Trip to Vietnam.....

[onthebottom]

Spent 9 days in Vietnam last week (Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi) and I have to say I was very impressed. The people were very friendly, if the the weather was, at times, unfriendly.

It felt to me like Thailand but before the influx of tourists. Very inexpensive place to take a five star holiday.

I went with my SO so no hobby advice - sorry about that.

OTB

 

[TPO]

Ahhh Vietnam. My favorite place in the world. Spent 3 months there travelling up and down the country. The friendliest people, great food, undisturbed beauty, cheap cloths, and a most interesting history.

I'm jealous. Glad you enjoyed your trip.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

I was watching The Amazing race last night and they all went to Vietnam
the city of Ho chi minch. That place was flooded with water all over!

 

[onthebottom]

Ahhh Vietnam. My favorite place in the world. Spent 3 months there travelling up and down the country. The friendliest people, great food, undisturbed beauty, cheap cloths, and a most interesting history.

I'm jealous. Glad you enjoyed your trip.

I was very impressed - I'd say go before it gets too popular.....

OTB

 

[iamthegucc]

I was there in 2001.... i wonder if its changed a lot - i doubt it. Did you spend time in both the north and the south? What a completely different vibe between these 2 areas. and the DMZ? did you get to fire off a grenade launcher (wonder if they still offer that)?

 

[onthebottom]

I was there in 2001.... i wonder if its changed a lot - i doubt it. Did you spend time in both the north and the south? What a completely different vibe between these 2 areas. and the DMZ? did you get to fire off a grenade launcher (wonder if they still offer that)?

I spent all of my time in the North (on advice of friends), I did not fire any weapons..... looks like enough of that had happened.

OTB

 

[great bear]

OTB: what were the travel requirements? Was a visa necessary? Did you have an opportunity to hit the beaches or the countryside? tks GB

 

[onthebottom]

OTB: what were the travel requirements? Was a visa necessary? Did you have an opportunity to hit the beaches or the countryside? tks GB

Visa was easy, needed a letter that my travel agent arranged (very good guy btw located in Hanoi), paid $25 in cash at Hanoi airport (another $2 if you forget a photo) - funny note, they will only take USD. Took about 5 minutes.

Spent the first few nights on the beach - unbelievable. 20-30 miles of beach, almost no one on it, flawless sand, gentle surf.... spectacular. Ocean view 4-5 star hotel for under $100 a night (breakfast inclusive).

The only countryside I hit (other than the drive from Hoi An (about 30k south of Da Nang) to Hue - took about 3 hours) was Halong Bay - not to be missed, spent a night on the boat.

I'll go back in the next couple of years and do the Mekong Delta and then the area to the North West of Hanoi (and a few days in Hanoi).

I've spent quite a bit of time in Asia and love it, until this trip Thailand was my favorite spot - Vietnam just knocked it off the top spot.

If you want any specifics please feel free to PM me, a great experience I think many would enjoy.

OTB

PS. some web photos (not mine) of the sites I visited:

Halong Bay:http://img6.travelblog.org/Photos/105101/382214/f/3575447-Junk-Boats-in-Halong-Bay-0.jpg

Hue: http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/19/26/57/hue-citadel.jpg

Hoi An: http://www.asia-pictures.net/vietnam/images/collages maps/Hoi An photo collage.jpg

Hanoi: http://www.hanoi-ultimate.com/pics/hanoi_str.jpg

 

[nolabel]

Good move. Vietnam is awesome. I took an old Russian Minsk (250cc touring bike) through the Tonkin Alps (runs between Northern Vietnam and China, and stretches over to Thailand) for a week, and added Halong Bay and Hanoi on when done. Loved every bit of it. People are so friendly. Not my thing to hobby in that area.

 

[hinz]

Been there 2 years ago. Vietnam is awesome, a hidden gem for vacation.

At last I came out of the closet as being Vietnamese cuisine slut over there .

