Vietnam

[erwinrommel]

Anybody traveling to Danang and Hoi An on 08 Dec?

 

[sgreview]

Have anyone stayed in Vietnam during first few days of CNY before? How is it like? Easy to find food around and shopping malls open?Looking to go somewhere to chillax during first day of CNY, maybe staying up to 2 weeks, but don't really want to travel too far.

And prefer locations that are cooling but not too cold, so places like Australia seemed too hot (summer) while Japan/Korea a bit too cold (winter) during that period. North Vietnam seemed to be perfect, was thinking between Vietnam and Taiwan. Or anyone has any good suggestions or recommendations? Especially if u had personally experienced travelling to any places during CNY, feel free to share more like how was your experience finding food and finding places to relax like massage or cafes/restaurants or shopping and maybe even sight-seeing?

 

[paladin]

Have anyone stayed in Vietnam during first few days of CNY before? How is it like? Easy to find food around and shopping malls open?Looking to go somewhere to chillax during first day of CNY, maybe staying up to 2 weeks, but don't really want to travel too far.

And prefer locations that are cooling but not too cold, so places like Australia seemed too hot (summer) while Japan/Korea a bit too cold (winter) during that period. North Vietnam seemed to be perfect, was thinking between Vietnam and Taiwan. Or anyone has any good suggestions or recommendations? Especially if u had personally experienced travelling to any places during CNY, feel free to share more like how was your experience finding food and finding places to relax like massage or cafes/restaurants or shopping and maybe even sight-seeing?

Not recommended unless you will be staying at beach resort and nua there. Many places will be closed and Vietnamese working in Hanoi and HCMC will return to their hometowns, so the cities will be ‘understaffed’. If you stay up to 2 weeks, it will be a waste not to spend it productively like tailoring or travelling to Halong Bay/sapa/ ninh binh. However, you probably have to pay more for services during this period.

 

[sgreview]

Not recommended unless you will be staying at beach resort and nua there. Many places will be closed and Vietnamese working in Hanoi and HCMC will return to their hometowns, so the cities will be ‘understaffed’. If you stay up to 2 weeks, it will be a waste not to spend it productively like tailoring or travelling to Halong Bay/sapa/ ninh binh. However, you probably have to pay more for services during this period.

Oh..din know that all/most Vietnamese also celebrate CNY? Just googled and saw it's also part of their culture/PH, thought it's only a Chinese affair..

I only have this period free to travel, actually don't mind just staying and relax at a nice value resort/hotel with a decent gym/pool/sport facilities and good/cheap massage and food around. Went to Hanoi and NInh Binh once. Any place u know that may suit what I am looking for? Thinking if 2 weeks too long, maybe will stay a few days, then fly to another location/country

 

[Henabi]

CNY is jin big deal in VN.
major cities like hcmc and hanoi are pretty dead during the first 7 days

most shops are closed anywhere from 7 to 14 days. Tourist centric places and tourist spots may still be open

 

[paladin]

Oh..din know that all/most Vietnamese also celebrate CNY? Just googled and saw it's also part of their culture/PH, thought it's only a Chinese affair..

I only have this period free to travel, actually don't mind just staying and relax at a nice value resort/hotel with a decent gym/pool/sport facilities and good/cheap massage and food around. Went to Hanoi and NInh Binh once. Any place u know that may suit what I am looking for? Thinking if 2 weeks too long, maybe will stay a few days, then fly to another location/country

It’s called Tet to them. Don’t say Chinese New Year to them, it’s not Chinese to them in any way. Many countries celebrate Lunar new year, including Korea and Philippine.

 

[paladin]

CNY is jin big deal in VN.
major cities like hcmc and hanoi are pretty dead during the first 7 days

most shops are closed anywhere from 7 to 14 days. Tourist centric places and tourist spots may still be open

The Vietnamese working in major cities go back to hometowns, same as Chinese, so shops are closed for 7-14 days

 

[paladin]

Oh..din know that all/most Vietnamese also celebrate CNY? Just googled and saw it's also part of their culture/PH, thought it's only a Chinese affair..

I only have this period free to travel, actually don't mind just staying and relax at a nice value resort/hotel with a decent gym/pool/sport facilities and good/cheap massage and food around. Went to Hanoi and NInh Binh once. Any place u know that may suit what I am looking for? Thinking if 2 weeks too long, maybe will stay a few days, then fly to another location/country

5 star resort or hotel should still operate like normal, like banyan tree. The other option is to visit Danang, Hoi An, hue. Most people working in Hoi an and hue are locals, so shops may open after 3 days. I also don’t expect Bana hills to close for 7 days.

 

[Kunkka]

if got 9 days best to go where?

 

[paladin]

if got 9 days best to go where?

