Touring Vietnam

[BigWave]

It's that time in parents lives when their kids get the travel itch, with two daughters wanting to spend 2 weeks touring Vietnam later this month.
They want to plan their own tour, possibly travelling by bus/boat etc from village to village.
Has anyone done a self guided tour recently and can offer any advice of destinations, accommodation (back-packer style), transport, local customs, things to watch out for, sanitation etc.
I'd love to go with them, but they want Dad at home.
Any and all feedback will be gratefully received.

 

[user 7268]

Can probably help you out here as have been to Viet about 18 times
How old are kids ?
I presume flying out of Melb ? Jetstar or Air Asia cheapest . Have never paid more than $600 return air fare.
Stay away from the likes of flight centre etc as you will end up paying three times as much as you need to. No need to book accommodation as you can walk into a dozen plus places of the street ........... ask a price .. no good go next door :Y: Stay away from chicken dishes and you should have no issue and be selective what street vendors you eat from.
Oh and careful of ice ......................... they deliver the ice over there in hessian bags and as we were having a coffee the ice man arrived and leant the ice up against the wall as he went in to get paid. Along came a dog and washed them down ..................... needless to say I'll bet a few people had some extra flavor in their drinks :lol:

 

[user 7268]

Room as pictured would be approx $25 aust a night
If they need any dental work let me know Cheap as Fillings $18 root canal $80
Compare that to oz prices ? Don't go when Tet is on as prices jump on everything

 

[BigWave]

Thanks Bogger,
Girls are thinking backpacker accommodation around $3 per night ea.
Not realistic?

 

[HarryHoudini]

Bookings.com is the way to go for backpackers

 

[user 7268]

Thanks Bogger,
Girls are thinking backpacker accommodation around $3 per night ea.
Not realistic?

Back packing I'd reckon you would get that no problem. Best idea is book maybe one or two nights and after a couple of days you will find better digs and less expensive no problem. The key is to stay away from organized tours etc as they will fleece you. They will run into other back packers within the first day and they will steer them in the right direction and good prices. Barter on everything and most times eventual cost will be under half of original price given, Tell them to learn to say Mac qua (mahk qwa) ............... to expensive :Y:
Vietnam is getting dearer by the month ..................... has probably doubled in price in the last five years as the tourist dollar has been recognized. I absolutely love the place and would live there tomorrow but the wife who is Vietnamese by the way won't budge from Australia.
Also make sure they have a full visa before they leave Oz not a visa on entry .................... I did one on entry once and stuck me at the airport in HCMC for nearly three and a half hours....................... not fun after a 7 hour flight. Also if they are thinking of going over to Cambodia for a few days to get a multiple entry Visa other wise if they visit Cambodia will have to get another Visa to re enter Vietnam. If they are not seasoned bike riders then don't hire a bike as injury may well result as the traffics pretty hectic.
Ha Long Bay is a must, Ferry ride from HCMC down the Saigon river then across to Vuan Tau Beach is a great day trip ................. great Aussie pub at Vuan Tau. Really so much to do depending on what they are into ? South to the Mekong Delta region or North to Hanoi is all great. I was married in the Mekong ................. whole village turned out for the wedding on the banks of the Mekong River. To give them some idea on cost ...................... I can do a 10 day trip for two with air fares and accommodation and spending money for under 2K ....................... food is as cheap as chips .................. in fact cheaper.
If they have any probs over there give us a yell as between myself and friends have family all over Vietnam both in the North and South. They will love the place I'm sure ................ super friendly people and the more country they go the friendlier they will find it. Short of that may see them over there as may be going the end of January for a bike trip with the lads :Y:
Oh and before I forget ................. remind them they will be in a communist country ................. obey as instructed by officials and if that doesn't work bribe your way out
Few fun pics below ....................... gotta love Nam

Nothing third world about my dentist

Getting the bikes washed HCMC

Few Village kids that hate a picture An Giang Province Mekong Delta

My mate Kha at one of the temples ................ nicknamed the Lemon Cowboy

 

[BigWave]

Great advice Bogger. I'll pass it on in full.
Might have to go myself
Cheers
BW

 

[user 7268]

Great advice Bogger. I'll pass it on in full.
Might have to go myself
Cheers
BW

You wouldn't be disappointed :Y:
Stay respectful always of the religion and also Chairman Mao .................... anyways as said if can help out just let me know. Will probably be the best value holiday for dollar they will ever have and if they have never been to a third world country will be a very humbling experience for them. You won't find a country in the world where people with so little always have such a big smile. If you haven't twigged already I have a passion about the place

Bui Vien Street backpacker heaven ................ parties all night with dollar beers

Know a good electrician ? Most photographed power pole in Viet

New Ferry to Vun Tau .............. only recently commissioned as one of the old one's caught fire and sank

Spotted a little Valentino Rossi fan at HCMC airport :Y:

Tea Time Viet style Note the bikes in the dining room

Catching barge over the Mekong at Chau Doc pronounced Chow Dop

Rice Fields An Giang on the Mekong still mines found and note the sat dish

Bridge being constructed over Saigon River ................... sponsored by Australia

 

[NeilM]

Also for sure with bartering - go the ridiculous and then up from that.
Sometimes "no no too cheap" means another 2 bucks and it is yours.

