Vietnam

[vogriphach]

I've been to both Hanoi and HCMC... I would say the latter is more developed. In terms of food, I think both are equally good. You can find great Vietnamese cuisine from the different regions in both cities.

However, in terms of sights, I find that there's a lot more to see in Hanoi than in HCMC. You can see a lot more ancient buildings, cultural places, and not to mention that it's near Ha Long Bay which is a famous UNESCO site.

If you prefer shopping, HCMC would be better though, not to mention it's nearer to Singapore.

 

[kazuki666]

I've been to both Hanoi and HCMC... I would say the latter is more developed. In terms of food, I think both are equally good. You can find great Vietnamese cuisine from the different regions in both cities.

However, in terms of sights, I find that there's a lot more to see in Hanoi than in HCMC. You can see a lot more ancient buildings, cultural places, and not to mention that it's near Ha Long Bay which is a famous UNESCO site.

If you prefer shopping, HCMC would be better though, not to mention it's nearer to Singapore.

thanks for the info

when u say shopping in HCMC, are there any stuff in particular? Similar like bangkok?

I am thinking something F&E ard 3-4days in early Feb

 

[30SecondPsychology]

Are you looking to do a YEP in 2012? We have a team looking for members. They will be heading to Vietnam for 2 weeks either in the month of May or June! The goals of Project Quang Nam is to provide guidance to Quang Nam village youths through a series of activities. Through this project, the local youths will pick up skills (e.g. leadership, carpentry, English) that will be valuable and useful for their future. The activities they will be involved in are: 1) Painting and renovation of the schools (from kindergarten to primary and secondary) 2) Carpentry (building of school furniture such as tables and chairs) 3) Setup of sports facilities (badminton, soccer, etc) 4) English lessons If you are keen you may email Clarice_song@pa.gov.sg by 31 Dec 2011!

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[Yingmu]

Maybe u can consider hanoi. Just came back from hanoi. It was an awesome trip.
The weather was good, food was good, people we met are friendly.
Halong bay is a must to visit when in hanoi.
There are quite a number of places to visit in hanoi, haolo prison, hcm museum, temple of literature, west lake, and old quarter area.
I would recommend you to stay in old quarter. Central of everything and brings you back to the past.

Cheers

Hello, will be going to Hanoi and Halong bay this week. I understand that its winter over at the northern area of Vietnam i.e. Hanoi. Any advice on the attire to combat the weather like jeans a must?

Dong Xuan market, worth spending time over there?

Cheers!

 

[AshleyRiot]

Will be spending my last few days of the year and first few days of the new year in HCMC with my friends...first timer in Vietnam...

Was wondering which resort towns you guys would recommend which is near to HCMC (not that up north to Hanoi) to spend 2 days in...my friends had booked Nha Trang very early in advance unlike the last minute gatecrasher like me but unfortunately, there are no more seats for VN Airlines to Nha Trang on those days...thus I couldn't join them Hence, I am looking for alternative places which are similar to Nha Trang...

Cheers

 

[excalibur324]

Will be spending my last few days of the year and first few days of the new year in HCMC with my friends...first timer in Vietnam...

Was wondering which resort towns you guys would recommend which is near to HCMC (not that up north to Hanoi) to spend 2 days in...my friends had booked Nha Trang very early in advance unlike the last minute gatecrasher like me but unfortunately, there are no more seats for VN Airlines to Nha Trang on those days...thus I couldn't join them Hence, I am looking for alternative places which are similar to Nha Trang...

Cheers

Mui ne is good substitute for Nha trang. Its off peak season in Nha trang now anyway. Waves are big and low temp, beaches are cordoned off. Mui ne is more relax resort town

 

[excalibur324]

Hello, will be going to Hanoi and Halong bay this week. I understand that its winter over at the northern area of Vietnam i.e. Hanoi. Any advice on the attire to combat the weather like jeans a must?

Dong Xuan market, worth spending time over there?

Cheers!

DOng Xuan market u can go in the morning, but its more of wholesale stuff. Some shops so sell item by item. worth a morning walk for like 15 mins if u live near old quarter.

Hanoi around 16 17 deg celsius. quite cooling. jeans are a jacket/wind breaker helps to combat cold. many shops if you did not bring enough warm clothings.

 

[excalibur324]

Just curious.

a typical 1st timer to Vietnam, where would u guys recommend to go?
I am trying to arrange a hotel most convenient to places I may be going.

Btw, I am targeting to go from 9-12feb. U all think its a gd period?


Cheers

Hanoi is good. can go to various places like Halong bay, Sapa and Tam Coc if you love the nature and beauty.

Many cheap guesthouse and hotel in the old quarter and around the lake.

 

[excalibur324]

One pax is ok. but have to be very vigilant with your bag, esp sling bags. motorbike snatch thefts are everywhere! Try not to flaunt or use your expensive phones when you are walking!

