Vietnam:Imperial Hue city or trekking in Sapa

letsgo2018 · 23-08-2018 11:31AM #1

if you had to miss out on a tour in vietnam which one of these would you omit?Imperial Hue city or trekking in Sapa

letsgo2018 · 23-08-2018 11:42AM

Is this good value for 1200 euro for a solo person

Day 1 Hanoi
means car
Arrival in Hanoi. We welcome and transfer you to hotel. Rest of the day is your leisure time to explore the city on your own.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2 Hanoi
means car
Hanoi city tour. Visit some famous places in Hanoi that includes The Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son Temple and Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.
Take a cyclo tour for sightseeing around the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
(B,L)
Day 3 Halong bay
means boat cruise
Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel. We leave Hanoi for Halong bay around 8.00am. Upon arrival in Halong, embark and have delicous lunch onboard. We cruise through thousand amazing islands and islets during the lunch. After lunch, take a refresh in your room before visiting Surprising Cave, kayaking, swimming… Go back to the boat, get a drink and enjoy a sunset scenery in the bay.
Overnight on boat in Halong bay.
(B,L,D)
Day 4 Halong bay
means airplane
Morning, breakfast on board. Cruise further and stop at a Pearl Farm village. Continue cruising through many island and islet to explore the hidden charm of the bay. Lunch on board while going back to the prier. Transfer back to Hanoi. Get to airport for flight to Hue. Overnight in Hue.
(B,L)
Day 5 Hue
means car
Hue city tour. Get a boat trip to Thien Mu Pagoda. We then continue our visit at the Citadel & Hue Royal Antiques museum. Visit Dong Ba Market and have lunch at a nearby restaurant.
After lunch, visit tomb of King “Minh Mang” and Tomb of King “Khai Dinh”. Proceed our tour at a nearby village where people making incense stick and conical hat. After that, we transfer you to Hoi An
Overnight in Hoi An.
(B,L)
Day 6 Hoi An
means car
Morning, visit My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Afternoon, visit Hoi An town on foot: Hoi An’s Colorful Local Market, Tan Ky Old House, Fu Jian Assembly Hall, and the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.
Overnight in Hoi An.
(B,L)
Day 7 Hoi An
means car
Breakfast at hotel. Your leisure time for walking around the Old Town for shopping and relax in Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An.
(B)
Day 8 Nha Trang
means airplane
Morning, breakfast at hotel in Hoi An. Afternoon, check-out hotel, transfer to Danang airport for flight to Nha Trang. Overnight in Nha Trang.
(B)
Day 9 Nha Trang
means walk
Breakfast at hotel. Your leisure for relaxation at beach in Nha Trang.
Overnight in Nha Trang.
(B)
ADD-ON: Join a day tour to dicover Nha Trang with Emperor Cruise. See detail here.
Emperor Cruises‘ purpose is to bring you “Every Moment Experience” of being treated as kings and queens, indulging in services such as music, fine arts, architecture, culture, cuisines, history, and outdoor activities where everything is all included.
Day 10 Nha Trang
means walk
Breakfast at hotel. Your leisure for relaxation at beach in Nha Trang.
Overnight in Nha Trang.
(B)
Day 11 Ho Chi Minh
means airplane
Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel. Spend your time at leisure in Nha Trang until we trasnfer you to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh.
Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh, transfer to hotel for check-in. Rest of the day is your leisure time to explore the city on your own.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
(B)
Day 12 Ho Chi Minh
means car
Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel. After that, take a city tour. Places to visit: The Re-Unification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral & the War Remnants Museum.
Afternoon, leave the city for Cu Chi. Explore the Cu Chi Tunnel. Return the city.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
(B,L)
Day 13 Mekong delta
means car
After breakfast at hotel, leave Ho Chi Minh for Ben Tre. Take a boat trip on Mekong river to a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, walking through the fruit plantation village.
Overnight in Can Tho.
(B,L)
Day 14 Mekong delta
means boat cruise
Around 6.30am, we pick you up to visit the Cai Rang floating market which is wholesale market of fruit and vegetable at its busiest at this time of the day. Keep cruising through the small channels system and visit a rice noodle making village. Experience the “Monkey Bridge” in the Delta.
Break for lunch then return to Ho Chi Minh.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
(B,L)
Day 15 Ho Chi Minh
means car
Enjoy breakfast at hotel.
Spend your leisure time in the city until we transfer you to the airport for departure flight.
(B)

Tour price includes

Domestic flights.
Hotel accommodations as tour described.
Room on boat in Halong bay.
Kayakking: Safe, clean and beautiful.
Aboard cookery demonstrations in Halong Bay.
Boat trip in Hue and Mekong Delta.
All meals mentioned (B,L,D = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Transport as per tour program.
English speaking guide.
Entrance and sightseeing fees.

cdeb · 23-08-2018 12:54PM

It depends on what interests you really.

