AKA ERNIE
3:11 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Mashed cheers mate plan is 3 days there would love longer
Have got 4 days in hue with a few trips around planned.
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mashed in maryland
2:58 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Spend as much time as feasible in Hoi An.
Old colonial looking town in the middle somewhere.
Absolutely loved the place, got the feel of a French village and about 10 min bike ride from the beach.
Locals are proper friendly (elsewhere I found this wasn't the case).
Loads of decent bars and cafes and amazing restaurants, some would say it's a bit touristy but it's nowhere near the level of similar places in Thailand or whatever.
Probably the best food you'll ever eat in your life.
Hanoi is great for nightlife (and 15p a beer). Loads of museums and all that. Expect to be harassed absolutely everywhere you go by people trying to get money out of you though. At night it's completely empty except groups of pissed backpackers which is really surreal considering how hectic it us during the day.
Pretty much everything else has been covered already in this thread but thought I'd add my bit.
Enjoy!!
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FOREVER IRON
2:52 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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In Vietnam - at present in Nah Trang. Had 4 days in Hanoi and Halong Bay. Only did the day trip at Halong Bay - was last there in 2002 and it's now been developed and not for the better imho - hordes of Koreans and of course the ever present Chinese. Went from there to Danang and on to Hoi An for 5 days - the 3000 dong fresh beer is great value as others have said and great food - particularly liked Cafe 41 - lovely family run place and cooking classes if you're into that. From there to Quy Nhon which is a small seaside town with not much to do there. Will go to Dalat and HCMC after Nah Trang. Vietnam is a great value holiday place the main problem I have is getting used to the high denominations of the bank notes and being told at the ATMs that I can only draw out 5,000,000 per day!!!
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AKA ERNIE
2:38 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Balders wiltell thanks for $ info was going to take a load
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weststandboy
2:14 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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If you're in Saigon you could do an overnight Mekong Delta cruise on a junk. Great to see the locals in their own environment. the guides are really informative too and to end up at floating market was good fun too.
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balders
2:01 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Ps
It has stopped pissing down for 2 months solid hope it clears up for you
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balders
1:59 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Ern
There's signs on many of the western bars $ not to be used VND only
Guvnor of the English bar and Phattys told me they get in real shit with the old bill if people pay in US
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Willtell
1:53 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Reply AKA ERNIE 11:20
Yes as someone else said dollars are illegal - I'd forgotten that but no-one would take them anyway. I used the whole $100 as part payment with a travel agent for the Halong Bay overnight boat trip.
The boat was very comfortable and the food good so we just drank and ate in the evening then slept. We also trained it down to Hoi An which was lovely and they had a flower festival the week we were there at Hoi An.
Also rented motorbikes. My daughter and her friend had a pillion ride behind a couple of young men but I had my own for myself and wife. It kept breaking down and we had to wait while they sent someone out with a new battery as it wasn't charging....
Enjoy ERNIE but I'd be interested to hear what you think? November is still warm weather which makes a big difference as we only had one day of being on a beach...
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AKA ERNIE
1:38 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Balders illegal to use $ ?
Not seen that anywhere mate
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Russ of the BML
1:34 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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On The Ball 11:12 Thu Oct 13
There was about twelve on board. All different ages and from different countries. Swedish, Dutch, Yanks, a couple of birds from London. Was a good mix and all good company. The boat provide breakfast and dinner so first night we just had a BBQ on board and had a good drink. Got to know each other.
Next night we ate on board and then moored up at a small island which had a couple of bars on the beach. Music playing and a lot of people from other boats.
Last night we never got back to the boat until late from a day trip and so by the time we ate it was getting on. Me and few of the blokes just sat up on deck and had a few beers. And that night we started heading back to main-land.
We were all quite sad to go our separate ways at the end of it.
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AKA ERNIE
1:29 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Pd always do mate !!
Love the sound of beer corner.
Always had great time in asia favourite was laos then Burma
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AKA ERNIE
1:26 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Balders cheers mate think weve only got about one bus trip lined up from sapa back to hanoi rest will be overnight trains or internal flight.
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Your mum
1:03 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Never get out of the boat!
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Private Dancer
12:36 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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I've been to Hanoi and HCM. I'd say similar to what Willell said, decent place to visit, but certainly wouldn't go ott about it like some are on here. It is very cultural though, giving the feeling that you truly are in Asia. I do want to go to Hoi An though at some point. Vietnnamese food is cracking though, way better than Thai, and oh the woman have big tits.
Remember, it's one of the few remaining communist countries, so behave yourself :-)
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WHUDeano
12:29 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Lived over there for a couple of years. Year in HCM, 6 months in Hoi An, 3 months Hanoi, have also overlanded it end to end twice, once from the Chinese border to Cambodia and once in the other direction - I've been lucky enough to have travelled through every country in SE Asia and Hoi An is just about my favourite place of all.
Happy to give you advice on good companies to use for halong, plus good restaurants, bars, hotels, transport etc feel free to whomail me with any questions.
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balders
12:25 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Someone said about using $
Don't mate its illegal , aint worth the hassle if there's old bill in the restaurant / bars
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balders
12:22 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Ern
Worked in Ho Chi Minh for nearly 18 months now , worst thing you will find that everyone is after a pound note from you so keep your wits about yourselves
If your travelling cross country don't go by the buses fly , 3 hour journey in England will take about 9 hours here due to the roads and the bikes
Phu Quoc is lovely and quite best place I've been here
Bottle of Tiger / Heineken works out about 2 pounds
Food is dirt cheap
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Northern Sold
11:45 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Charlie don't surf...
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BetterthanKaka
11:31 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Wasn't fussed about doing Angkor Wat before but glad I did! Pretty spectacular.
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AKA ERNIE
11:22 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Kaka had a week in siem reap tourin ankor watt few yrs ago was stunning mate.
Loved cambodia and laos was never sure about vietnam but giving it a go
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AKA ERNIE
11:20 Thu Oct 13
Re: Vietnam holiday tips
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Thanks all great stuff
Halong def do a night on boat .
Wiltell cherrs mate interesting about dollars books recommend theyre taken everywhere
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