Has anybody been to Vietnam? I’m thinking about heading over there at the end of November, start of December. Experiences and tips welcome.
No, but have done a bit round Thailand. Just looking for next year. Sold the van after this summer, so will have a break from driving for the summer holiday and do something Fly & Air BnB. I'm leaning towards Lisbon area of Portugal. Considering Italy. Going to Italy in February again but that's completely different, never been city/coast.
I haven't so can't really help but am looking to do a south to north trek through there myself next winter so also interested to hear of any tips. Looks an amazing country. Will probably visit Cambodia while in that part of the world too.
I went ten years ago so might be different from then. Place is cheap as chips. People are nice and friendly even when paying the tourist prices. Hanoi was good to see and crazy to be in with the traffic and old town. Went to sapa to see the paddy fields on a sleeper train. Nightmare to get to but if you aint seen paddy fields and like hiking its a great place. Halong bay boat trip over a few days was pretty wicked. Hoi an and da nang are less hustle and bustle and places to chill in. Theres a beach nearby. Saigon was a bigger city and the war museum was interesting. From there you can go on the mekong delta river cruise to small fishing villages (didnt go cause wife was ill). The cuchi tunnels was pretty interesting and not good for you if you are claustrophobic lol. There are the enlarged tourist tunnels or the smaller original top level tunnels. Also visited hue which was the ancient city. Lots of historical ruin stuff if you are into that. Hoi an and sapa were my highlights. Not sure what types of questions you had though and i imagine times have changed as tourism has thrived
Was Ha Long Bay full of litter when you went? Apparently quite a big problem now but there is a smaller less touristy option nearby which I was thinking I might do instead.
When i went it was spectacular. No litter. **** loads of boats so it wasnt too peaceful. The boat i was on the tour guide had a 7am tai chi lesson on the deck. That was super cool as all the boats were anchored and it deftly quiet so felt well tranquil. Else it was pretty busy. This was halong bay when i went Sapa although it was much more spectacular than the photo on my digital camera. Was extra funny we were on a 10k guided tour by these grannies and going down the hill via those zig zag roads was pretty dangerous already and this granny takes a short cut down the mountain in her sandals totally chill about it. Cuchi tunnels. I was skinny back then and 5ft7 Crazy seeing their health and safety laws lol
Oh one thing saf, saigon and hoi an is a bit more civilised with a traffic system. Hanoi is lawless you will never cross the roads (maybe look at some youtube vids) if you dont just walk out and move at a constant speed and then just hope all the motorbikes and cyclists avoid you
Some great posts there, Bobby. I’m really interested in seeing the tunnels and war museum. We never learned about the Vietnam war in school, unless I just wasn’t paying attention, which is possible, tbf. It’s only been in later life that I’ve started to look it up. Looking forward to the street food. Love visiting countries and trying the authentic meals they serve up and not the mass produced ‘likeness’ **** you’ll get in restaurants. I’ve heard that the police are up for bribes. Is this true? I’m hoping it’s similar in nature to Jamaica where everything has a price. I thrive in countries like that. It makes it so much easier and gives you a sense of freedom to literally do whatever the **** you want as long as the right people are paid off.
I have heard the police take bribes from other people who went. Don't know myself personally as I'm a goodie two shoes. If you go you will deffo have a great time
Thanks mate. I’m probably about 90% sure that I’m going there before the end of this year. I’ve watched a lot of YouTube videos about it and it seems safe enough. I see foreign guys walking about the backstreets in the early hours of the morning, which is always a good sign.
yeah i found it super safe but again was 10 years ago. Didn't feel in danger once but i'm not roaming the streets at night.
Thats my nephew working there last year, spent 4 months working as a tourist guide in the jungle and mountains,absolutely loved the place, didnt want to come home, him and his girlfriend are back there for 2 weeks over Christmas. He'd go back there and live if it wasn't for his relationship, he was offered a very good job by the tourist company to try and get him to stay He lived in a village, where the locals loved him, 6ft 3" blonde hair, he was a .novelty. He says the locals are extremely funny people,mainly because they have no filter, they say what they see.
Good stuff. Such is life, none of us will know what would’ve happened had we made the other decision.
Tough for him, they'vre both 23, been together since they were 16, he'd like go back there, work until he's had enough, then do more travelling but she's very much a home bird, career driven with a very good job. She missed home when they went travelling, so much so, she cut it short and returned 3 months early, so there's no way she'd go back other than for a holiday
Good for him. I’m encouraging my kids to go travelling. Wish I’d been pushed to do it when I was a kid. I believe it makes humans better people when they’ve experienced different cultures and ways of life.
