We are travelling on the Classica in March from Singapore/Vietnam and on to Hong Kong. Has anyone done this trip and can give me some information about it.
Also would like to hear from anyone who has been on the Classica ... any pitfalls we need to be aware of as we have not travelled with Costa Cruises before.
I am a bit confused by 2 quotes I got for our upcoming trip. We are arriving in Chan May on a cruise and plan to travel to Hue. 1 guide can pick up right at the ship, the other can only meet us at the port entrance. The price difference is about $25 per person. I am trying to decide if it is really worth it to be picked up at the ship. Usually the cruise line offers transfer to the port entrance. Does anyone know anything about this port?
When are you traveling? Im in HUE atm..
Synikster at gmail dot com
For quicker response....
Sounds pretty expensive, I%26#39;d wait until you arrive, there will be loads of taxi%26#39;s available, plus you can arrange for ones so easily by asking a restaurant to call you one.
Have fun.
Hi Ibrown7,
Chan May port is located in Thua Thien - Hue Province in the central region of Vietnam. It%26#39;s the gateway to the main tourist attractions: Danang ( 1 hour driving ), Hoi An Ancient Town( 1,5 hours driving ) and Hue ( 1 hour driving ).
As in your message, i believe you will be on the Cruise '; Legend of the seas ';, right ?. I%26#39;ve have my plan to do guiding job for passengers from this cruise ship on Feb 20, Mar 03 and Apr 30, 2009.
As far as i know, only passengers who do tour bookings with the Cruise will be picked up at the ship ( land tours operated by Destination Asia www.destination-asia.com ) So the 2rd tour guide is RIGHT - you have to walk for 01km to the port entrance.
Mr Phuoc
Hi lbraow
%26gt;%26gt;So the 2rd tour guide is RIGHT - you have to walk for 01km to the port entrance.
1km for US25/person or US100 for 4 persons for 1km ride is extremely expensive.
Not worth to be picked up,grab a cab as you reach the port entrance.
If a cab can pick you up,definitely there will be other cabs around.
The normal rate for cab ride is US1 /km/vehicles at Vietnam??????????
Cheers
Hi
We are in HCMC for 8 days. Want to see all the sights in the city but then do a couple of nights longer trip out of the city.
Any suggestions?
Many Thanks
Caroline
try hoi an world heritage site 1hr domestic flight to danang then 40 mins drive well worth 2 days 1 night
Or an equal length of trip out to Phu Quoc Island for a few days of sunsets and chilling time. Or up to Dalat to get some mountain air and a different perspective on Vietnam.
Or if you%26#39;re staying in HCMC try http://www.saigonhotpot.com/news/ a tour guide volunteer organisation to see parts of the city the average tourist doesn%26#39;t have time to get around.
Mui Ne is within bussing distance too, about 4 to 5 hours for another beach experience which is great if you%26#39;re into kite surfing or just watching other people do it.
I would recommend:
1 or 2-night Mekong Delta trip - I did a 2-night trip with Bao Su Long (info@baosulong.com), including 1 night homestay with a local family. The trip goes deep into the Delta away from the tourist areas %26amp; really gives you a flavour of Delta life.
2 nights in Mui Ne - I usually stay at Sailing Club which has a great beachside location %26amp; excellent bar %26amp; restaurant. Rates are usually around $90 per night for a bungalow.
2+ nights in Phu Quoc - flights are around $80 return. Stay at Beach Club (www.beachclubvietnam.com) which does beach bungalows for around $25 per night.
Fly up to Dalat for a couple of nights for some cooler air, some great cycling/motorbike tours in the hills, %26amp; good market shopping.
1 or 2 nights at a nearby beach resort such as Ho Tram or Long Hai (avoid Vung Tau though!).
Just wondering.. how much did you pay for the Baosulong trip?
Guy - I paid around $80 per person, we were a group of 4 people. That included car + driver for 3 days, tour guide, 1 nt homestay, 1 nt in a 3* hotel, %26amp; a couple of boat trips. Think they can do 4* hotels as well if you have a bigger budget.
3 days is enough for HCMC, maybe 2days and 1 nite on the delta. But... if u can i would do 3days in HCMC then a delta cruise to PP, then fly back to HCMC. Safe travels.
Hi,I would recomend you to do 3 days Mekong delta and 2 nights at mui ne Beach.The city tour and the tunnels only take you 2 days max.
Vicki
I am writing this to save people from making a massive mistake from buying from Impressions Boutique (70 Tran Hung Dao Street) in Hoi An. They are so rude and unprofessional and I can%26#39;t believe I was physically attacked. I have read many reports online about them being incompetent but luckily I didn%26#39;t get that far. I will tell you why..
I saw a nice coat and asked if they could make it in black. They said no but they had different material and would make it and show it to me after it was made. I said I was thinking about another coat at another tailor and couldn%26#39;t decide so took a photo. No other tailor has ever objected to this. Before I knew it she immediately snatched my camera out of my hand (which had 3000 of my travelling photos on) so of course I grabbed it back off her. When I went to put the camera back in my bag she then grabbed my rucksack with both hands. Luckily I was bigger than her and I managed to pull the rucksack out of her hands. She then took my hat and ran off with it saying she was taking it as I took a photo. So not only is she incompetent and unprofessional, she is a thief! Don%26#39;t even bother going here. They are also 4 x more expensive than anywhere else. I hate this place. They are only recommended by guest houses as the tailor pays them all! You might also want to check out this website:
http://www.impressions-boutique-hoi-an.com
Go here at your peril!
Had you joined TripAdvisor before instead of after your trip, you would have found many such warnings here already. But thanks for reiterating it.
You took a picture of her product without seeking her permission .......
erm.. they are called %26#39;Impressions%26#39; Boutique as they rip off copies of other people%26#39;s work and copy clothes from a catalogue!! Pot, Kettle %26amp; Black. The coat was hardly her own creation!
I could have got them to make it but I was making up my mind. Thankgod I didn%26#39;t. You only have to type in their name to any internet search engine and see how unbelievably unpopular they are. I don%26#39;t know anyone here that has a good work to say about them.
Besides, there is no excuse for violence.
I%26#39;m with you all the way trekkinggirl36 - and I dont know how anyone could defend this place!
I was in Vietnam about 18 mths ago with friends and one of them had some things made at %26#39;impressions%26#39; also. Initially my friend thought she had found the best most professional tailor in Hoi An. What a huge, huge mistake, my friends were also attacked by %26#39;Miss Kim%26#39; and had to run out onto the street in the middle of traffic screaming after they just wanted what they had paid for (the large deposit) and didnt want to pay any more for the rest of the dodgy and extremely poor workmanship that was offered to her. These people are liars and cheats and extremely unethical - BAD IMPRESSIONS is what I would call them.
Definitely agreed: Go there at your peril!
I am not defending the boutique but the OP acted inappropriately in the first place. You do not go into a shop and start snapping pictures of the goods on display, even if the goods are not of original design. If you really need the pictures, at least have the decency to seek permission.
Hi trekkinggirl36,
There have been lots of negative reviews on this tailor.
But in this case, i personally think you had made a mistake : Taking pictures without asking them for permission.
I am a local Hoianese, and will have the following question for you. Can i visit a tailor shop in London, and '; I said I was thinking about another coat at another tailor and couldn%26#39;t decide so took a photo - without asking for permission'; ? Is it possible?.
Hi everyone.
I can%26#39;t use my CC to book flight via their website? Anyone used and finished your booking please help me :((
Hane you used the correct website?
www.vietnamairlines.com.vn
then change your location to the country you are presently in.
You should have no trouble if flights are there %26amp; you are using a valid c/c.
Good luck
Sandy
Hi
i booked some flights a couple of weeks ago succesfully. Sounds like it might be a credit card problem.
We have just returned to UK from two week holiday in Vietnam. Whilst in Saigon we took a couple of tours with Jason SSS tour guide. He came highly recommended from this forum and we were not disappointed.
As very unseasoned travelers it was a bit of a leap of faith booking tours in a foreign country purely on the basis of web recommendations, but all our fears were unfounded. Jason calls his services ';super star'; and he certainly is, while his motto is EIP (everything is possible) and that is no exaggeration either . We took half day city tours in Ho Chi Minh and to the Cu Chi tunnels, about an hours drive away, as well as a two day trip to the Mekong delta.
