Vietnam

[mamboeidos]

Also for using grab oversea best to deactive ur cc parent or remove it in case u use it accidentally by default.

Use cash. Because if due to some reason ur card get charge wrongly etc it will be troublesome to speak to their cso

 

[paladin]

Hi Shadow84,
Thanks for sharing yr itinerary.
My plan is to go Bana hills by Grab, I think it might be cheaper than pvt car.
I have read that 1/2 day trip at Bana hills would be enough for a solo trip, so plan to leave ard 2-3pm.
I would plan to use the rest of the day, to explore abit more in the Danang city area.
So I guess my problem is the return trip to the city area at the odd time ( 2-3pm).

As per below, is a service provider shared by a forum member who had used the service recently.
so checking is there anything cheaper and reliable than the below.

https://danangtransfer.vn/en/danang-private-car-transfer/da-nang-airport-transportation/

I have been to Bana hills. Book private transfer cheaper than Grab unless you have discount offers

 

[paladin]

So far, i spoof gps and check grab prices frm my hotel to bana hills, its more ex than buying from klook. Hence, i rather get from there. U can try and see for urself.

17 usd = 23sgd, klook only $17sgd nia. Grab shld be abt 350k when i checked at 9am. YMMV

I used klook, cheaper than Grab to Bana hills

 

[cryn79]

I have been to Bana hills. Book private transfer cheaper than Grab unless you have discount offers

Hi Paladin,

Thanks for the feedback

 

[spawnstar]

Anyone face problem/issue driving in Vietnam , technically Vietnam do not recognize IDP from Singapore Was thinking of self driving in Phu Quoc instead getting one with driver .

 

[luckygal]

Just a wish. I wonder if Vietnam can be divided into south north and central. Easier to look for information.

 

[shadow84]

Just went to check on my vietjetair itinerary, They secretly changed the timing of SIN-DAD from 1050-1230 to 1115-1305, and no emails provided on this...

 

[CookiePoo]

May I ask is GRAB very easily accessible in Danang.
Like Danang to Bana Hill and vice versus.
Danang to Hoi An(day trip).
Plan to just use GRAB at our own convenient time and not restricted by Klook/Privett transfer.

 

[Jay9999]

May I ask is GRAB very easily accessible in Danang.
Like Danang to Bana Hill and vice versus.
Danang to Hoi An(day trip).
Plan to just use GRAB at our own convenient time and not restricted by Klook/Privett transfer.

Generally yes, but subjected to the availability around the area.

Haven't tried to grab out from Bana Hills as its pre-arranged with the driver. The rest of the area are fine to grab.

 

[CookiePoo]

Generally yes, but subjected to the availability around the area.

Haven't tried to grab out from Bana Hills as its pre-arranged with the driver. The rest of the area are fine to grab.

Thanks and appreciate for your fast reply. Is my first Vietnam trip thus quite clueless how their reliability of their GRAB service.
Ya I will try to pre arrange return transport from Bana Hills to Danang city.
Lastly I plan to stay late and enjoy Hoi An night market before returning back to Danang,hope is not too difficult to GRAB back to my Danang hotel at ard 10pm×/-??

 

[Jay9999]

Thanks and appreciate for your fast reply. Is my first Vietnam trip thus quite clueless how their reliability of their GRAB service.
Ya I will try to pre arrange return transport from Bana Hills to Danang city.
Lastly I plan to stay late and enjoy Hoi An night market before returning back to Danang,hope is not too difficult to GRAB back to my Danang hotel at ard 10pm×/-??

This you have to try, roads are generally smooth along that route, but I'd advise to travel early incase driver fatigue sets in, just incase.

 

[paladin]

Just a wish. I wonder if Vietnam can be divided into south north and central. Easier to look for information.

No need, moderator just need to create separate folder for Vietnam. If taiwan has a folder, why can’t Vietnam?

 

[paladin]

Thanks and appreciate for your fast reply. Is my first Vietnam trip thus quite clueless how their reliability of their GRAB service.
Ya I will try to pre arrange return transport from Bana Hills to Danang city.
Lastly I plan to stay late and enjoy Hoi An night market before returning back to Danang,hope is not too difficult to GRAB back to my Danang hotel at ard 10pm×/-??

Very difficult and recommended to stay in Hoi An, unless you intend to miss Hoi An Memories show which is world class.

