Vietnam

[beanstalk6]

Just to check, is it common practice for them to photocopy or take photos of the passports~?
On the way to halong bay, the guide in the mini bus took everyone passports and took a snap shot with his phone~ asked him why, he then mumble dunno said need to send to office or somewhere~

over at halong bay port, the tour guide also took our passports but returned back shortly said only need my son passport for photocopy~

Probably some of kind of access management for reasons of safety and accountability, so that all trips out to the bay are with licensed operators for the set group of tourists from end-to-end ie registration for tour, transportation to Halong City, passenger list for boat. Previously, they had issues when there were so many visitors to Halong Bay, many of which were taken on by unlicensed tour operators on boats of doubtful sea-worthiness. As a result, nobody knew how many people were out there- not a good situation when disaster strikes or a case of over-tourism.

 

[poliy8898]

the north of vietnam is beautiful, the weather also not too hot, just avoid summer time (june - august)

 

[matrix05]

8 days in Ho chin ming is it too many?
as i wanna concentrate either south or north vietnam.

8 days is too many. 2 days is enough. Then go North or middle of Vn.

 

[roborovsky]

Last min plan to go Vietnam next month, 1st time.

Wanted to go Danang but now book silk air very ex. Only left with Vietnam Air, but need transit in hcm.

Anyone has experience with Vietnam air and transit?

Since it's a transit flight, thinking of stopover at hcm on return. So now become total 8 days, 4/5 days danang, 3/4 days hcm. Is this too ambitious for 1st timer f&e?

Have shortlisted the following places to tour:
Danang
- 1 day golden bridge & ba na hills
- 1 day my son
- 1 day marble mountain & hoi an

Hcm
- 1 day mekong delta

What do you guys think? Any other recommendation?

 

[Henabi]

Last min plan to go Vietnam next month, 1st time.

Wanted to go Danang but now book silk air very ex. Only left with Vietnam Air, but need transit in hcm.

Anyone has experience with Vietnam air and transit?

Since it's a transit flight, thinking of stopover at hcm on return. So now become total 8 days, 4/5 days danang, 3/4 days hcm. Is this too ambitious for 1st timer f&e?

Have shortlisted the following places to tour:
Danang
- 1 day golden bridge & ba na hills
- 1 day my son
- 1 day marble mountain & hoi an

Hcm
- 1 day mekong delta

What do you guys think? Any other recommendation?

Try AirAsia, transit KLIA
Cheaper.

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

 

[grapewall]

Last min plan to go Vietnam next month, 1st time.

Wanted to go Danang but now book silk air very ex. Only left with Vietnam Air, but need transit in hcm.

Anyone has experience with Vietnam air and transit?

Since it's a transit flight, thinking of stopover at hcm on return. So now become total 8 days, 4/5 days danang, 3/4 days hcm. Is this too ambitious for 1st timer f&e?

Have shortlisted the following places to tour:
Danang
- 1 day golden bridge & ba na hills
- 1 day my son
- 1 day marble mountain & hoi an

Hcm
- 1 day mekong delta

What do you guys think? Any other recommendation?

You can transit at hcm, but don't schedule it too near to your arriving flight. Domestic Flights in vietnam are unpredictable. Most of the time will be delayed, but my last trip, it was brought forwarded an hour.

Golden bridge try to go early like 7.30am, before the PRC packs flood the place.
Spend 0.5 to 1 day exploring Danang city and the beaches. They're famous for the beaches.

Hoi an, my son heritage site and marble mountain are in the same province. My son need to go early like 8am, before it gets too hot. There are tourist buses that go there morning and afternoon. It will take up half a day. Then at night can go see Hoi An ancient city. both can be done in a day., Although it will be rushed. I personally like to explore cities.
Marble mountain can visit on your way to airport. It's along the way. Spend 2 hours there, more if you're into crystals and cravings cause there is a whole street selling these at the foot of the mountain.

Mekong delta can book a tour and go in the morning. I booked with Sinh Cafe and departed around 9am. By the time come back is around 5pm. The tour costs only 230k, which is $12.

 

[roborovsky]

Try AirAsia, transit KLIA
Cheaper.

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

Checked airasia. It's more ex than Vietnam air.

 

[roborovsky]

You can transit at hcm, but don't schedule it too near to your arriving flight. Domestic Flights in vietnam are unpredictable. Most of the time will be delayed, but my last trip, it was brought forwarded an hour.

Golden bridge try to go early like 7.30am, before the PRC packs flood the place.
Spend 0.5 to 1 day exploring Danang city and the beaches. They're famous for the beaches.

Hoi an, my son heritage site and marble mountain are in the same province. My son need to go early like 8am, before it gets too hot. There are tourist buses that go there morning and afternoon. It will take up half a day. Then at night can go see Hoi An ancient city. both can be done in a day., Although it will be rushed. I personally like to explore cities.
Marble mountain can visit on your way to airport. It's along the way. Spend 2 hours there, more if you're into crystals and cravings cause there is a whole street selling these at the foot of the mountain.