Jason picked us up from our hotel, always punctually, in an air conditioned Mercedes mini bus, loaded with cold drinks and fruit as well as a stock of videos to entertain our two children on the longer drives. He guided and informed us as we went, in his very good English, with lots of history and answers to all our questions. He really packs the tours with things to do and see, and the advantages of having a local guide just to ourselves for the day/s were well worth the money. Other web posts have pointed out that there are cheaper ways of seeing the sights, but the costs didn%26#39;t seem a lot to us by British standards and we don%26#39;t regret booking Jason one bit.
The Mekong tour in particular was an absolutely fantastic experience. We saw temples and pagodas, took boat rides on the mighty Mekong to see floating markets and river life on a grand scale, walked through markets selling rat , frog and a thousand other things to eat that we%26#39;d never seen before, ate in a local restaurant and in the house of the boat driver (which was one of the best meals of our stay in Vietnam), and as if that wasn%26#39;t enough fed crocodiles and monkeys and shot off a water slide into the Mekong itself.
With Jason we felt less like tourists and did things we would never have done on our own, like buying treats from the roadside vendors that line the way, or from the floating market sellers. There aren%26#39;t any extras to pay with Jason for these things either.
On the Mekong trip we stayed over night at Phu Sa resort, which is on an island about ten minutes boat ride from Can Tho. With two young children (9 and 11) this is an excellent choice with its menagerie and river slide and was very quiet and relaxing. Jason is fantastic with children, as was the driver he uses, playing with them on the river slide and the swings in Phu Sa for hours.
To sum up we would recommend Jason SSS to anyone. His tours are an amazing experience and he came up trumps on every level. Without trip adviser we would never have found him or had the courage to book him, but we%26#39;re really glad we did.
The Allen Family (London)
HI - wonderful review - how do we contact Jason SSS
Thanks
Susan
Jason SSS (super star services) has a website www.vietnamtourjason.com which has lots of information and contact details.
To my dear all travelers,
where is the best place to buy camping goods like jacket or backpack or boots. Someone told me Hanoi will a good place to buy.
Your help will be appreciated.
Thanks
We have booked a trip with Bao Su Long based on the many positive reviews on TA. We wired a 50% deposit and were told to bring cash to pay the remaining 50%. Is this the way others have paid for their trips? Many have noted that ';no payment was requested up-front'; - when/how did you pay? THANKS!!
Thanks very much for the help!
I use BSL for my car rental %26amp; also for booking flights %26amp; hotels in VN, I always pay cash up front, no problems, and that%26#39;s after a dozen or so bookings.
I booked with them for a car transfer and they said they%26#39;d come and get the 50% deposit from our hotel a few days prior. And then we pay the rest when was have the service. Based on the good feedback online I%26#39;m hoping it%26#39;s ok!
I%26#39;m taking my first trip to several cities in Vietnam, Siem Riep and Bangkok. Can you recommend a moderately priced tour company that doesn%26#39;t take an excessive number of people on the tours and has guides who really know their ';stuff';? Also, has anyone taken the Smithsonian Journeys tour to Angkor Wat and Vietnam?
Thanks a lot.
My friend swears by the Australian company, Intrepid Tours. She recently took a Vietnam trip with Intrepid.
www.intrepidtravel.com/
I to like staying away from the group tours and customizing our own day to day intenerary with a local travel company. Yes, it is nice to have a local viet travel company to make all the reservations and have a car and driver to meet you. There are over 2 thousand local viet. travel comany%26#39;s now in vietnam. The same service%26#39;s can be many $%26#39;s apart. My wife and I have now been back to vietnam 5 times in the last 4 years. We have traveled to many places through out vietnam now. I was a soldier there in 1970 and heard Vietnam was now a great place to visit. It is! We are from Seattle,Wa.The 2nd trip we brought our 24 year old son and have been back for an engagement party and then back again for there wedding. We have traveled up and down vietnam and have used 2 different local viet travel companies. One in Saigon and the other one is located in Nha Trang. They give great prices and are very honorable. We always compare and they are always lower with the same service ect. We pay once we are there and in return they give us the in country flight tickets,hotel vouchers and receits ect. If you want more info. you can e-mail me at kennbaker@msn.com Either way...have a great time! I went back to vietnam last April for a week to check on a partnership I have now with a coffee/gift shop in Nha Trang that we hope will help support a local orphanage there. Going back again this March for 2 weeks. If this is your first time...you want to have a travel company located in Vietnam to set everything up for you! It will be much cheeper and all is done! They always can beat the internet and walkup rack rates for 3 star hotels and up. It is nice to have them make all of your in country flight bookings and make reservations for any car and driver with or with out a guide ect...Only need to relax and enjoy!
Just got back from Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. We did part of it ourselves as my husband has been before (with Intrepid as well) and did a family tour with Intrepid through Vietnam. It%26#39;s definitely doable to plan yourself but the advantage of a tour is not having to worry about transfers, transportation, etc. Intrepid doesn%26#39;t take more than 16 people and the guides are usually local so they can help with language barriers and know a lot about the local culture. Intrepid has a good balance of group activities and free time so you%26#39;re not stuck with the group 24/7. We had a wonderful time with our group...good luck. Ange.
We did a cycling tour with Intrepid in Feb/Mar 08. They limit the tour group to 12. Intrepid goes to most of the coastal places as well as the off the beaten path places like the Central Highlands.
I wouldn%26#39;t recommend this tour because we had an inexperienced tour guide who disregarded the food poisoning most of us experienced at the end of week 1, the hotels we stayed at didn%26#39;t have enough hot water (something you really need on a cycling tour), the Central Highlands part of the tour was manic and a waste of time. The Central Highland people don%26#39;t care for visitors as they don%26#39;t see themselves as part of the main Vietnam culture.
Eventhough our cycling tour guide was inexperienced as a group we after each other when we were hit by food poisoning. We didn%26#39;t rely on the tour guide.
Good luck.
Can you tell me what means of transportation you used to travel btw. thailand, cambodia %26amp; vietnam ie. when you took buses, trains or planes.
We are planning the same trip in may for one month, hence the inquiry.
Thanks so much
Hi all, i am confused now. please all the vietnam expert please help me up. i need to book flight ticket already.
I am deciding to book either 10days or 12 days in vietnam but i dont know which one is better? based on the places that i would like to visit below, pls advice whether i should go 10 days or 12 days?
according to the flight ticket, i will reach HCMC around 9am and i will leave HCM around 7pm.
the places i plan to go:
HCMC
Mui Ne (just to see the sand only, so i assume one day is enough)
straight go to na trang from mui ne, (estimate to stay here for 3 days 2 nite? will it be too much?)
from na trang straight go to hoi an, on top of that i also plan to do a day trip to my son.
from hoi an, straight go to hue.
then from hue back to HCM to catch my flight.
so in ur opinion, should i go for 10 days or 12 days is enough to discover all of the mentioned above? thanks
12 Days.
Dear Blue,
12 days will be fine for you. Happy trip
Tolia
I%26#39;m looking for a travel agency group to join for day trips to Halong Bay %26amp; Perfume Pagoda, and probably also a day trip to Sapa.
Dear Boopey,
you can find one of them, specializing in seats in coach at ODC Travel, Vietnam open tour, Apt travel or Kim tour.
Have fun
Einstein
While in theory you could do a day trip to Sa Pa, it%26#39;s kind of odd IMO to travel all night on a train there and then back just to spend one day somewhere.
Hi Boopey,
You can enjoy Halong bay 1day trip with South pacific Travel and Ferfume Pagoda and Sapa with Sinhcafe at 52 Luong ngoc Quyen Str, Hanoi
Good luck
Noibai Taxi
yea but I%26#39;m there for a work trip and only have limited time to venture around the Sapa area.
I would highly recommend Ocean Tours for their Halong Bay trip. It was excellent! I took the option to stay on their private island, which was wonderful. In January they also had a promotion that included a free night stay in their new hotel in Hanoi with the purchase of a tour. If they still have this deal, it%26#39;s well worth it.
My wife and I are in the early stages of planning a trip to Vietnam and I am looking for suggestions regarding the best way to travel from Hoi An to Hue. It seems akward to go to Danang to catch the train so I would appreciate input about the availability of buses. I read about minibuses but question the saftey factor.
