Vietnam

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Oct 9, 2005 3:24 AM
hongha

last reply
Dec 15, 2010 8:18 PM
Zif

149 replies
514,695 views
location: Vietnam

Pages 1 2 3 4 ... 10

FAQ Thread for Vietnam

The purpose of this thread is to provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about traveling in Vietnam I hope that this FAQ helps newcomers and others plan their trips to Vietnam. I would like to thank all the posters who have contributed information to this thread. To make searching easier for you, please find my index of some major topics as follows:

1. Visa for Vietnam => find posts #115, 117, 111
2. Ha Long bay tours/Cat Ba => #83, 84
3. Vietnam - China border crossings => #7
4. Vietnam - Laos border crossings => #8, 50, 58
5. Vietnam - Cambodia border crossings => #96, 107
6. What to see in Vietnam? => #12
7. Taxi/bus from airport to cities => #3
8. Train in Vietnam => #76
9. The lunar new year (Tet) => #23, 80, 114
10. Bus from Hanoi to Vientiane => #79
11. Bus/train from Hanoi to Kunming => #105, 106
12. Bus/train from Hanoi to Nanning => #95, 99, 100
... more »

May 25, 2013 12:18 AM
dakoilong

last reply
May 25, 2013 12:18 AM
dakoilong

0 replies
32 views
location: Vietnam

halong tour with $100 budget

Am i likely to get a good trip for 2 with 100 american dollars each if i book the day before in Hanoi and haggle. I have heard booking online is an expensive way to go. I am looking for a 4/5 star bargain.
Any good places to head for in Hanoi to get bargain deals?

May 24, 2013 9:00 AM
Mangeles957

last reply
May 24, 2013 6:50 PM
paintstreet

1 replies
64 views
location: Vietnam

Volunteering in Vietnan or Cambodia

Hello everybody!
I would very much like to work as a volunteer either in Vietnan or Cambodia. I have plenty of experience as a volunteer in France, England and Nepal in a Buddhist monastery. I am looking for volunteering for free with no fee charge. I am an English teacher in Spain and lived for many years in London as Spanish teacher and as an interpreter. I would like to find places where they practice yoga, meditation, etc. I am very open to ideas. I am planning to start the journey in July and stay until the end of August.
Thanks a lot,
Maria

Edited by: Mangeles957

May 23, 2013 11:41 PM
davidsangboi

last reply
May 24, 2013 11:48 PM
TunTravel48

6 replies
189 views
location: Vietnam

Hue and Hoi An in October

Hi All,

Will be in Vietnam (entry and exit HCMC) for 8 days. North Vietnam is not in the list because of the limited time that I have. My question is -

1) Is it a good time to visit Hue and Hoi An (by flight or land whatever is the case)
2) What is the ideal duration (days) to be in Saigon and Mekong Delta?
3) Is Phu Quoc a must-visit? (I do love beaches but can be omitted if not unique)

Thanks. David.

May 23, 2013 3:44 PM
skando

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:49 AM
CMBurns

4 replies
160 views
location: Vietnam

Vietnam visa pro question

Have just tried to apply for visa on arrival with vietnam visa pro for myself and 4 others I'm traveling with. Once i filled out the form with passport no. ect... i submitted it and nothing seemed to happen apart from re load the page. the same thing happened when i tried again and as of yet i haven't received an email from them. It says on the website that confirmation of details is the next step. Is this usually done via email or should i be prompted instantly to confirm?

Thanks

May 22, 2013 8:57 PM
Roadking95

last reply
May 25, 2013 7:17 AM
NanaimoJim

6 replies
207 views
location: Vietnam

Finally a good taxi story

To balance out all the bad taxi stories of late, we have a good news story about a taxi driver.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/9872/cabbie-returns-2390-to-aussie-couple

May 22, 2013 8:06 PM
trixiestone

last reply
May 24, 2013 2:56 AM
larsay

4 replies
138 views
location: Vietnam

Cycling Vietnam in Late Fall

Hi
I am a 41 year old Canadian female looking for anyone else who might be interested in cycling Vietnam mid to late November with no specific time frame in mind. I'm a budget travel but not so frugal that I won't pay a couple of extra bucks for a nicer room. Any advice is welcome too. Thanks

May 22, 2013 3:49 PM
crowned

last reply
May 24, 2013 7:00 PM
paintstreet

6 replies
200 views
location: Vietnam

Vietnam - november, travelling Solo.

Can you advise please; I plan to fly from Ireland via UK in Nov and then to vietnam.
the plan is to have 4 days in Hanoi; some days in the middle of the country near the coast and then the last 4 days or so in HCMC.
Will be travelling on my own and now over 60... so any advise from anyone would be helpful.
I think I will just organise tours when I get to the different areas.
Thank you,
Chris.

