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invisible999

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da bao ktv chick.

Ahem, if my understanding of Singlish has some merits, the above expression means a girl working at a karaoke establishment, to 'taken away' to spend the rest of night with the customer after posting 'bar charge' at her workplace.

Correct?
 
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figo16

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When is the best period to visit hanoi and sapa? i visited hanoi during july last time and it was damn hot , humid , cloudy and wet. Is early to mid december good? I prefer cold weather.
 
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Desmond_

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I only take vinasun cabs, if I need to. Got a bad experience with a green cab. Told him to bring me to a specific shopping centre, and he stopped at a fast food restaurant and said reached already. I ended up having to walk 20 min to the actual place. And he tried to eat my change too !I demanded it back !
Anyway, if you're at D1, might as well rent a motorbike. More freedom and fun to roam around. Cost only USD12 per day. Usually what I do is hook up my headset, put my phone in my pocket and let the voice Navigator led me to my destination.

Any reliable shop to rent from? Do you have a Singapore 2B license?
 

kefkaway

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When is the best period to visit hanoi and sapa? i visited hanoi during july last time and it was damn hot , humid , cloudy and wet. Is early to mid december good? I prefer cold weather.
For hanoi, july-sep is definitely hot, especially jul/aug and rainiy/stormy too. it becomes more pleasant from end oct. if you prefer winter weather then nov to feb are the best period. winter weather also makes exploring the old quarters a lot more enjoyable.
 

figo16

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For hanoi, july-sep is definitely hot, especially jul/aug and rainiy/stormy too. it becomes more pleasant from end oct. if you prefer winter weather then nov to feb are the best period. winter weather also makes exploring the old quarters a lot more enjoyable.

just booked my dec trip to hanoi and sapa but i heard scenery at sapa will not be nice during december :( But i have no choice since i can only take leave in dec.
 

dede1217

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Ho much is one typical meal in HCMC (exclude street food)?

maybe 2 to 4sgd ...
the ben thanh market nite few stores selling food abt 3+ to 5+ for chicken cutlet with rice, etc ....
have eaten at restaurant at d1 near japanese area, 3 course meal abt 7.20sgd
then fast food kfc is abt 55,000 vnd for one meal ....
think lotteria more worth ...
sometimes offpeak period, their one meal is abt 2+sgd ...
 

grapewall

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Any reliable shop to rent from? Do you have a Singapore 2B license?
I do have a class 2B. But in VN, you don't need to show your licence. Most pple don't have licences anyway. As long as you know how to ride, just rent from any shops in D1 will do.I think most hostels or budget hotels have rental services, or they know where to rent. Outside D1, it's very hard to find rental.I tried in other districts without success.
You will need to deposit your passport with the rental shops.it's a standard practice.
And in case you're stopped by the "brown ants" aka police, pay them 200k and you can get away. So far I've never been stopped. Guess I did a good job blending in with the folks.
 

idrinkecoke

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If i start my day at 9.30am by 8pm will i be able to cover these areas?

Dong Khoi Street
Bitexco Financial Tower
Saigon Central Post Office
Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica
Diamond Plaza
Independence Palace
War Remnants Museum
Saigon Opera House
Vincom Center B Shopping Mall
Saigon Square
Ben Thanh Market

I will arrive HCMC airport at 8.15am, i supposed i can get to my hotel in D1 by 9am.
 

figo16

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If i start my day at 9.30am by 8pm will i be able to cover these areas?

Dong Khoi Street
Bitexco Financial Tower
Saigon Central Post Office
Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica
Diamond Plaza
Independence Palace
War Remnants Museum
Saigon Opera House
Vincom Center B Shopping Mall
Saigon Square
Ben Thanh Market

I will arrive HCMC airport at 8.15am, i supposed i can get to my hotel in D1 by 9am.

when you visiting hcmc? you need more time to visit the museums
 

butterbarter

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In most 3rd world countries, you can rent a motorbike even if you don't have a motorbike licence. But the issue is insurance. Your life/accident/disability/hospitalization/travel insurance will NOT cover you if you get into an accident, you will NOT get a single cent. Your poor family will have to pay your medical bills. Imagine the burden if you are badly injured. Plus, you will have to pay whoever you hit too.

I've explained this in great detail in other threads already, and many people like to think "No problem, nothing will happen". Unfortunately, those are famous last words.

Think about this for a while before renting a bike without licence. If you've never been to Vietnam, the traffic there is really crazy, so best to reconsider your options.

Finally, in the past, Vietnam does not recognize foreign licences and international driving permit, but they announced that they would from this year onwards. Best to check if this is really the case because I can't find anything definitive from the Vietnam gov itself, assuming you have a motorbike licence.


Any reliable shop to rent from? Do you have a Singapore 2B license?
 

butterbarter

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just booked my dec trip to hanoi and sapa but i heard scenery at sapa will not be nice during december :( But i have no choice since i can only take leave in dec.

bring winter clothes as temperatures can drop to zero degrees. In one of the recent Decembers, it actually snowed in Sapa. Snow, cold and rain can make the hikes less comfortable.
 

fumofumo13

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In most 3rd world countries, you can rent a motorbike even if you don't have a motorbike licence. But the issue is insurance. Your life/accident/disability/hospitalization/travel insurance will NOT cover you if you get into an accident, you will NOT get a single cent. Your poor family will have to pay your medical bills. Imagine the burden if you are badly injured. Plus, you will have to pay whoever you hit too.