We then plan to take the daylight Reunification Express from Hue to Hanoi. If we were to book soft sleepers, can these be converted to seats or are they just bunk beds? If not, is it better to book soft seat tickets? Where is luggage stored for sleepers and soft seats and is there a major theft consideration for either option?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Kristas
Da Nang is only about an hour%26#39;s drive from Hoi An so it%26#39;s not that awkward to drive there to catch the train. The view from the train is quite spectacular.
Equally spectacular but slightly different is the car trip from Hoi An to Hue through the Hai Van Pass (there%26#39;s a tunnel which is quicker but you won%26#39;t have the view). The advantage of a private car (with driver, which can be hired through your hotel or a travel agency in Hoi An) is that it can stop wherever you like for photo opportunities, food, visits to sites along the way (the Cham Museum in Da Nang is cool if you%26#39;re into cultural history). Just beware of the many ladies trying to sell you stuff at the top of the Hai Van Pass. They can be fairly agressive and if you buy from one they%26#39;ll all expect you to buy from them too.
When we took the Reunification Express HCMC-Hue, the soft sleeper were fixed bunks and you had to sit on the bottom bunks and try not to hit your head on the top bunk. Luggage went under the bottom bunk or in a small space on the top bunk. We weren%26#39;t too concerned about theft, but one of us was always there. I haven%26#39;t seen the soft seats so I can%26#39;t comment, except to say for a day time trip I%26#39;d consider them as the bunks weren%26#39;t great for sitting on (or sleeping, really, for that matter :-) ). Do take food, the train food (not that we ever saw any) is reputed to be pretty ordinary.
Thank you for the information. Do you have any idea how much a driver would cost from Hoi An to Hue? Do you think the train ride is more spectacular than driving through the pass?
Cheers
We hired a car with the driver to get from Hue to Hanoi - I think we payed around 40USD. Make sure you know the names of place where you want to stop - we expected the driver to show some initiative and tell us about places we passed, but that never came:)! But all in all it was well worth it,as roads are bad in Vietnam and the public transport - slow.
Hey Mickey, I think you meant Hue to Hoi An- Hue to Hanoi would cost you a heckova lot more than $40US!! :-)
I said, ';equally spectacular';... the train goes lower down and you get sweeping views of the sea, the pass is at the top and you can see all around for miles.
:), sorry - Hoi An not Hanoi. I wouldn%26#39;t want to know what drive from Hue to Hanoi is like!!!
Has anyone used the portrait photograph services in Vietnam? Much appreciated for any advise where and how much for the services.
Cheers
I am visiting Vietnam in August and was wondering if Jetstar is still flying within Vietnam? I am looking for a flight from Hanoi to Nha Trang and the Jetstar website keeps saying no flights available, and the contact number on their website does not seem to be connected.
The only flight I have found from Hanoi to Nha Trang is with Vietnam Airlines and is pretty expensive - $150 AUD one way, compared to what I have paid previosuly for flights in Vietnam.
hi,
I have some experience to work for flight ticket centre of Jetstar. you can easily click on www.hivietnam.com.vn
They dont have online payment. Just call them, they can deliver right for you.
Have a nice flight.
Cheers.
Hi
Jetstar usually only post their flights on-line three months out. So you might need to be patient
Jetstar has stopped operating Hanoi - Nha Trang route. Vietnam Airlines is the only one doing this at the moment.
Air fares by VN airlines are expensive, but we have no choice if we choose to fly between Hanoi - Nha Trang.
Mr Phuoc
Thankyou for the info, that explains why I couldnt find any flights!
Off topic a little, but I was having trouble finding a flight in March from Hue to Hanoi. Do jetstar still fly this route? Thanks, Scott
no ..only Vietnam Airlines do that route
We are a family of four ( 12 and 9 year olds) who are considering a holiday to vietnam in july- have prev travelled to phuket(twice),bali and sabah . Want to see as much of vietnam in say 14 days but unure if want to be rushing on an organised tour or just travel to the different places and do day tours once there. Any advice appreciated
If you do your research, DIY is easy and much cheaper and obviously more customised to your preferences.
i would recommend an organised private tour for just your family. i came back last week, and i did a private tour of northern vietnam for 8 days. having just us on the tour gave us flexibility and they put together an itinery to cover off what we wanted to see. i really recommend it. whilst we could have done it on our own, when you have a short time frame you really want to get the most out of your holiday without the added stresses of doing it yourself. i%26#39;ve heard lots of horror stories about being ripped off in taxi%26#39;s, being taken to places where they put the hard sell on you, and being pressured to give local guides tips etc (we did give our guide a tip, but that was because he was fantastic - not because he pressured us to do so). the company we used was aurora travel / vietnam stay and I thought they were fantastic. i went with my two children (ages 3 and 5, my sister 38, and my parents aged 65 and 70) and it was one of the best things i%26#39;ve done. let me know if you want any more info.....
Thanks for your advice everyone, i will do some more research and decide from there
If you have the time and the patience, all can be done over the Internet. My friend and I were returning veterans after 40 years, and our 12 day trip went off without a hitch. Our international flight to HCMC, and our domestic fights up country, including 4 different hotels or resorts, were done and achieved by listening to reviews on this site and others. We even made arrangements for car, driver and interpreter with no problem. Just be sure all is verified now, and again 30 days, and then 10 days before you make your trip. Shop different sites for different prices and many times you will find a better deal. Have fun, the people are wonderful, and all can be done at your own pace.
Vietnam is a very easy country arrange on your own via the internet. Reconfirming a week prior is good advice. I travel with my sisters and 9 year old neice at times (the last being Peru and China) but my Vietnam planning for my husband %26amp; I ranks right up there for the easiest to plan. You will be astounded at how quickly you will get responses!
I personally enjoyed northern Vietnam and at the time, was thinking how many things that my neice would have enjoyed there. Not so much is Southern Vietnam. But you should probably let the weather dictate as to what area you visit Vietnam.
Have fun, Vietnam was one of my best trips!
Hi, has anyone else had any problems booking a hotel through Hotels-in-Vietnam.com? I booked the Thien Nga Hotel online (which immediately acknowledged my booking) at least a week ago, but have had no email confirmation since. I also emailed them a few days ago with no response, so I have no idea of whether I acutally have a reservation or not. Has anyone else had a similar experience? If so, any suggestions?
Hi, I booked a couple of hotels through Hotels-in-Vietnam.com and everything went really well. Your acknowledgement from them is probably the booking voucher and enough for securing the booking. Was there a requirement to pay a deposit or a full amount? If not, then your booking should be ok.
That%26#39;s good to know thanks. The acknowledgement said I would receive a confirmation email within 48 hours and if I didn%26#39;t receive one, to send them an email, which I did. I had to give my credit card details to secure the booking, so I don%26#39;t think it is actually charged until the time, or unless you fail to turn up and cancel the booking first. Thanks for your help.
Does anyone have a contact email address for Thien Nga Hotel?
We just got back from an amazing tour of Halong Bay. It is truly one of those see-before-you-die places. After searching and searching for a cruise company with good reviews, I finally found Mr.Tung with Cat Ba Ventures. Four of us rented a private sail/gunk/motor boat for three days at $110 per person. Our cook prepared simple yet delicious dishes for us for every meal, using fish caught each morning. Since it was a private boat, we were able to avoid the crowds (we only saw one other tourist boat the whole time) and take alternate routes. Lots of kayaking through caves that open up into stunning turquoise lagoons. Magical! We heard so many terrible stories about other cruise companies, so we feel very fortunate to have found Mr. Tung and Cat Ba Ventures. (Apparently another company keeps copying his reviews and posting them on their own site, so beware).
Hi sansguide,
Could you also tell us of your other experiences during your travel in Vietnam.
Please do not get me wrong but as this is your first post in this forum and one which glowingly endorses a tour operator, I cannot help but think whether this report is true.
Just my thought.
My apologies for my enthusiasm! Though one%26#39;s experience is probably 50% or more dependant on the atitude you bring, I arrived in Halong Bay dragging my feet a bit, not wanting to be stuck on some mis-advertised boat tour like I had been reading about. Mr. Tung turned out to be an honest man and we got what was advertised and more. As for the rest of my time in Vietnam, we spent a few more days in hectic but beautiful Hanoi (oh, the delicious street food! I%26#39;m still dreaming of it) and then took the night train (clean and basic and a lovely way to wake up in the morning, with a new landscape outside the window) to Hue and then to Hoi An. We liked Hoi An so much, despite the tourists (visitors seem to politely ignore one another), that we stayed for five days. If I were to come back, I would go in a season with better weather, as the rain came down so hard that we weren%26#39;t able to rent a motorcycle and tour the surrounding region like we originally had planned. However, Halong Bay was still the winner on our short 2-week trip, and I would recommend that anyone go.