Beware of taxi scams. i only took vinasun or mai linh taxis.

Accomodation wise can take ha my or a&em. cheap and good.

Look out for tourist police. light green uniform. approach them if you need help with directions or even crossing the road! But not all speak english!

And tipping is important. even in small coffeeshops or taking taxi.

Hope ive helped. haha

tipping in not necessary. at least i did not tip for the 30days in spent in vietnam in the calender year 2011

 

[LightBuzz]

just came back from hcm
some advise to those first timer going there.

DO NOT take taxi straight from the international vietnam airport, turn to the right toward the domestic airport and take only vinasun or mai linh taxi, they are the honest one so far i took, don't assume the taxi go by meter will be honest, i took one from international airport (other taxi company) to my hotel cost me 550,000 dong, which should not more than 160,000 dong.
and you should prepare some small change dong before you arrive as the taxi driver will talk crap and said no small change, ask you to give him tips...

check and agreed the price before you buy anything in the street as well, we bought a coconut drink and the street seller open the conconut before we ask him for the price, the coconut cost 100,000 dong (about $6-7) not agreed with the price, we give him 40,000 dong and walk away leaving him shouting at us.

When walking the street many cyclos or motorbike will ask to give you a lift, check the price first as they will mark up as high as they can, 1 cyclos quote me 150,000 dong for a less than 5minute driver which i ask him to fly kite

Careful with the traffic as it is the most culture shock for most ppl especially singaporen,the motorist and driver there do not give way and you must be alert enough when crossing the road, most of the road do not have traffic light except zebra crossing which are useless as most of them do not follow the traffic rule.

And lastly, my taxi fare from my hotel (in the city) to airport cost me only 120,000 dong

 

[alanjw55]

Im no expert in this but i went to HCMC in June alone this year.

Day 1
Check in hotel
Take a map and start walking around the city, visiting places like the church, the post office, reunification palace, war museum, ben thanh market, cityhall, backpacker area and stuffs.

Day 2
Book a day tour out of the city, maybe to CaoDai Temple and Vietnam war tunnel for around 10-12USD. back at night go for ben thanh night market

Day 3
Getting ready to check out and leave HCMC. visit those place you haven been to. maybe chinatown?

Hope this helps.

Can check which hotel u stayed??

 

[katarina]

how much from Hanoi airport to old quarter area?

 

[kaicheng83]

USD 15
"The message is too short"

 

[excalibur324]

how much from Hanoi airport to old quarter area?

take the vietnam airline bus shuttle. 2USD

 

[excalibur324]

just came back from hcm
some advise to those first timer going there.

DO NOT take taxi straight from the international vietnam airport, turn to the right toward the domestic airport and take only vinasun or mai linh taxi, they are the honest one so far i took, don't assume the taxi go by meter will be honest, i took one from international airport (other taxi company) to my hotel cost me 550,000 dong, which should not more than 160,000 dong.
and you should prepare some small change dong before you arrive as the taxi driver will talk crap and said no small change, ask you to give him tips...

check and agreed the price before you buy anything in the street as well, we bought a coconut drink and the street seller open the conconut before we ask him for the price, the coconut cost 100,000 dong (about $6-7) not agreed with the price, we give him 40,000 dong and walk away leaving him shouting at us.

When walking the street many cyclos or motorbike will ask to give you a lift, check the price first as they will mark up as high as they can, 1 cyclos quote me 150,000 dong for a less than 5minute driver which i ask him to fly kite

Careful with the traffic as it is the most culture shock for most ppl especially singaporen,the motorist and driver there do not give way and you must be alert enough when crossing the road, most of the road do not have traffic light except zebra crossing which are useless as most of them do not follow the traffic rule.

And lastly, my taxi fare from my hotel (in the city) to airport cost me only 120,000 dong

from HCMC airport take the local bus 152 outside the airport. cost 4000Dong but foreigner plus luggage they will charge 10 000 Dong. still cheap.

 

[katarina]

take the vietnam airline bus shuttle. 2USD

can bring us to any hotel in old quarter or stop at 1 place only?

 

[excalibur324]

can bring us to any hotel in old quarter or stop at 1 place only?

stop outside vietnam airline office. very near the lake.

 

[katarina]

stop outside vietnam airline office. very near the lake.

Thanks~~ I am wondering if anyone tried paying USD$1 or USD$2 more to them to bring us directly to our hotel in old quarter?

 

[katarina]

Hw is the current weather in Hanoi ???

 

[Singlet]

anyone going to Viet during early march'12 ?
planning to stay like 5days there (HCMC/Hanoi), backpack style.

Hanoi air tix is 2x of HCMC, wonder if it is worth the money...
I heard from bros that both roughly the same...