Vietnam South to North From Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, any recommendations
- Joined: Jun 30th, 2010
- Posts: 28
I have 9 days off and would like to take a short trip to Vietnam over the New Year. Was debating Vietnam vs. Thailand and am leaning towards Vietnam. I am just more interested in Vietnam I guess.
Nonetheless I really don't know much about Vietnam and am just beginning to make plans now. I plan to land in HCM city and stay a few days (if there is stuff worth doing) and then make my way up to Hanoi with maybe 1 or 2 stops in between. I would like to see the big cities but also spend some time at least 1 place off the beaten path a bit.
Any recommendations for hostels? Sights? Travel tix? What have been your experiences in Vietnam?
inga
Re: Vietnam South to North From Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, ...
Hi, hope that you still need some information about Vietnam. I traveled in Singapore-Cambodia-Vietnam for one month in 2008. As you have less time you should skip something. Here is my trip plan:
Ho Chi Minh (I think 1 day in enough) - stayed at Bich Duyen Hotel.
From Ho Chi Minh I went on Mekong delta tour (see floating market) - booked on http://www.sinhbalo.com/cgi-bin/app.cgi
I took 2 days/1 night tour but maybe it is possible to come back to Ho Chi Minh the same day.
Hoi An (there are cheap flights with JetStar airlines from Ho Chi Minh to Danang airport, then transfer to Hoi An or it is possible to go by train) - small beautiful city near the see. Stayed at Long Life Hotel. 1-2 days are enough.
Hanoi (from Danang you also can fly with JetStar or take the train) - stayed at Phoenix Hotel. Sapa and Halong bay tours were booked by this hotel. www.hanoiphoenixhotel.com 1 day is enough in Hanoi (I do not like big cities). I spent in Hanoi 3 days and that was too much.
Halong Bay - I took Santa Maria Junk Cruise (2 days/1 night in the ship). It was good.
Sapa (by overnight train from Hanoi) trekking tour - booked on http://www.dreamvietnamtravel.com/TourDetail.asp?q=Sapa-Easy-trek
train ticket, hotel, trekking tour is included in package price. I enjoyed Sapa the most. It is surrounded by mountains and rice terraces. There live ethnic minorities. Truly beautiful.
What is more, the highest price I have paid for double room was 35 USD in Hoi An. Other hotels was around 20 USD for double room but all them were great.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me!
Wish you a great trip to Vietnam! Would like to come back there one more time
TokoyoD
Re: Vietnam South to North From Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, ...
Vietnam sounds like a great place to visit from what I have read and viewed on TV. I have only traveled over seas once before to England. Some general advice that I learned from my trip was to pack extra travelers checks, copies of important documents, socks, underwear, and travel insurance.
Have you thought about using travel health insurance for your next vacation?
xicheng_cat
Re: Vietnam South to North From Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, ...
i am planning a trip to vietnam in feb & been looking for visa stuff (i'm an american) online on the vietnamese embassy's website. there is almost nothing about visa requirements/fee etc. on their web. kinda frustrating.
does anyone have info re. this? thanks!