Hey sansguide....... thanks for your impressions %26amp;amp; advice. I am in the early stages of planning a trip for next spring to include Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.
ONTHEROADTONOWHERE.......... good point, thanks for bringing it up. Darned shame we have to be so cautious.
Sansguide,
Are you able to let me know the name of the cruise that you did with Cat Ba Ventures.
You can email me on debbiewilson74@optusnet.com.au.
Thank you.
We just did a 3-day, two night cruise on a private boat (you stay on the boat). Mr. Tung%26#39;s e-mail is: admin@catbaventures.com
Just tell him what you are looking to do and he%26#39;ll propose a couple of different tours for you.
Have fun!
Thank you very much. I have just emailed him as I was looking for 2 days/1 night so will wait for his reply.
Debbie.
Hello there
Was impressed by the reviews given to this company %26amp; arranged for a tour next Christmas.
However, when I attempted to send my deposit via Western Union I was advised that they would not complete the transaction, they wouldn%26#39;t tell me why this was and the also said if they were me they wouldn%26#39;t be sendig any money out!
Any ideas what is going on - all sounds a bit sinister!
I have just finished booking a 3 day Halong Bay Explorer %26amp; Kayak Discovery through Handspan for later this year, and have had nothing but excellent communication with Annie who gets back to me very promptly and answers all my questions thoroughly. I have read fantastic reviews about this tour, and have been told by many hotels (that I have booked already) that Handspan is a very reputable company in Vietnam. Can highly recommend so far.
We used Handspan a couple of years ago for 2 day/1 night Halong Bay tour and were very please. I would highly recommend them also.
I can vouch for Handspan too - they refunded me 100% of my deposits when we had to cancel our trip to vietnam a day before departure (a death in the family). At a very stressful time it was such a relief to get the money back without any hassles.
Hi, we will be heading in Vietnam in November 2009....Wondering which beach is the best for water activities...Clean water and nice sand...
Went to Thailand before and would like to know a little more about the beach in Vietnam.
Thanks in advance for any infos...
JTC
Hi, any sports people that can comment on beaches and different Water Club in the South of Vietnam..
Thanks
I don%26#39;t think the visability is very good in Vietnam in November for diving...google %26#39;diving in Vietnam%26#39; and write to some dive places and ask...we went with %26#39;rainbow divers%26#39; in October, it was great to be in the water but wasn%26#39;t the best time of year to dive.
Hi PerfectlyUnbalance...
Thank you for the info, where exactly did you dive?
in what city is the dive center you used ?
JIC
Hi JTC,
We were in Nha Trang last October.
Rainbow divers were great (American guys), it was a great day out, send them an email and see what they have to say, maybe it will be better south of H.C.M.C that time of year.
Have a great trip.
C.
Hi All,
I%26#39;ve been informed that the Red Dragon will be under maintenance middle of April. This is very unfortunate due to its great reviews.
Looking at the Prince Junk now.. does anyone know what it%26#39;s like?
Many thanks
Izzy
we are a family of three traveling with our 15 year old daughter to vietnam in April. We are staying in Hoi an for 2 days and then driving to Hue for 1 night and plan to fly to Hanoi the next day at 12 midday.
Do you think it is worthwhile going to Hue for this short visit of if we should just stay in Hoi An another day.
I think you should stay in Hoi An another day as 2 days is not enough for hoi An. You can visit My son instead of going to Hue which is longer drive.
Vicki
I would definitely stay in Hoi An. We visited Hue in January and wished we had stayed in Hoi An.
I would totally stay in Hoi An another day because Hoi An is a beautiful mid-size town with lots to due where Hue is... just the citadel (just the kings palace from the 1800%26#39;s). In Hoi An you can rent bikes and ride through rice paddies. You can also see the buildings that have been left from hundreds of years ago. Hoi An also has a beautiful river front with lots of restraunts and great tailiors! Overall i would definitly stay one more day in Hoi An. Good Luck!
Guys,
Whilst Hoi An caters for the '; Tourist '; traveller with things that are more familiar to them, do NOT underate Hue to consider spending more time! I have lived in Hue for 1 year over the last ten years.
Hue offers much more to see than the standard tourist things offered ---Hue is a mystical place and the surrounds hold great beauty.
Look at this website and have a think!
plover
france.thuathienhue.gov.vn/Main.asp…
If I were you, I would skip Hoi An and go straight to Hue to spend 3 days there... no kidding. I have been many times to Vietnam, and Hoi An has became so touristic that you really wonder if you are still in Vietnam. Sure it is cute, but tailor shops are much more visited than monuments...
So if you want some cheap cloths that%26#39;s a good plan, but if you prefer an authentic vietnamese experience go to Hué. The city is charming, has a soul, and it is big enough for you not to feel surrounded by tourists like in Hoi An. There is plenty to see (tombs, pagoda...) but my best advice would be to spend time just walking around, and enjoying the atmosphere. And of course plan a day or half-day trip on the perfume river.
Well the person is a tourist and seriously just because you live in Hue dosen%26#39;t make it the greatest place in the world. Hoi An has LOCAL rice paddies to bike through is a small compared to the big smoggy town of hue
Nftbball,
Are you sure you have the right city?---never seen smog there in Hue!
NOTE!----my suggestion was a polite response suggesting only a viewpoint and some attached advice!
Did you take the time to read the Link I attached? And is your opinion to be considered as the gospel???
plover
I probably would stay in Hoi An. We found Hue to be very unattractive and depressing city. Yes, there is a Citadel but after our trip to temples in Cambodia it didn%26#39;t seem very impressive. I guess it depends what you want from your trip. Hoi An is very relaxing and sweet, yet touristy. We hired bikes and went to the beach, had a boat ride and relaxed in the bars and restaurants next to the river. Restaurants are great, try Morning glory next to Japanese bridge - they do great Vietnamese food. Your 15 years old daughter will love Hoi An - I am not shopping mad but still ended up with lots of lovely cheap earrings and bags.
Hue is more about the history - so you probably should ask yourself what do you prefer - relaxing in nice and sweet town or seeing some historical monuments? I guess it depends what you are doing fir the rest of your Vietnam trip - we found it great to be able to relax in Hoi An inbetween all the sightseeing.
Hi Bella
My daughter (24) and I travelled North to South Vietnam last year, Hue is okay, but personally like others on here would say to stay in Hoi An the extra day (get your clothes made in a day) :-)
Enjoy the Vietnam experience - we loved it!
Regards
Jenny
Hi all
My wife and I over the last few years have been holidaying in Thailand and fancy trying somewhere different for our next holiday. We are considering Vietnam!
Our requirements are a beach holiday, not too busy nor too quiet! Our hotel preferences tend to be for small boutique type resorts with a max of say 20 rooms. Air con is essential, other mod cons are not quite as essential.
Our budget is a max of 拢50/$75 dollars per night, we would prefer an area that has a selection of bars and restaurants, however we aren%26#39;t bothered about clubs etc...
Any suggestions/ideas/tips would be appreciated.
Regards
John
Vietnam is a nice alternative to Thailand.
We found central Vietnam particularly nice so would suggest the cities of Hue and hoi An. Hue has a lot of history, while nearly Hoi Ai has a great beach, wonderful shopping and fantastic food.
We have some pics and stories of our trip here... www.bobandjanette.com which may help.
Happy %26amp; safe travels
If your looking history and culture then central vietnam is what you want, Danang, Hue, Hoi An. If you are looking for night life, excitment and modern then Saigon or Hanoi is for you. All 5 cities have good eats, and bars and clubs if you ask the locals for recommendations.
Thanks for the replies, our main criteria is a relaxing holiday, we may do a little bit of sightseeing, but plan to do touring holidays when we get older. For now we just want somewhere different to recharge our batteries.
Hi,
Am after some advice really. I have been booking trips and hotels in Vietnam for April using all the fantastic advice from the people on this site.
Once thing I am a bit concerned about is paying by credit card. Almost every hotel and tour company we have contacted through advice from Tripadvisor users want us to send a photocopy of our passports and the front and back of my credit cards including Pilgrimage Village (Hue) and Columbus cruises (HaLong) to confirm our booking even though we have already given card details. I was wondering if this is normal practice. Has anyone else come across this? Is this usual practice?
