Vietnam

Hungred

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Thanks for the reply. :)

Hmm, i am super very scared of cold!! So 12-15 degrees still consider cold for me. 1 thing i worry is, if to go during Nov/Dec, will the cruise to HLB subject to changes due to cold weather? How many days u went for Sapa and HLB? Did u trek? So will u recommend July / Dec? I think Oct not bad.



Thanks for the reply. :)

HLB for a day trip is very rush, mayb tht's y u no enjoy it. Need at least 2 days 1 nite. Unbearably cold!! Hmm, mayb i will skip Dec.

Dec is a raining period?

Why the Hmong ladies followed u?

After few holiday trips during the cold season, i try to avoid cold period already. Ard 20-25 degree is ok for me, but must with warm clothings.

Yeah but I think even if I stay on their ferry for more days, I would be bored to death alr. Haha.

Oh Hmong ladies are everywhere on Sapa streets. Some live higher in the mountains and some lower. They see us as tourists and wanna sell their hand made products thats why all follow tourists one.
 

finale1

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Hello i have done Sg-Hanoi-Hue-HoiAn-Danang-Sg 4 months ago in dec =)
Hanoi and Hoian are nice. You can stay 2 nights in both places each but Hue... 1 day is enough. Danang 1 night if you like beach.
 

finale1

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Hi Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am going for a 11days trip from Hanoi to Hoi An then to HCMC.

Got a few question hoping you all can help me!

1) how much do i need to change to dong or usd? or do i even need to change to usd?

My plan is
3d2n - Hanoi (not interested in halong bay)
4d3n - Hoi An
5d4n - HCMC

2) Any idea what the current and in activity in each of the town?

3) How much average is needed for two person?

Thanks!

Hello, i have been to Sg-Hanoi-Hue-HoiAn-Danang-Sg in late Dec 2014. And just back yesterday 4th April from Sg-HCMC-Dalat-HCMC-Sg.

1) Pls bring more VND and maybe 40% in USD. Most gold shops accept USD but not SGD. To change SGD into VND, you need to go to the banks like Vietcom banks in the city.

Hanoi: I can send you a food list (that i live by when i was there for 3 nights). Basically, if you dont go Sapa or Halong bay, 2 nights is more than enough. Suggest u stay over the weekend as there is a night market here that opens only on weekend.

HoiAn A really small and nice town besides the river. Heritage place rich in traditional flavour. Feel a bit like Malacca. Rows of shophouses. I think 2 nights here is more than enough. Rem to rent a bike here and move around. The best shoemakers and shirt tailors are all found here and you got to make some here. Prices range from 15usd up for shirts and dresses. Mens tailored shoes are about 45usd and up. Bring printouts of designs you want them to copy. If you need a contact to make shoes, do lemme know.

HCMC 4 nights in HCMC quite long. If you can, try to make friends with the locals. They are very friendly and more than willing to bring you out. You may want to stay near Ben Thanh market and chk out The Halo Hotel. 25sgd/night near to mkt. Other than food and shopping, you can consider taking a 5 hour night bus to Dalat from HCMC or a 8 hour overnight bus ride to Nha Trang, a beach place with lots of cheap spas.

DALAT: Dalat is like Genting Highlands, very nice weather, cheap hotels and theres a night market. You can visit Crazy House, XQ Village and a famous lake there to see sunsets. Have tea and coffee at Windmills cafe a popular hangout with students there. 2d/1 night in Dalat is sufficient.

Oh yeah, if possible... pls take a plane from Hanoi to Danang and from Danang to HCMC. These 3 places are really very far from one another. If you take bus from Hanoi to Danang (14 hrs), Danang to HCMC (14-16 hrs). And more often than not, the buses will take longer than estimated in the day.
 

finale1

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Tips on Vietnam travel

Hello, am planning my holiday trip to Vietnam, still reading up the info in the website, in my beginning stage of researching, many questions and doubts, pls help. Thanks a lot! :)

1) Thinking of going HCM City as my 1st trip to Vietnam, ard May, read tht best to avoid period btw April-Nov, correct?

2) 2nd trip will be to Hanoi (actually i prefer Hanoi more than HCM, prefer somewhere laidback), around Nov / Dec. I know this period is Hanoi winter season and will b cold!!