I've explained this in great detail in other threads already, and many people like to think "No problem, nothing will happen". Unfortunately, those are famous last words.

Think about this for a while before renting a bike without licence. If you've never been to Vietnam, the traffic there is really crazy, so best to reconsider your options.

Finally, in the past, Vietnam does not recognize foreign licences and international driving permit, but they announced that they would from this year onwards. Best to check if this is really the case because I can't find anything definitive from the Vietnam gov itself, assuming you have a motorbike licence.

How will the insurer know?
Can just say took motorcycle taxi
 

butterbarter

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Because the insurer will ask for police and hospital report if the amount is significant. Any serious accident is bound to have at least one of these reports.

If there is no police or hospital report, then the accident is probably minor and the amount is small anyway, then it doesn't matter even if the insurer doesn't pay.

Also if you somehow manage to lie and you get caught, you risk getting charged for insurance fraud.

And lastly, there's always the case where you could be in a coma or you could die, in which case, there's no way for you to lie about it, and your family will get nothing.

Insurers have millions of customers, so I'm sure they know every trick in the book.

Like many travellers, I've also considered riding without licence in the past. But after doing some research and weighing the pros and cons, I decided against it. Instead, I went to get my class 2B licence in Singapore before riding overseas.

Having the proper riding skills is important when riding in unfamiliar places where traffic rules are routinely flouted and traffic conditions are bad. There are times when I find myself thinking "Woah, all those lessons spent practising narrow plank and slalom in the circuit sure came in useful" after encountering some traffic situations.

The peace of mind knowing that I am covered and not breaking the law lets me enjoy my adventures in peace.


How will the insurer know?
Can just say took motorcycle taxi
 
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dleodleo

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just booked my dec trip to hanoi and sapa but i heard scenery at sapa will not be nice during december :( But i have no choice since i can only take leave in dec.

I went last December. Very nice weather.

Ya, Sapa is not so nice in certain places. The scenery in some places are still very nice. Sometimes it will be misty and photo background taken may be covered with mist. It depends on your luck.

My first day was misty with minor drizzle, I went Cat Cat village. The padi field was empty. Most of the time was misty and background cannot be seem in the photo taken. Even the church I took cannot be seen.

However, the second day weather was better, no rain and was very clear. I went to Ham Rong Mountain. Very nice scenery.

If you are lucky it will snow in December. I went tat time was around 15-17 degree. My kids enjoy seeing "vapour" coming out from their mouth when talking. We were so disappointed that it didn't snow.

Bring thicker clothes cos it can be quite cold. We brought winter clothes.

I went Free and Easy. Took overnite train to Sapa.

Do remember to go Halong Bay. 2D1N is sufficent.

Enjoy your trip!
 
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dede1217

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Just now check jetstar
they having club sales ... fly hcm oni 72sgd nett tax in two way
can fly fri to sun ...
think is a gd deal :)
 

figo16

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I went last December. Very nice weather.

Ya, Sapa is not so nice in certain places. The scenery in some places are still very nice. Sometimes it will be misty and photo background taken may be covered with mist. It depends on your luck.

My first day was misty with minor drizzle, I went Cat Cat village. The padi field was empty. Most of the time was misty and background cannot be seem in the photo taken. Even the church I took cannot be seen.

However, the second day weather was better, no rain and was very clear. I went to Ham Rong Mountain. Very nice scenery.

If you are lucky it will snow in December. I went tat time was around 15-17 degree. My kids enjoy seeing "vapour" coming out from their mouth when talking. We were so disappointed that it didn't snow.

Bring thicker clothes cos it can be quite cold. We brought winter clothes.

I went Free and Easy. Took overnite train to Sapa.

Do remember to go Halong Bay. 2D1N is sufficent.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for your comments. Intially, i wanted to visit sapa in july ( actually today lol) but i decided to visit in early december instead cause july is rainy season in sapa and hanoi is very hot. Some people said that july is a bad season to visit while others say it is the best time to visit sapa. Many also said the best time to visit sapa is from october to early dec :s22:

I have been to halong bay on a 1 day trip in july last year and it was hot ,humid and cloudy. Maybe can visit again since winter weather is better.
 

dleodleo

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Thanks for your comments. Intially, i wanted to visit sapa in july ( actually today lol) but i decided to visit in early december instead cause july is rainy season in sapa and hanoi is very hot. Some people said that july is a bad season to visit while others say it is the best time to visit sapa. Many also said the best time to visit sapa is from october to early dec :s22:

I have been to halong bay on a 1 day trip in july last year and it was hot ,humid and cloudy. Maybe can visit again since winter weather is better.

Oh you been to Halong Bay before liao, then no need to go again lah I think. Not much difference from winter and summer.

Enjoy your December Sapa trip!
 
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