Thanks
Hello:
Due to limited planning and travel time, I am thinking about booking a Vietnam package tour through ANZ Travel in Hanoi next month. So far, they have been very good about answering my questions and making slight itinerary changes based on my specific requests.
Has anyone used ANZ Travel before? If you have, what is your candid opinion of their services and reliability? Did you encounter any hotel, transportation, service, or payment issues? In order to book, they are asking for a 30% deposit by wire transfer or a credit card authorisation letter. Is this typical?
Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers.
Hi golly,
did you end up joining this tour? I was thinking of doing the same thing but going from HO CHI MINH CITY to SIEM REAP. They asked for 40% deposit from me.
If you didn%26#39;t join this, was there another you found to be reliable? Sorry I know you were asked the question, but I am wondering myself.
Thanks!
I%26#39;m also thinking about booking a tour through ANZ Travel for April 09 and am struggling to find any independent reviews to confirm that they are reputable. Have you travelled with them yet?
I would really really appreciate a response.
hello!
does anyone have a recommendation where to go for a good massage in hanoi...like a nice spa place?
we are staying in fortuna hotel...not too far fromthe o ld town....so something near
thank you!!!
biki
Hello Fellow Forum Friends - looking for your valued advise and opinions again
Our next stop is Vietnam, we%26#39;re planning on Hanoi. Halong Bay. Hoi An. Hue. Na Trang. Dalat. HCM
We%26#39;re researching accommodation - backpacker/flashpacker budget is about $10 - $15 for a double room.
Reading Lonely Planet and Rough Guide it does not bode well for us, but then they said the same about LAOS and we%26#39;ve proved them wrong.
So anyone out there with information on guesthouses and lodging in any of the above cities we%26#39;d greatly appreciate the heads up (maybe a little summary of what the place is like to)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Hello Fellow Forum Friends - looking for your valued advise and opinions again
Our next stop is Vietnam, we%26#39;re planning on Hanoi. Halong Bay. Hoi An. Hue. Na Trang. Dalat. HCM
We%26#39;re researching accommodation - backpacker/flashpacker budget is about $10 - $15 for a double room.
Reading Lonely Planet and Rough Guide it does not bode well for us, but then they said the same about LAOS and we%26#39;ve proved them wrong.
So anyone out there with information on guesthouses and lodging in any of the above cities we%26#39;d greatly appreciate the heads up (maybe a little summary of what the place is like to)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
I%26#39;m thinking of arranging Visa on arrival for Vietnam as I live in Dublin and we don%26#39;t have a vietnam embassy here and travel next week!!
We are flying in to Hanoi from Hong Kong before connecting to Danang - which of these airports should I put as my arrival airport on the form?
Alternatively we will be in hong kong for a few days - would it be easier to pick up the visa at the Vietnam embassy there?
Can anyone help?
Hello Woodster,
You can get visa on arrival at international airport such as Noi Bai, Da Nang, Tan Son Nhat (Saigon) airports.
Easy to have at Noi Bai (Hanoi) airport %26amp; you can do by yourself or travel company arrangement.
Have a good time.
Einstein
Thanks Einstein, that%26#39;s good to know but I was really wanting clarification which airport i should put as my entry airport on the form as i know the customs/ visa guards can be very strict about the details on your form - if you are transferring at the airport, do you go through the Visa section or is this not until your final destination.
Thanks
Woodster
You need to us Hanoi as the arrival airport, the reason is you will change from an International passanger to the Domestic passanger when you make your connection.
Hi Jacksonville,m that%26#39;s great thanks
Any recommendations on which visa on arrival company to use?
Thanks
Woodster
I always get mine before I go, but, here is a link to one of the threads on this site that has alot of recommendations and links..
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g298082-i9204-k214鈥?/a>
Link is not hot you must cust and paste into the ADDRESS WINDOW OF YOUR COMPUTER.
Sorry.
I%26#39;ve been told that booking these flights when in Vietnam is a lot cheaper. Can anyone give me advice on this? Has anyone had problems with these flights?
I%26#39;m thinking of going towards the end of the year.
Anycomments gratefully recieved!
Yes, that%26#39;s right ! Wait until you are in Vietnam to book your flights as there are three airlines operating this route Saigon-Danang-Saigon
* Vietnam Airlines : www.vietnamairlines.com.vn
* Jetstar : www.jetstar.com
* Indochina Airlines : www.indochinaairlines.vn
Happy travel to vietnam
Mr Phuoc
I vote for and have always been impressed with Vietnam Air. I have used Jetstar and have not been happy. They charge for water or soda and also cancell flights and not notify the customers. I would use Vietnam air they flight a few times each day and the price is about $90 round trip.
Thanks for your help
First Trip.....and want to know if it is nec. and best to book with a tour company (which one??) or to try to travel by the seat of our pants? Most importantly, what are the top places to see/ things to do!!! Would love some suggestions. We actually would like to spend a good deal of our time in the countryside or along rivers etc. as opposed to big cities. Welcoming any input!!!!!!
R %26amp; K
From HCMC book a tour going to the Mekong Delta and exiting in P. Penh. There are 2 day and 3 day tours. sinhcafevn.com would give you an idea of such a tour and what it it cost which is dirt cheap!
Stay one day in PP. See Killing Fields first early am after which go to the Genocide Museum. Take lunch, Proceed to Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.
The next day take Sapako Bus to Siem Reap at 8:00am and Reach Siem Reap at around 1pm. Check into your hotel and see the town/market. At 4;30pm ride a tuktuk and buy a 3 day temple ticket. One ticket is $20.00; while a 3 day pass $40.00. After buying the ticket , you can enter the tenple for free after 5pm. for a sunset view.3 days of climbing the temple would cover most of the temples.
Stay one more day if you want to see the floating village.
There is a direct bus from Siem Reap to HCMC.
In HCMC, take a tour to the Cucchi Tunnel and a city tour all in one day. The resr of the sites in HCMC can be done by yourself without taking a tour.
This can be done is 11 days bit adding a few more days if you can would make it more worthwhile.
Hi.
With 10/11 days and your preferences I would be looking at concentrating on the North. A couple of days in Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue and Hoi An would give you a good introduction to Vietnam.
Have a look at a good guide book to get a feel for where you would like to go and read the reviews etc on TA.
Vietnam is a very easy place to do it yourself. Just about everything can be arranged on-line, internal travel is cheap and easy.
When you have worked out the basics for your trip you can then start asking specific questions or search previous threads here as most questions have been asked and answered.
whatever you decide I am sure you will love it.
I will travel solo in March in Cambodia and Laos
My plan will be following draft itinerary:
16 March, arrive Saigon
17 March, Sai gon
18 March, Phnom Penh
19 March, Phnom Penh
20 March, Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
21 March, Siem Ream
22 March, Siem Reap
22 March, Vientiane
23 March, Vientiane 鈥?Luang prabang
24 March, Luang Prabang
25 March, Luang prabang 鈥?DBP
1. Does anyone recommend a clean, safe guesthouse following itinerary?
2. Did anyone do this trip before?
3. It would be great if someone can become a companion with me on this trip.
4. I am packpacker traveler, just wanna see real life experiences like local people.
i know Vietnam and Cambodia well...have been to Cambodia 5 times...have a daughter there
i am at work...have the accomodation addresses at home ...will send them to you if you are interested.
Rosys guesthouse in Siem reap was great
Let me know
Thanks Kiwigaff, pl give me address, contact, and what the price?
I think that you are already enjoying yourself in Cambodia and Laos. I will be in Hanoi and looking for a companion from March 15 onwards, to travel down all the way to HCM.
In Siem Reap....Simon and Rosy
contact is reservations@rosyguesthouse.com
Cost was $18 a nite...that was 12 monthd ago
They will arrange to pick you up at the airport
Hotel in Saigon....bichduyenhotel@yahoo.com....cost was $20 a nite ...will meet you at airport for $8 trip.careful of taxi drivers...they want to charge $15...which is too much
Hope this helps
Hi all,
We were definitely going to go on Red Dragon Junk, however it is going under maintenance mid April.
Now my 2 options are. Paradise Cruise or a brand new junk called Prince.
Please let me know your thoughts on Paradise cruise? it seems lovely and big
Thanks in advance
Izzy
Does anyone have experience with the tour company indochinaexpeditions.com?
