Laptop question

Hello all!

I have been searching past posts about bring laptops to VN but most of them were from 2006. I will be there in April and wondering if anyone can please tell me if they have had issues with customs regarding bringing your personal laptop? Do you declare your laptop? I will be on a mini vacation but stil need to log in with work everyday. Thanks in advance and sorry if this is a redundant question.

Laptop question

Hi

Just got back 3 days ago and saw plenty of people travelling with laptops and using them with the free WIFI in hotels.I also saw people using a Skype phone they had brought with them on a hotel computer.

I didn%26#39;t bring mine - just opted to take an Ipod touch which was useful for email and a lot smaller to carry with me.

Everywhere we stayed also had computers for free use. Internet cafes are also very cheap and we found them everywhere - even market towns in the Mekong.

Laptop question

The custom will not ask you if you are a foreigner. But if you are viet kieu (vietnamese living over sea), then when your luggages go through the scan, he/she can see it and will question you. But no worry, just tell them that I need to work while on vacation, they will ask for money and be patient not to give them anything, they have to let you go. I once brought a couple laptops with me for my friend in Vietnam and was asked too. I kept my patience and did not have to pay anything at all.

I just went to Viet Nam a month ago. I brought my laptop with me. I did not have to declare it at all.

Don%26#39;t worry, bringing laptop is normal. Just don%26#39;t bring a brandnew, in-box laptop because they will think you are importing goods to VN (hence the declaration and import tax). Also don%26#39;t bring more than one, for the same reason.

One personal computer is ok. The same rule applied to camera and camcorder.

pores

Ho Chi Minh Airport

We have 3 hrs to kill between flights and will have a three year old in tow. Is there anything in or near the airport that is likely to occupy him...?

Thanks in advance.

Ho Chi Minh Airport

There are some suppermarkets near Tan Son Nhat Airport which has kid-conner (game station, rocky horse, etc). I%26#39;m not sure if it interests you and your son.

Ho Chi Minh Airport

The Supermarket ';Superbowl'; is nearby TSN Airport, where Kids have their games und shopping or good food there will kill your time. Get the cab from the airport, it takes you approx. 15 mins depends on traffic. Hope this will help.

There%26#39;s a new shopping complex right opposite the airport with a Pizza Hut and Parkson department store, probably has play area too. 5 mins%26#39; walk from the airport.

Do you have a Vietnamese visa? It is required to enter Vietnam (if you decide to leave the airport).

Hi kstenger...

Yes...we have a visa...we will be coming from Nha Trang, on our way to Siem Reap...but thanks.

Thankyou to everyone else also. :o)

Airport Taxi

This has probably been asked before...but anyway, here goes...

are there any taxis from the airport to district 1 that can seat 7 persons, and how much do they costs?

Also, do most of the drivers know where they are supposed to go when given an address of an hotel?

Airport Taxi

There are quite a lot of 7 seat taxis at the airport. Most Vinasun Taxi I’ve seen are 7 seat. Phone number 38272727. Watch the fake one which has the last 2 digits 77.

First row: driver + 1 person

Second row: 3 persons

Last row: 3 persons

But if you have big luggage, it can be tough.

They cost the same as 4 seat. About 5-10 US$ by meter depending on which hotel you’re heading to.

Definitely yes that they know which hotel if they have the address. They speak Latin language, not “drawing” language like Chinese and Thai.

Airport Taxi

land_premier,

Thank you for your answer. I was quoted 25usd for the hotel pick-up and now that I know it%26#39;s going to cost much less than that, I can afford a couple of drinks more!

Have a drink on me then, if at all our path cross!

You’re welcome, smoothead. The distance is only 8 km. I can walk if I have no luggage ;-)

New to Vietnam

Hi everyone

My Boyfriend and I are thinking of travelling to Vietnam for a holiday early next year we havent travelled here before so any help to following questions would b great.

We are 21yrs and 22yrs old but looking for a relaxing holiday.

-Where in Vietnam is most popular Area to stay with the most things to do?

Hanio or Ho chi minh city?

-What hotel should we stay at? Any recommendations to a nice hotel with big pool clean room about a 3-4 star?

-What month is best to go for weather??

-Whats there to do there?

Please anyones help would be great! :D

New to Vietnam

Well, let%26#39;s consider one ? at a time!

I like Hanoi and Hoi An, and if you have time, Sapa.

New to Vietnam

My friend and I just spent 10 days in Vietnam and loved it. We decided to travel just in the north and central areas since we heard the south is too touristy. We spent 3 days in Hanoi, 2 days in Halong Bay, 2 days in Hue and 3 days in Hoi An.

Hanoi is great, there is a lot to do, and a great starting point for touring areas like Halong Bay and Sapa. We did a 2 day Halong Bay tour with Ocean Tours, which I would highly recommend. We took the option of spending the night on their private island, rather than on a boat. It was a good decision! Halong Bay is absolutely beautiful, and the activities included with the tour, kayaking and cycling, were a lot of fun.

I really liked Hue - it%26#39;s a cute little town that is not too touristy.

Hoi An was very disappointing. The town is just packed with tourists. The nearby beaches are GORGEOUS though, and it is worth going just for that. You can bike there easily from the town, and the bike ride itself is very beautiful.

If I were to go back to Vietnam, I would go to Sapa and Dalat, as I hear they are amazing. I haven%26#39;t heard too many good things about Ho Chi Minh City.

