Vietnam

[Techadd]

Thanks.
I will bring some USD and use dong for normal shopping.

During shopping they quote us in USD, if we tell them payment in Dong. Will the exchange rate not good?

Definitely will short change you..if they tell u USD and u ask to pay in Dong..you can rbing some dollars, but you dun ahve to bring that much..

 

[therat]

Thanks jokerpoker81, natas and Techadd for the advice.

I plan to go there to buy NorthFace backbag and some coffee.

If I had balance dong, can exchange back to SGD @ HCM airport?

For the tips, what is the normal rate for guide and driver?

 

[AprilRyan]

thanks bro....

so hanoi weather song song gao jurong la... next week going...

 

[natas]

Thanks jokerpoker81, natas and Techadd for the advice.

I plan to go there to buy NorthFace backbag and some coffee.

If I had balance dong, can exchange back to SGD @ HCM airport?

For the tips, what is the normal rate for guide and driver?

Yes u can change back in airport. Errr normal rate will be 20k-100k.

thanks bro....

so hanoi weather song song gao jurong la... next week going...

Ya weather is turning cooler but still raining. Lets welcome winter to Hanoi.

 

[MrTheROCK]

Is US$65 resonable for the below itinerary?
This itinerary is offered to me from Hanoi Charming Hotel as I intend to stay at this hotel in mid dec. Thank you for your feedback!

Halong Bay Exploration

(2 days – 1 night on Cristina Cruise)

Itinerary

Day 1 : Hanoi – Halong

08.00 Depart for Halong in 3 hours and a half (you will have a short break of 20 minutes in Hai Duong province).

11.30 We will take the deluxe Cristina Cruise from Bai Chay Wharf through Halong. En route, you have chances to sightsee many beauty spots of the world natural heritage including Fighting Cock islet, Incense Urn islet, Finger island, Toad islet, dog islet, Dragon, Horse Neck, Buffalo Head islet and many other strange shape islands. Especially, you will be cruised to explore the mystery of Sung Sot Cave (the cave of Surprise)

16.30 Arrive at Titov Island. Free time for swimming and kayaking before having dinner in the romantic sunset.

18.00 Get free time, enjoy fresh seasfood dinner and you can take part in cuttle – fishing contest and enjoy fresh cuttle. Overnight on the boat.

You have unforgettable feelings when staying on the upstairs of the boat, seeing the marvel of sea at night, making friends with many people from the neighbour boats., etc.



Day 2 : Halong - Hanoi

Early risers can enjoy a morning view of bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. You will spend the morning cruising. Come back to Halong city for having lunch in the restaurant. After lunch, you get on the bus to return to Hanoi. On the way back, you will have short brek in Hai Duong province around 20 minutes. Arrive in Hanoi at 16.00. Tour ends.

Note : The itinerary above may be changed a little bit at the time of booking, but the mentioned activities will not be changed.

Highlights

Ha Long Bay is in northeastern Vietnam. The bay stretches from Yên Hưng district, past Hạ Long city, Cẩm Phả town to Vân Đồn district, bordered on the south and southeast by the Gulf of Tonkin, on the north by China and on the west and southwest by Cát Bà island. The bay has a 120 kilometre long coastline and is approximately 1,553 square kilometres in size with 1969 islets. The area designated by UNESCO as the World Natural Heritage Site includes 434 km² with 775 islets, of which the core zone is delimited by 69 points: Đầu Gỗ island on the west, Ba Hầm lake on the south and Cống Tây island on the east. The protected area is from the Cái Dăm petrol store to Quang Hanh commune, Cẩm Phả town and the surrounding giants zone.

Price

From 65 USD/ person

Note : The price above may be changed at the time of booking

Included :

Transport with AC; ; Boat trip and entrance fee;
Vietnamese meals : 2 lunches, 1 dinner & 1 breakfast
Fresh fruit, Vietnamese tea;
English speaking guide; Sleep on boat and swimming; Kayaking to explore Luon Cave
Rooms with Air-conditioner

Excluded : Insurance, Beverage, Single supplement room, Personal expenses, Tips for tour guide & drivers...

 

[MrTheROCK]

Hello Butties, this is the sapa itinteraery. Hanoi Charming Hotel offers me US$135. Expensive or cheap? Thank you If price is ok, i will email them to book liao

Cozy Sapa
Sapa 3 days
Sapa is an old French hill station, nestled among the Hoang Lien Son Mountains near the Chinese border. Because of its situation near the tallest montain range in Vietnam, it is possibly the most scenic mountain location in Vietnam. The members of the Bla

Itinerary

First night: 20h00 - 20h30 pick you up at your hotel or your place and take you to Tran Quy Cap station. Night train to Laocai station.

Day 1: Lao Cai - Sa Pa - Lao Chai - Ta Van (B, L, D)

Arrive in Laocai station at 6h20 - 7h00: Pick up by minibus to Sapa. Check in hotel. After having breakfast and shower, we'll start the trip to Lao Chai village to visit the Black H'Mong have a picnic lunch on the way, then keep on going along the valley to Ta Van village where Dzay people lives. Then homestay in their local family house.