Are they trustworthy? Do they offer backpack or suitcase tour?
Hoping someone could tell me what sort of price we would be looking at with a tour group for a one day mekong delta tour?
Thanks in advance,
Izzy
Hi Izzy,
a few organizers are offering from 15- 18 $ with packaged.
Have fun
Einstein
Thanks so much!
Izzy
my wife and I just did the mekong delta trip with Sinh Cafe
we did the one night 2 day tour which was 385,000 per person twin share rather than the single day 195,000 per person
after the first day which is about a 3 hour drive you go down the river but no floating markets as they have finished by the time the coach arrives you stop at a few rice paper making villages stop a another village for lunch and back to Saigon. But the over night you go to a budget hotel go out for dinner, have free breakfast then about a 3 hour trip on the river with all the hustle and busle of the markets which is well worth seeing then down secluded small riverways and to a rice mill then after luch back to Saigon.
If you can afford the time go overnight but if not the one day is ok just to get a feel of the place.
We left our suitcases at our hotel
Check out the website
www.sinhcafevn.com
It has been indicated that $AU like $US are accepted throughout Vietnam.
Crisp and clean is the criteria I believe.
(a) Are transactions done in $AU ?
(b) What $AU notes are more acceptable ?
(c) Would it be more advisable to convert my $AU to Dong
Like we have $5 - $10 - $20 - $50 - $100 all diffent colors.
Thanking you
mimasaloi
Dear mimasaloi
AUD is also accepted in HCMC but it has different exchange rates depending where you go. If you go to the bank, they will give you less VND than at the jewelry store
Moreover, AUD is changed daily but USD is nearly fixed at the bank 17.48x VND but at the Jewelry store 17.6xx VND or 17.7XX
My advise is you will bring AUD to VN and go to Jewelry store to exchange into VND and pay for your bill
at the moment : 1 AUD = 11.157 VND at the bank but at the jewelry store you can get 11.2xx or 11.3xx VND
Best regards
Jason SSS
PS : please bring big note 50 AUD or 100 AUD for more VND
A few places will accept AUD over the counter but in the main you need to exchange it for VND in Viet Nam. As Jason has indicated, you can exchange it in banks or jewellers stores (they usually have a big signboard out the front indicating excahnge rates). Jewellers stores often give a better rate but you have to closely watch the money being counted. Because there are a lot of zeros in VND it is easy to confuse a 10,000VND note for a 100,000VND note, a 50,000 for a 500,000 etc. It%26#39;s odd- I really can%26#39;t recall if the notes were different colours, I think they were but subtly, so the confusion exists.
Good evening all,
Please click here for the colors of Vietnam Currency ( VND )
http://www.dong2u.com/
1 USD ( 17.500 VND )
500.000 VND ( biggest note ): 28.5 USD
200.000 VND = 11.5 USD
100.000 VND = 5.7 USD
50.000 VND = 2.8 USD
20.000 VND = 1.15 USD
10.000 VND = 0.57 USD
5.000 VND = 0.29 USD
2.000 VND = 0.12 USD
1.000 VND = 0.057 USD
500 VND = 0.028 USS
200 VND ( smallest note ) = 0.0114 USD
Best regards
Jason SSS
To be easy, let%26#39;s forget the last 000
Like 500.000 VND ===%26gt; 500
Thanks for that, Jason! See, the 10,000 and the 100,000 are similar colours, especially if you look at them in a hurry, so be careful!
I took USD a small amout of dong just to get me through and Australian dollars to change nearer the end of our trip we found a jewellery store near the Ben Thau Market the best rate anywhere we travelled it is next door the the Pho 2000 noodle restarurant at 7 Phan Chu Trinh one thing though I got a better rate with USD if they were in big denominations no less than $100 bill
Hi everyone,
I am going to go to Hanoi from 1st March to 8th March 09 in a group of 4 people.
I actually have a quote for a priavte tour for 6pax and a super reasonable price but I am unfortunately unable to get enough people to go along so this trip has to be DIY.
My itinerary goes like this:
Arrive in Hanoi late.
Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise 3D2N
Halong Bay Cruise 3D2N
Halong Bay Cruise 3D2N - Hanoi - Sapa
Sapa
Sapa - Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi - Home
As I would be quite late in arriving Hanoi on Day 1 and would like to go on to Halong Bay on Day 2, I would have to book my tour online.
All of the usual ones are like USD150 and above. I am just wondering, what is a reasonable price for a decent boat with aircon and includes kayaking?
I read forums, blogs and all but they all seem to be real cheap like USD70-90!
Appreciate all advice! :)
Thanks! Those are all reliable agents ya?
Also have a look at %26#39;Pinta junk%26#39; through Colombus Tours.
I highly recommend it!!!
Right, just check all the rate they mentioned on their website and collect one for your trip.
Just Google ';Vietnam Budget Tour'; or ';Halong Bay budget Tour';, find the right tour options for you.
Quote:
Pick up: US$ 25/ cab
Halong Bay (3 days 2 nights): US$ 95
Sapa (2 days 3 nights): US$ 99
Hanoi hotel: US$ 25/twin/night (Brf inclusive)
Cheers!
Sorry this is a bit late, but if anyone else looks at this forum it may help. Three of us went on the Pinta 2d/n cruise of Halong Bay. Recommended by our hotel, the Golden Sun, which was also very good value. There were only 5 passengers with a crew of about 10. The price was US$97/ per person, including transport from hotel in Hanoi to Halong Bay. We were finishing a month in Vietnam and this was a wonderful way to end the trip. The cruise felt like pure luxury because but might be a bit cramped if there were the full capacity of 17 passengers on board. Food was first-rate, crew was helpful, kayaking was fun. I can think of no reason to pay more for a cruise of Halong Bay, considering what you get for a reasonable price.
Hi,
wondering if anyone had stayed at Hailong1 hotel at HCMC? would appreciate any feedback about the hotel as I am thinking of staying there during my trip to vietnam.
Many thanks!=)
We%26#39;ve stayed in 2007 at Ha Long1 Hotel, we had 1 small room with a double bed and ensuite at the back, the another room at the front is huge with 2 double beds, lounge and ensuite overlooking the New World hotel pool. During our travel they kept our luggage for free. The service and staff are very well communicated and friendly. ADSL Internet and cabel TV use ist free, also the hotel has a good restaurant with room service as well. The price for food and drink to room service was reasonable. I would recommend this hotel to TA members although the hotel price is a bit more expensiver than any in the backpacker area but its worth it!
Have a good holiday.
Hi! My family of 4 (including two teenagers) will be going to Vietnam and Cambodia for 4 wks. this summer. Do most 3-star hotel rooms in Vietnam have full or queens or kings beds? Are most rooms pretty large? When we traveled to Peru 2 yrs ago, most rooms came with 2 full beds, which was a little tight for us.
We%26#39;re trying to book our hotels in Vietnam now. My teenagers definitely seem to bicker a lot in tight quarters. Also my husband and I are 50ish, travel a lot, and admittedly like comfortable accomodations. But at the same time, it would be nice to save some money.
Your advice is greatly appreciated.
Maybe we should leave the teens at home--just kidding!
The hotels we stayed at had full size beds. I think if you want 2 beds in a room, full size is the norm there, not sure if your teenagers are willing to share 1 bed. The rooms were very standard in size compared to rooms here in the U.S.
You might want to book 2 connecting rooms, or maybe a suite in a smaller boutique hotel.
The family rooms (triple) we got tended to be a double bed (probably a queen) and a single bed, we stayed in 3* hotels. The rooms were not overly large. We always got 2 rooms, the kids usually not too far away.
Where can I get passport photos taken in Hochiminh and how much would it cost?
In any shop you see along the street with sign like Kodak, Konica, Fuji, etc.
Cost is about 25,000 to 50,000 VND per set.
Thank you for that info LP.. certainly a lot cheaper than OZ
I know this is a stupid question BUT do you not have to have a PASSPORT before you get to Vietnam? If so why do you need pasport pictures after arriving?
He/she might need more for Cambodia / Laos visa or for future use.
I%26#39;m confused. We are travelling to Vietnam in two weeks and by what I have read on this forum an Australian sim card will not operate in Vietnam. However a friend%26#39;s wife is there at the moment and he says she is sending him SMS messages all the time and she is using her Australian sim. Can someone advise if this is possible. Thank you in advance.