Mekong delta can book a tour and go in the morning. I booked with Sinh Cafe and departed around 9am. By the time come back is around 5pm. The tour costs only 230k, which is $12.

Chose to reach hcm at local time 2.20 pm, connecting flight by same airline is at 4pm. Hope this give enough time. Since its a transit flight, there is no need to collect baggage & check in again, right?

Did you book with Sinh Cafe online or over the counter? So it's cheaper to book the tour at their local agencies? Klook seems much more ex compared to what you booked from Sinh Cafe.
Where's the meeting/pick up point for bookings with Sinh Cafe? Or do they pick up from your hotel?

Vinaphone SIM card is S$7.29 for 7GB at 4G speed valid for 30 days. Is this OK?

 

[grapewall]

Chose to reach hcm at local time 2.20 pm, connecting flight by same airline is at 4pm. Hope this give enough time. Since its a transit flight, there is no need to collect baggage & check in again, right?

Did you book with Sinh Cafe online or over the counter? So it's cheaper to book the tour at their local agencies? Klook seems much more ex compared to what you booked from Sinh Cafe.
Where's the meeting/pick up point for bookings with Sinh Cafe? Or do they pick up from your hotel?

Vinaphone SIM card is S$7.29 for 7GB at 4G speed valid for 30 days. Is this OK?

your flight is too near. If there's a delay in singapore side, or if the hcm custom is too slow, you will miss your flight.
Pick up point for Sinh cafe is at their agency at D1, De Tham street.. i missed the bus cause of heavy traffic, but they just simply put me on the next bus. Apparently there are 3 buses that morning. I went 1 day earlier to buy the ticket, but I've seen tourists buy on the spot and go.
Sim card is cheap there. A few dollars is okay.

 

[Henabi]

Otherwise. Take 7am scoot to hcmc and then take the 11am vn air to danang

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

 

[popdod]

anyone can advise on this?

is better to do it in sg then over there.
at least u can secure the booking.

Klook not bad.
booked one of their S.Korea trip.
though slighly more expensive than local tour.
but at least they r reliable.

 

[Henabi]

Checked airasia. It's more ex than Vietnam air.

Really??? I fly to Danang a few times transit KLIA...the pricing quite reasonable. Between 220 to 270

Maybe the dates you fly are considered "peak" bah

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

 

[kurtgoh]

is better to do it in sg then over there.
at least u can secure the booking.

Klook not bad.
booked one of their S.Korea trip.
though slighly more expensive than local tour.
but at least they r reliable.

yeah, kinda expensive
like $80 per pax for a day trip..

i think i have really change to much dong..

 

[kurtgoh]

any recommendation for cheap shopping?

Day 1
• tan dinh church
• ben thanh market (shopping, eating), Day
• cafe apartment
• pham ngu lao street
• bui vien walking street, night life


Day 4
• Binh Tay Market
• Saigon Centre
• Vincom centre, night time can go Nguyen Hue night walking street

 

[Henabi]

any recommendation for cheap shopping?

if want cheap shopping, you will need a local vietnamese to bring you to the local heartlands

without someone who speaks vietnamese, its very difficult for you. vietnamese people will just turn away if they can't speak or understand english.

 

[sunsetbay]

Probably some of kind of access management for reasons of safety and accountability, so that all trips out to the bay are with licensed operators for the set group of tourists from end-to-end ie registration for tour, transportation to Halong City, passenger list for boat. Previously, they had issues when there were so many visitors to Halong Bay, many of which were taken on by unlicensed tour operators on boats of doubtful sea-worthiness. As a result, nobody knew how many people were out there- not a good situation when disaster strikes or a case of over-tourism.

ya probably but the guide in the bus ride to halong bay took pics on everyone passport seem extra cos not all of the passengers were on the same cruise ride~

 

[kurtgoh]

if want cheap shopping, you will need a local vietnamese to bring you to the local heartlands

without someone who speaks vietnamese, its very difficult for you. vietnamese people will just turn away if they can't speak or understand english.

man.. thats disappointing..

i was told ben thanh market are more for tourists, super exp

 

[Henabi]

man.. thats disappointing..

i was told ben thanh market are more for tourists, super exp

Locals shop there too

Be prepared to haggle and haggle hard. Just chop 70% off the "listed price" Eve if they put "fixed price"

There are plenty of YouTube videos showing how to haggle in Ben thanh market

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

 

[kurtgoh]

Locals shop there too

Be prepared to haggle and haggle hard. Just chop 70% off the "listed price" Eve if they put "fixed price"

There are plenty of YouTube videos showing how to haggle in Ben thanh market

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

then i think i will just go for sight seeing.. can't speak their language

 

[We_Generation]

Hi guys I need some advice here. I want to book a one way flight back to Singapore from HCM via Jetstar but the currency is in donge, any way for me to pay in SGD? Or do I have to pay in dong through credit card?