I’m leaving for Thailand next week and also looking to spend three weeks in Vietnam. I just applied for a visa so fingers crossed. I’m looking to fly into Ho Chi Minh, then go to Da Nang, then Hanoi. A few questions:
How would you break up the three weeks for those destinations?
I hear custom suits are a thing. Recommendations on tailors (and where)?
If you want to do any tours, pay the extra $30 or whatever for the "luxury" options. Instead of being crammed on a bus or crappy uncomfortable van for hours with crappy A/C, stopping at mass market feeding, and moving as a mass of humanity through whatever you are visiting, you pretty much get the opposite. Super comfy recliner SUV seating, cold drinks, casual pace...
If you can swing it, a boat cruise around Ha Long Bay is absolutely worth doing. But get the two night package. The one night is so much time in transit you are basically on and off the boat. You get way better value at 2 nights.
From Hanoi the Hoa Lu and Tam Coc tour is a good one too.
In Hanoi don't miss the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Bonkers fun. You won't understand a word, but the action speaks for itself. Be prepared to wait in a bit of a line, though.
Try to find somewhere that does a Pho Cocktail, it's incredible. A drink that tastes like the soup, and is made like this:
I've never been, I've only ever seen it on TV but one of my stops would be that Bar that used to be for War Correspondents, I saw it on Anthony Bourdain and it just looked so cool, the sheer amount of history in that place must be staggering.
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
The Following User Says Thank You to Locke For This Useful Post:
Fly, fly everywhere you can. It's super inexpensive and mazimizes the time in places you can see. My mom and I went last fall, it was my third time in Vietnam. Use Ho Chi Min as a jumping off point, stay a few nights in the Delta. Hanoi and Hoi An are incredible, Sapa is tremendous (Haven't been for 15 years, and heard its a bit more touristy now). Home stays there are really worth it, I "helped" a farmer in the rice patties by driving his ox for a while. I think it was more comedy for him than anything. We spent a few nights in Buan Ma Thout and Hue, both were very pleasant surprises. Eat, scooter, and talk to locals. That's all you need to do for a great time.
And yes, always pay more for the "luxury" tour.
The Following User Says Thank You to GomerPile For This Useful Post:
The food in the north is different from the south, so make sure you try the unique ones to the north! Bun bo hue is a soup noodle but very different from pho and originally from the north - please try it there. Even the pho in the north is different (no bean sprouts!). Try all the food in VN, you're going to miss it when you're back home. Other dishes I recommend, Pho Ga (chicken), Bun Cha, Banh Cuon... mmm oh, Banh Mi there is so much better too!
The Following User Says Thank You to activeStick For This Useful Post:
Fly, fly everywhere you can. It's super inexpensive and mazimizes the time in places you can see. My mom and I went last fall, it was my third time in Vietnam. Use Ho Chi Min as a jumping off point, stay a few nights in the Delta. Hanoi and Hoi An are incredible, Sapa is tremendous (Haven't been for 15 years, and heard its a bit more touristy now). Home stays there are really worth it, I "helped" a farmer in the rice patties by driving his ox for a while. I think it was more comedy for him than anything. We spent a few nights in Buan Ma Thout and Hue, both were very pleasant surprises. Eat, scooter, and talk to locals. That's all you need to do for a great time.
And yes, always pay more for the "luxury" tour.
You mention the cheap flights, that's true. ALso worth paying for the upgrade. I think it was a few bucks(less than $10), and we got front of the plane, drink service...worth it. Otherwise it was chaos class in the back.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Fuzz For This Useful Post:
My 2 cents on suit tailoring is that it's largely not worth it. Sure, it might look inexpensive but then you need to ship it back home (or cart it around with you). There is also a huge risk that the quality of the fabric or tailoring or tailor will be sub-par or outright fraudulent. Also, the fabrics are largely made for a warm climate and will be terrible in Canada for most of the year. I've yet to see a suit from vacation in SE Asia hold up.
Go and eat great food and see cool stuff.
The Following User Says Thank You to Kybosh For This Useful Post:
I backpacked around Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos for 3 months about 15 years ago.
For suits, the best prices were in Thailand at the time (Phuket, Patong Beach there is a great one, private message me if you want more info). I was surprised at how much the prices have changed as I get emails from them from time to time still and since they still have measurements that work for me, I have looked into some more from time to time. Back in 2010 I had 5 suits made and about 15 shirts, and a vest for each suit as well, and it all came in around $1000 CDN. I think you're looking at about $300 per suit and $50 per shirt these days so not sure it's worth in anymore in comparison to just going to Indochino or the like.
In Vietnam itself, as others have said, if you can afford it fly. We were on a budget and the trains and sleeper busses were absolutely horrible ways to travel. In those days, (it may have changed) they'd have locals literally sleeping on the floors of the busses, and same with the trains where you'd be in a private bunk but across the room their would be entire families taking up single bunks. Always overcrowded, hot and I'd avoid it if I could.
If you can, check out Hoi An. It was one of the cooler areas we visited. Na Trang was also cool as well as Ha Long Bay (we actually got rooms (with AC!) in a Vietnamese Junk Boat and sailed around the bay for 2 days).
You mention Thailand and my favorite places were Patong in Phuket, Ko Phi Phi, Kho Samui. If you have any specific questions about places don't hesitate to ask.
The Following User Says Thank You to the-rasta-masta For This Useful Post:
Both Thailand and Vietnam have some of the best street food vendors in the world. Try everything, even if it looks weird.
I'm still chasing the dragon trying to recreate some of the unbelievably delicious soups I had in northern Thailand and while I've gotten close I still just can't quite nail them.
The Following User Says Thank You to FunkMasterFlame For This Useful Post:
Both Thailand and Vietnam have some of the best street food vendors in the world. Try everything, even if it looks weird.
I'm still chasing the dragon trying to recreate some of the unbelievably delicious soups I had in northern Thailand and while I've gotten close I still just can't quite nail them.
Whatever you say Seymour...
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
The Following User Says Thank You to Locke For This Useful Post:
I’m leaving for Thailand next week and also looking to spend three weeks in Vietnam. I just applied for a visa so fingers crossed. I’m looking to fly into Ho Chi Minh, then go to Da Nang, then Hanoi. A few questions:
How would you break up the three weeks for those destinations?
I hear custom suits are a thing. Recommendations on tailors (and where)?
And just overall things to see (or avoid)?
Thanks!
Flying is important as mentioned.
Highlights:
Dalat
- Canyoning - highly recommend
- Hired a guy with a motorbike to take me on an agricultural tour in the
countryside
- Hired a different motorcycle to drive me to Nha Trang
Nha Trang
- Get a street pineapple...or at least watch them cut them
- hire a beach hut and eat fresh prawns cooked for you there
- Scuba diving
Ho Chi Minh
- The standard stuff is the tunnels and the Mekong
- Lesser known is the War Remnants museum...always interesting to see how the "other side" viewed things
- Go to the spa...it sounds ridiculous, but they're not rub n tugs and you get your hair washed a massage and a pedicure for <$50.
If you're traveling solo, stay in the hostels so you meet people. Otherwise there is a range of hotel options.
The Following User Says Thank You to Rutuu For This Useful Post:
Thanks a lot all. I'm going to use this trip to refresh a bit. Doing an advanced scuba diving course a day after I arrive, taking in the full moon party for a second time, and just hanging out on the peaceful Koh Tao as much as possible. I've done Thailand before and just want to take it in more than I did the first time. Thank you for all the suggestions for Vietnam. I will research the suggestions and will make those decisions accordingly! Awesome!
Advice for Vietnam
