Vietnam

[chill_lax]

Hi, can I check will the money changer at hcm airport have better rates than spore? Thanks.

 

[audiovideo]

Hi guys, I will be visiting Vietnam in a couple of week. My itinerary is as follows:

Saigon - Dalat - Hoi an - Hanoi

Can I check if the overnight bus trip from Saigon to Dalat is safe for tourists and if the journey is bearable for a night sleep given the rocky terrains?

What is the recommended transport from Dalat to Hoi An and subsequently from Hoi an to Hanoi? Trains?

wow... you plan to do a vietnam chase chase chase?
how many days you plan to stay at each place?
these bus trips gona take up days .... is no malaysia highway ..
hcmc to dalat is at least 8hours ba .... check out tripadvisor

 

[audiovideo]

Hi, can I check will the money changer at hcm airport have better rates than spore? Thanks.

is not far from Bến Thành Market ...which is 16500?
you can check what sg $changer offer

 

[chill_lax]

is not far from Bến Thành Market ...which is 16500?
you can check what sg $changer offer

sg$ changer is ard 16000. any idea whats the rate at the airport? If change at Bến Thành Market, means I will not have any dong with me till I reach there.

 

[finale1]

Hi, will be heading to HCM for a week in June. Was wondering what are some of the must-gos in HCM, and perhaps a 1-2 days trip to other near cities/area? Thanks !

Nearby Cities
Dalat: "Genting Highland of HCMC" - 5 hour night bus
Mui Ne: See sand dunes, 5-6 hours night bus.
Nha Trang: Beach, 9 hours night bus.
Vung Tau: Beach city, 2 hours from HCMC city center
Phu Quoc Island: Locals go to this beach here. Think by plane.

Shopping
Saigon Square
District 7 - SC Vivo (new shopping center)
Tan Phu District - Aeon Shopping Center

**Avoid Ben Thanh Mkt, its hot, expensive and nothing much in there.

Food
Nikko Hotel Buffet: 1.3 mil dong for free flow wine and lobsters
Paper rice: street food. Very tasty - 10k dong

Personal Must Gos
War Museum - Understand how the Vietnam war is.
Independent Palace - Where the president stays
Central park - near Benh Thanh, at night there's usually loud music and festivities going on. Daytime and evening time, u can find locals practising English with Caucasians.

Massage
136 Ben Thanh - 300k for 1.5 hour hot stone, full body.

 

[finale1]

wow... you plan to do a vietnam chase chase chase?
how many days you plan to stay at each place?
these bus trips gona take up days .... is no malaysia highway ..
hcmc to dalat is at least 8hours ba .... check out tripadvisor

HCMC to Dalat daytime 8 hours, Night time 5 hours. Take the night bus. It flies like a plane at night.

 

[audiovideo]

HCMC to Dalat daytime 8 hours, Night time 5 hours. Take the night bus. It flies like a plane at night.

.. fly like a plane ... I no game enough ...
rather take a flight for S$50+ ... and within 30mins the captain will announce preparation for landing

oh... is it their local's holiday during these few months?
better no kana mega squeeze

 

[divingwithme]

Hi will be going Vietnam alone in May 28. Here is my trip:

Hanoi -> SAPA -> HA Long Bay -> Nha Trang -> Dalat -> Mui En -> Ho Chi Min for 2 weeks any advice for me? like where do i get sim card?

 

[liftstrong]

Hi will be going Vietnam alone in May 28. Here is my trip:

Hanoi -> SAPA -> HA Long Bay -> Nha Trang -> Dalat -> Mui En -> Ho Chi Min for 2 weeks any advice for me? like where do i get sim card?

I did HCM > Mekong River > Hanoi > hlong bay > Sapa for 2 weeks. SIM card should be available in the airport. 2gb was pretty cheap IIRC.

1) There's not much to do in HCM unless you're going to visit the mekong river which is great for a 2d1n stay. You could visit all the attractions in HCM in a day. The only really cool attraction was the war remnants museum. Palace, postoffice were meh.

2) Ha long bay 2d1n is good enough. Kayaking, squid fishing and visiting a cave. Although i heard if you go for 3d2n, the boats will bring you to a place where you can swim! Not sure if it's worth the extra money tho.

3) Sapa is great. 3d4n. 2N will be on the overnight train to and fro Sapa. You could spend one night in a homestay and another in a hotel in Sapa Town. You could do 2N in a homestay if you really like trekking.

4) I was there last summer. Hostels are cheap @5usd per night in the backpacker area. Pretty standard in both Hanoi and HCM. Visit the more established ones and it'll mostly be clean, comfortable and most importantly safe. I didn't book any prior to visiting and just wandered around the backpacker area to find a place to stay. They are pretty much everywhere if you're looking in the correct areas.

5) Safety: The roads are crazy. And be careful of your belongings, especially at night. Motorcycle snatch thieves are common. My friend's new iphone got snatched when he was out late at night.


Make sure you plan properly as Sapa and Halong bay and train rides can take up quite some time.