Day 2: Ta Van - Giang Ta Chai - Sa Pa (B, L, D)

Start the trip after breakfast, up to Giang Ta Chai village of the Red Dzao minority. Have lunch. Amazing sceneries and beautiful waterfall are to be seen in the afternoon before going up to the main road where you'll be picked up by motorbike/Jeep. Ride back to Sapa and you might stop to take photos on the way. Check in and have dinner at the hotel. Enjoy the night in the mountain town.

Day 3: Sa Pa - Cat Cat - Sin Chai - Lao Cai station - Hanoi (B, L, D)

Have breakfast at the hotel. Free time to explore the town on your own in the morning. After lunch you check out and leave your luggage at hotel, then trek down to Cat Cat and Sin Chai villages of Black H'mong tribe. Visit H'Mong hydro electric built by French and enjoy the waterfall in Cat Cat and very beautiful sceneries along the way. Then back to Sapa and refresh with a shower before transferred to Lao Cai station for night train back to Hanoi. Have dinner before getting the train at 19h35.

Day 4: 5h00 arrive at Tran Quy Cap station, Hanoi. Tour finishes.

Note:

You can stay in Sapa longer if you want.
The itinerary above may be changed at the time of booking
Highlights

The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sapa is in April and May. Before that period, the weather might be cold and foggy; after that period is the rainy season. In April and May, Sapa is blooming with flowers and green pastures. The clouds that settle in the valley in early morning quickly disappear into thin air.Located at 1,500 m above sea level, Sapa lies on the side of the Hoang Lien Son Mountains, 333 km northwest of Hanoi. Sapa’s flora is diverse, ranging from flowers to tropical fruits; among the most popular fruits produced in Sapa are apples, pears, peaches, and plums.Sapa has many natural sites such as Thac Bac, Thuy Cung Grotto, Gio Cave, Troi Gate, and Truc Forest. Sapa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143 m. Hoang Lien Son Mountains is also called the Alps of the North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam, but also in the Indochina Peninsula. The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations.To reach Sapa, one can take a train to Lao Cai and then a bus to Sapa from Lao Cai. On Sundays, Nung, Dao, Tay, Cao Lan, Paxi, and Xa Phong minorities ride down the mountain in their colorful clothes to take part in the Sunday market at the foot of Fansipan Mountain.

Inclusion

Included: Return train tickets (Hanoi - Laocai); Bus transfer; English speaking guide; all meals; Entrance fees; Twin sharing room;

Excluded: Beverage, Single room, Personal expenses, Tips for tour guide and drive...

Necessary things: Sun cream, Insect repellent, hat, sunglasses and trekking boots.

 

[jokerpoker81]

Thanks jokerpoker81, natas and Techadd for the advice.

I plan to go there to buy NorthFace backbag and some coffee.

If I had balance dong, can exchange back to SGD @ HCM airport?

For the tips, what is the normal rate for guide and driver?

i also changed it back at hcmc airport tht time, was told an extra 3% commission will be levied for all exchanges......Techadd said nv heard of such extra commission b4!

 

[therat]

i also changed it back at hcmc airport tht time, was told an extra 3% commission will be levied for all exchanges......Techadd said nv heard of such extra commission b4!

they play 'games'

 

[katarina]

any recommendation of the hotel???

 

[jokerpoker81]

any recommendation of the hotel???

go send a PM to Techadd.....can help on booking in hcmc....3,4 stars hotel.....

for budget 2 star tht i recmd, see my thread....

 

[jokerpoker81]

Thanks jokerpoker81, natas and Techadd for the advice.

I plan to go there to buy NorthFace backbag and some coffee.

If I had balance dong, can exchange back to SGD @ HCM airport?

For the tips, what is the normal rate for guide and driver?

back packs can go have a look at chinatown ( Cho Lon ) in district 5 if i rem correctly......it's juz a 2 storey building, can fin walking easily....

wholesale prices, cannot bargain for much discounts.....not sure if its northstar, but fren bought one much bigger than my existing back pack tht i bought in KL....at a much cheaper price......

bought mine in KL abt $50 or so....fren spent only about $30+ a bit nia, n it's much bigger....

 

[Raffles88]

any bro going to hcm on 24 oct?

 

[donald83]

is 5 days in HCM enough? wat can i do there?

 

[watertreader]

Thanks jokerpoker81, natas and Techadd for the advice.

I plan to go there to buy NorthFace backbag and some coffee.

If I had balance dong, can exchange back to SGD @ HCM airport?

For the tips, what is the normal rate for guide and driver?

getting northface bag in hanoi? is it cheaper?

 

[therat]

getting northface bag in hanoi? is it cheaper?

very cheap

My friend bought 1 middle size like 30 or 50 USD. i can't remember the price

 

[TOMMY771977]

is it original one?

very cheap

My friend bought 1 middle size like 30 or 50 USD. i can't remember the price

 

[AprilRyan]

sorry sounds very aunty.. in hanoi where to buy those material to make cheong sam ah?

 

[AprilRyan]

is it true at halong bay we can jump into the water and swim? is it clean?

 

[natas]

is it true at halong bay we can jump into the water and swim? is it clean?

Yes, there will be time for u to go swimming. It is clean.

 

[therat]

is it original one?

i don't see the different.

Thos backbag sell in Northface shop are made in vietnam