Vietnam - All of September

Doshwaster

totallybored wrote: »

I did! I think it was the Ruby Elegance. It was recommended to me on here too and it was really good. They arranged pick up from the airport for me, the Halong Bay trip and 3 train tickets. I'm sure they only charged a few dollars commission for them.

Yes, the Ruby was fantastic. It didn't look much from the outside but it's the best customer service I have ever had in a hotel. Nothing was too much for them.

PompeyPete

Thanks for that. Lots of v.useful information.

bylromarha wrote: »

Dalat - far less time. I expected to spend the post flight half day there plus 3 more days. We left after 2 more days as we were so bored. Had already pre booked the hotel night, so money lost there, but didn't care. Crazy house was fun and a real experience, but otherwise it was a couple of non impressive waterfalls which you can see in a morning, flowers, a lake and a cable car.

We're committed for Dalat now for 5 nights. Sounds like another marmite sort of place, hope we're going to be lovers of it. Did you stay at the Crazy House? Looks wacky, and overrun by day visitors!

bylromarha wrote: »

Nearly got ripped off by a Easy Rider, but I stopped the tour midday and paid him a fare rate for the morning work. He was not happy at all, but neither was I when he told me his plan for the afternoon was to take us to 3 places I'd told him we'd already been too. If you do go with Easy Riders, get the itenerary in writing before committing is my advice.

Believe it or not, I've never been on a motor bike, due to a family fatality when I was young, so have been put off for ever.

bylromarha wrote: »

Hoi An is beautiful beaches and old waterways. If that's your thing, then you'll enjoy that many days there. If not, then cut it shorter. We did a trip to Bana Hills whilst we were there as the cable car is the longest in the world - goes over some beautiful mountain scenery.

I'm sure we'll enjoy Hoi An. Thanks for the Prince Hotel recommendation. Looks perfect for us. I've nailed it on. Did you book direct or on Agoda/Booking.com?

bylromarha wrote: »

Absolutely go to Halong Bay - it is stunning.

Can't make my mind up yet where to go for an Hanoi side-trip. Nimh Binh is looking favourite so far.

bylromarha wrote: »

Can highly recommend the Aranya Hotel in Hanoi -

Thanks. Added to the [long] short-list. I'm trying to average accommodation [and breakfast] out at £20 a night if I can.

bylromarha wrote: »

Personally would give HCMC more than a day and half - but no more than 3 days.

We'll have a couple of days at the end of the trip too.

bylromarha wrote: »

We flew everywhere, but I didn't fancy an overnight train with my 2 kids. If OH was with me, think it'd have been fine, but Vietjet Air so cheap that it was worth the time saving to me.

Ditto. I love train travel in Thailand, but trains might eat up too much time in Vietnam, and if getting sleep might be an issue on the overnight trains then they don't suit. Only trains we intend getting are Danang to Huw [for the scenery], and if we go, return from Hanoi to Nimh Binh.

bylromarha wrote: »

Am slightly jealous that you can up on holiday on a whim, you lucky thing.

It's got to be done.:T

PompeyPete

Doshwaster wrote: »

Yes, the Ruby was fantastic. It didn't look much from the outside but it's the best customer service I have ever had in a hotel. Nothing was too much for them.

I think it might compromise my aim to average out at £20 a night for B&B.

Doshwaster

PompeyPete wrote: »

I think it might compromise my aim to average out at £20 a night for B&B.

It's certainly possible to do an average of £20 a night in Vietnam while still having the occasional "treat". In Hanoi it is worth paying a little more for a central location (within walking distance of the lake) as the cyclo and taxi drivers are some of the biggest rip off merchants I've seen anywhere in Asia. Even worse than Bangkok.

PompeyPete

Revised itinerary...

Day 1: Arrive at 1250 HCMC with Qatar Airways
Day 2: HCMC
Day 3: Fly Vietjet to Dalat (50 minute flight)
Day 4: Dalat
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: Train to Hue from Danang - v.scenic
Day 14: Hue
Day 15: Hue
Day 16: Hue
Day 17: Fly from Hue to Hanoi
Day 18: Hanoi
Day 19: Hanoi
Day 20: Side trip from Hanoi (Nimh Binh or Halong Bay or Sapa)
Day 21: Side trip
Day 22: Side trip
Day 23: Return to Hanoi
Day 24: Hanoi
Day 25: Hanoi
Day 26: Fly Vietjet to HCMC
Day 27: HCMC
Day 28: HCMC. Evening flight to London via Doha

Days 1 to 8, and 26 to 28 are committed.

PompeyPete

Doshwaster wrote: »

In Hanoi it is worth paying a little more for a central location (within walking distance of the lake)...
as the cyclo and taxi drivers are some of the biggest rip off merchants I've seen anywhere in Asia. Even worse than Bangkok.

I think I'll be getting a taxi just to cross the road...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyLkiCkbUjc

I might take a Lollypop man's 'STOP - Children Crossing' sign with us, let the missus do the hard work and give me free passage.;)

littlereddevil

When I first went I thought I could never cross the road! You get used to it. Just walk and look straight ahead, don't look at what's coming. They work around you so if you hesitate you confuse them. If there is something on at the Opera House you should go.

PompeyPete

littlereddevil wrote: »

When I first went I thought I could never cross the road! You get used to it. Just walk and look straight ahead, don't look at what's coming. They work around you so if you hesitate you confuse them.

I know....just like Bankgok, Chiang Mai, Phnom Penh, Mandalay, and Kathmandu, and loads of others cities in SE Asia.

Be confident, walk slowly but steadily. Hesitate, and it could be curtains.

Doshwaster

PompeyPete wrote: »

I think I'll be getting a taxi just to cross the road...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyLkiCkbUjc

Yes, that looks very familiar. And it's even worse when it's raining as nobody can see where they are going.

The best way to cross the road is just to walk in a straight line. Don't stop and don't look at any of the drivers as that just freaks them out. For extra protection cross with a monk. It's very bad karma to runover a monk.

bylromarha

In answer to your q's

1) Crazy House was the highlight of Dalat for us. We were visitors there - took 2 hours max, but peered into the bedrooms people stayed in. I truly hope you like Dalat - we found it dull and not much to do and see. We went on the recommendation of friends living in PP who spent 10 days in Dalat. Don't quite know what they did for that long bar enjoy not being in PP heat!

2) The Easy Rider knew that I, as a mum with 2 kids, would not be going on a motorbike, so he got his car out for our day trip. So be prepared if you say I won't go on a motorbike.

3) Booked Prince in Hoi An on hotels.com (worth using if price difference is minimal as you can pick up a couple of free nights with their reward scheme)

4) Ask Halong Sapa Tours about a trip to Nimh Binh if you don't fancy co-ordinating trains, buses and boats as I'm sure they would sort it for very little commission.

PompeyPete wrote: »

I know....just like Bankgok, Chiang Mai, Phnom Penh, Mandalay, and Kathmandu, and loads of others cities in SE Asia.

Be confident, walk slowly but steadily. Hesitate, and it could be curtains.

The difference I noticed in Vietnam comparied to the other places is that if it's rush hour, you stick your hand in the air and wave while you cross. Guess it gives drivers advance warning you're there through the traffic crowds.