Vietnam

[Charlie_Zhang]

Hanoi accommodation looks expensive, did you explore other choices?

Yes... Looking for alternatives...

 

[Charlie_Zhang]

The Hanoi-Sapa trains leave at night.
Expensive and very compressed plan you have. I am curious as to how a one-day visit to Halong Bay is enjoyable. Why don't you try it and share with us thence?

Did I use the word enjoyable?
Nothing much...just to go there see the scenic view and take some photos... That's all

Very tight schedule as my partner can't take too much leave...
Too bad... Just need to make do with it

 

[usermanual]

Did I use the word enjoyable?
Nothing much...just to go there see the scenic view and take some photos... That's all

Very tight schedule as my partner can't take too much leave...
Too bad... Just need to make do with it

From Hanoi to Halong bay is about 4 1/2 hrs, on the boat for lunch and visit the limestone caves about 3 hrs +, then another 4 1/2 hrs back to Hanoi. Be prepared for some bumpy roads.

Maybe you can also consider visit Tam Coc., can enjoy the boat ride.
I personally quite like this day trip because the surrounding scenery are very beautiful.

Or visit Perfume Pagoda.

 

[butterbarter]

People here are trying to help you. Most people go on holiday to enjoy themselves, hence it is reasonable for beanstalk to use the the word "enjoyable". Maybe you didn't mean it but you come across as rude to the very people trying to help you.

Did I use the word enjoyable?
Nothing much...just to go there see the scenic view and take some photos... That's all

Very tight schedule as my partner can't take too much leave...
Too bad... Just need to make do with it

 

[excalibur324]

Just wanna go halong bay take some pics... Hahaha
Or I should go sapa upon arrival at Hanoi first?

Hmm.....

i would suggest u go ninh binh for the day tour instead of halong bay if you are really tight on time.

sapa and halong bay + hanoi free and easy would take minimum 7 days to enjoy.

 

[cwm83]

Here's my planned itinerary for upcoming Hanoi trip:

Day 1: Arrive in the evening and check in hotel in Hanoi
Day 2: Explore Hanoi Old Quarter and take overnight train to Sapa
Day 3: Take a day tour exploring Bac Ha Market, Chay River etc and check in hotel in Sapa
Day 4: Take a 2nd day tour trekking in Muong Hoa valley, Glang Ta Chai village etc and overnight train back to Hanoi
Day 5: Spend the day ard Hanoi and check in hotel in Hanoi
Day 6 & 7: Take a 3D2N Halong Bay cruise
Day 8: Come back from cruise and check in hotel in Hanoi
Day 9: Check out and home sweet home

 

[B00zer]

Did I use the word enjoyable?
Nothing much...just to go there see the scenic view and take some photos... That's all

Very tight schedule as my partner can't take too much leave...
Too bad... Just need to make do with it

Charlie Zhang go VN to **** XMM si boh?

 

[butterbarter]

Day 1: if I remember correctly, you need to be at the Hanoi train station to catch the Sapa train around 8. That leaves you very little time to explore Hanoi. If you've never been to Hanoi, I'll suggest spending a couple of days in Hanoi itself. With your current schedule, you'll not be seeing much of Hanoi.

Having been to both Sapa and Halung, I think it's better to spend 3D2N in Sapa and 2D1N in Halung Bay, rather than the other way around. Halung is beautiful, but I think 1-2 days lying on the boat's deck is more than enough time to appreciate the beauty (assuming it doesn't rain).

Secondly, for Sapa, you'll have to head to the Sapa train station around 5-6pm. That means that your second day's activities have to end pretty early for you to return, wash-up, and catch the shuttle bus to the train station. In effect, you'll be only having 1.5 days in Sapa if you do 2D1N, and you may miss the stunning mountain scenery and padi fields. On my trip there, I shared the return train with a European couple who also did 2D1N. They didn't get the walk the padi fields due to their tight schedule, which I'm sure they regretted.

