Advice for a 3 weeks holiday in Vietnam (August 2010)

Think you mean Danang not Dalat, plane from Hoi An. Not sure about diving but Vietnam is not renoened for it, would have thought Malaysia or Thailand would be better.

Yes, I meant Danang, sorry.

Nha Trang area has fine water in august, clear, warm, great vis.

I definitely don't think you need to spend that much time in Nha Trang or HCMC. I was just there for a month. Check out my travel blog at http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/allieadventures/6/tpod.html for more ideas. Let me know if you have any questions.

Allison

Hello to all!

After reading your comments I made some adjustments to my planning which results in the following:
· Trip to Hanoi
· Day 1: Hanoi and surroundings
· Day 2: Hanoi and surroundings
· Day 3: Tour to Halong Bay
· Day 4: Tour to Halong Bay (night Hanoi)
· Day 5: Tour to Sapa
· Day 6: Tour to Sapa (night Hanoi)
· Day 7: Hanoi – Night train to Hue
· Day 8: Hue
· Day 9: Hue
· Day 10: Morning train Hue : DaNang + Bus to Hoi An (or bus Hue : Hoi An over the pass, not tunnel)
· Day 11: Hoi An
· Day 12: Hoi An (diving)
· Day 13: Hoi An (diving)
· Day 14: Hoi An (diving)
· Day 15: Hoi An – Evening plane to HCMC
· Day 16: HCMC
· Day 17: HCMC
· Day 18: Mekong Delta
· Day 19: Mekong Delta
· Trip from HCMC

The Diving in Hoi An might be skiped if first days of the itinerary take longer or if I change my mind in the future thinking I could simply skip it.

I think with this planning I could squeeze more places taking into account your considerations. In addition, I think I'll be visiting almost all the main areas of a "tipical" first visit to the country.

Now, it's a matter of reading guidebooks to know more in depth every place and see if there are further changes or not... hehehe.

See you all!

One problem it is about 9 hours to Sapa so you will have no time there, best to get the night train and back but I would spend one night in Sapa as well.

Hey thanks to all for your contribution to my trip to Vietnam.
I just arrived 4 days ago and the trip was wonderful and the planned itinerary was perfectly doable. It was such a great experience and travel alone in Vietnam was a piece of cake.
Cheers to you all!