Vietnam - All of September

PompeyPete

Got bored the other day, saw great vfm flights [£433] to HCMC with Qatar Airways, and off we go...

Day 1: Arrive at 1250 HCMC with Qatar Airways
Day 2: HCMC
Day 3: Fly Vietjet to Dalat (50 minute flight)
Day 4: Dalat (Le Petit Paris and City of Eternal Spring))
Day 5: Dalat
Day 6: Dalat
Day 7: Dalat
Day 8: Fly Vietnam Airways to Da Nang (80 minute flight). Bus (60 minutes) to Hoi An
Day 9: Hoi An
Day10: Hoi An
Day 11: Hoi An
Day 12: Hoi An
Day 13: Hoi An
Day 14: Bus to Danang. Stay overnight
Day 15: Train to Hue (3 hours) - v.scenic
Day 16: Hue
Day 17: Hue
Day 18: Hue
Day 19: Train (sleeper?) to Nimh Binh
Day 19: Nimh Binh
Day 20: Nimh Binh
Day 21: Train to Hanoi (3 hours)
Day 22: Hanoi
Day 23: Hanoi
Day 24: Hanoi (possible Halong trip)
Day 25: Hanoi (possible Halong trip)
Day 26: Hanoi
Day 27: Fly Vietjet to HCMC. Overnight HCMC.
Day 28: Evening flight to London

Flights booked from LHR-SGN with Qatar Airways via Doha. Cheaper to fly into HCMC than to Hanoi.

Internal flights between HCMC-Dalat, and Dalat-Danang booked with Vietjet and Vietnam Airways. Inexpensive and website easy to use.

Visa on Arrival (US$10 for approval letter + US$45 on arrival for stamp).

So our first 8 days are committed [as far as Danag/Hoi An. But everything else is fluid. I'm not sold on Halong Bay or Sapa, which is one reason we've decided on Dalat for a few days. Is Hoi An too long?

Any comments gratefully received.:)

parcival

Hoi Ann is a lovely town with plenty of restaurants and interesting shops. It also has a lovely beach.
When we stayed we did a half day cookery class and a half day food producing course. I am sure you will find no trouble occupying yourself....

phatbear

hoi an was lovely, but quite small.

as previously stated there is a nice beach near by, if you dont mind hawkers trying to sell you bendy sun glasses.

whilst there i highly recommend a tour to "my son" its like a mini angkor wat

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/949

i also had one of the best indian currys ive ever had in hoi an at a restaurant called "ganesh"

thebigbosh

in hoi an definitely get some clothes made. also take a cycle tour around the farms and fish farms. and see if you can ride a water buffalo - that was hilarious!

do spend a little time in HCMC though - if only to get out of it and learn a bit about the war

agrinnall

My personal view is that you are staying too long in places that may not warrant it, although a lot of people do the same as you. I'd definitely do less in Dalat, Hoi An and Hue, I travelled in the other direction and stopped off at a couple of non-tourist destinations on the way, Quang Ngai (there's a fantastic beach near there, and the preserved My Son (known to us as My Lai) village) and Quy Nhon (excellent Cham ruins within the city).

And I'd echo thebigbosh's suggestion to spend some time in HCMC, in fact, I'd probably consider a trip into the delta for a day or two.

PompeyPete

Thanks for the comments so far.

The more I read about Hoi An, the more it comes across as marmite. Some people love it and say stay longer, and others suggest keeping it short as it's too touristy and not the real Vietnam.

But Quang Ngai, My Son, and Quy Nhan definitely appeal. But the September weather might be a factor.

Much more planning to do.:)

MasterPoo

What's the weather supposed to be like in September Pete?

I envy you being able to travel out of term time, you're living the life!

VestanPance

I'd add a couple of days in for HCMC. It's a fantastic place in it's own right and contrasts greatly with the likes of Hanoi. Plus the one thing I think is a must for HCMC is the XO Food Tour. Fantastic way to introduce yourself to the local food and see the city.

I'm down on the Hoi An love side of things. It is more touristy than most of Vietnam, but with a bike you can easily wander off the beaten path and the food of central Vietnam is the jewel of Asia as far as I'm concerned. Although Hoi An isn't any more touristy that District 1 in HCMC or the Old Quarter in Hanoi.

I'd recommend visiting Halong Bay, as long as you like admiring beautiful surroundings. Sapa is interesting, but the average trek isn't that challenging and you do get followed by the local women for miles as they try to sell you stuff, and they will try to sell you stuff!

littlereddevil

No that's not too long in Hoi An. It's no more touristy than some of the places you have mentioned in Bali. Maybe too long in Hanoi though? I would also have another night in HCM. It's manic but such an experience. Of course I know everyone likes different. Also VA kept texting me with change of times to their internal flights,even as we were travelling to the airport sometimes!

PompeyPete

MasterPoo wrote: »

What's the weather supposed to be like in September Pete?

I envy you being able to travel out of term time, you're living the life!

The weather will depend on where we are. It's a long skinny country with different climates.

We're spending the cash, the children can share the proceeds of the house.:)

PompeyPete

Thanks for the further comments
The only days that are set in stone are Days 1 to 8, and Day 28. Everything else can be messed about with.

Next job, next week is getting our Visa Letter...

http://www.vietnamvisapro.com/