Here's my planned itinerary for upcoming Hanoi trip:

Day 1: Arrive in the evening and check in hotel in Hanoi
Day 2: Explore Hanoi Old Quarter and take overnight train to Sapa
Day 3: Take a day tour exploring Bac Ha Market, Chay River etc and check in hotel in Sapa
Day 4: Take a 2nd day tour trekking in Muong Hoa valley, Glang Ta Chai village etc and overnight train back to Hanoi
Day 5: Spend the day ard Hanoi and check in hotel in Hanoi
Day 6 & 7: Take a 3D2N Halong Bay cruise
Day 8: Come back from cruise and check in hotel in Hanoi
Day 9: Check out and home sweet home

 

[NightHawk]

Hi, i am heading to HCM on the 16th of Jan. Should i change VND here or in the airport? anyone knows the rates there? thanks!

 

[excalibur324]

Day 1: if I remember correctly, you need to be at the Hanoi train station to catch the Sapa train around 8. That leaves you very little time to explore Hanoi. If you've never been to Hanoi, I'll suggest spending a couple of days in Hanoi itself. With your current schedule, you'll not be seeing much of Hanoi.

Having been to both Sapa and Halung, I think it's better to spend 3D2N in Sapa and 2D1N in Halung Bay, rather than the other way around. Halung is beautiful, but I think 1-2 days lying on the boat's deck is more than enough time to appreciate the beauty (assuming it doesn't rain).

Secondly, for Sapa, you'll have to head to the Sapa train station around 5-6pm. That means that your second day's activities have to end pretty early for you to return, wash-up, and catch the shuttle bus to the train station. In effect, you'll be only having 1.5 days in Sapa if you do 2D1N, and you may miss the stunning mountain scenery and padi fields. On my trip there, I shared the return train with a European couple who also did 2D1N. They didn't get the walk the padi fields due to their tight schedule, which I'm sure they regretted.

agree with this totally.

 

[eagletay]

Hi Charile,
I have been last year march. My itinerary as follows:

Day 1:
4pm ==> arrived in hanoi hotel. Place half of my luggages for safe keeping in hotel. The other half, I bring to halong and sapa trip. Then go see see look look around in old quarter. you can buy puppet ticket in advance if you are interested. And dinner too.

8pm ==> Take overnight train to Sapa via Vega Travel (google for it)

##############
Day 2/3: planned in vega travel and travel back to hanoi in overnight train. best to buy walking stick in sapa if you are plump as mine before the whole day trekking.

##############
Day 4: Arrived in Hanoi in early morning. Rest and light wash-up in Vega-Travel (there a room on 2nd ground).

8am ==> Gathered and travel (4hrs) in min-bus/van to Halong harbour.
12:30pm ==> aboard cruise and overnight in cruise.
##############

Day 5: Back to mainland and 4 hours ride back to hanoi @ around 5pm. Check-in Hotel with my luggage not being loss (). LOL
##############

Day 6 ~ **: OTOT in hanoi.

##############

vega travel: 3D2N sapa + 2D1N hanoi. if book these trips via hotel, is definitely higher; especially the sapa trip [cut-throat]
Hotel: Holiday Diamond. friendly and very helpful staffs.

Other items:
1. bring slipper along. more comfortable to walk around.
2. OTOT in hanoi by walking, even if the distance is 1~2 hours...slow and relax. you can discover more things.
3. There is night market on weekend (sat/sun). Not to be missed.
4. you can go trip advisor for more feedback, which I did and it helped me a lot.
##############

Have added 1 more day... Basically thur,fri,sat,sun and Monday back
Main objective will be to see halong bay and sapa

Got this customised itinerary from essence hanoi hotel... 2pax about usd$850
Is this price ok?

Day 1: Airport pickup @ USD18. Our personnel who holds a placard saying "Essence Hanoi hotel welcome + your name" will await you at the airport terminal upon your arrival.
Stay at our Essence Hanoi hotel, located at No. 22 Ta Hien Street:

02 Quiet, non - smoking window Deluxe single rooms for 02 people @USD65 + 15% tax & service charge per room per night

Will reach hanoi around 11am...so Otot roam Hanoi and watch water puppet show etc

Day 2: taking a full day Halong Bay trip @ USD129 x 2 persons, returning Hanoi by late afternoon. The itinerary is viewed at

Halong Tour - 1 day | Day Tours | Tours Information

Day 2 evening: Sending you to the train station where you will take a night train to Sapa and then spend 3 nights 2 days for this trip, superior option (with stay in Chau Long new wing hotel) @ USD238 x 2 persons

SP2 - SAPA EASY TREK 2 DAYS 3NIGHTS (Overnight in hotel)

Day 5.: back to Hanoi. We pick you up from train station (@USD16 for roundtrip see off and pickup from the train station). Breakfasts at our hotel @ USD10 x 2 person. Airport see off @ USD18. End tour.

