Vietnam

[butterbarter]

Anyone managed to buy/rent a motorbike in Vietnam and do some touring?

Non-Vientnamese licence is not recognized in Vietnam, so this is technically illegal in Vietnam.

Shops will rent bikes to you, but if you get into an accident, insurance will not cover you. If you get stopped by police, I'm guessing you will have to pay a bribe to get out of it.

That said, I think it's probably better to get a taxi when inside the cities. Out in the country side or small towns, a bike will definitely be a much better option.

 

[butterbarter]

Hey guys, i will be in Hanoi, Sapa, Hoi An. To buy north face stuff, which is the best city? If they are all the same I probably will buy them in Hoi An since that's the last stop on my itinerary. Thanks!

Sapa can get pretty cold. So if you are considering buying a NF jacket, it's probably worth to buy it in Sapa so that you can wear it.

I was in HoiAn and needed a jacket in a pinch, so I bought the cheapest NF jacket for USD20.

 

[direftw]

Sapa can get pretty cold. So if you are considering buying a NF jacket, it's probably worth to buy it in Sapa so that you can wear it.

I was in HoiAn and needed a jacket in a pinch, so I bought the cheapest NF jacket for USD20.

Was in sapa just yesterday. And yes it was ridiculously cold. Sub 10 degrees.

NF jackets selling for 25 usd there

 

[Terrny]

I will be taking Star Cruise from Singapore to Ho Chi Min City, arriving HCMC ferry terminal on 4 April, 0800 hrs and need to be back to ship at 1600 hrs.

Next stop-over is Nha Trang on 5 April from 0700 hrs till 1700 hrs.

Need advices what best place(s) to visit for the two transit stop-overs?

 

[beanstalk6]

Nha Trang is about all the beaches. The cruise terminal for HCMC is probably at Vung Tau, which is 2 hours away by road, so take this into consideration.

 

[nocturnalMirror]

I will be taking Star Cruise from Singapore to Ho Chi Min City, arriving HCMC ferry terminal on 4 April, 0800 hrs and need to be back to ship at 1600 hrs.

Next stop-over is Nha Trang on 5 April from 0700 hrs till 1700 hrs.

Need advices what best place(s) to visit for the two transit stop-overs?

Oh... try my iOS app. Me and techie kakis just make to build it.
It will be able to recommend you places in Vietnam especially short stopover according to your personality and we got all our contents from our friends in Vietnam as well.

Globe Hop

Try it and let me know if there is room for improvement.

 

[kmkwan]

i have a extremely weird problem in Vietnam with my mobile phone. bought a sim card with unlimited data.

+84 168665xxxx

the phone works well on data and local calls. my contacts in Vietnam can reach me on this number and when i call them, the number appears exactly exactly the same as my number.

When I make an IDD call to HK, it shows the correct number as well.

The problem is:-

When others (outside Vietnam) are trying to call me at

+84 168665xxxx

My phone doesn't ring at all. And I was told a lady has picked up the phone and said 'hello'. I have repeatedly got a few people outside Vietnam to call me, but all ended with the same 'hello' voice.

Furthermore, i checked on my phone and confirmed that no call forwarding is activated.

Anyone has similar issue?

 

[xcalible]

Anyone managed to buy/rent a motorbike in Vietnam and do some touring?

i rented motor in hcmc each time im there. prefer to go around on my own

 

[xcalible]

Sapa can get pretty cold. So if you are considering buying a NF jacket, it's probably worth to buy it in Sapa so that you can wear it.

I was in HoiAn and needed a jacket in a pinch, so I bought the cheapest NF jacket for USD20.

gotten my NF jacket at hcmc for ard 450k VND

 

[xcalible]

Non-Vientnamese licence is not recognized in Vietnam, so this is technically illegal in Vietnam.

Shops will rent bikes to you, but if you get into an accident, insurance will not cover you. If you get stopped by police, I'm guessing you will have to pay a bribe to get out of it.

