Vietnam

[Henabi]

am planning a 8D7N Hanoi trip in Jan 2019

need advice on the following:
1. is Jan consider low/shoulder/peak in Hanoi? coz thought want to book the local tours on arrival rather than from SG. heard it's much cheaper to book in Hanoi compared to online

2. any must buy from hanoi? heard shopping is not as cheap as HCMC...

3. any must go in hanoi itself?

4. recommendation for bd celebration venue in Hanoi? is there good french food like the La Villa in HCMC?

TIA!

Cold season for Hanoi in January. Better prepare warm windbreakers.
But it's the nicest month to visit Hanoi.

In fact street shopping in Hanoi is the best, especially Old Quarter. Because each street in Old Quarter sells different things.

If you want shoes, all kind of shoes... Go to the Hanoi train station.

On Friday sat and Sunday, head over to Hang Dao Street and running north to the edge of Dong Xuan Market and experience the Hanoi weekend night market. Imo, it's one of the biggest.

Next, is Cho Dong Xuan. Four big floors of SHOPPING SHOPPING SHOPPING

Lastly, want something more modern? Head over to Nha Tho Street (Church Street)

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[mercury95sg]

Do you intend to spend all 5 days in Hanoi?

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Yes. We plan to buy air tickets ourself. Our plan to visit Halong bay stay 1 night cruise and also visit Hoa Lu Tam Coc. Very nice scenery think King Kong movie shot from there.
Any hanoi travel agency have any tour packages ? Or diy booking is cheaper ?

 

[saffronsatire]

Yes. We plan to buy air tickets ourself. Our plan to visit Halong bay stay 1 night cruise and also visit Hoa Lu Tam Coc. Very nice scenery think King Kong movie shot from there.
Any hanoi travel agency have any tour packages ? Or diy booking is cheaper ?

You can check classy travel website, got prices listed. The other agencies need to enquire.

 

[aearthr]

Hi, I would like seek advice from those that have went Vietnam recently. Is it the exchange rate of sgd to vnd really better in Vietnam than in Singapore? I'm going to Ho Chi Minh in August. My colleague suggested to change money at Vietnam as it has a better rate. As I work at raffles place, I thought the money changer at raffles place arcade is quite decent.

 

[saffronsatire]

Hi, I would like seek advice from those that have went Vietnam recently. Is it the exchange rate of sgd to vnd really better in Vietnam than in Singapore? I'm going to Ho Chi Minh in August. My colleague suggested to change money at Vietnam as it has a better rate. As I work at raffles place, I thought the money changer at raffles place arcade is quite decent.

If you can get a rate of 17 at arcade, it's quite good. I checked at hanoi airport, not all offer good rate. If not changing a lot, just do in sg. Btw try to use or sell your small notes in vn as sg money changer don't buy notes smaller than vnd 200k.

1k, 2k, 5k notes are useful only for toilet entry and few other places. Try to use up those.

 

[aearthr]

If you can get a rate of 17 at arcade, it's quite good. I checked at hanoi airport, not all offer good rate. If not changing a lot, just do in sg. Btw try to use or sell your small notes in vn as sg money changer don't buy notes smaller than vnd 200k.

1k, 2k, 5k notes are useful only for toilet entry and few other places. Try to use up those.

Thanks for your advice! Noted will try to use finish the small notes! I have been checking the rates and should be able to get 17 and above. Perhaps as what you said, I will change some in sg first. Some said not easy to find money changer in Vietnam not sure does it mean HCM or Hanoi

 

[grapewall]

Cold season for Hanoi in January. Better prepare warm windbreakers.
But it's the nicest month to visit Hanoi.

Good advice! Am planning for Hoian during Xmas.. now have to look again...

 

[applefreak]

thanks for the great advice Henabi

am torn between a 2D1N cruise at HLB vs day trip to Trang An
anyone did both and care to comment?

main purpose of this trip is R&R so mainly just gonna take our time exploring Hanoi

 

[saffronsatire]

thanks for the great advice Henabi

am torn between a 2D1N cruise at HLB vs day trip to Trang An
anyone did both and care to comment?

main purpose of this trip is R&R so mainly just gonna take our time exploring Hanoi

Mine was both day trips. I found hlb underwhelming lol but ppl who have stayed overnight said watching the sunrise is nice.

A bit tedious to do day trip though, cos 3hrs plus each way assuming traffic conditions are good. But i wasn't keen to stay overnight, hence day trip.

I love trang an on the other hand. Did trang an with mua caves. Latter not suitable if got old folks or kids as the climb is tedious and steep. Can replace with hoa lu (i didn't go there) rather than tam coc, which is also boat ride (or cycling i think).

