Vietnam help planning please

lynzpower

Ill be honest, thnk about what you might do in "a few days" in KL.

We did the bus our, went to the indoor market, chinatown, that weird lake (?) the petronas towers. Theres sunway lagoon that we went to, OK for good weather, KL can be pretty stifling. We really did run out of stuffto do tbf.

bestyman

Well we have to fly out of KL so want to be there at least the last night .

I will talk to the boss soon but north to south Vietnam looks interesting . I have just been reading about this train
http://www.livitrans.com/en/index.php?cid=5,9&txtkey=lichtrinhvagiave
not the best website but it seems depart Hanoi to danang, 7 pm till 10 34 am at cost of 59USD. I think that is some type of tourist train, looks like 4 people per cabin but would really prefer two. Will keep looking into that one.

bestyman

Just about booked everything now . A few pointers , now Im an expert ;o0

Most flights well cheap , air asia, malaysian airways, vietman air all cheap. Also read about Red star but never used them. All bookable easily on line.

We are flying KL to HCMC ( thats Saigon , a large city in the south for newbies)for 2 days ( about £20 a night there), then a £20 flight to Danang. From here picked up by speedboat to a little island with 12 beach bungalows for £60 a night.
From here to Hoi an ( beach resort in the middle)hotel, splashed out on a deluxe villa here next to a pool for £35 a night inc breakfast.
Then a flight to Hanoi (£20) , 5 nights on Hanoi elagance 4 ( number 1 on trip advisor) for about £30 a night,
Trip to halong bay and spending a night on a junk ( wooden boat cruise) , thats about £60 each but includes all food.

Then back to KL (£60) and 2 nights there at £70 a night.

Flights from there to uk were £500 return for 2 with air asia but that was a promotion no longer running.

I suppose the purpose of this post is to point out that the total cost is less than £1500 for 2 staying in some really nice hotels and many flights. As others have mentioned its possible to spend even less.

By the way the train was not really an option for us as flights were cheap enough and short of time.

With the 6p beer there I cannot see us spending a lot . We are happy to live on street food , cheap places.

Many thanks for all the help and suggestions that made the above possible.

Voyager2002

Don't count on the 6p beer.

I spent about a fortnight in Vietnam for work, and I don't remember the drink being particularly cheap.

Leanne1812

bestyman wrote: »

Just about booked everything now . A few pointers , now Im an expert ;o0

Most flights well cheap , air asia, malaysian airways, vietman air all cheap. Also read about Red star but never used them. All bookable easily on line.

We are flying KL to HCMC ( thats Saigon , a large city in the south for newbies)for 2 days ( about £20 a night there), then a £20 flight to Danang. From here picked up by speedboat to a little island with 12 beach bungalows for £60 a night.
From here to Hoi an ( beach resort in the middle)hotel, splashed out on a deluxe villa here next to a pool for £35 a night inc breakfast.
Then a flight to Hanoi (£20) , 5 nights on Hanoi elagance 4 ( number 1 on trip advisor) for about £30 a night,
Trip to halong bay and spending a night on a junk ( wooden boat cruise) , thats about £60 each but includes all food.

Then back to KL (£60) and 2 nights there at £70 a night.

Flights from there to uk were £500 return for 2 with air asia but that was a promotion no longer running.

I suppose the purpose of this post is to point out that the total cost is less than £1500 for 2 staying in some really nice hotels and many flights. As others have mentioned its possible to spend even less.

By the way the train was not really an option for us as flights were cheap enough and short of time.

With the 6p beer there I cannot see us spending a lot . We are happy to live on street food , cheap places.

Many thanks for all the help and suggestions that made the above possible.

Your trip sounds great.

Remember to post on your return how it all went.

Leanne

bestyman

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Don't count on the 6p beer.

I spent about a fortnight in Vietnam for work, and I don't remember the drink being particularly cheap.

Was you boozing in the Hilton?
This link suggests 15 cents ( 9 pence) a common price to pay.
http://www.vietnamadventures.com/this_month/current.html

As a money saver I might go for the litre option at 35 cents????

dixie_dean_2

Haven't read the thread but e went to Vientna/Cambodia for a month this time last year so if you have any unanswered questions let me know.

elsien

bestyman wrote: »

Anyone caught the sleeper train, sounds a good option?

Did the sleeper train for one night to Saigon - basic but ok. Take a sleeping bag liner though - we were meant to get clean bedding (first class, I think) but there was a very suspicious looking curly hair or two on the "clean" sheet. And it's worth paying more to get a bunk - there were twice as many people as seats in the other sections of the train. The train had a security guard as well.

I wasn't expecting to like Vietnam - only went because I was going to Cambodia so thought it would be daft not to visit at the same time.
I loved the food (against all expectations, as I thought it was all fish and I don't eat fish) and didn't find any more hassle there than anywhere else. Would thorougly recommend it.

Bob_the_Saver

Don't forget to allow LOTS of time to cross the road in Saigon in particular, you'll find out why if you don't know already, but you'll have a great trip.

bestyman

Sacked the train cos we found cheap flights but thanks anyhow.

Yeah , Ive googled the videos on crossing the road. Dreading it as I can not cross roads good over here.
Will the traffic have died down by the time Ive had a session of local beer?