It depends on which mobile phone company you have a contract with. It is advised that you check with the company website to see their foreign partners.
BTW, there seems to be an increasing number of questions involved in mobile phones, so I include the general information as follows:
In Vietnam, there are 5 telephone operators at the moment, 3 of which are considered the main ones:
1. Mobifone: great service, especially has many international partners. You may check here to see whether your phone operator is in the list:
mobifone.com.vn/web/…partners.jsp
2. Vinaphone: the oldest one, the number of customers is similar as Mobifone%26#39;s. But it does not give a list of its partners:
www.vinaphone.com.vn/view.do…
3. Viettel: the army company, newcomer (3 years old), but offers such lots of good things (e.g. tariff down to 70%) that ca.20 millions tie with it. Also, it has a wide national network. Unfortunately, neither does it give a list of its partners:
viettel.com.vn/VIETTELGioithieu/…2009.viettel
----------
Personally I have had no roaming problems when coming back to Hanoi. My phone operators were O2 (in Germany), O2 (in the UK). Some friends who traveled to VN claimed that they could receive but could not send SMS. In case this happens, try to REPLY message (not WRITE new). It may work.
BTW, why don%26#39;t you think of buying a simcard (or even a cheap phone) when you arrive in Vietnam? It%26#39;s dirt cheap there (prob. it would not cost you more than 10 pounds even for the whole month).
Hi
I,ve certainly had no problem using Telstra mobile in Vietnam. Just had to organise global roaming. Cost wise it is probably a lot cheaper too get a Sim card over there.
I had problems in bali and vietnam with global roaming and optus ( worked one week out of 4 2nd trip so it wasnt me not setting it up proeprly) was very expensive for texts when it did work !!!
Last trip - took ';old'; unlocked phone and got a local vietnam card- super cheap - super easy!
Hi,
Am after some advice really. I have been booking trips and hotels in Vietnam for April using all the fantastic advice from the people on this site.
Once thing I am a bit concerned about is paying by credit card. Almost every hotel and tour company we have contacted through advice from Tripadvisor users want us to send a photocopy of our passports and the front and back of my credit cards including Pilgrimage Village (Hue) and Columbus cruises (HaLong) to confirm our booking even though we have already given card details. I was wondering if this is normal practice. Has anyone else come across this? Is this usual practice?
Thanks
Hello,
I`m going to Vietnam in April and I have already booked my hotels, but they did not ask for my credit card details.
How I read on TA, not many tourist in Vietnam now , try to deal with them like your bank said that is a big risk so you can not give them your credit card details, but you kindly ask them to accept your booking.
Have you tried to book through agoda,asiarooms etc. ?
They are usually cheaper than the hotel itself.
HaLong, if you will have a few days before departing you can do booking when you are there.Or it is again, tell them you will pay, when you arrive, a day earlier.
Have a nice holiday!
zskin
Sorry, I forgot.
Yes, it is a usual practice they they try to ask for your deposit or credit card details.
But when you say no, they are usually try to find other alternatives (they do not want to lose tourist).
I have just found your hotel on asiarooms, I would book with them , and I would leave Colombus cruises when you will be in Vietnam. (if they still stick with their policy)
Hi zskin
Thanks for the advice. I am going to do as you say and request that I pay on arrival. Do not feel comfortable about sending photocopies of cards etc.
Thanks again and have a good trip too!
We%26#39;ve just returned from a very enjoyable five weeks there. In our experience only a few hotels asked for a deposit up-front and none asked for passport details. After a telling them we were unhappy with the security aspects of their requests some relented and some insisted. In one case we wanted to stay, so we faxed the credit card details requested (more secure than email?) and in others the request was so unreasonable we chose somewhere else (and told them so). Trust your judgement - if the Ts and Cs (eg on deposits and cancellations) look unreasonable (and requesting passport details is unreasonable in our view) go elsewhere, but tell them why, so they may get the message.
Hi,
The majority of the hotels and tours i have booked for my 10 days in Vietnam are all to be paid in cash on arrival in US $ but i obviously will need Vietnamese Dong as well. As i will be in Thailand for a week previously i do not want to carry around sterling so i had intended to use my cash card at atms.
I have opened a Nationwide a/c (no comission abroad) to help with getting the best value but have been told that many cash machines charge 2-3% plus limit the amount you can withdraw to about 拢100ish. Also, to get US$ will i need to withdraw Dong and then change into $ paying comission twice???
Anyone for Britain had this potential problem and know the best solution???
Thanks
Despite if the fact that most of tourist hotels from 01 star in Vietnam have their Credit Machine to collect the payments from guests, these hotels try to CASH their guests. They keep telling lies that the machine is broken.
It is inconvenient to withdraw money ( Vietnam Dong only, maximum 2.000.000 VND per transaction, limited 20.000.000 VND per day, and 20.000 VND for the fee per transaction ) from ATMs and then pay your bill in US Dollar.
My tip is : try to insist the hotels by the time you check out that YOU DO NOT HAVE CASH, but only Credit Cards.
Some guests have done this before and they were successful. Here is the link : tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298082-d636鈥?/a>
Mr Phuoc
Have the hotels specified the payment is to be in USD or haved they just _quoted_ in USD? We found hotels _quote_ in USD (presumably so they don%26#39;t scare you with all those zeros :-) ) but will accept payment in VND.
Be aware that if you use your credit card as suggested by the previous poster, most places add on a 3% surcharge for credit card use. As I recall the ATMS we used had a minimal flat transaction fee, as the previous poster stated 20,000VND which is a little more than $1US, or 1% of the 2,000,000 you can withdraw in any one transaction.
We%26#39;ve just returned from five weeks there (with our Nationwide cards). In our experience although hotels may quote in US$ they will accept payment via your card or in cash (US$ or VND). You should not need to VND to US$ or vice versa. We can confirm it%26#39;s usually a flat VND20,000 for cash withdrawals. By the way, they do not need payment on arrival - they generally ask for your passport to ensure you pay on leaving.
1. Carry a full roll of toilet paper where ever you go even to the local shop
2. At the markets offer half of what they ask go up in 10%-20% increments and as you walk away mention your last offer as I was surprised how often they agreed and called me back
3. Sunglasses are a lot cheaper and the same quality as the guys that walk around the outside of the Ben Tha market carrying them on their big piece of wood.
4. The shirts I bought from the markets have washed really well even the cheesy red ones with a big yellow start on the front and did not shrink.
5. Make sure the Taxi meter is running before you get in.
6. Make it very clear how much you are going to pay in a cyclo.
7. Change money at jewellers in Saigon, and change large USD bills ie $100 no less as you get a better rate
8. watch out for the Tan Hai Long Hotel group in Saigon even if you have reserved a room and a large touring group come in they will give the room to them and try and palm you off to either a on par hotel or something lower in standard.
9. Dont turn up at a hotel at 11pm expecting to get a great deal on a room as they know you are desperate.
10. Beer is cheaper if you go to a small family run supermarket
11. If you go to a coffee shop and like the extra super sweet taste of condensed milk in your coffee go for it otherwise bring small single serve helpings you know the ones you get in Western restaurants and ask for black coffee.
12. CROSSING THE ROAD
make sure no cars are coming slowly walk forward looking left or right do not run sprint or stop just walk slow all the mopeds will go around you
13. I would not hire a moped and go up highway one during rush hour as there are some big trucks we saw a young guy get killed on the way back from the Mekong Delta and 2 more accidents.
Watch for little cheap harmless scam where they ask you for Australian coins as they collect them, dont be surprised at the next stall somone will say they were paid in aussie coins and can you change into dong
If you follow these tips you will have a very memorable and exciting holiday we did
excellent, thanks for all the tips.. we only have 18 more days to go till we are there!
Izzy
23 more sleeps for us...itching to go!
Great tips. Thanks.
Thanks for your tips - even hubby is excited about our holiday - Tracey %26amp; Izzy - we will be in HoiAn from 12th to 19th April - if you guys want to meet up for a drink (or 2) send me a pm when you are there. For us - 30 sleeps!!!!!
Great tips as my sis in law and moi are going later in the Year.
Also could you let us know how Hoi An went for the seven days after you get back. I am tossing up with a tour or doing our own thing as we did in Italy.
I really like the look of Hoi An and like to paint and so beside the tailors I may need more time there.
