Off Topic Holidays

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tigermaul said:
Check typhoon season dates and avoid. It’s a lovely country. We only did northern half - Hanoi is fab. Get the overnight train down to Danang then go to Hoi An which is beautiful.............
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Tigger said:
It was February when we went.....I just can't call it Ho Chi Mihn City. Saigon is good but a bit too much like all large modern cities. Its post office, cathedral and market are all interesting. The highlight was Hoi An. Stunning little place, especially at night. Our only regret was that we went to a beach resort after Saigon. We loved Vietnam and would go back.
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Going early part of the year. Flights, hotels booked etc....3 nights in Hong Kong first, (not been there since 1999). Then flying to Hanoi to meet an old mate who is flying in from New Zealand...Three nights in Hanoi. Two in Ninh Binh, to take in Tam Coc and Trang An. Then getting overnight train to Hue. Three nights in Hue, then to Dang Nang, that will include Hoi An and the surrounding area. Four nights in Da Nang. Flying to Ho Chi Minh but not staying there. Heard it's not really worth a visit so will miss it out. Flying from there to Hong Kong, then back home the day after...Let me know if you have any must see tips in these places. Thx.
 
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The B&S Fanclub said:
Going early part of the year. Flights, hotels booked etc....3 nights in Hong Kong first, (not been there since 1999). Then flying to Hanoi to meet an old mate who is flying in from New Zealand...Three nights in Hanoi. Two in Ninh Binh, to take in Tam Coc and Trang An. Then getting overnight train to Hue. Three nights in Hue, then to Dang Nang, that will include Hoi An and the surrounding area. Four nights in Da Nang. Flying to Ho Chi Minh but not staying there. Heard it's not really worth a visit so will miss it out. Flying from there to Hong Kong, then back home the day after...Let me know if you have any must see tips in these places. Thx.
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I did pretty much the exact same route as you including the overnight train and flight to HCMC.

Hanoi was really busy but that’s apart of the charm, don’t be put off by the side of the street Banh Mi’s they’re amazing. There’s obviously the cheap beers everywhere but also some great cocktail bars that would cost £15+ in England. I’ve got too many recommendations for that place it’s fun just exploring.

I would recommend buying fast track for arriving and departing at the airports, you can get it on the Klook app for about £15. A staff member will meet and guide you through the diplomatic line for passports and security otherwise it’s absolute carnage.

If you have time definitely do a boat trip to Lan Ha Bay, visually exactly the same as Ha Long Bay but way less busy, you can do a day trip from Hanoi with the boat companies and they include multiple swim stops, buffet lunch, kayaking, and then drop you back off in Hanoi. Really good day.

Tam coc is great, lots of nice restaurants. Chef Hien for the goat and duck which is traditional to the area. Chookies beer garden if you want a break from Vietnamese food.

Da Nang again loads of great restaurants, another favourite was Nha Bep Xua Restaurant for local food but there’s so much choice there, a great bar there called Section 30.

Personally I would recommend less time in Hue but still a nice place. One of the best countries I’ve ever visited can’t wait to go back.
 
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The B&S Fanclub said:
Going early part of the year. Flights, hotels booked etc....3 nights in Hong Kong first, (not been there since 1999). Then flying to Hanoi to meet an old mate who is flying in from New Zealand...Three nights in Hanoi. Two in Ninh Binh, to take in Tam Coc and Trang An. Then getting overnight train to Hue. Three nights in Hue, then to Dang Nang, that will include Hoi An and the surrounding area. Four nights in Da Nang. Flying to Ho Chi Minh but not staying there. Heard it's not really worth a visit so will miss it out. Flying from there to Hong Kong, then back home the day after...Let me know if you have any must see tips in these places. Thx.
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Who did you book it with or did you do it all yourself??
 
Chazz Rheinhold said:
Who did you book it with or did you do it all yourself??
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Mixture of both, to be fair....Flight from UK to HK, plus hotel in Kowloon, then flights HK to Hanoi, then Ho Chi Minh back to HK, and HK to Manchester with travel agent.
Someone else did the hotels in Vietnam on-line, and his own flights.
I did railway journey from Ninh Binh to Hue, and one internal flight from Da Nang to HCMCity on my jack.
 
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Tigerboy98 said:
I did pretty much the exact same route as you including the overnight train and flight to HCMC.