 

[paladin]

I have been to northern, southern and central Vietnam, my recommendation is to travel a few cities/ town, spending a few days each. Day trip to far places isn’t worth it if the travelling distance is more than 2.5 hrs long

Hanoi, Halong Bay , Sapa/ Ninh Binh, Hanoi- easily 7 days or more
Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne/ Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh city - easily 7 days
Danang, Hoi An, Hue, Danang - easily 7 days too.

when you land in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Danang, or Hoi An, find a tailor and tailor some trousers (3 days turnaround) or suit ( measurement to collection 7 days or more for half canvassed suit). Don’t go for 24 hr or 48 hrs fused suit. Their workmanship is excellent for relatively low prices. if you bring your own imported branded fabrics, workmanship for half canvassed suit is less or equal $300 or 5 million dong. I have tailored many times in Hanoi, Danang, Hoi An and Saigon. Hoi An can make suit in 48 to 72 hours, but quality is lower. I sell branded fabrics in my signature link below.

the authentic cuisine in each city is different. Danang ( banh xeo) is different from Hoi An ( Mi Quang, cao lau, chicken rice, banh mi) and Hue ( Bun Bo Hue) , Saigon (com tam, Oc Dao - snails), Hanoi ( banh cuon, Bun Rieu, bun Bo nam bo, bun Cha ), Sapa ( Thang co -horse meat) take your time to savour the local dishes, some cannot find in Singapore. Even northern pho is different from southern pho.

don’t rush to chop stamp only

 

[edens_guards]

Which bank atm cash withdrawal fee is lowest in Hanoi? using Revolut card.

most bank atm does not support Revolut cash withdrawal, some bank does.

 

[Desmond_]

Which bank atm cash withdrawal fee is lowest in Hanoi? using Revolut card.

most bank atm does not support Revolut cash withdrawal, some bank does.

Tested TPbank 3millions (no fee) and MBbank 5millions (50K fee)

 

[paladin]

Now 1 sgd = 18,000 vnd at mid market rate.

gold shops in Vietnam offering higher than mid market rates? Anyone in Vietnam now to confirm?

 

[paladin]

A lot of people visit the main cities and halong Bay in a 4 day trip, but I would like to encourage you to visit Danang, Hoi An, Sapa, Mui Ne, Da Lat, Phu Quoc etc in a 7-8 days trip.

Honestly if you are bringing kids, Danang and Hoi An win Hanoi and Saigon any time. There are 2 world class amusement parks, Bana Hills French village, Vinwonders Nam Hoi An; 2 respectable amusement park, Hoi An memories show park, Sun World Danang Wonders. My son visited countless places and the morning after visiting Bana hills, he cried that he wanted to go to Bana Hills again means the place really special to him/ a child. If the weather is good, Bana Hills is really fun. There are free 3D, 4D, 5D shows, not even our universal studio in Singapore has all of them. Free unlimited arcade, bumper car rides etc. Even the German beer at the international buffets is nice. The river safari boat cruise in Vinwonders Hoi An is one of the best I took, much better than Singapore’s River safari. No extra fee, more happy animals.

And in Sapa, visit Mount Fansipan using the longest cable car ( Bana Hills also longest, just different types of cable systems) or hike and see the cultural lifestyle of tribal/ dialect groups. Much better then Genting Highlands.

spend 2-4 days each in such smaller cities and towns, i don’t think they are a waste of time. I see many of you just day trip to such places or spend max 2 days, really a waste because there are world class landmarks, cable car systems, amusement parks, shows that Singapore does not have or inferior.

 

[mercury95sg]

Hi need some advise.
if I stay at Sapa 3 days enough?
5 days trip enough ?
1st day Arrival at Hanoi
2nd day Travel to Sapa
3rd day Hiking
4th day Return to Hanoi
5th day Home sweet home

 

[paladin]

Hi need some advise.
if I stay at Sapa 3 days enough?
5 days trip enough ?
1st day Arrival at Hanoi
2nd day Travel to Sapa
3rd day Hiking
4th day Return to Hanoi
5th day Home sweet home

3 days is minimum for Sapa and enough to visit Mt Fansipan, the town centre, hike short distance, visit Hamrong mountain.

not enough for silver waterfall, weekend market where the women dress in tribal costumes or herbal bath.

note Sapa activities all outdoors so very weather dependent, last time when it rained, I still hike cause I have no time to waste.