 

[divingwithme]

I did HCM > Mekong River > Hanoi > hlong bay > Sapa for 2 weeks. SIM card should be available in the airport. 2gb was pretty cheap IIRC.

1) There's not much to do in HCM unless you're going to visit the mekong river which is great for a 2d1n stay. You could visit all the attractions in HCM in a day. The only really cool attraction was the war remnants museum. Palace, postoffice were meh.

2) Ha long bay 2d1n is good enough. Kayaking, squid fishing and visiting a cave. Although i heard if you go for 3d2n, the boats will bring you to a place where you can swim! Not sure if it's worth the extra money tho.

3) Sapa is great. 3d4n. 2N will be on the overnight train to and fro Sapa. You could spend one night in a homestay and another in a hotel in Sapa Town. You could do 2N in a homestay if you really like trekking.

4) I was there last summer. Hostels are cheap @5usd per night in the backpacker area. Pretty standard in both Hanoi and HCM. Visit the more established ones and it'll mostly be clean, comfortable and most importantly safe. I didn't book any prior to visiting and just wandered around the backpacker area to find a place to stay. They are pretty much everywhere if you're looking in the correct areas.

5) Safety: The roads are crazy. And be careful of your belongings, especially at night. Motorcycle snatch thieves are common. My friend's new iphone got snatched when he was out late at night.


Make sure you plan properly as Sapa and Halong bay and train rides can take up quite some time.

Hey thanks for the tips! So I assume there is a lot of room left ? cause i plan to get there and book the hostel cause my itinerary not fix XD. For Sapa and Ha Long Bay i taking tour trip so should be cheap.

I planning to go to the sand dunes in Mui En. Is it possible to book a driver and fetch me there? If can roughly how much?

 

[liftstrong]

Hey thanks for the tips! So I assume there is a lot of room left ? cause i plan to get there and book the hostel cause my itinerary not fix XD. For Sapa and Ha Long Bay i taking tour trip so should be cheap.

I planning to go to the sand dunes in Mui En. Is it possible to book a driver and fetch me there? If can roughly how much?

Actually it really depends. Prior to reaching there/when we were there, we used the internet to 'scout' out hostels with good reviews. Then we went to find them. Usually our first choice was fully booked. So we usually asked that particular hostel whether they had any recommendations. We followed their directions and it worked pretty well twice.

When in Hanoi, it was late at night so we just booked in one hostel. it was REALLY seedy and we found out too late. (they had a tripadvisor poster saying they were 5 stars. Checked online after and it was 1 or 2 star only. I literally put a chair behind the door to prevent people from coming in unnoticed during the night.

So moral is just to be careful, plan a few choices and go there to find them. If not, ask those reputable hostels whether they know of any places to recommend. They are usually quite helpful. But places might be full as there are quite alot of travellers in Vietnam.

ALSO MOST IMPORTANLY. if you stay in hostels, try to talk to the other people there! they are usually very friendly. And i've made a few friends/gotten a few reccomednations by others.

Never been to Mui En so i can't comment.

 

[Dropkickme]

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[liftstrong]

Nice.

I'm going this weekend for a month in Vietnam but the opposite direction of yours i.e. HCMC - Mui Ne - Da Lat - Nha Trang - Hoi An - Hue - Hanoi - Sapa

@liftstrong: Did you trek Fansipan while in Sapa?

Hey, no I didn't. I booked with the sinh tourist (great reviews, but make sure you go to the right shop! Many imitations around) and they didn't offer the fansipan trek. Too dangerous/nobody wanted to go or smth. :/.

 

[finale1]

Hi will be going Vietnam alone in May 28. Here is my trip:

Hanoi -> SAPA -> HA Long Bay -> Nha Trang -> Dalat -> Mui En -> Ho Chi Min for 2 weeks any advice for me? like where do i get sim card?

Helo bro,
You are skipping Hoi An? In my opinion its a beautiful place good for 1 night stay!

 

[divingwithme]

Helo bro,
You are skipping Hoi An? In my opinion its a beautiful place good for 1 night stay!

I'm not too sure lei.. Is like out of the way cause need to train to Da Nang. scare not enough time.

 

[divingwithme]

Nice.

I'm going this weekend for a month in Vietnam but the opposite direction of yours i.e. HCMC - Mui Ne - Da Lat - Nha Trang - Hoi An - Hue - Hanoi - Sapa

@liftstrong: Did you trek Fansipan while in Sapa?

Nice! how long are you planning to stay over there?

 

[jing_kiang88]

Any resort recommendation for Mui ne? Im looking at Agoda and Im spoilt for choices.
Im travelling to HCMC in late Sept, still looking at hotels in HCMC and resort in Mui Ne.
Any suggestions on places to go?

 

[divingwithme]

anyway anyone do before para gilding at Hanoi ?

 

[twocottoncandy]

im transiting at vietnam SGN to Seoul, any comments regarding their airport? Have wifi?

 

[Dropkickme]

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