3) Or should i go Hanoi in may, HCM City in nov / dec? Or any month also suitable to go these 2 cities? Cannot decide when to go.

4) Been reading abt their public transportation, seems like the taxi drivers will swindle tourists money. And the motorists will snatch people's bags. Etc etc. is it that dangerous?

5) If going HCM City, with side trips to dalat and muine. 4-5days enough?

6) If going Hanoi, with side trips to halong bay, tam coc and sapa, 6-7days enough? Is trekking at sapa during nov/dec suitable?

Hello, i have been to Sg-Hanoi-Hue-HoiAn-Danang-Sg in late Dec 2014. And just back yesterday 4th April from Sg-HCMC-Dalat-HCMC-Sg.

1) HCMC is super hot now. abt 36C in daytime but its cooling at night. The hot stretch will last from April to June. but the air is less humid than Sg, so u wont feel too sweaty anyway. Personally, i stayed at backpackers lane BuiVien/Pham Ngoc Lau and Ben Thanh area (15 mins away) and i prefer Ben Thanh area more. More luxurious hotels in Ben Thanh.

2) Hanoi... Going to Sapa requires 2 days travelling. Going to HLB requires 7 hours all in by bus. In Nov/Dec, its gonna be cold and wet. When i was there last Dec, the locals advised me to go in April/Jun period and avoid HLB/Sapa in Nov/Dec.

4) Yes some cabdrivers are sharks and they dont turn on meter. But take Vinasun and MaiLinh group. These 2 companies are more honest. They run by meter. In Hanoi, its safer. The central government is there. In HCMC, its more dangerous. You have people from all over Vietnam trying to make a living here. I have spoken to 10 over locals in Hanoi/HCMC and they all claimed to have lost a few phones (kena snatched while they were talking on the road) in HCMC. But in Hanoi, they rarely lose anything. And... The Hanoi people dont like HCMC people and vice versa. Discrimination going on... =)

5) Dalat, u can spend 1 night there. Mui Ne, 1 night is enough also. You can reach these places by night bus. From my experience, night buses are much faster. Day bus to Dalat is 7.5 hrs while night bus is just 5hours as they make less stops and drive faster. Take Futa Bus, the most popular bus between cities. HCMC-Dalat costs me 230k VND one way. If you want, you can try to go Nha Trang instead of Mui Ne as Mui Ne is a smaller place with mainly locals. And i have heard of some locals talking abt Phu Quoc Island near Nha Trang. Seems a nice place.

If you need help, pls pm me or contact me at 8571 1733 Ryan
 

finale1

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Suggested route

i'm going for 8 days in april!

for now i have two choice. Sapa,halong bay and Hanoi. or Hue, Hoi An and Hanoi.

i was leaning towards the first one but i read that sapa is not as nice in april so i am rethinking. and i havent walked in years (last time is 5yrs ago route march in army). so i dunno will i die walking in sapa anot. hahaha

I been to all the places above! In my opinion, you can try
Hanoi (HLB ok, Sapa too far and will take 2 full days) - Hue (1 day) - Hoi An (2 nights) - Danang (1 night) then fly back to Hanoi.
 

finale1

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feel free to ask me/pm me about mobifone vietnam prepaid sim card, or find your vietnam mobifone sim card at : Travel Bazaar - www.hardwarezone.com.sg

day by day i learning more about sim card by u asking me more question.. eat sleep play sim card..

I bot a mobifone sim card for 50k dong + 200k topup. Entitles me to 500mb high speed 3G access. When the high speed 3G access is used up, you need to top up another 70k VND again.

Over 8 days, i topped up once only. 1GB data is more than enough as you have 3G access everywhere in Vietnam.
 

finale1

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Does anyone has recommendation for hotels in Nha Trang? budget between SGD100 - SGD130

TIA

Download expedia and search through all the reviews. Compare with TripAdvisor. Finally... book using Expedia with code MASTERCARDSG to save 10%. =)

One tip is to book the hotel very late. Usually, hotel rooms will discount heavily 1-2 days before arrival date. I book hotels with Expedia wherever i travel in Vietnam.
 

xiaojing11

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Hello, i have been to Sg-Hanoi-Hue-HoiAn-Danang-Sg in late Dec 2014. And just back yesterday 4th April from Sg-HCMC-Dalat-HCMC-Sg.