I did the Imperial Palace effectively as part of a stop-off between Hanoi and Saigon. I didn't do Sapa; just wasn't something that had been on my radar.

The Palace is good if you're into that sort of thing - don't miss the theatre shows - but it's not spectacular. Certainly it's not got the grandeur of European palaces for example. Some of it is still in ruins from the war. On the flip side, it's not as touristy as I'd imagine Sapa to be, and Hue is a good base for war tours in central Vietnam and for a trip to Hoi An.

So really I think it comes down to whether you prefer mountain hiking or temples. Both are probably worth it if you have time for both

letsgo2018 · 23-08-2018 01:10PM

cdeb wrote: »

It depends on what interests you really.

I did the Imperial Palace effectively as part of a stop-off between Hanoi and Saigon. I didn't do Sapa; just wasn't something that had been on my radar.

The Palace is good if you're into that sort of thing - don't miss the theatre shows - but it's not spectacular. Certainly it's not got the grandeur of European palaces for example. Some of it is still in ruins from the war. On the flip side, it's not as touristy as I'd imagine Sapa to be, and Hue is a good base for war tours in central Vietnam and for a trip to Hoi An.

So really I think it comes down to whether you prefer mountain hiking or temples. Both are probably worth it if you have time for both

Do you think that tour is good value at 1200

cdeb · 23-08-2018 01:39PM

Value is up to you to an extent. Also, I don't know if it includes the add-ons?

By way of comparison, I paid US$18 for a 12-hour day trip from Hué, including two meals, entrance fees to tunnels (not Cu Chi), guide and all transport. No accommodation or domestic transport of course. I think my accommodation in Hué - two-star local hotel, but perfectly fine at that, with breakfast included - was about €10 a night (converted from dong/dollars)

So Vietnam is inexpensive. You're looking in that tour at €1,200 for 10 days - €120/day (if add-ons are separate). Say the flights are €100 each - so €90 a day for the rest. You could arrange a lot of that yourself for probably half the price - you'd be staying in less pricey hotels and booking day trips on onward connections yourself (hotel/hostel receptions are very helpful for that), but certainly it's doable for, say, €50/day plus the flights. (And I've said before on here that domestic flights are to an extent a waste in Vietnam; you see so much more for cheaper from the train. But that's a side point)

On the plus side, it does seem to tick all the boxes for what you'd really want to see in Vietnam. Obviously there's the convenience of having everything organised as well.

I don't think a 15-day tour is for me - I prefer a bit of freedom when travelling. Others will of course have different views on that, presumably including yourself. Comparing to other tour operators (say, this one) indicates the price is quite comparable.

letsgo2018 · 23-08-2018 02:14PM

cdeb wrote: »

Value is up to you to an extent. Also, I don't know if it includes the add-ons?

By way of comparison, I paid US$18 for a 12-hour day trip from Hué, including two meals, entrance fees to tunnels (not Cu Chi), guide and all transport. No accommodation or domestic transport of course. I think my accommodation in Hué - two-star local hotel, but perfectly fine at that, with breakfast included - was about €10 a night (converted from dong/dollars)

So Vietnam is inexpensive. You're looking in that tour at €1,200 for 10 days - €120/day (if add-ons are separate). Say the flights are €100 each - so €90 a day for the rest. You could arrange a lot of that yourself for probably half the price - you'd be staying in less pricey hotels and booking day trips on onward connections yourself (hotel/hostel receptions are very helpful for that), but certainly it's doable for, say, €50/day plus the flights. (And I've said before on here that domestic flights are to an extent a waste in Vietnam; you see so much more for cheaper from the train. But that's a side point)

On the plus side, it does seem to tick all the boxes for what you'd really want to see in Vietnam. Obviously there's the convenience of having everything organised as well.

I don't think a 15-day tour is for me - I prefer a bit of freedom when travelling. Others will of course have different views on that, presumably including yourself. Comparing to other tour operators (say, ) indicates the price is quite comparable.

Tour price includes

Domestic flights.
Hotel accommodations as tour described.
Room on boat in Halong bay.
Kayakking: Safe, clean and beautiful.
Aboard cookery demonstrations in Halong Bay.
Boat trip in Hue and Mekong Delta.
All meals mentioned (B,L,D = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Transport as per tour program.
English speaking guide.
Entrance and sightseeing fees.

cdeb · 23-08-2018 02:25PM

All very standard inclusions

steve-o · 23-08-2018 07:48PM

Ignoring the cost, if I was looking to cut something from that trip, it would be Nha Trang. It's just a sprawling strip of hotels by the sea and IMHO it would be a waste of 3 days and nights in such an otherwise amazing country.

