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Originally Posted by Huntingwhale
Cool story. I want to go to Vietnam next year. Any recommendations?
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I was there in 2007 during the Chinese New Year. The Tet is a great time to go. This coming year it's on Feb.10. If you were to go at that time you would need to book travel well in advance. It seems like the whole country is on the move then.
For me, the Cu Chi Tunnels were a highlight. Read one of the books on the tunnels first, (like the "Tunnels of Cu Chi") and while you're scrambling around the 3rd level of tunnels in absolute blackness, shoulders scraping both walls, think what it must have been like for a VC or a Tunnel Rat to live or fight in that environment. Amazingly, the Tunnel Rats were volunteers. Serious Cajones.
Halong Bay was an awesome tour as well. If I go again I would choose to make this an over-nighter or at least the full day. The 5 hours we did was not enough for me.
Water Puppets show in Saigon was worthwhile.
War Museum in Saigon was very moving if not disturbing. Lots of stuff Mr. Cronkite didn't show you.
Cities of Hue and Hoi An are worth the time if you have it.
The American Airforce base in Da Nang is impressive just for it's size. I wouldn't make a special trip to see it but we flew into it.
Silk factories are good tours and you can pick up some nice stuff cheap.
Our dollar is good right now as well. In 2007 we got about 13,000 Dong to the Dollar. Now it's almost 21,000.
This post has brought back some nice memories.