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With a bit more research I have discovered (as pointed out above) that you can't hire a car and drive it yourself in Vietnam. Hire care rates include a driver! Not sure what happens if you want to drive somewhere and stay for a few days - do you have to put up & feed your driver somewhere....
Thanks for all the input. Lots of positive replies and none negative, so that is promising.
You can either do that, in case you want to travel on with that chap. Might be worth doing if he (will be a male anyway) seems to be alright. Otherwise you agree one-way transport only. Sometimes these folks have friends/relatives to stay with at some places, so you will not necessarily have to pay their for their expenses. It all comes down to negotiation beforehand. On the other hand, whilst traveling together, you could always treat him for lunch or breakfast. By doing so, he will be more committed and be able to talk to the kitchen staff, allowing you a better deal or better food or even both. It's not that expensive anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by spudboy
Vietnam is awesome, i'd go back there in a heartbeat. The wife and I went there 3 years ago and our holiday deal included a guide and driver. We did the tunnels and the meekong delta plus a few other trips down south, you dont want to drive as its a mad house. Cabs are really cheap and walking around Ho chi minh is a real eye opener if you've never been out of Aus. Go stand on the side walk at peak hour and watch the traffic, you'll have a ball. The food is great too, we stayed in a 4 star hotel in the middle of town and ate and drank at the hotel restaurant for a week it cost $350 for the both of us. We then travelled up to Hoi An and stayed there for a week. Thats the place to go for clothes, as there over 1000 tailors. we spent 2000 on clothes and had it all hand measured. Oh and goto the war Musuem in the capital city, its a shock to the system.
My wife and I went there last year for a two week guided tour with Intrepid Tours in June. Weather was hot 38 degrees but only occasional rain. Tour had total of 12 people including us and a very competent local guide. Started in Hanoi and ended in Ho Chi Minh City.
Travelled by bus and two overnight train trips with a friendly cockroach or two on the cabin wall! All part of the trip.
The old part of Hanoi is fascinating and easy to get around walking or hire a motor scooter driver. Had a night on a boat in Ha Long Bay (maybe the highlight) . A few days in Hoi An is a must, local crafts, crazy market, tailors where you give them a shirt of yours to copy and next day pick up the new shirts in any colour or pattern you choose , all for $30 each! or a new suit for $250.
In Ho Chi Minh City visit the war museum to see why we dont want any more wars !!
Food and services are sooo cheap, three course meal for $10, beers for 30 cents, half an hour in a taxi for $2. It is the land of the lukewarm, all hot food and coffee is lukewarm, all cold drinks are luke warm (relatively)
I would strongly recommend a guided tour as they are cheap and you get to see many things you might miss out on otherwise and you are told what's going on when the 11pm train actually leaves at 2.00 a.m.
No sitting on the beach with a G and T in your hand, you can do that at home, our tour took in small villages and rice paddies with water buffallo etc
I would go back there and do it all again tomorrow but I think we're off to China next year. Either that or cement the driveway!!
Cheers, Peter
Vietnam is a great place to visit, although I have only been into Ho Chi Min (Saigon) and Con Dao Island out in the South China Sea.
As others have said, visit the War Museum in the city, the tunnels and Reunification Palace. Go and have a beer at the roof top bar at the Caravelle Hotel, its not cheap, but a great view.
I spent several weeks on Con Dao Island, which had 13 prisons on the island. There is also a massive cemetery at the back of the prisons, which is a eye opener. If you are into history, this is a great place to visit, but is a 45 min plane trip away.
When in Saigon I stayed at the First Hotel, which is between the Airport and City. It was a good price, comfortable rooms (but smallish) and easy cab ride into city.
A Westerner in Asia is seen as a source of money, so expect to be overcharged for every transaction. There is not a lot of English spoken here, so communication can be difficult at times.
If you are going to Vietnam, I highly recommend adding a some extra time and going into Cambodia, for a couple of days in Phnom Penh and some time in Siem Reap, which has the temples.
Cambodia has good cheap hotels, the locals speak good English and they use US$, along with great history and places to see.
Greg
Second that about Cambodia, particularly Siem Reap, as Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom there are real eye-openers, vast beyond description. Very poor, the local money is worthless, and take a swag of US$5 notes. Some flash hotels. Be prepared to be seen as a walking ATM. Wear a money belt with the important stuff and pay for everything using a separate wad of notes.
Given that we will only have 2 weeks, I was thinking of flying in to Hanoi and exploring there for a few days, then the obligatory overnight boat on Ha Long Bay. I know 2 weeks will not do it justice, but can't be away from the farm/work too long.
Would also like to look around Hi Chi Mihn City/Saigon, but that is right down the other end, and not keen to get another (internal) flight on a dodgy plane, so perhaps the train is an option.
For timing - thinking October. Hopefully not too hot and humid then.
Also - I can't find any flights that don't have long layovers in Singapore or Hong Kong. Makes the trip to Hanoi into a 24 hour marathon. Might have to go and see a travel agent instead of using the internet. Don't fancy hanging around airports much at all.
If you wanted to start from the other end, Qantas codeshare with Vietnam Airlines from both Melbourne and Sydney to Ho Chi Minh. So a short local flight first, with no long layover in SIN or HKG.Quote:
Originally Posted by spudboy
(And Vietnam Airlines were not actually that bad!)
I also recommend a trip to Cambodia. I have sent alot of time in Asia, and Cambodia was one of the best places I have been to. You cant take it all in in a couple of days, and Siem Reap needs at least 3/4 days.
But if you can stay longer it would be well worth it.
Have you looked at Air Asia, and silk air flights out of Singapore? both are fine.
We flew into Ha Noi and trained it down to Saigon, stopping off at places in between. The train seemed exactly like to old Sunlander I took from Brisbane to Cairns as a teenager!.
Spend a day or 2 wandering around Saigon on foot if possible - heaps to see. Apparently the trick to avoiding getting hit by traffic when crossing the road is to keep a constant speed. Don't slow down or speed up to avoid anyone, it's accepted that they will avoid you.
Hue was cool, right near what was the DMZ. Khe Sanh was certainly an eye-opener. The Viet Namese govt certainly doesn't mind reminding everyone how they successfully fought off the invaders!
Hoi An was cool - don't forget to go out to the beach if you get a chance. You can even get a pedicure if it tickles your fancy!
Apparently Da Nang (China Beach) is a dive. Na Trang is Viet Nam's Gold Coast, and was actually quite a nice place. The seafood market was amazing - live prawns jumping in the basket, and lobster at crazy prices. The miniature mud-crabs were a bit of a worry...
Saigon for us seemed much slower than Ha Noi, but plenty of people I know found the opposite. Not sure why.
If you're up for it, apparently the motorcycle tours are cool (where you ride, not get pillioned). Have good travel insurance :)
2 weeks isn't enough, but honestly, how long is? If it's all you've got, go for it.
I agree Cambodia is great, but Laos was the jewel in the crown for us ;)
Have fun!