 

[nucopia]

Its now on my list of places to see :Y:

 

[Rockhunter62]

Hi Pete,

Spent a bit of time in Laos and Vietnam, and found the general public to be very friendly. The local police and government officials can be very strict and always looking for kickbacks.
Looking at Bogger's picture of the dining room at meal time reminded me that you have to be aware not to point the sole of your foot towards anyone. That is considered to be rude in Laos and I would think in Vietnam as well.
Not that it will worry your daughters but we were in trouble when we went there for work. We had a very good quality printer with us and that took a few hours to get cleared as they were worried about people counterfeiting the local money. As if you would do that as it was easier just to take US dollars.
The father-inlaw was there back in the late 60's and has gone back a few times in the last couple of years. He loves it there also. He did say that you could get good silk somewhere on the mid east coast. Can't remember where. Plenty to see and things to do.

Hope this helps. :Y:

Cheers

Doug

 

[magneticsand]

Nam is great value. Last time we went we stayed a week on a island off nha trang, cabin on the beach, three meals, even with booze the cost at the end was 500buckadoodles.

 

[HarryHoudini]

I went two years ago booked two nights to get your bearings then chatted with other backpackers best way to travel and really cheap

 

[user 7268]

Nam is great value. Last time we went we stayed a week on a island off nha trang, cabin on the beach, three meals, even with booze the cost at the end was 500buckadoodles.

Yes I don't think you will find a cheaper better value for dollar holiday at the moment even with costs rising as much as they have, I can go to Nam for a root canal and pay for the entire trip for less than if I drive into my local town and have it done :Y:
Food is what I miss every time I'm back in oz .................. you can eat like a king for bugger all. Oh and no agro ................... as crazy as the roads are (which I call organized chaos) there just isn't the agro. The key is get out to the remote villages and things are even cheaper, the fisherman and meat bloke along with the freshest vegies you will ever buy wheel their carts past the door of your house.

Ben_Thanh_Market lit up for TET

The boys at caf in Da Nang on a bike trip

 

[BigWave]

Thanks guys.
I'm staggered by the feedback on travelling a foreign land from a prospecting forum.
It seems like we are all looking for something.
My girls are getting pretty excited. As am I.
Thanks muchly.
BW.
Bogger,
I'll send you a separate PM.

 

[Nuggetbuster]

Stay respectful always of the religion and also Chairman Mao ....

Are you sure you have the right leader?

 

[BigWave]

Just spoken with Bogger who has offered his local support should my girls get into any unforseen difficulty on their forthcoming travels in Vietnam.
They're both sensible and self sufficient bushmen (bush ladies) but not experienced OS.
Good to have back-up.
What a forum :Y:
Thanks Bogger.
Gold :Y:

 

[BigWave]

Have just asked my lady-friend if she wants to go for a 10 day ride there. Non committal at this stage :|

 

[user 7268]

Stay respectful always of the religion and also Chairman Mao ....

Are you sure you have the right leader?

Was more a reference to communism than a particular countries leader. Bit hard to forget who Ho Chi Min is when you are in his city and would be lucky to move ten feet without his picture looking at you Try and exert your authority over there and the depth of the problem will increase rapidly :Y:

BW not a problem .................. always handy to have a back up when a long way from home. As mentioned if I'm not there a few mates from Oz will be while your girls are and several have Vietnamese families also in Nam :Y: But as a dad relax as they will be good :Y: Also had another friend was going back on the 11th with wife and kids but poor bugger has had a heart attack so it's tickets cancelled for the time being due to a few complications poor bugger.
Also forgot to mention travel insurance ................... as much as I love the place if I was injured I'd be outta town on the first plane. Also be aware some insurances won't cover you on a bike and also if no bike licence held in Oz then non that I'm aware of will
Anyways enough from me as I could rave about the place for hours ................... get on ya bike and have a look as I'm sure you will enjoy the experience :Y:

Wanna bike ? ................... or two ?

Gotta love the kids

Another reason I love Vietnam No not what you think Dori is the receptionist at the Hotel we always stay at in HCMC

 

[Nuggetbuster]

Stay respectful always of the religion and also Chairman Mao ....

Are you sure you have the right leader?

Was more a reference to communism than a particular countries leader. Bit hard to forget who Ho Chi Min is when you are in his city and would be lucky to move ten feet without his picture looking at you Try and exert your authority over there and the depth of the problem will increase rapidly :Y:

"Uncle Ho" and communism is a different matter entirely, publicly speaking...

But - and not intending to bring politics into it - I've found that most Vietnamese people do NOT have any love for Mao, or any leaders from China for that matter.