Caranica · 23-08-2018 08:56PM

That's amazing value imo. Flights alone make over half the cost. Depends on the standard of hotel though but I think you'd struggle to put that itinerary together for that price.

Hue is impressive but oppressive in a way, the Citadel is stunning but the town is odd, very 1980s Russia was our take on it.

Muahahaha · 24-08-2018 12:04PM

If I had to choose between Hue and Sapa then Sapa any day of the week. Hue doesnt really have anything you wont see in other cities in Vietnam.

Caranica · 24-08-2018 12:27PM

Muahahaha wrote: »

If I had to choose between Hue and Sapa then Sapa any day of the week. Hue doesnt really have anything you wont see in other cities in Vietnam.

The Citadel!

letsgo2018 · 24-08-2018 12:53PM

Are there any domestic airlines in South East Asia. You would avoid ?

letsgo2018 · 24-08-2018 12:53PM

Went with sapa option

Tipperary animal lover · 24-08-2018 05:32PM

letsgo2018 wrote: »

Are there any domestic airlines in South East Asia. You would avoid ?

Vietjet stick with Vietnam airlines

TimeToShine · 29-08-2018 09:27AM

Sapa all the way even though at the moment it's a mass construction site. Make sure you ignore the hordes of kids who'll be trying to engage you for the first few hours or they'll follow you around for three days straight. Bring good hiking shoes, I've done hikes all over but that is certainly not one I would fancy in the rain which is quite likely at this time of year. Also consider Phong Nha instead of Nha Trang, the caves around there are amazing. If you're bound for Nha Trang regardless my best piece of advice would be to get up at the crack of dawn and go down to the beachfront. All the locals like to get their exercise and business done before the hordes of tourists converge, you'll hear Vietnamese music blaring from hifi systems and the most amusing group fitness classes going on every 100m!

Third_Echelon · 01-09-2018 12:51AM

steve-o wrote: »

Ignoring the cost, if I was looking to cut something from that trip, it would be Nha Trang. It's just a sprawling strip of hotels by the sea and IMHO it would be a waste of 3 days and nights in such an otherwise amazing country.

Yeah good advice. Nha Trang was nothing special. Beach was decent though. Would spend more time in Hoi An to be honest. Found it very relaxing there.

Muahahaha wrote: »

If I had to choose between Hue and Sapa then Sapa any day of the week. Hue doesnt really have anything you wont see in other cities in Vietnam.

+1 for Sapa. Fantastic scenery on the hikes there. We got the overnight train from Hanoi which was a great experience!

Ha Long Bay · 01-09-2018 12:59AM

letsgo2018 wrote: »

Tour price includes

Domestic flights.
Hotel accommodations as tour described.
Room on boat in Halong bay.
Kayakking: Safe, clean and beautiful.
Aboard cookery demonstrations in Halong Bay.
Boat trip in Hue and Mekong Delta.
All meals mentioned (B,L,D = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Transport as per tour program.
English speaking guide.
Entrance and sightseeing fees.

Caranica wrote: »

That's amazing value imo. Flights alone make over half the cost. Depends on the standard of hotel though but I think you'd struggle to put that itinerary together for that price.

Hue is impressive but oppressive in a way, the Citadel is stunning but the town is odd, very 1980s Russia was our take on it.

Flights are internal only which would cost €80-€100 with luggage. Caranica not trying to call your post out just want to make sure the OP understands what they are getting.

Also this does not seem correct in the itinerary:

Day 4 Halong bay
means airplane
Morning, breakfast on board. Cruise further and stop at a Pearl Farm village. Continue cruising through many island and islet to explore the hidden charm of the bay. Lunch on board while going back to the prier. Transfer back to Hanoi. Get to airport for flight to Hue. Overnight in Hue.

On your original question OP it would depend on the time of year you plan to travel and weather conditions. Here is a good site to give a basic guide. https://www.selectiveasia.com/vietnam-holidays/weather I havent been to Sapa yet due to time constrainets but if trekking is your thing and its the right time of year, like anywhere in Vietname im sure it will be amazing.

Also a quick note make sure to have your visa arranged before your international flight to Vietnam.

solerina · 01-09-2018 03:03PM

Saps is amazing, Hue was quite dull in mya opinion. We spent two days there and one day would certainly have been enough.

Vietnam:Imperial Hue city or trekking in Sapa

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