Vietnam 2020

Doshwaster

In terms of the ride from Hanoi to Halong bay, it's hard to be exact as it will depend on where your hotel is, type of transport, traffic and whether there is a stop on the way but it's likely to be closer to 3 hours than 5. The one thing you will learn in Vietnam is that nothing ever runs to time.

I can't help with the trains as I used internal flights and private transfers but Seat61 is always the definitive source of all information: https://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm

parking_question_chap

northwest1965 wrote: »

We were planning on 2 nights in Danang at a beach resort to just chill, should we change this?

so far we have
2 nights HCMC
1 night Mekong Delta
1 night HCMC
3 nights Hoi An
2 nights Danang
2 Hue
1 afternoon Hanoi
2 nights Halong Bay Cruise
2 nights Hanoi

I appreciate we are all different, but how should this be changed?

I think thats way too much, you will just feel tired and dirty from all the travelling.

I would swap that to 9 nights in Hanoi based in the old Quarter of which one night on the Halong Bay cruise (its nice, but really doesnt need 2 nights) Then 5 nights in Hoi Ann to chill, there are some really nice hotels just outside Hoi Ann and the cab journey in and back is minimal.

When in Hanoi you will have loads to keep you busy, and there are plenty of shops to visit in order to pick day excursions.

Have a look at flying from Hanoi to Da nang (for Hoi Ann), dont waste time in the train, it really isnt worth the time. That said might be tricky on a £4k budget for 3 people and over 2 weeks. When I went there were 2 of us and we spent £4k on 10 night for hotels/travel and spending.

What are your flights like? If you change at Bankok you can just go straight from Da Nang to Bankok rather than via Hanoi.

slinga

northwest1965 wrote: »

Day 1 Arrive in HCMC at 1.30pm
Day 2 HCMC
Day 3 Mekong Delta
Day 4 Mekong Delta (this is a cruise) can be changed
Day 5 Fly to Dananag and take a car to Hoi An
Day 6 Hoi An
Day 7 Hoi An
Day 8 Train to Danang Beach Should we extend Hoi An instead?
Day 9 Danang Beach
Day 10 Train to Hue
Day 11 Hue
Day 12 Fly to Hanoi
Day 13 Halong Bay Cruise Isn't this a 3hr trip (not 5?)
Day 14 Halong Bay Cruise
Day 15 Travel back from Halong to Hanoi
Day 16 Hanoi
Day 17 Fly home

I am really out of my depth a bit, so how should we change this?

Well one year we spent 6 nights in HCMC and the next year we spent 6 nights in Hanoi.


As others on here may remember we weren't impressed by either - maybe the only MSE people to have that view.


But the 6 nights we spent in Hanoi and HCMC we didn't feel were too long.


Both times we were flying from Singapore so no jet lag involved.

Dottydingo

Thank you for your replies 😊

Currently thinking

HCMC - 4nights
Hoi an - 1 night (lantern festival)
Hue/Da nang - 3 nights
Halong bay - 1 night criuse
Hanoi - 5 nights

PompeyPete

Doshwaster wrote: »

In terms of the ride from Hanoi to Halong bay, it's hard to be exact as it will depend on where your hotel is, type of transport, traffic and whether there is a stop on the way but it's likely to be closer to 3 hours than 5. The one thing you will learn in Vietnam is that nothing ever runs to time.

I can't help with the trains as I used internal flights and private transfers but Seat61 is always the definitive source of all information: https://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm

Generally, I'd go with the info on Seat61. But for a relatively short trip from Da Nang to Hue it's best to take advice from folk who've done the trip.

My advice is to take the 0835 train, it originates further south, and so could be running a bit late, which is normal.

Book at least a day in advance, as all seats, even in 3rd Class are allocated. I went to Da Nang train station to book, take your passport [don't ask why!].

Ask for seats on the right hand side for the views. 3rd Class is fine as the windows are open, whereas 2nd and 1st might be more comfortable, but the windows will be dirty. A ticket costs next to nowt. Hotels should be able to book for you.

Like a lot of train rides in SE Asia they're great fun, and travelling 3rd Class you get the priceless opportunity to mix with the local.

Doshwaster

Dottydingo wrote: »

Thank you for your replies 😊

Currently thinking

HCMC - 4nights
Hoi an - 1 night (lantern festival)
Hue/Da nang - 3 nights
Halong bay - 1 night criuse
Hanoi - 5 nights

Hoi An is worth more than one night. By time you will have flown up from Saigon and taxen a bus/taxi to your hotel you will have little over 12 hours in the city before heading back to Hue/Danang

PompeyPete

Doshwaster wrote: »

Hoi An is worth more than one night. By time you will have flown up from Saigon and taxen a bus/taxi to your hotel you will have little over 12 hours in the city before heading back to Hue/Danang

Me and the Mrs stayed for a week in Hoi An. The place is crowded during the day with tour groups. After the first day we went out in the outlying areas on push bikes, returning mid afternoon when the place had quietened down a bit.

After dusk the who place lights up with lanterns, and is quite magical.

PompeyPete

Dottydingo wrote: »

Thank you for your replies 😊

Currently thinking

HCMC - 4nights
Hoi an - 1 night (lantern festival)
Hue/Da nang - 3 nights
Halong bay - 1 night criuse
Hanoi - 5 nights

Cut a day from HCMC. [3]
Add your time in Hue/Da Nang to Hoi An [4]
Hue [2]
Hanoi, including Halong Bay [5]

*There's no need to book Halong Bay in advance. Do it from your hotel travel desk. Hotels all have them, and you'll get a better deal than booking it yourself online. Just take essentials with you to Halong Bay and leave all your luggage at your Hanoi hotel.

Doshwaster

PompeyPete wrote: »

Me and the Mrs stayed for a week in Hoi An. The place is crowded during the day with tour groups. After the first day we went out in the outlying areas on push bikes, returning mid afternoon when the place had quietened down a bit.

After dusk the who place lights up with lanterns, and is quite magical.

I could easily spend all day in Hoi An hopping between pavement cafes, perching on those tiny plastic stools, drinking 20p (or cheaper) glasses of bia hoi and eating endless varieties of spring rolls while people watching.

PompeyPete wrote: »

Cut a day from HCMC. [3]
Add your time in Hue/Da Nang to Hoi An [4]
Hue [2]
Hanoi, including Halong Bay [5]

*There's no need to book Halong Bay in advance. Do it from your hotel travel desk. Hotels all have them, and you'll get a better deal than booking it yourself online. Just take essentials with you to Halong Bay and leave all your luggage at your Hanoi hotel.

In other parts of the world I tend to avoid hotel travel desks and prefer to book DIY but I've never had a bad experience with them in Vietnam. They will always sort you out more reliably than a random vendor on the streets.

koalakoala

Like Doshwaster I too could spend all day in Hoi An, and did for 2 weeks