuming, it should be included in your itinerary, should you travel between Hue and Hoi Danang by bus.

http://asiaforvisitors.com/vietnam/cent ... /index.php

[playboy]

Hoi an in full moon night is very beautiful since many vietnames celebrate the full moon.

[Pagey]

Playboy : The train does not go to Hoi An - unless you went before 1916......................

Buksi : My choice would be Hoi An. Make sure you visit Chuc Thanh Pagoda & Phuoc Lam Pagoda, just out of town. The train may take longer but it is overnight so you do not lose any sight seeing time and if you get the cabin like you suggested it would be a bit of an adventure for the kids. Take some food & drink - I took a KFC !! Wake up early and watch the view from outside the cabin for the last half hour of the journey.

[Terry]

Hi Buksi

I've sent you a pm

T

[playboy]

Yes, I know that the train did not go to Hoi An. We actually booked the train to Da Nang but since the train was so late (>20 hours instead of 8-10 hours in arrival, We leave Hanoi around 11 pm and arrival at Hue around 8 pm the day after), we then decided to get out at Hue since it was soo late in the night and we did not have any hotel reservation. We then stayed in Hue for couple nights and then took the bus from Hue in passing by Da nang and then got to Hoi An.

[buksida]

I think we'll get the train to Danang, spend a few days then go on to Hoi An, to continue I presume we have to come back to Danang to get the train further south?

After 4 days in Hanoi and an over-nighter on the train the kids will need a beach or pool!

[Nereus]

Its a long time since I have been to Vietnam, but the beach used to be a nice place to visit at Danang.
If you are interested in a bit of history the concrete revetments that were built to protect aircraft at the airport during the war, are a stark reminder of the event. The runway at one time was the longest in the world, but not sure if it still holds that position.

Probably not for you Buksi, but another thing that sticks in my mind was the "dance halls". These places used to have multi piece orchestras playing old time music, and were populated with beautifully dressed girls that could have won any old time ballroom dancing competitions anywhere in the world. If I recall correctly you had to pay the girls, but dancing only was strictly enforced! Probably all changed by now.

[Terry]

^^^^^^^^^ Yep

The're called DISCOS

[alvaro32]

A couple of year ago when I was there. One of my friend told me about Nha Trang beach, I think this is a great place for visitors and tourist. I found it very good, we stayed there a whole day.

[MrPlum]

I think we'll get the train to Danang, spend a few days then go on to Hoi An

If you decide to have some clothes made, avoid the high street tailor shops and head for the market instead. Better prices. They all have catalogues. Select the suit/coat/shirts you like and they make it in a day or two.

[buksida]

Think we're going to skip Nha Trang and fly from Danang to HCMC to save two long night train journeys and two wasted days waiting around. NT seems to be a tourist beach resort a bit like Hua Hin so not really interested in that. There seems to be plenty to do around Saigon, water parks for the kids, tunnels, Mekong delta trips, searching for Colonel Kurtz etc.

[vietnambeauty84]

:P Dear Buksida,
Sawatdikrap, Khun pen khon thai chay mai?
Helo from Hanoi, Vietnam.
I see you want to travel in Vietnam for 2 weeks, so I would like to send you itinerary for looking
Day 1: Noibai airport - Hanoi. overnight at hotel (/ D)
Day 2: Hanoi city tour ( B/ L/ )
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong ( B/ L/ D ). Over night on halong cruise.
Day 4: Halong - Hanoi - train station to Hue ( B/ L/ ). Overnight on the train.
Day 5: Hue city tour ( B/ L/ )
Day 6: Hue city tour - Danang - Hoian ( B/ L/ ), visit Nonnuoc pagoda
Day 7: Hoi an- My son - Hoian( B/ L/ )
Day 8: Hoian - Nhatrang ( B/ ) by train
Day 9: Nhatrang city - Nhatrang bay ( B/ L/ )
Day 10: Nhatrang - Hochiminh city ( B/ L/ D). Dinner on saigon river
Day 11: Hochiminh city tour ( B/ L/ )
Day 12: Hochiminh city - Mekong deltar ( B/ L/ D ), visiting fruit garden
Day 13: Mekong floating market - Hochiminh ( B/ L/ )
Day 14: Hochiminh city -Cuchi tunnel ( B/ L/ ).
Day 15: Hochiminh departure (B/ ). Tour's ended
Service ( Private ): Car, guide ( english or Thai speaking possible ), Meals, 3* hotel, entrance ticket, water per day, boat, train ticket.
If you need more detail, please send me email or give me your email.
Nice to see you in Vietnam.

[GLCQuantum]

There you go Buksi. Your whole holiday sorted.

[simmo116]

how much would one epect to pay for a flight from los to vietnam. fancy taking a look next time im over there. and would like to go to siem reep(spelling) any recomendations? been back in uk 3 weeks now and itching to get back.

[buksida]

Wow, a Vietnam tour agency has registered just to offer me an itinerary ... now that's marketing! Unfortunately there are four of us so taking these types of tours everywhere is out of the question due to budget constraints, that said we will be visiting the Bay and a number of other places under our own steam.

Re. flights, we paid just under 5k per person round trip (inclusive of all the extra BS), flying into Hanoi and out of HCMC, check out Air Asia: http://www.airasia.com/th/en/home.page Be aware of all the add-ons though. Saying that, Vietnam Airlines were almost double so AA are still the cheapest.