Vietnam ideas?

littlereddevil

Doshwaster wrote: »

The main difference now is that the bicycles have mostly been replaced by motorbikes.

I have been to a lot of Asian cities but the traffic in Hanoi is the worst I have seen outside of India. Crossing the road involves navigating through multiples lanes of motorbikes heading in both directions which never stop. The trick is to just step out and keep walking - don't stop and don't look anyone in the eye as that just freaks them out. For extra safety cross with a monk: it's considered very bad karma to run over a monk.

Oh my I remember it well. I had to learn to look straight ahead no matter what! I was always tempted to turn my head!

parking_question_chap

Doshwaster wrote: »

Yes, I would avoid long overland transfers in Vietnam. They may look cheap but the the roads are very poor - 12 hours in a bus bouncing up and down over potholes isn't fun.

For a 10 day trip you could probably fit in a few days in Hanoi with a side trip to Halong Bay (don't do more than one night there) then fly down to Hoi An before returning to Hanoi for your flight home.

Hanoi is a hectic and fun city but it takes a while to get used to. I spent the first day getting very lost but once your get your bearings then it kind of makes sense. After that you'll need some peace & quiet and Hoi An is perfect as it's a town where nothing much ever happens.

Internal flights in Vietnam are cheap (I don't think I paid more than £30) but run to a very loose schedule and are often delayed by the weather so don't book a connecting flight for your long haul trip home. It's a lot safer to return to the hub the previous night and stopover.

This sounds spot on really, cheers. How would you suggest getting from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay?

I am considering paying for 4 nights in a Hanoi hotel and perhaps staying overnight in Halong one night with just an evening bag so leaving most of my things in Hanoi. Assuming I am booked into a good hotel, is this a decent idea? Of course I would take passport/money with me.

I know thats means paying for two rooms, but I dont want to have to lug my whole suitcase to Ha Long for just one night, only to return with it the next day.

Doshwaster

parking_question_chap wrote: »

This sounds spot on really, cheers. How would you suggest getting from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay?

There are 101 tour companies which will organise it for you including transfers and boat cruise. The prices range from the very cheap backpacker party boats to 5* luxury. You should be OK if you go somewhere in the middle.

parking_question_chap wrote: »

I am considering paying for 4 nights in a Hanoi hotel and perhaps staying overnight in Halong one night with just an evening bag so leaving most of my things in Hanoi. Assuming I am booked into a good hotel, is this a decent idea? Of course I would take passport/money with me.

I know thats means paying for two rooms, but I dont want to have to lug my whole suitcase to Ha Long for just one night, only to return with it the next day.

That's precisely what I did. All you need is an overnight bag.

A nice chain of mid-range boutique hotels (about £40 a night - but there are plenty of hotels where you could spend a lot less or more) is run by the Elegance group: http://www.elegancehospitality.com/ I stopped in the Ruby but their other ones also get good reviews. They booked the whole Halong trip for me as well as airport transfers and didn't even charge me for the room for the night I was away. In terms of customer service they were just about the best I've had anywhere in the world.

phatbear

My SIL is vietnamese and when i met her in HCMC when i was over there 5 years ago her top tip for crossing the road is just to go for it dont stop or hesitate this rule goes outta the window when theres a lorry involved.

I loved hcmc and hoi an, we also went to mui ne, which is a beach resort but it was over run by russians.

Vietnam was stunning and would happily visit again

PompeyPete

parking_question_chap wrote: »

I know thats means paying for two rooms, but I dont want to have to lug my whole suitcase to Ha Long for just one night, only to return with it the next day.

Don't do that. Simply store your suitcase in the hotel secure luggage room for free.

parking_question_chap

Doshwaster wrote: »

That's precisely what I did. All you need is an overnight bag.

A nice chain of mid-range boutique hotels (about £40 a night - but there are plenty of hotels where you could spend a lot less or more) is run by the Elegance group: http://www.elegancehospitality.com/ I stopped in the Ruby but their other ones also get good reviews. They booked the whole Halong trip for me as well as airport transfers and didn't even charge me for the room for the night I was away. In terms of customer service they were just about the best I've had anywhere in the world.

Looks like a nice group of hotels.

Just been reading up on the Ha Long trips, and I note they include transport from Hanoi. You mention they sort flights, what airport do they fly you into?

Also, is there still a lot of choice of you book the trips once you have arrived? or is it better to book in advance?

PompeyPete

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Just been reading up on the Ha Long trips, and I note they include transport from Hanoi. You mention they sort flights, what airport do they fly you into?

The hotel will sort out a transfer from Hanoi airport to your hotel on initial arrival. You go to Halong Bay by road.

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Also, is there still a lot of choice of you book the trips once you have arrived? or is it better to book in advance?

Booking before you travel will be more expensive. Good hotels won't stitch you up.

PompeyPete

If you need a taxi at the airport or anywhere for that matter only use Vinasun [white] or Mai Linh [green]. Other taxis might do the job but there's every chance that the meter will have been 'fixed'.

Doshwaster

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Looks like a nice group of hotels.

Just been reading up on the Ha Long trips, and I note they include transport from Hanoi. You mention they sort flights, what airport do they fly you into?

Also, is there still a lot of choice of you book the trips once you have arrived? or is it better to book in advance?

Actually, I meant the hotel sorted out transfers to Hanoi airport for arrival/departure. There is no option of flying to Halong. Unfortunately it's a 3-4 hour bus ride each way.

Since you only have a few days to play with it might help in the scheduling and peace of mind to have the trip planned before you arrive but you may be able to get a better price by negotiating with a local agent. I just emailed my hotel a few weeks before arrival and asked them for their recommendations. They sent me a choice of three operators and I picked the middle-priced one.

richardw

There's also an Airport at Hai Phong, south of Ha Long Bay with domestic flights https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Bi_International_Airport#Airlines_and_destinations

We did a 2 night Ha Long bay cruise in December, the weather was on the chilly side, it would've been more enjoyable in warmer weather.

If visiting again, I'd do a luxury bus from Hanoi to a hotel near the bay, stay the night, do a cruise, then get a transfer to Hai Phong airport and fly on to somewhere.