Citadel Palace Hue
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Cultural HistoryLots of Citadel/Tombs
very similar to China's history with Dynasties, Emperors, Unic, Concubines, and forbidden cities. Lots of temple and shrines everywhere Reminder of the hardships of Vietnam from French colonilization, cival war, the Vietnam North /South war involving US. They are a tough people and now dispite being a communist country, it's very capitalistic in many ways and lifestyle. |
Seafood Galore - Maison Sen Buffet Hanoi
China Chain Mixue - 15-25k boba drinks - Hoi An
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FOODCheap cheap cheap you will not starve here and get full on $2. Beer is only $1-2 Seafood buffets only $18 !! Must tries and prices (25k=$1US) (Tourist price x 2) Pho Bo/Ga 40-50k VD Bun Cha 50-60k Banh Mi 20-35k Banh Xeo 40-50k Cao Lua noodle 35-50k Spring Rolls 45-60k Rice Paper Rolls 45-60k A La Carte dish 50-80k Fried Rice 40-50k Oysters Grilled 100k Beer big bottle 20-25k Water 1.5L 10-15k Soda pop 10-15k Che dessert 20-25k Egg Coffee 35k Coffee vietnamese 15-20k Specialty coffee drinks 25-35k Bubble tea drinks 20-25k Real fruit smoothie 25-45k |
Where to Go
2 weeks in Vietnam April May 2024
Hanoi - 2 nights **** (fun city with character)
Ninh Binh 3 nights ***** (fav place)
Ha Long Bay - Luxuary Cruise 2 days/1 night **** (overtourism but must still go)
Hanoi 1 night
Hue 1 night *** (nice small town with Unesco Citadel)
Hoi An 4 nights **** (overtourism but lots to do in surrounding area including beach)
Hanoi 1 night
To do Vietnam properly you will probably need 3-4 weeks esp if you want to hit places like Sapa, Phu Qoc, and Mekong Delta as well as the North (Hanoi, Ha Long, Ninh Binh) and the central areas (Hoi An, Hue). Of course you can do the tour group 1 - 2 week wizzing in every place in one day but that would be a shame. Don't do day trip to Ninh Binh, Ha Long, Hue. - Stay there and relax and enjoy the relaxed pace.
I think Vietnam is like Thailand/Indonesia 25 yrs ago or Philippines 15 yrs ago. There is currently an economic boom with tourism as it's one of the cheapest destination in Asia and has lots to offer. Prices are rapidly increasing - i've seen admission prices change like 2 times within a year. There are mega resorts being built everywhere along the coast, skyscrapers in city and they even now have their own EV car manufacturer VinFast. So many international clothing, shoes companies make their product in Vietnam (eg North Face, Eddie Bauer, Patagonia, Nike, etc...) NOTE: Everything you see in the markets in local stores are FAKE. They are not original or factory overruns, just good fakes. Yes it's a communist country but in a way not. Sort of like China without the media censoring or monitoring
Yes the beaches and scuba are not like Thailand/Indonesia/Philippines, but they still have lots of coast line with fine sandy beaches just not turquoisy or gin like waters. Phu Qoc and Cham Island has some but still more emerald than crystal clear. The infrastucture of getting around is not the best (trains and buses) but flying is a good cheap option as well as getting private drivers which is still affordable esp if you are traveling in a group of 2 or 4 (often cheaper than buses/trains). The so call Limos are actually just supped up mini vans seating 9-14. Very comfortable but if you have more than 2 people often private driver is cheaper and faster.
Getting around the city or towns. In the cities GRAB is the way to go. It's cheap and you will not be extorted with reg taxis. If you are in rural areas rent a scooter for 100-150k per day (need international DL if >50cc which most are but they really don't care about DL) or grab a bike esp in Ninh Binh.
Eating is like no other. They love to wrap everything in rice paper and tons of fresh herb. I was afraid initially of the raw veggies which are washed in tap water but we were ok over our 2 weeks trip. But do have imodium in your bag just in case. Yes, it does look gross when you see shops washing dishes in a big pan on the street. Just make sure your plate and utensils are dry and not dripping with local water.
Buffets are a great deal by western standards. About $15-20 US. Yes this is a lot for vietnam as this could be meals for 3 days but if you go for seafood you get amazing sashimi, crab, giant prawns and all types of shellfish (scallops, mussel, clams, snails and oysters). Similar to paying $80US in vegas.
HINTS
1. don't go to exclusively to food places you see on youtube vloggers or listen to tripadvisor/google. These are usually all foreigners with inflated foreigner pricing. We were guilty of it on many occasions and regreted it. Walk around and if you see a place with lots of locals - go try it. It'll probably be much cheaper and better than the ones suggested on social media. (some common tourist traps are Giang Coffee, Obama Bun Cha, Phuong Banh Mi, Highlander coffee etc...)
