Thread: Vietnam travel tips/suggestions

I worked in Vietnam for a few months in total, but only really got to see Ho Chi Minh City and the immediate area.

I stayed in 5 star hotels, but that was because work were paying, but there were many much cheaper options available.

I can certainly recommend spending at least 2 or 3 days there - the Reunification Palace, the Cu Chi tunnels just outside the city, a cruise up the Saigon River. Even just landing at Saigon airport and seeing the Vietnam war era Hueys and other war materiel still parked in the aircraft shelters by the side of the runway is fascinating.

Outside of that, I've no idea I'm afraid. However, the Vietnamese people are very warm, friendly and hospitable. Enjoy!

Hi mate,
good on ya'! Viet Nam is certainly an interesting place and there is lots (!!!) of stuff to see. You failed to mention where you will be going to stay as in only two weeks time yo are hardly going to see the whole country.
I have been there several years ago, being in the Northern part of the country. Ha Noi has many interesting sites, but as said, it was a while ago I have been there so things may have changed as to what is worth visiting these days. Other sites worth visiting in the northern parts are Ha Long Bay, definitely worth a visit. Part of the place certainly by now has evolved into something of a resort (a lot of building was going on when we were there), so try to find a place to stay a bit off the beaten track. Should be not too difficult.
Another recommended place are the mountains towards the chinese border. Nice villages and some ethnic minorities made the area especially interesting for us. Some villages had day-round radio broadcast through loudspeakers at every corner. Stay away from these (if that is still an issue).
There are a lot of interesting places, ancient temples and stuff like that south from Ha Noi, so two weeks will only allow you a glimpse, actually.
I can only recommend a visit. As with (almost) all things Asia, there are plenty of people everywhere, they like it loud and a smile works wonders.
Cheers and safe travels!

My Army buddy, took his family there for a holiday , then went with some army mates later again to tour some more.
One of my doctors has been there twice in the last 12 months, they all said a great place to go to.

Yeah - we've had a few people saying what a great holday they had there, hence the thought to go there.

Is it feasable to hire a car and get around independently, or is that a sure fire path to divorce? I don't imagine there are many street signs in English!

I checked out the Cu Chi tunnels on Wikipedia - any tour that includes firing an M16 and an AK47 has got to be worth a look

My Bro and his Mrs leave today for a 3 week guided tour.Remind me in a few weeks and I will let you know how they went.Its possibly one of the SBS cooks tour.
They holiday a fair bit in Bali and ****et,they wanted to do something different.
Andrew

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

My Bro and his Mrs leave today for a 3 week guided tour.Remind me in a few weeks and I will let you know how they went.Its possibly one of the SBS cooks tour.
They holiday a fair bit in Bali and ****et,they wanted to do something different.
Andrew

Hows that!!!! It seems the swear filter thinks ****et is a swear word
Andrew

We travelled independently and booked a budget hotel in the French Quarter in Hanoi. Interesting area. Little French cafes. Walking distance to the thousands of little shops for some fun bargaining. Everything is cheap, but be fussy about quality. Its very cold in winter.
The Water Puppets were good and there is a nice lake nearby. ANZ has a big branch nearby with ATMs that are safe to use. The motorcycle traffic is unbelievable, so be careful when walking around.
We went into a travel agent in the French Quarter and booked a Ha Long Bay two-night cruise, which included a car and driver to and from Hanoi. I have driven a lot in Asia, but I don't recommend driving in Vietnam - the potential for trouble with officials if there is an accident is too great. Its cheap to hire a taxi and driver. You have to remember its an authoritarian communist state and, as a foreigner, you have no rights. On the other hand, the individuals we dealt with were mostly very friendly. They're just people trying to survive.
Stay on a junk if possible, its special. We went way out into the islands. I took hundreds of pics.
Remember you have to get a visa before you go - if you just arrive at the airport without it they can send you back on the next flight out at your expense. A travel agent should be able to arrange it.
Can't comment on Saigon as I haven't been there, but friends have and loved it.
There's a train trip between Hanoi and Saigon which is supposed to be good.

Got back from my 3rd trip a month or so ago
If you're into hiking and are going up north, visit Sapa. Incredible place, train ride there is quite an experience.
Be careful about which taxis you use, there are quite a few that are pretty dodgy. Don't be afraid to go a bit off the beaten path, best dinner I've ever had in Vietnam was in a dodgy side street cafe, where you could see the dirt on the cutlery
Enjoy it, it's a wonderful place.

P.S Can you stop by and see my mum in Hanoi, and tell her to let me buy another Land Rover?