 

[applefreak]

Mine was both day trips. I found hlb underwhelming lol but ppl who have stayed overnight said watching the sunrise is nice.

A bit tedious to do day trip though, cos 3hrs plus each way assuming traffic conditions are good. But i wasn't keen to stay overnight, hence day trip.

I love trang an on the other hand. Did trang an with mua caves. Latter not suitable if got old folks or kids as the climb is tedious and steep. Can replace with hoa lu (i didn't go there) rather than tam coc, which is also boat ride (or cycling i think).

ah I see...

guess HLB is out, not sure if I'm up to watching sunrise coz i'm kinda nocturnal


for Trang An, on a scale of 1-5 how strenuous is mua caves?
coz we are not the fit fit type so if it's 3 or above think we'll go for hoa lu then


didn't consider tam coc coz most were saying it's just like HLB and Trang An is better

 

[saffronsatire]

ah I see...

guess HLB is out, not sure if I'm up to watching sunrise coz i'm kinda nocturnal

for Trang An, on a scale of 1-5 how strenuous is mua caves?
coz we are not the fit fit type so if it's 3 or above think we'll go for hoa lu then

didn't consider tam coc coz most were saying it's just like HLB and Trang An is better

do you exercise regularly? if you do, it should be fine. don't need to be fit fit lol, more of cardio as it's climbing up steps, 500 or so of them! but you can pace yourself and stop here and there. walking down can be a bit scary as the steps are steep at the top of the peak. there's also a small shop selling refreshments midway for you to take a break at.

tam coc scenery wise is supposed to be similar to hlb (hlb on land) but activity wise it's a boat ride like trang an passing through paddy fields. you can see tam coc when climbing mua caves too.

 

[applefreak]

do you exercise regularly? if you do, it should be fine. don't need to be fit fit lol, more of cardio as it's climbing up steps, 500 or so of them! but you can pace yourself and stop here and there. walking down can be a bit scary as the steps are steep at the top of the peak. there's also a small shop selling refreshments midway for you to take a break at.

tam coc scenery wise is supposed to be similar to hlb (hlb on land) but activity wise it's a boat ride like trang an passing through paddy fields. you can see tam coc when climbing mua caves too.

hehehe i don't exercise, not to mention regularly...
guess i'll have to weigh the 500 steps carefully before deciding
thanks a lot for the very useful information

 

[dede1217]

Singapore Airlines promo
ho chi minh $198
Hanoi $228
Fly Jan to Mar, selected period...
Excluding public holidays period ...

 

[grapewall]

Any 3 stars hotels in Pham Ngu Lao or Benh Thanh area to recommend?

 

[Henabi]

Hi, I would like seek advice from those that have went Vietnam recently. Is it the exchange rate of sgd to vnd really better in Vietnam than in Singapore? I'm going to Ho Chi Minh in August. My colleague suggested to change money at Vietnam as it has a better rate. As I work at raffles place, I thought the money changer at raffles place arcade is quite decent.

If change money in hcmc.... Head over to cho ben thanh

There are two money changer there next to each other. And they are opposite ben thanh market.
Mai Van and Ha Tam

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[Henabi]

Singapore Airlines promo
ho chi minh $198
Hanoi $228
Fly Jan to Mar, selected period...
Excluding public holidays period ...

Should apply only to certain flight number. Take note

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[applefreak]

If change money in hcmc.... Head over to cho ben thanh

There are two money changer there next to each other. And they are opposite ben thanh market.
Mai Van and Ha Tam

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how about Hanoi? read that there are a few goldsmiths in Old Quarters that offer reasonable rates...
When I was in HCMC, I changed money at the goldsmiths around Ben Thanh and the rates were better than SG...

 

[Henabi]

Hanoi... You can go Quoc Trinh or Kim Linh

I only go to these two

For MV and HT @ hcmc... It depends. Two months ago their rates were lower than SG.

Sg give 17100... They gave 17020

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[dede1217]

Any 3 stars hotels in Pham Ngu Lao or Benh Thanh area to recommend?

depending on ur accomodation budget ...
usually per nite around this area, especially pham ngu lao (more of packpacker hostel), about 30+ per nite for two

3* hotel nearby ben thanh about 50+ per nite for two
stayed before 15+ d1 hotels, breakfast overall dont expect much
those with better breakfast (3* hotel) , perhaps are the following:
Vien Dong, lan lan1, lan lan2, le duy, blue diamond, elios, Alagon Central Hotel & Spa ...

 

[Henabi]

Any 3 stars hotels in Pham Ngu Lao or Benh Thanh area to recommend?

Pham ngu Lao will be elios hotel.

Benh thanh market area. Most 3 star hotels are fine

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