2. Also try not to fall for the trap and being forced into tourist shops by tours/recommendation from others esp off the street (even hotels)
3. Don't prearrange private cars or tours over the internet in advance (maybe you first arrive ok). It is often cheaper when you arrive either via your hotel but usually thru travel agencies. And you can bargain the price.
4. Caution on bargaining. Do not buy anything near the begining of your trip or if it's the first time seeing it. Also do your research on real pricing. Yes it's so cheap anyways but don't be had. In tourist towns such as Hoi An things can start like 3-4 times the price so getting it for 1/2 price is still overpriced. Hanoi varied a lot. Mkts are not always the best. You best bet to gauge is looking at fixed pricing stalls/stores. I found Ninh Binh Tam Coc pricing to be more realistic with room still to bargain 1/2 or 1/3. It all depends on your look, and the vendor.
5. When to go? We went in April May which is still dry season and not peak summer - but it still reached 42 degrees in Hue and Hanoi and Hoi An with humidx of 47 degrees C. Brutal !!! Monsoon starts in June to Sept so it's a gamble. Hanoi and Ninh Binh always seems to be cloudy or rainy but central and southern Vietnam is sunny and hot.
6. to avoid the heat and massive tour groups do everything early as possible like 8-9am (eg Boat rides in Ninh Binh, or Mua Cave, Ho Chi Min Mosoleum, Coconut boats in Hoi An, Citadel in Hue (heat as all open). As for boat rides in Hoi An, go after all groups have gone - ie after 9pm and visit town in morning or early day before groups come in.
7. You really don't need international DL to rent scooter in Vietnam. If >50 cc technichally you do but they will still rent to you.
8. Watch the short changing of Vietnamese Dong when getting change back. They do that in markets as too many zeros confuse tourist as well as similar colours for 50k bill
9. If prices not posted on food/drinks/items/taxis or activities, agree on price firs before indulging or doing it. Once agreed, you are bound and they can ask for any price after service or product is rendered. If all fails, give what's fair and walk away but this can cause some confrontations.
10. Wear dry fit clothing as when you sweat like a pig, cotton takes a while to dry off. Also if visiting temples or mausoleums/tomb, women must not bear shoulders or wear short shorts (bring detachable pants or skirt or a scarf or a tshirt in your napsack)
Very Touristy Things to Do (some overrated)
Hanoi - Giang Egg Coffee, Note Cafe, Beer Street, Train Street, Night Mkt, Obama Bun Cha
Ninh Binh - Tam Coc Birc, Mua Cave, Trang An
Hoi An - Coconut Boats, Bang An Beach, Lantern Boat ride
Ha Long Bay - 2 day 1 night cruise
Hanoi - 2 nights **** (fun city with character)
Ninh Binh 3 nights ***** (fav place)
Ha Long Bay - Luxuary Cruise 2 days/1 night **** (overtourism but must still go)
Hanoi 1 night
Hue 1 night *** (nice small town with Unesco Citadel)
Hoi An 4 nights **** (overtourism but lots to do in surrounding area including beach)
Hanoi 1 night
To do Vietnam properly you will probably need 3-4 weeks esp if you want to hit places like Sapa, Phu Qoc, and Mekong Delta as well as the North (Hanoi, Ha Long, Ninh Binh) and the central areas (Hoi An, Hue). Of course you can do the tour group 1 - 2 week wizzing in every place in one day but that would be a shame. Don't do day trip to Ninh Binh, Ha Long, Hue. - Stay there and relax and enjoy the relaxed pace.
I think Vietnam is like Thailand/Indonesia 25 yrs ago or Philippines 15 yrs ago. There is currently an economic boom with tourism as it's one of the cheapest destination in Asia and has lots to offer. Prices are rapidly increasing - i've seen admission prices change like 2 times within a year. There are mega resorts being built everywhere along the coast, skyscrapers in city and they even now have their own EV car manufacturer VinFast. So many international clothing, shoes companies make their product in Vietnam (eg North Face, Eddie Bauer, Patagonia, Nike, etc...) NOTE: Everything you see in the markets in local stores are FAKE. They are not original or factory overruns, just good fakes. Yes it's a communist country but in a way not. Sort of like China without the media censoring or monitoring
Yes the beaches and scuba are not like Thailand/Indonesia/Philippines, but they still have lots of coast line with fine sandy beaches just not turquoisy or gin like waters. Phu Qoc and Cham Island has some but still more emerald than crystal clear. The infrastucture of getting around is not the best (trains and buses) but flying is a good cheap option as well as getting private drivers which is still affordable esp if you are traveling in a group of 2 or 4 (often cheaper than buses/trains). The so call Limos are actually just supped up mini vans seating 9-14. Very comfortable but if you have more than 2 people often private driver is cheaper and faster.