Of all the place visited in Vietnam. Hanoi is not so special. I prefer Ho Chi Minh City (hard to refrain myself from saying Saigon) and Halong Bay. The natural scenery in Halong Bay worths every penny.

In the meantime I am working out to make sure I am physically fit to visit Jiuzhaigou Valley in the foreseeable future, as long as there's no big earthquake.

BTW, I love the Vietnamese word Dong, hehe

 

[Gyaos]

I went with my SO so no hobby advice - sorry about that. OTB

Can't wait 'til you do!

Gyaos.

 

[great bear]

Visa was easy, needed a letter that my travel agent arranged (very good guy btw located in Hanoi), paid $25 in cash at Hanoi airport (another $2 if you forget a photo) - funny note, they will only take USD. Took about 5 minutes.

Spent the first few nights on the beach - unbelievable. 20-30 miles of beach, almost no one on it, flawless sand, gentle surf.... spectacular. Ocean view 4-5 star hotel for under $100 a night (breakfast inclusive).

The only countryside I hit (other than the drive from Hoi An (about 30k south of Da Nang) to Hue - took about 3 hours) was Halong Bay - not to be missed, spent a night on the boat.

I'll go back in the next couple of years and do the Mekong Delta and then the area to the North West of Hanoi (and a few days in Hanoi).

I've spent quite a bit of time in Asia and love it, until this trip Thailand was my favorite spot - Vietnam just knocked it off the top spot.

If you want any specifics please feel free to PM me, a great experience I think many would enjoy.

OTB

PS. some web photos (not mine) of the sites I visited:

Halong Bay:http://img6.travelblog.org/Photos/105101/382214/f/3575447-Junk-Boats-in-Halong-Bay-0.jpg

Hue: http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/19/26/57/hue-citadel.jpg

Hoi An: http://www.asia-pictures.net/vietnam/images/collages maps/Hoi An photo collage.jpg

Hanoi: http://www.hanoi-ultimate.com/pics/hanoi_str.jpg

Tks OTB, info is appreciated. GB

 

[onthebottom]

Can't wait 'til you do!

Gyaos.

I retired from the hobby several years ago (for this woman) - best thing I've ever done..... not that there is anything wrong with the hobby, this girl.....

OTB

 

[punter]

I went with my SO so no hobby advice - sorry about that.
OTB

You could have suggested that she visit a spa for the day while you play golf or do some sight seeing by yourself, then you'd be posting a reveiw, instead .

 

[onthebottom]

You could have suggested that she visit a spa for the day while you play golf or do some sight seeing by yourself, then you'd be posting a reveiw, instead .

It's not that I can't hobby, it's that I choose not to.

I don't really focus on this because I don't want it to be misconstrued as a judgement of others, I have enough to do with keeping myself on the straight and narrow, I don't have the interest or inclination to worry about what others do.....

I will say that the woman in Vietnam were very attractive (like the Thai girls) and that high heels and a mini-skirt on a scooter is a pleasant sight......

OTB

 

[Armagettin]

Good info guys. I am planning to go somewhere in the East in the new year. Vietnam was not on my radar til now.

 

[The Oracle]

What type of costs are involved here. Please and thankyou.

 

[canonabcde]

Ahhh Vietnam. My favorite place in the world. Spent 3 months there travelling up and down the country. The friendliest people, great food, undisturbed beauty, cheap cloths, and a most interesting history.

I'm jealous. Glad you enjoyed your trip.

I agree with you. For me, Viet Nam is my favorite place in the world, especially Ho Chi Minh City. I was born in Ho Chi Minh City and I lived there for 18 years. I love this city.

 

[onthebottom]

What type of costs are involved here. Please and thankyou.

I paid about $1,500 but that was 8 nights in 5 star hotels, breakfast, driver and guide for the entire time - another $600 for airfare from/to Hong Kong and within Vietnam..... you could do it for substantially less but I'm spoiled

OTB