That said, I think it's probably better to get a taxi when inside the cities. Out in the country side or small towns, a bike will definitely be a much better option.

international license is not recognised in viet.

if stop by police, usually they ask for a fine of 500k. i got stop once and paid 200k . nego with them

 

[xcalible]

i have a extremely weird problem in Vietnam with my mobile phone. bought a sim card with unlimited data.

+84 168665xxxx

the phone works well on data and local calls. my contacts in Vietnam can reach me on this number and when i call them, the number appears exactly exactly the same as my number.

When I make an IDD call to HK, it shows the correct number as well.

The problem is:-

When others (outside Vietnam) are trying to call me at

+84 168665xxxx

My phone doesn't ring at all. And I was told a lady has picked up the phone and said 'hello'. I have repeatedly got a few people outside Vietnam to call me, but all ended with the same 'hello' voice.

Furthermore, i checked on my phone and confirmed that no call forwarding is activated.

Anyone has similar issue?

may i know which carrier u are using ?

 

[kmkwan]

viettel GSM.

 

[butterbarter]

international license is not recognised in viet.

if stop by police, usually they ask for a fine of 500k. i got stop once and paid 200k . nego with them

Bribes are not the problem. The issue is insurance. If you get hurt, maimed, die or get brain damage ( the Vietnamese helmets are pretty flimsy plastic), you may not get a cent.

Your family will have to look after you at their own expense. Imagine the burden on them for the next few decades if you become an invalid or vegetable (touch wood).

If you die, they won't get a cent.

If you injure someone else, you'll have to pay compensation out of your own pocket. I'm pretty sure the Vietnamese legal system is not going to favor you.

So, I would suggest travellers think about this before you go riding around illegally in Vietnam. Life is not always about having fun for the moment, even if you are on holiday.

 

[badsector]

visiting hanoi this april.

anything interesting beside halong bay?

 

[usermanual]

visiting hanoi this april.

anything interesting beside halong bay?

Tam coc and perfume pagoda.

 

[Delsamor]

Bribes are not the problem. The issue is insurance. If you get hurt, maimed, die or get brain damage ( the Vietnamese helmets are pretty flimsy plastic), you may not get a cent.

Your family will have to look after you at their own expense. Imagine the burden on them for the next few decades if you become an invalid or vegetable (touch wood).

If you die, they won't get a cent.

If you injure someone else, you'll have to pay compensation out of your own pocket. I'm pretty sure the Vietnamese legal system is not going to favor you.

So, I would suggest travellers think about this before you go riding around illegally in Vietnam. Life is not always about having fun for the moment, even if you are on holiday.

Well said. Many people now misunderstood the meaning of fun. YOLO means safety above having fun.

 

[xcalible]

Bribes are not the problem. The issue is insurance. If you get hurt, maimed, die or get brain damage ( the Vietnamese helmets are pretty flimsy plastic), you may not get a cent.

Your family will have to look after you at their own expense. Imagine the burden on them for the next few decades if you become an invalid or vegetable (touch wood).

If you die, they won't get a cent.

If you injure someone else, you'll have to pay compensation out of your own pocket. I'm pretty sure the Vietnamese legal system is not going to favor you.

So, I would suggest travellers think about this before you go riding around illegally in Vietnam. Life is not always about having fun for the moment, even if you are on holiday.

agreed with u .
been in and out for vn for past 2 yrs liao . wont encourage first time visitors to try riding . the traffic is really chaos at peak hr.

their helmet is

 

[usermanual]

agreed with u .
been in and out for vn for past 2 yrs liao . wont encourage first time visitors to try riding . the traffic is really chaos at peak hr.

their helmet is

Hi xcalible, if want to do more shopping in HCM, stay at district 1 is it the right choice ?

 

[xcalible]

Hi xcalible, if want to do more shopping in HCM, stay at district 1 is it the right choice ?

hi
yep , most shopping stuff are located in d1. unless u are familar with hcmc . there are cheaper stuff elsewhere also

 

[usermanual]

hi
yep , most shopping stuff are located in d1. unless u are familar with hcmc . there are cheaper stuff elsewhere also

Can give me the place name and district for cheaper stuff (painting, clothing, coffee powder...etc)