Vietnam advice

bells12

Hi,

Im heading with my wife to Vietnam in mid-november. We have 16 nights to play with & flying in/out of HCM.

We’ll probably do a couple of internal flights but just wanted to know how many days people would recommend spending in the below places, plus if we’re missing places on the below?

I’m guessing Sapa is worth the effort?

- HCM
- Hoi An
- Da Nang
- Hue
- Hanoi
- Ha Long Bay
- Sapa

Woden

Hi Bells12

I'm planning a similar trip in October/November but coming through in from Cambodia and exit in Hanoi Subscribing to see what people have to say and will put below what is planned currently with my thoughts

Coming in from Phnom Penh:

1 night Chau Doc
1 night Can Tho
2 nights HCM (3 seems typical here but will have already done the Mekong delta
4 nights Hoi An (unsure on this as its rainy season apparently at that time)
3 nights Hue (Bit long then usual here but doing a full day tour to DMZ)
5 nights Hanoi (which would include 2 nights in Halong Bay)

davo2001

Just back from a 3 week visit to Vietnam. Highlight was Hoi An and Ha Long Bay. Hue itself, while the city is a bit crap (kinda like santaponsa!), the temples outside the city are the best in the country IMHO, if you get a chance to stay in the Eldora Hotel then do, its a great hotel!

HCM was a real let down, just like any other city to be honest and it was the only place where we felt a bit unsafe, much preferred Hanoi.

If you have any specific questions then please ask.

solerina

Woden wrote: »

Hi Bells12

I'm planning a similar trip in October/November but coming through in from Cambodia and exit in Hanoi Subscribing to see what people have to say and will put below what is planned currently with my thoughts

Coming in from Phnom Penh:

1 night Chau Doc
1 night Can Tho
2 nights HCM (3 seems typical here but will have already done the Mekong delta
4 nights Hoi An (unsure on this as its rainy season apparently at that time)
3 nights Hue (Bit long then usual here but doing a full day tour to DMZ)
5 nights Hanoi (which would include 2 nights in Halong Bay)

3 nights in Hue is def too long, reduce it to 2, still fit in the trip to the DMZ and add your night onto Hanoi, which will be very short if it includes a trip to Ha long bay. Hue is a very dull city imo

solerina

bells12 wrote: »

Hi,

Im heading with my wife to Vietnam in mid-november. We have 16 nights to play with & flying in/out of HCM.

We’ll probably do a couple of internal flights but just wanted to know how many days people would recommend spending in the below places, plus if we’re missing places on the below?

I’m guessing Sapa is worth the effort?

- HCM
- Hoi An
- Da Nang
- Hue
- Hanoi
- Ha Long Bay
- Sapa

Spend as little time as possible, or leave out Hue totally, yes Sapa is fabulous....loved it !!!

Woden

Thanks guys for the feedback. Can I get some input on HCM. We'll probably arrive from Can Tho on the Saturday afternoon/evening. The Sunday will be a Cu Chi Tunnel tour and in the evening the the Vespa Saigon after Dark tour (originally was doing that the evening we arrived but think we'll be wrecked as up early for Cai Be market). The Monday morning would then be the War muesum and then in the afternoon/evening head off to Hoi An

Is this all too tight? Should I be looking at an extra day in HCM? Missing anything huge?

bells12

Thanks for the tips, I was going to do a DMZ tour from Hue anyone have a recommendation. Also for Halong Bay cruise, is it possible to book the day before in tour company office, I hear Ocean cruise is good, any thoughts?

I had to book one of my flights with Vietjet from Da Nang to Hanoi. Has their service improved recently?

Arbiter of Good Taste

We spent a day cycling in the Mekong Delta. It was the highlight of our trip. We had a private guide who drove us from HCM.

Be careful with Hoi An. It's rainy season at the moment.we travelled to Vietnam in November 2013 and decided against Hoi An for that reason. We were lucky as there were massive floods around the time we were there.

solerina

Indochina Junk are a good company for the along bay cruise. We booked online ourselves and found them to be brilliant. You can book many cruises the day before in Hanoi, but this particular company are usually booked up. I don't know of the one you mentioned

Shaque attack

bells12 wrote: »

Hi,

Im heading with my wife to Vietnam in mid-november. We have 16 nights to play with & flying in/out of HCM.

We’ll probably do a couple of internal flights but just wanted to know how many days people would recommend spending in the below places, plus if we’re missing places on the below?

I’m guessing Sapa is worth the effort?

- HCM
- Hoi An
- Da Nang
- Hue
- Hanoi
- Ha Long Bay
- Sapa

Hoi An, HCM and Sapa were my favourites from a July trip last year.

Hue was way too hot for us when we were there which made exploring a pain but might be nicer this time of year.

It's a bit of a distance to Sapa but defo worth it. Would look to cut out one or two from your list if you wanted to do Sapa in the 16 days and not feel knackered esp since you are getting back to HCM to leave.

Internal flights wise, we had no issues with VietJet. It does take a fair bit of time to bus it.

You can defo get halong bay cruises the day before in Hanoi but the rains were just starting when we got there so check the weather. would make a major difference to me.

Woden

I'm in touch with Indochina Junk at the moment for a 3D/2N cruise. Any recommendations. What size cruise did you go on 22 people/8 people/2 people? I like the idea of the dinner in the cave available on of the group cruises. I'm also considering the 2 people cruise but wondering if i'd feel a bit weird being looked after with just the 2 of us.

I'm also concerned with Hoi An in November and also that I don't have Sapa on the list but I've no booked any internal flights yet and the hotels are all cancellable so far so we'll see how it goes.

cdeb

I'd ditch a couple of the internal flights and take the train instead. Much better way of seeing some of the country. I did 15 days in Vietnam a couple of years back with no internal flights. Visited Ha Noi (4 nights), Ha Long Bay (1 night), Hue (3 nights), Da Nang (1 night) and Ho Chi Minh City (3 nights). 2 nights on a train as well.

So for example, train from Da Nang to Hué is just three hours and one of the most scenic ones in the country. Far better (and cheaper) than flying.

Agree with the general comments above - Ho Chi Minh is a bit ordinary (more of a colonial feel); Ha Noi is much better. Any hostel/hotel will have Ha Long Bay cruises available, and yep, you should be ok booking at short notice. 3 nights in Hué only worth it if you're taking a couple of day trips.

Woden

@bells12 this is the DMZ tour I booked http://annamtour.com/default.aspx?TabID=79&modid=393&ItemID=9 just based on lonely planet and some trip advisor reviews and such

solerina

Woden wrote: »

I'm in touch with Indochina Junk at the moment for a 3D/2N cruise. Any recommendations. What size cruise did you go on 22 people/8 people/2 people? I like the idea of the dinner in the cave available on of the group cruises. I'm also considering the 2 people cruise but wondering if i'd feel a bit weird being looked after with just the 2 of us.

I'm also concerned with Hoi An in November and also that I don't have Sapa on the list but I've no booked any internal flights yet and the hotels are all cancellable so far so we'll see how it goes.

We went on the dragon junk ( I think) there were definitely more than 8 people so it must have been 22. It was totally amazing, we did the longer cruise and it was worth every minute. The food was amazing. We also went to Sapa, we Booked in our hotel in Hanoi, loved it to be honest, it rained almost the entire time we were there but it was still amazing. It's well worth adding to the list.
It's also worth renting a car and driver, or motorbikes and going over the pass between Da Nang and Hoi an...top gear did it on their VN special...stunning !!!