Getting around the city or towns. In the cities GRAB is the way to go. It's cheap and you will not be extorted with reg taxis. If you are in rural areas rent a scooter for 100-150k per day (need international DL if >50cc which most are but they really don't care about DL) or grab a bike esp in Ninh Binh.
Eating is like no other. They love to wrap everything in rice paper and tons of fresh herb. I was afraid initially of the raw veggies which are washed in tap water but we were ok over our 2 weeks trip. But do have imodium in your bag just in case. Yes, it does look gross when you see shops washing dishes in a big pan on the street. Just make sure your plate and utensils are dry and not dripping with local water.
Buffets are a great deal by western standards. About $15-20 US. Yes this is a lot for vietnam as this could be meals for 3 days but if you go for seafood you get amazing sashimi, crab, giant prawns and all types of shellfish (scallops, mussel, clams, snails and oysters). Similar to paying $80US in vegas.
HINTS
1. don't go to exclusively to food places you see on youtube vloggers or listen to tripadvisor/google. These are usually all foreigners with inflated foreigner pricing. We were guilty of it on many occasions and regreted it. Walk around and if you see a place with lots of locals - go try it. It'll probably be much cheaper and better than the ones suggested on social media. (some common tourist traps are Giang Coffee, Obama Bun Cha, Phuong Banh Mi, Highlander coffee etc...)
2. Also try not to fall for the trap and being forced into tourist shops by tours/recommendation from others esp off the street (even hotels)
3. Don't prearrange private cars or tours over the internet in advance (maybe you first arrive ok). It is often cheaper when you arrive either via your hotel but usually thru travel agencies. And you can bargain the price.
4. Caution on bargaining. Do not buy anything near the begining of your trip or if it's the first time seeing it. Also do your research on real pricing. Yes it's so cheap anyways but don't be had. In tourist towns such as Hoi An things can start like 3-4 times the price so getting it for 1/2 price is still overpriced. Hanoi varied a lot. Mkts are not always the best. You best bet to gauge is looking at fixed pricing stalls/stores. I found Ninh Binh Tam Coc pricing to be more realistic with room still to bargain 1/2 or 1/3. It all depends on your look, and the vendor.
5. When to go? We went in April May which is still dry season and not peak summer - but it still reached 42 degrees in Hue and Hanoi and Hoi An with humidx of 47 degrees C. Brutal !!! Monsoon starts in June to Sept so it's a gamble. Hanoi and Ninh Binh always seems to be cloudy or rainy but central and southern Vietnam is sunny and hot.
6. to avoid the heat and massive tour groups do everything early as possible like 8-9am (eg Boat rides in Ninh Binh, or Mua Cave, Ho Chi Min Mosoleum, Coconut boats in Hoi An, Citadel in Hue (heat as all open). As for boat rides in Hoi An, go after all groups have gone - ie after 9pm and visit town in morning or early day before groups come in.
7. You really don't need international DL to rent scooter in Vietnam. If >50 cc technichally you do but they will still rent to you.
8. Watch the short changing of Vietnamese Dong when getting change back. They do that in markets as too many zeros confuse tourist as well as similar colours for 50k bill
9. If prices not posted on food/drinks/items/taxis or activities, agree on price firs before indulging or doing it. Once agreed, you are bound and they can ask for any price after service or product is rendered. If all fails, give what's fair and walk away but this can cause some confrontations.
10. Wear dry fit clothing as when you sweat like a pig, cotton takes a while to dry off. Also if visiting temples or mausoleums/tomb, women must not bear shoulders or wear short shorts (bring detachable pants or skirt or a scarf or a tshirt in your napsack)
Very Touristy Things to Do (some overrated)
Hanoi - Giang Egg Coffee, Note Cafe, Beer Street, Train Street, Night Mkt, Obama Bun Cha
Ninh Binh - Tam Coc Birc, Mua Cave, Trang An
Hoi An - Coconut Boats, Bang An Beach, Lantern Boat ride
Ha Long Bay - 2 day 1 night cruise
Gates of the Citadel - Hue UNESCO
Hoi An Lantern Boat
Coconut boats - Hoi An
Dragon Bridge Mua Cave Ninh Binh UNESCO
Ninh Binh Jungle
Amazing Mr Loa Homestay Bungalow - Right by Rice Paddy Field and Mountains - Tam Coc Ninh Binh
Hoi An at Night - Lanterns
Hoi An - UNESCO
Exercising with Granny - in Rural area of Ninh Binh
Crazy Coconut Boat Ride - Hoi An
Seafood Galore - streets of Hanoi
Biking around rural Vietnam
YOUTUBE VIDEO
to watch, just click below
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