Most tours are in and out in two days, pity.
Any tips on a good place to stay would be great also...I am looking at the Ha An Hotel there.
Thanks in advance
Niec
Thank you, great tips, did you book your first night in HCMC? Where did you stay, what was it like? Any other info would be great.
Hi Sandy,
Have a great trip, will be waiting for all the good tips on Hoi An.
Only 3 hotels to choose from now, Ancient House Resort, Hoi An Hotel and the Phuoc An River Resort.
Cheers,
Stewie.
Does anyone know if this resort is open yet. I tried to email but the addresses that were given on the website but it was kick backed to me. Thanks!
This could possibly be the new resort next to Mango Bay Resort?? going towards town...... if it is, I would personally not stay there .... we walked past it and it looked very ordinary and quite frankly utterly characterless... gather it is also very expensive as some guests staying at Mango Bay had checked it out ... you would find other places far nicer.......
Thank you. We%26#39;re also looking at Gecko Jacks. Maybe we%26#39;ll do that.
Hi Natural Lovers,
Covering an area of 2,643 hectares in seven communes of Gia Vien district, in the northern province of Ninh Binh, Van Long nature reserve is a wonderful landscape with a rich ecological system.
Van Long is the largest swampland nature reserve in the northern delta. In Van Long forest, there are 457 species of plants, eight of which are listed in Vietnam鈥檚 Red Book, namely kieng, lat hoa, cot toai boi, sang, bach bo, ma tien hoa tan and tue la rong.
There are 39 species of animals, including 12 rare species such as languor, Tibetan bear, chamois, Loris, and red-face monkey. Van Long is home to the largest community of langurs (around 50 heads) in Vietnam.
The reserve also has 62 species of birds, 26 species of reptiles, including nine listed in Vietnam鈥檚 Red Book such as grass-snake, varan, slow and harmless boas, and gecko, six species of amphibians, 44 species of fish, and 39 species of aquatic plants.
It is not only famous for its nature reserve; there are many cultural sites in the area. Standing on the dike, tourists view large areas of water. Imposing mountains can be seen in the far distance.
Tourists who want to discover Van Long should go by boat to view scenery of mountains of Nghien, Hom Sach, Da Ban, Meo Cao, Co Tien, Voi Dung, Canh Cong and Moi Coi. Each mountain has an attractive legend.
There are 32 beautiful caves in the reserve, including Fish, Shade, Tortoise and Lemon caves. The most beautiful cave is the Fish cave at the foot of Hoang Quyen Mount. Many species of fish live in the cave.
Van Long nature reserve is really a site worth seeing.
If you have a good chance to see, do not miss it
Einstein
Hi
i was looking to book the Emotion Cruise for 3days/2nights and have been given a reasonable price from the following tour company;
Halong Luxry tour also known as Vietnam trip advisor and run by
A Chau TTD Co., Ltd Address: 56 Ma May St., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi with International Tour Operator License 0752/2007/TCDL
Has anyone ever heard of them and are they a trustworthy and reputable company.
Also has anyone stayed on the Emotion ?
Thanks
I am traveling to Vietnam and Cambodia in April %26amp; May. Here a couple of parts of my itinerary: I am wanting to take a boat trip through the Mekong Delta into Cambodia, spend a few days at Angkor Wat and then fly back to Vietnam - all the way to Dalat (thru HCMC) - then end up in Hue and fly fro Hue to HCMC to catch my plane back to the US.
Questions:
Recommended boat trip thru Mekong to Cambodia? (preferably all the way to Phon Phen but possibly just the border?)
Best way to book plane tickets? Should I contact a tour company? wait until I%26#39;m in HCMC and find a travel agent? book online?
All replies are appreciated!
Hi
We did the boat trip with Sinh Cafe, found on De Tham Street. Really good, cheap and reliable with good reputation- beware any fakes on the internet. Just book it when you get there. There are many combinations for this trip so best to go along and discuss.
Flights are probably best booked when you get there. Availability is generally good and prices cheaper.
we got our hotel to book our flights with a travel agent(kymerfly@yahoo.com) in Siem Reap,and then we paid for them when we arrived.
I%26#39;m headed for HCMC, my second trip. I am planning to skip the war museums and would like to see art - museums, galleries, crafts. Any suggestions?
Hello, We are currently on honeymoon at our first stop off in Hong Kong. We were due to fly to Thailand tonight for a further 3 weeks but obviously have to make alternative plans now as our flights were cancelled, etc. So we%26#39;re wondering if any of you would recommend Vietnam..we want some time for outdoor activities - hiking, water sports, etc and then some beach time. We would be very grateful for any tips or advice you might have.
Thanks.
Wow! A stressful start to your honeymoon. Vietnam is a wonderful destination - we have been twice with a third trip booked for next year, also been once to Thailand. Vietnam is not as westernised as Thailand but that is part of the charm.
For outdoors experience, consider flying into Hanoi and taking a side trip to Sapa for hiking (easy to challenging - take your pick) and then maybe Halong Bay for cruising, kayaking, exploring islands etc. Hanoi is a fascinating and charming city - lots to see, great restaurants etc. I%26#39;d then consider a few days in Hoi An - our favourite holiday destination, wander around for days eating, watching the world go by, maybe have some clothes made - stay at the beach or in the town. An alternative is Nha Trang - very touristy and westernised but great water sports, night clubs, resorts. Mui Ne - a bit further south is quieter, resorty, less commercialised - great, quiet honeymoon destination. Saigon is a mad but wonderful Asian city - great western style shopping, also side trip to Mekong Delta?
Cost of accommodation ranges from very cheap to great (for us $30 average per night) and Western type prices for great resorts.
Hard to be more precise. good luck and make the most of it!
Hi.
Another thought - check out how easy it will be to get visas for vietnam -If it proves too difficult Cambodia is another option with Visa on arrival.
Hi,
Vietnam is a charming and hospitable country.
I can recommend you destinations in Vietnam as follow
In the North: Hanoi - Halong - Sapa( romantic lanscapes)
In the Centre: Hue - Hoian
In the South: Saigon - Mekong If you like beach, you can go to Muine or Nha Trang
Three weeks in VIetnam is enough for destinations.
Cheers
VN
vn.myblog.yahoo.com/morningvietnam2001
Thanks for all your advice. Hopefully can get visas sorted in a day and will go to Vietnam. Would you recommend going to Hanoi and surrounding areas or Ho Chi Min and surrounding areas? We are going to keep the last leg of our Thailand trip open in case things settle down there so we have about 7-10 days.
Thanks again for all your help. Appreciate it.
Sounds like a good plan - seems like things are settling down in Thailand so you may get there. I%26#39;d do Hanoi and surrounds - closer to where you are and also probably more distinctive - Saigon is more like other Asian cities. Try to get to Hoi An. Lovely relaxed environment, beach if you want - destination no. 1!!Also lots of stunning sights near Hanoi ie Halong Bay and Sapa. Bottom line is - it%26#39;s a honeymoon - good luck and enjoy!!!! Happy to provide advice re accommodatio via Email
We were in Vietnam earlier this year and Slopenbeach has covered our thoughts pretty well. Follow his advice and you won%26#39;t go far wrong.
We have exactly the same problem and on honeymoon as well :)) Also flying to HK first for couple of days, Our itinerary, allwith private guide/driver, afterwards for the moment is:
* HK to Hanoi (we skiped Sapa part this time as looked quite rustic and not wanting to share cabin of 4 on overnight train)
* Halong Bay
* fly Hanoi to Hue
* drive to Hoi An (visitng Dalang and other sights)
* HCM (fly from Dalang). We decided to skip Mekong trip as again boats look bit rustic and hotels at border very basic so wanted something else during honemoon but definitely doing another time)
* Phonm Pehn (fly from HCM)
* Siem Reap (fly from PP)
* Luang Prabang/Laos (fly from Siem Reap)
Afterwards, normally we would have flown to Chiang Mai, stay couple of days and fly to Bangkok..onto Thai islands...for complete luxury relaxation before returning home...
We are now looking for options for the last part of our week, Hopefully someone answers our post since we are determined to end on beach somewhere!
Good luck to you.
one more touts vutour!!
I have been meaning to email for sooooo long to thank you for all your advice. We ended up having a fantastic week in Vietnam..flew to Hanoi, went out to Halong Bay and then to Sapa for a few days. Had a great time! Thanks again for all your advice.