May 22, 2013 7:45 AM
frisbee

last reply
May 23, 2013 3:38 PM
skando

3 replies
127 views
location: Vietnam

getting cash at atms

Cos I've got a Halifax Clarity card (recommended for you UK travellers), I don't get charged any silly fees. But I've noticed that different atm's in Saigon charge differing fees, ranging from 20,000 dong upwards to 2.5% of the dong amount withdrawn.

Is this standard throughout Vietnam, or is this just cos I'm in the touristy areas? Do any atms have no extra fee?

Cheers.

May 22, 2013 5:57 AM
davidst

last reply
May 25, 2013 10:39 AM
BacHien

16 replies
418 views
location: Vietnam

Pages 1 2

Dont eat dog meat when in Vietnam

I write this thread to try and persuade you to avoid eating dog meat at a restaurant in Vietnam.

A lot of the dogs are moved from Thailand in trucks under terrible conditions. Please read the following url

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/640801-dog-meat-mafia-inside-thailands-smuggling-trade/

Obviously a lot of the demand is for the Vietnamese people but also there is the tourist restaurants. By eating dog meat you are increasing the demand and contributing to this cruel trade.

May 21, 2013 7:20 PM
frisbee

last reply
May 23, 2013 3:56 AM
ae123456

9 replies
225 views
location: Vietnam

costs

After almost 4 weeks in Sri Lanka, it's almost "sticker shock" here in Saigon/HCMC. I thought that here would be cheaper than Sri Lanka, but not so (although it was off season in Sri Lanka and it was easy to negotiate all sorts of things).

So, as a general rule, is Saigon/HCMC more expensive than other parts of Vietnam, or is it all about the same sort of thing?

Also, many travellers here seem to be getting the open bus northwards. As a general rule, I'll always just turn up at te bus/train stations and buy point to point. However, some people claim that because of the hassles in trying to get local bus/train tickets, it's just easier and less stressful to get the open bus ticket. Pros/cons? Comments please?

Many thanks.

May 19, 2013 7:02 AM
peristrema

last reply
May 23, 2013 11:10 PM
larsay

7 replies
202 views
location: Vietnam

Recommended activities in Sapa

Hello, we'll stay in Sapa some days in August, we would like to do some trekking, but nothing too complicated since we will not carry any equipement, we have in mind short 1day trecks from Sapa. Does it make sense?, I mean would we need to overnight outside Sapa to find nice scenaries, views, walsk, etc...
If it is possible to do short trecks from Sapa, what destinations would you recommend?
TKS

May 18, 2013 11:16 PM
bleucheese

last reply
May 23, 2013 11:17 PM
larsay

13 replies
326 views
location: Vietnam

Motorbike rental/3 week trip in Vietnam

My buddies and I do an annual motorbike trip in SEA every year and we are debating between PI and Vietnam. We did Cambodia 3 years ago, Laos 2 years ago and Thailand last year. We know the dangers of biking in these countries.

How easy/difficult is it to rent 4-5 motorbikes in the Vietnam (250cc - 500cc)? I have a US motorcycle license but my buddies do not. Any companies to recommend? Costs? We would appreciate any recs on itineraries- I have only done hcmc and Hanoi a few times, mostly just eating trips. We would be looking forward to an itinerary off the beaten track and then ending by a nice beach.

Thanks!

May 18, 2013 7:04 PM
Roadking95

last reply
May 22, 2013 3:25 AM
hanno

12 replies
320 views
location: Vietnam

Nha Trang

Nha Trang seems to be in the news of late for all the wrong reasons.

http://www.thanhniennews.com/index/pages/20130518-russian-man-dies-after-slashed-by-compatriot-at-throat-in-nha-trang.aspx

May 18, 2013 2:21 AM
cath570713

last reply
May 21, 2013 7:49 PM
bun_cha

5 replies
228 views
location: Vietnam

Vietnam payment of visa stamp

Hi

I'm flying in to Vietnam tomorrow and will be paying the $45 dollar visa stamp. Does anyone know if there is an ATM at this point in Immigration as I don't have enough dollars with me and as my flight is so early in the morning I doubt I will be able to get any from my departure airport. Or perhaps they take credit cards?

Thanks

May 17, 2013 7:42 PM
JintheRoc

last reply
May 23, 2013 7:56 PM
boagy

4 replies
225 views
location: Vietnam

Sapa in July

I'm thinking about going to Sapa at the beginning of this July, soon after I arrive in Hanoi.
Will it be possible to book tickets for a weekday night train a day or two in advance?
How much should I expect to pay for a soft sleeper, round trip?
Fiinally, does anyone have any reccomendations for a good place to stay at mid-range price for a family of four (two adults and two children ages 7 and 11)?
Thank you all very much.

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