Hi finale1, thanks for sharing. Wanted to send u pm, but your inbox full.

U said u been there since dec and jus back, 3-4mths trip?
How much u spent in total?
Solo trip?
Did u join any day trip?

I am interested in hoi an and hanoi (halong bay and sapa also).

Not sure whether to divide into 2 trips or not? Go hanoi in june a bit rush for me. Mayb oct is ok?

Thanks. :)
 

xiaojing11

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i'm going for 8 days in april!

for now i have two choice. Sapa,halong bay and Hanoi. or Hue, Hoi An and Hanoi.

i was leaning towards the first one but i read that sapa is not as nice in april so i am rethinking. and i havent walked in years (last time is 5yrs ago route march in army). so i dunno will i die walking in sapa anot. hahaha

Sapa trekking so scary?!?!
 

finale1

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Hi finale1, thanks for sharing. Wanted to send u pm, but your inbox full.

U said u been there since dec and jus back, 3-4mths trip?
How much u spent in total?
Solo trip?
Did u join any day trip?

I am interested in hoi an and hanoi (halong bay and sapa also).

Not sure whether to divide into 2 trips or not? Go hanoi in june a bit rush for me. Mayb oct is ok?

Thanks. :)

Its 2 separate trips for me with each trip abt 8 days.
You can whatsapp me at 8571 1733 to inquire more as I won't be checking this page often.
 

xiaojing11

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Its 2 separate trips for me with each trip abt 8 days.
You can whatsapp me at 8571 1733 to inquire more as I won't be checking this page often.

Huh? Watsapp, hmm...
Got any itinerary to share with us?
Or do u hv any email address?
 

audiovideo

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How's the weather in Hanoi? plan to visit for 3 nights from 28apr

any advise for a 3 nights visit in hanoi
plan to go halong bay on 2nd day for a day quick look see
 

finale1

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How's the weather in Hanoi? plan to visit for 3 nights from 28apr

any advise for a 3 nights visit in hanoi
plan to go halong bay on 2nd day for a day quick look see

This time April to June. Hanoi like Ho Chi Minh should be hot ~33C. But night time is cold 25-ish?. Bus to HLB i was told takes half a day. So return is 1 full day and you can stay there for a night. Rest of the 1d and 1 night, u can stay in Hanoi near
Hoan kiem Lake. There are more things to do there. =)
 

finale1

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Hi finale1, thanks for sharing. Wanted to send u pm, but your inbox full.

U said u been there since dec and jus back, 3-4mths trip?
How much u spent in total?
Solo trip?
Did u join any day trip?

I am interested in hoi an and hanoi (halong bay and sapa also).

Not sure whether to divide into 2 trips or not? Go hanoi in june a bit rush for me. Mayb oct is ok?

Thanks. :)

Hello, i shall reply here for the benefit of all. Actually i think u can do Hanoi and Hoi An/Hue/Danang together. Hue/danang/Hoian is clustered in an area not more than 120km apart.

If time is limited, pls do Hanoi + Hoi An. Hue, half a day. Alot of temples, pagodas, historical relics. If you have been to Ang Kor Wat and the likes of Cambodia, then Hue will pale in comparison.

Danang 1 day/night max. Its a beach place. Otherwise its a huge town with nothing much to do.

Hoi An is a lovely small town like that of Malacca. U will find the best shoemakers and clothes tailors here in Hoi An and the food is great here. U may spend 2 nights here in Hoi An. Also, if u really want to go to a beach, u can skip Danang and go to a beach within Hoi An that is 4km away. Hoi An is 35 mins cab ride from Danang International airport and 14 hours bus ride from Hanoi. If possible, pls take a domestic flight from Hanoi to Danang and cab to HoiAn instead of taking the ardous 14hr bus ride.

You can find lots of travel agencies promoting day trips. Carry some USD just in case. Day trips are quite cheap under 20usd.
In Hanoi, u can buy weasel poo coffee ranging from 350k VND/kg and upwards. If you need a reputable shop to buy from, i can give u the address.
 

willu89

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Hi Guys

Need your help for a 4D3N itinerary.

I am flying off this Friday ( 2 Couples )

Can anyone advise me where to really visit. I only know Cu Chi Tunnel and Ben Tham Market
 
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