Hi Perth,

Both Ha noi and Ho Chi Minh are so great! But Both of you very young. So I would like to give you classic itinerary as:

Northern Classic: Ha Noi - Ha Long - Ha Noi ( 4days/3nights)

D1 : Ha Noi - half day city tour. Overnight at Sunway hotel/ Gouman Hotel (4*)

D2 : Ha Noi - Ha Long Bay. Overnight at Ha Long Pearl/ Heritage Hotel.

D3 : Ha Long - Ha Noi.

D4 : Departure.

Southern Classic : Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi - Me Kong - Ho Chi Minh ( 4days/3nights0

D1 : Ho Chi Minh - half day city tour.

D2 : Cu Chi

D3 : Me Kong

D4 : Ho Chi minh - departure

Hotel : Elios/Le Duy/ equatorior .

In VietNam on spring ( jenuary - march) is good for tourist.

Thanks and enjoin traveling.

visa

i will be in vietnam for 10 days in november and want to know what is the easiest and cheapest way to get a visa

visa

the cheapest and fastest way to get a visa to Vietnam now is Booking via Internet (we call it Visa on approval), For more information, you can visit this website: http://www.vietnam-visa.com/

good luck!

visa

I think Stuart has already been and gone....last year.

Sharing my Sapa Tours Research

Hi guys,

I%26#39;ve taken much from this forum so I%26#39;m giving some back.

Like what I did for the Halong Bay forum, I am sharing my Sapa tour researches with you all.

Prices are as published on the site but you should email them to see if its still valid and if you book more tours with them they may also give you a better price.

A) Hoang Nam Services and Trading Co., Ltd.

http://www.goldenlandtours.com/trekking2.html

- USD 90/pax (Sapa Summit Hotel, Ratraco Train)

B) AN PHU HA NOI TRAVEL SERVICE TRADING COMPANY LIMITED

www.anphutour.com/anphu/… - USD 85/pax (Sapa Summit Hotel, Ratraco Train)

C) VIETNAM OPENTOUR CO., LTD

vietnamopentour.com.vn/vietnam-tour/sapa-tou… - USD 95/pax (2* hotel, Royal/Ratraco Train)

D) RISING DRAGON HOTEL

USD 96/pax (Sapa Summit Hotel, Hara Train)

E) SINH CAFE

USD 85/pax (Queen hotel or Golden Sea hotel, Friendly Train)

F) DIY (book train tickets from vietnamimpressive.com/service/… tour and hotel to book direct from Thai Binh hotel)

USD 107/pax (Thai Binh Hotel, Any USD 60 (2 way) Train)

After the 100 hours I spent on researching on prices for Halong Bay, I spent another 100 on Sapa. LOL. So I hope you guys benefit from this and save the 100 I slogged for.

The one I finally went with is with the hotel I am to stay with in Hanoi - Hanoi Lucky Hotel.

Here are the tour details:

www.hanoiluckyhotel.com/Hotel1/Default.aspx… (A 2 star hotel which I have not decided, King%26#39;s Express Train)

I booked this tour cos I felt the guy on the email was very nice and the price is reasonable as well. You should check with your hotel to see if they will give you a discount for booking everything through them. :)

As for whether this tour that I book with Hanoi Lucky Hotel is good or not, I will come back here to post my review when I am done with my trip.

My trip is 01- 08 March 2009. Wait for me! :D

Sharing my Sapa Tours Research

Hi, you can see sapa train ticket and schedule at http://www.vietnamhomestay.net/ for all types of train and for all tours on sale and disocunt, you can visit www.vietnamtouronsale.com

Sharing my Sapa Tours Research

I hope you%26#39;re having a great time and can%26#39;t wait to hear about your experiences! Did you stay in Hanoi as a home base and book all tours from there? Thanks!!

Hotel Elegance 1,2,3 or 4!!

Hi,

The hotel elegance chain seem to come out pretty well on the tripadvisor rating list but which one should i chose (if at all).

Has anyone stayed, viewed these?

Any views/information would be great

Hotel Elegance 1,2,3 or 4!!

Hi I was having the same problem as well but then decided on Elegance 4.

HOWEVER, my agent then suggested the Luxor hotel, she said its new and nicer than elegance so I have decided to go with her advice and am booked to stay there in may this year.

has anybody else stayed at the luxor hotel?

Hotel Elegance 1,2,3 or 4!!

howdy,

have had good reports of elegance 4 and I am booked in there for may this year. have stayed at the quoc hoa also which is ok.

I stayed at the Hanoi Elegance 1, which was cheaper than the others since it%26#39;s a bit older. I really liked it. We paid $55 for a triple room that included a computer with internet and breakfast for all 3 of us. The location was also great - right in the old market area beside Ocean Tours and not too far from the lake. We passed by Elegance 4 which looked more upscale, but the triple rooms were double the price. The breakfast at Elegance 1 was amazing - they let us order as much as we wanted off the menu, and the crepes were out of this world. I would definitely recommend the hotel.

We stayed in elegance 4 - we really enjoyed our stay, it definitely was our nicest hotel in Vietnam. Though elegance 2 has better location for restaurants and market.

Hi there.

Our family stay in HE3 that is real nice and top value hotel in Vietnam.

Come and enjoying it.

pores