Tam coc is great, lots of nice restaurants. Chef Hien for the goat and duck which is traditional to the area. Chookies beer garden if you want a break from Vietnamese food.
Da Nang again loads of great restaurants, another favourite was Nha Bep Xua Restaurant for local food but there’s so much choice there, a great bar there called Section 30.
Personally I would recommend less time in Hue but still a nice place. One of the best countries I’ve ever visited can’t wait to go back.
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Thanks for tips......TBH after that boat turned over recently in Ha Long Bay, sort of thinking of giving it a miss. But you never know. Will do the Old Quarter and the French, of course, and lakes etc. I'll be living on Banh Mi's and Pho from the streetside traders. I don't do restaurants. We'll be doing Beer street, but not getting Newton and Ridley, and train street.
Will be hiring pushbike or scooter in Ninh Binh to have a wander around and go to Tam Coc and maybe Trang An. Hue is a bit of a wind down place, though told it takes a day to get around the Citadel. Then short bus hop to Da Nang ie 60 miles....I didn't realise that Da Nang is such a big city. Most places of interest and beach are close to hotel..Hoi An is perhaps 30 mins away on a bus or scotter. Looking forward to it. Big time. Thx.
 
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dennisboothstash said:
Excellent
Is it worth stopping there for a night, or just visiting for a drink?
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If you've not stopped over in Singapore before, definitely worth staying, especially downtown near the financial district, spoilt for choice in terms of hotels and great bars and restaurants. The best deals for Raffles are often via Singapore Airlines.
 
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The B&S Fanclub said:
Mixture of both, to be fair....Flight from UK to HK, plus hotel in Kowloon, then flights HK to Hanoi, then Ho Chi Minh back to HK, and HK to Manchester with travel agent.
Someone else did the hotels in Vietnam on-line, and his own flights.
I did railway journey from Ninh Binh to Hue, and one internal flight from Da Nang to HCMCity on my jack.
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How much we talking? Just so I’ve got an idea?
If you want to PM instead that would be ok ?
Have you used the trains before? Any good?
 
Chazz Rheinhold said:
How much we talking?
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Flights going east and back ..with Cathay Pacific. Three nights in hotel in Kowloon, Hong Kong, HK to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh to HK..All for less than £1,600 more than £1,580. Add in hotels and internal travel when there. Probably touching £1,850. Cheap place to live...Can't imagine a beer or a Bahn Mi will cost much...
No idea with Vietnam railways. Should be okay. TigerBoy98 has used them.
 
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The B&S Fanclub said:
Flights going east and back ..with Cathay Pacific. Three nights in hotel in Kowloon, Hong Kong, HK to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh to HK..All for less than £1,600 more than £1,580. Add in hotels and internal travel when there. Probably touching £1,850. Cheap place to live...Can't imagine a beer or a Bahn Mi will cost much...
No idea with Vietnam railways. Should be okay. TigerBoy98 has used them.
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That sounds great, mate. Those prices aren't bad at all.
 
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cheshireles said:
If you've not stopped over in Singapore before, definitely worth staying, especially downtown near the financial district, spoilt for choice in terms of hotels and great bars and restaurants. The best deals for Raffles are often via Singapore Airlines.
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I lived in Singapore for a couple of years back in the late 60's when I was a kid.Massive transformation now to what it was 60 years ago,it was rancid, but I remember some of the more 'touristy' sites back then.

I can also cast my mind back to the size of some of the dangerous creepy crawlies,snakes and butterflies..Scorpions,snakes and spiders frequented the house on occasion as did the lizards(chit-chats),as we lived backing on to a rubber plantation.:emoticon-0148-yes:
 
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Ric Glasgow said:
I lived in Singapore for a couple of years back in the late 60's when I was a kid.Massive transformation now to what it was 60 years ago,it was rancid, but I remember some of the more 'touristy' sites back then.

I can also cast my mind back to the size of some of the dangerous creepy crawlies,snakes and butterflies..Scorpions,snakes and spiders frequented the house on occasion as did the lizards(chit-chats),as we lived backing on to a rubber plantation.:emoticon-0148-yes:
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My old graphic designer moved to Thailand, to live on the beach, he's forever posting pictures of weird looking beasts wandering around in his house.
 
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