Ho chi Men city
So I'm trying to plan a holiday with my gf. We are flying down to ho chi men because it was the cheapest airplane ticket. She wanted to go to nepal but couldn't afford the ticket so she blames me for the airlines... So any help planning this trip would help get her off my back.We are headed to ho chi men. She is wanting beaches, jungle, temples and snowy mountains. I am 99% sure there is no snow. but i am sure there is some beaches.
My question, any advice of beaches, jungle/animal preserves, temples to visit if ho chi men is going to be a base?
8 day trip. Not a huge desire to spend days/time scooting around the country. I'm reading now but anything yall might suggest would help.
3
Well I'll do the easy bit - if you want beaches then Nha Trang or Hoi An/Danang is your place or Dao Phu Quoc. Depending on the time of year you're going, snow isn't out of the question in Sapa. Perhaps Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia could be worthwhile going to - I haven't been there and I think its difficult to get to as well.4
For an 8 day trip stay in Vietnam. for beach Dao Phu Quoc in the south or easier still Mui Ne, its closer to HCMC and got a nice long white sandy palm fringed beach, I feel Nha Trang is too built up but better diving. go to Cu Chi tunnels they are set in the jungle. Explore the Mekong delta for a few days.5
Your best option would be Con Dao Island. That has the best jungle in Vietnam and has one of the biggest National parks with hundreds of animal and bird types-full of fauna. Con Dao has great beaches and the best snorkeling in Vietnam. For a short trip like yours it's ideal because you can be in your room within an hour of leaving HCMC-you don't have to muck around with flights and long car journeys.Con Dao also has historical sites that are interesting.
Phu Quoc Island is also close to HCMC and easily accessible.
The rest of the time you could spend around the Delta and Northern Vung Tau/Ho Tram area.
OP you said, Not a huge desire to spend days/time scooting around the country
...You're right , stay south and don't waste one day out of the eight travelling north and back again. Stay south of Ho Tram-plenty to do and see in 8 days without wasting too much time sitting in buses, cars and planes.
eg flight to Con Dao takes about 30 mins from HCMC.
6
#3 advice is a laugh, he is going to the south, and you suggest Hoi An/Danang? Then suggest Cambodia, which would require a Double Entry Vietnam Visa.. You are really do the poster some favors...1st I would tell the GF to shut up plan her own vacation and then pay for yours too...or get a new one. Snowy mountains and jungles and beaches? Tell her shut up and pick one or the other. You have 8 days, not 8 weeks.
Nepal is not easy place to go and cheap getting usually, requires advance planning, and season timing.
You could of accomplished all this in Thailand, but too late now.
Saigon for fun a few nights, splurge on a nice place in District 1.
Head to Can Doa, the snorkeling/diving in Nha Trang/VN is nothing to write home about.
Jungle Beach Lodge is a good beach option in Doc Leth north of Nha Trang for chilling out.
8
Why not stay in the beaches in the south? There are plenty of options.If they were working their way up the coast, then Cham Islands would be a good option,, but the beaches near Danang?
9
Unless your GF wants to be eaten by sandflies then do not go to Mui Ne, the beach at Nha Trang is soooooooo much nicer.I am baffled by people who go to Mui Ne for the beach. Go there for the Fairy Stream and the sand dunes.
Take her to Hoi An, you can get amazing clothes made for really cheap prices and there are nice beahces north of here. Plus a trip to Marble Mountains is well worth it, ticks a temple box and is very nice. Also in Nha Trang you can visit the seated white Buddha and take a trip to the Hot Springs.
Enjoy your travels :-)
11
Op you can't go past Con Dao. Plenty to do on the island and some of Vietnam's best bush walks. The amazing National Park goes right down to the beach. Con Dao has a huge range of accommodation but make sure you have air con because now it is really hot in Vietnam.If your gf likes snow and cool the air con is a must.
Con Dao also has nice sea breezes as well.
12
I think we might just go to phu quoc, buon ma thuot and HCMC. Phu quoc (2-3 days) i think has beaches and jungles? Buon ma thuot (2-3 days) has jungles and elephants. And HCMC (2-3 days) has everything else.YEs i agree. She can be a bit silly in demands. But my grandpa always said "if it has wheels or boobs it will always give you trouble" But what good trouble it is! :)
Thanks for the tips yall.
13
OP sounds like you have it covered. Minimalize stuffing around with airports, long transfers for hours, then long transfers for hours and then airports. Looks like you have simplified what could have been complicated! Phu Quoc is great for jungles and beaches! Con Dao is probably #1 in Vietnam for jungle & beach but Phu Quoc is a close second.Both very, very easy from HCMC- you can be on the beach in about an hour of leaving HCMC.