 

[beanstalk6]

agree with this totally.

Agree with butterbarter and excalibur also.
Trade one night at Halong Bay for one at Sapa. The second night at Halong Bay just means having to stay over at Cat Ba island, whereas you can trek further from Sapa and visit the more remote villages away from the run-of-the-mill sights. You can also do with one more full day in Hanoi, especially the Old Quarter.

 

[eagletay]

I would suggest you give halong a miss.
Firstly: sapa is really...really nice and refreshing as you trek through the padi field. Again depend on season too, because you cannot expect the sapians to plot their field 12 mths/year.

Secondy: Total of 8~10 hours (4 hrs to/fro betw hanoi and halong) is waste of time which is essential for you. rather you spent the time in hanoi.

Did I use the word enjoyable?
Nothing much...just to go there see the scenic view and take some photos... That's all

Very tight schedule as my partner can't take too much leave...
Too bad... Just need to make do with it

 

[Charlie_Zhang]

Hi Charile,
I have been last year march. My itinerary as follows:

Day 1:
4pm ==> arrived in hanoi hotel. Place half of my luggages for safe keeping in hotel. The other half, I bring to halong and sapa trip. Then go see see look look around in old quarter. you can buy puppet ticket in advance if you are interested. And dinner too.

8pm ==> Take overnight train to Sapa via Vega Travel (google for it)

##############
Day 2/3: planned in vega travel and travel back to hanoi in overnight train. best to buy walking stick in sapa if you are plump as mine before the whole day trekking.

##############
Day 4: Arrived in Hanoi in early morning. Rest and light wash-up in Vega-Travel (there a room on 2nd ground).

8am ==> Gathered and travel (4hrs) in min-bus/van to Halong harbour.
12:30pm ==> aboard cruise and overnight in cruise.
##############

Day 5: Back to mainland and 4 hours ride back to hanoi @ around 5pm. Check-in Hotel with my luggage not being loss (). LOL
##############

Day 6 ~ **: OTOT in hanoi.

##############

vega travel: 3D2N sapa + 2D1N hanoi. if book these trips via hotel, is definitely higher; especially the sapa trip [cut-throat]
Hotel: Holiday Diamond. friendly and very helpful staffs.

Other items:
1. bring slipper along. more comfortable to walk around.
2. OTOT in hanoi by walking, even if the distance is 1~2 hours...slow and relax. you can discover more things.
3. There is night market on weekend (sat/sun). Not to be missed.
4. you can go trip advisor for more feedback, which I did and it helped me a lot.
##############

Really grateful for the info. Will email vega travel to see if they can plan something for me...should be same itinerary as you except only day tour for halong bay.

 

[Charlie_Zhang]

Hi, i am heading to HCM on the 16th of Jan. Should i change VND here or in the airport? anyone knows the rates there? thanks!

Based on what I gathered. ..bring usd and sgd...go vietnam then change

 

[NightHawk]

Based on what I gathered. ..bring usd and sgd...go vietnam then change

Thanks alot! =D

 

[garfieldpal]

do u know how to take?

Just tried taking the public bus no. 2 to vincom mega mall @ royal city yesterday. I think Ishd be quite stressful if alone. I wasn't alone, so it was ok.

 

[XiaoZen]

abit off topic. just came back from Vietnam. anyone can recommend good inexpensive Vietnamese class (tien viet) lesson in sg?

 

[suangern]

abit off topic. just came back from Vietnam. anyone can recommend good inexpensive Vietnamese class (tien viet) lesson in sg?

last time i learned in NTU, after that I buy books and self-learn, practice thru fb with vietnamese friends, and practically in vietnam...

 

[XiaoZen]

last time i learned in NTU, after that I buy books and self-learn, practice thru fb with vietnamese friends, and practically in vietnam...

Cam On.. self learning now.. the phonetics is killing me..