Hi! My wife and I are planning to travel around Vietnam/Cambodia on our own from 4/2/08 to 9/3/08. We are old backpackers now 50+ and have been reading up on travel especially during Tet. We plan to go HCMC-Siem Riep-Hanoi-Sapa-Halong Bay-Hoi An-Hue-Nha Trang-Dalat-HCMC. I've been reading The Tree and the Lonely Planet Guide and have seen quite a few references to difficulty in booking trains or planes during Tet. Certainly want to travel on the train from Hanoi down south. Will be flying from Siem Riep to Hanoi. No problem travelling on buses but do want "certainty" for some stretches. Should I book flights/trains here before I go? Any recommendations on who to book rail and flights with? Yes I have the book!
Really interested in the experiences of those who have just travelled during Tet this year. Great info on the tree!
main/most reports from topurists who have been at TET say the WEST-tourist 'things; like htls/openbuses etc are VERY QUiet as most think its not a fit time to travel. Expect trains BEFORE and AFT to be booked solid, but NOT at TET itself, just like at home near Xmas or so...
Keep in mind that travel to/within Vietnam is booming and that the economy is quantum leaping...i.e. more Vietnamese will have the means to hit the road and visit relatives just after Tet. After Tet. In the days leading up to Tet, things will be quiet travel wise. Trains...as said above will need to be pre-booked. Planes...in 2008, I'd expect the same. All in all it is the busiest period in VN to move around. Also expect hotel rates on the coast to jump by up to 300 percent just after Tet.
Hi! In Vietnam People travel North from Saigon before Tet, so it is almost impossible to get ticket for train or air plan in the last 10 days.
It is easier to get bus ticket, but it will be crowded. Few buses carried almost 100 people instead of 50, and were stopped and ticketed by police. Probably this wasn't for all bus company, especially the one for expats.
And the contrary for a week after the new year day, people moved back to the South.
Imaging about 3 millions people go home from work in Saigon and the Mekong Delta.
So don't worry if you avoid the flow.
I traveled in Vietnam over TET last month. Here is what I found:
1) Air travel needs to be booked well in advance of TET. I couldn't find a flight from Nha Trang to Hanoi the week after TET, the same or worse on other routes.
2) Even Sinh Cafe raised prices on bus tickets around TET. I paid $6-$8 for tickets that usually sell for $4-$5. AND buses were VERY crowded.
3) Hotel rates begin to go up the week before TET around 25%, the week after they were up by 50-100%. Many hotels in DaLat just closed for TET.
4) Lots of places closed, some for just a couple of days, others for a week or more. But, I was always able to do everything by just searching around a little.
Most TET travel issues would have been easier if I had prebooked. But, none were such a big deal as to make moving around unreasonable. This was my fifth trip to Vietnam so, I'm fairly comfortable with the buses, planes, trains and hotels. I don't think I would travel over TET again. BUT, that's ONLY because I hate to preplan. Much prefer to plan just a day or two ahead.
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