Depends on visiting month and corresponding weather. Jan to April good to go central Vietnam, can clear Danang, Bana hills, Hoi An, Hue in one go. If adventurous can even go to explore Vinh Moc tunnels and Phong nha cave

can also go HCMC, Mui Ne, da Lat, nha trang or HCMC, Phu quoc

 

[Kunkka]

Depends on visiting month and corresponding weather. Jan to April good to go central Vietnam, can clear Danang, Bana hills, Hoi An, Hue in one go. If adventurous can even go to explore Vinh Moc tunnels and Phong nha cave

can also go HCMC, Mui Ne, da Lat, nha trang or HCMC, Phu quoc

so hanoi a no go. planning for dec or jan

 

[Henabi]

if got 9 days best to go where?

You just wanna sight see or going alone or with partner or with family?

 

[Henabi]

so hanoi a no go. planning for dec or jan

North vietnam is very cold for Dec and Jan, especially Hanoi, Ha Long region.

January is usually the coldest. Day time around 12degrees and night time Can go as low as 6 degrees. Besides that, these two months have the least raining days

but if it rains, its usually very fine drizzle
If you wish to escape the heat in singapore, cN consider Hanoi for Dec n Jan

 

[Kunkka]

You just wanna sight see or going alone or with partner or with family?

with fam. sight seeing is good too. i like more adventure but historic sites are fine.

 

[Henabi]

with fam. sight seeing is good too. i like more adventure but historic sites are fine.

Can consider SAPA 3-day 2-night
Zip lining in quang binh
Cave visits in quang binh
Kayaking in ha long bay

 

[Innocuous*]

Youtrip - 173,580
Google - 173,850
Jewellery/ Goldsmith Shop - 175,800

 

[erwinrommel]

Have anyone stayed in Vietnam during first few days of CNY before? How is it like? Easy to find food around and shopping malls open?Looking to go somewhere to chillax during first day of CNY, maybe staying up to 2 weeks, but don't really want to travel too far.

And prefer locations that are cooling but not too cold, so places like Australia seemed too hot (summer) while Japan/Korea a bit too cold (winter) during that period. North Vietnam seemed to be perfect, was thinking between Vietnam and Taiwan. Or anyone has any good suggestions or recommendations? Especially if u had personally experienced travelling to any places during CNY, feel free to share more like how was your experience finding food and finding places to relax like massage or cafes/restaurants or shopping and maybe even sight-seeing?

Please don't go during lunar new year... Vietnamese celebrate lunar new year too, known as Tết. At least 60-70% of them will go back to other provinces to celebrate. Just like you don't go taipei during chinese new year cuz of them will go south to return to their hometown.

 

[paladin]

North vietnam is very cold for Dec and Jan, especially Hanoi, Ha Long region.

January is usually the coldest. Day time around 12degrees and night time Can go as low as 6 degrees. Besides that, these two months have the least raining days

but if it rains, its usually very fine drizzle
If you wish to escape the heat in singapore, cN consider Hanoi for Dec n Jan

Some places like Sapa may be freezing but that is not the worst, worst is Sapa hotel room has no heater and rely on traditional fire place. Because Vietnam is tropical country, heater in room is scarce , unlike places in Japan, China or Korea. Not sure if Fansipan can go up.

morning time, the face is frozen. Dec to Jan, if go Hanoi, very limited because attractions in Northern side mostly outdoors. Some more, compared to HCMC, I find Hanoians more traditional, so Tet may also close longer.

 

[Henabi]

Some places like Sapa may be freezing but that is not the worst, worst is Sapa hotel room has no heater and rely on traditional fire place. Because Vietnam is tropical country, heater in room is scarce , unlike places in Japan, China or Korea. Not sure if Fansipan can go up.

morning time, the face is frozen. Dec to Jan, if go Hanoi, very limited because attractions in Northern side mostly outdoors. Some more, compared to HCMC, I find Hanoians more traditional, so Tet may also close longer.

I guess that's the whole point of going to places like Vietnam ^.^ many super nice places or IG-worthy are outdoors. its just the cold weather in Dec & Jan.
But imo, that's something to look forward to...
Go to a country which is within 2-3 hrs flight from Sin and Escape the heat.
The expenses also slightly lower.

 

[beemochan]

At the city center, I stayed at Sapa mountain queen hotel. Inverter heater aircon and the manager speaks good English and can recommend places to eat and visit. Simple but filling breakfast pancakes/pho/porridge and the only downside is up a small hill and hot water seems to be limited supply which he mentioned hotel in process of upgrading.

The 4-5 star hotels are next level but only hike past to the Hmong village. Think might be especially cold if doing homestay cause just blankets in a wood lodge.

Fansipan has 3 routes of varying difficulty and from what the guard told me at the peak, a permit is required to climb. Google weather not that accurate as we gave up climbing due to predicted rain but was sunny the next day.