Vietnam - Guide for trip planners

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In 2005, when I was a regular member in the Thorn Tree travel forum of the Lonely Planet website, I created the FAQ thread for Vietnam (FAQ means Frequently Asked Questions). This sticky thread on the top of SE Asia Mainland Branch has reached over 500,000 views up to date. The problem is that whenever I wanted to edit or update information in this thread, I had to send a message to the Moderator. It was inconvenient for me and it also took time before the information could be updated. Now I would like to publish this blog as a guide for those who plan a trip to Vietnam. Please note that I have never worked in the tourist industry. I travel for fun, not for earning money. What I am writing here is based on my own knowledge and experiences after I have traveled in all the 63 provinces of Vietnam. Please also do your home work, search information in the travel forums, contact the embassies/consulates and travel agents to get their replies.

This blog is intended to provide basic information for traveling in Vietnam, for example, visas, airlines, names of border crossings and how to go from A to B. I will not post information about hotels, travel agents or restaurants. If you have any questions and want to contact me, please scroll down until the bottom of this page and see "Author's note" with my email address. I will reply or advise you where to find the information. I would like to thank Alistair (the Founder and Moderator of Travel Blog) for linking this entry to the "Tips and Hints" of the Vietnam page, so that other travelers can read this before raising their specific questions. Last update of this entry - May 2013.

Visa

Citizens from the following countries don't need a visa for Vietnam, but they are allowed to stay in the country for a different number of days.

Brunei Darussalam (14 days).
Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia (15 days).
The Philippines (21 days).
Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Indonesia (30 days).

Citizens from other countries are still required to get a Vietnam visa in advance. There's no "Visa-on-arrival" at the border crossings or at the international airports in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC). In case you don't want to or cannot apply for a visa at the Vietnamese Embassies or Consulates for some reasons (for example, no Vietnamese Embassy in your country), you can apply for a visa through a travel agent in Vietnam. They will get an approval letter for you, so that the airlines will allow you to get on board. Upon arrival at the international airports in Vietnam, the immigration officers will stamp the visa into your passport. This service is called "Pre-arranged visa". Certainly, the travel agent will charge you some dollars for the service. For detailed procedure, please contact the travel agents in Vietnam.

Useful Links

Vietnam Tourism - website of the Vietnam Administration of Tourism (government website)

Sinh Tourist - old name was Sinh cafe, the famous travel agent for backpackers. There were many copycats of this agent, but this website is original. You can go by bus or book tours to the major destinations in Vietnam at their branch offices. However, the guides don't speak English very well. I've traveled with them several times including a bus trip from HCMC to Phnom Penh.

Some of my blogs that I suggest you to read:

Welcome to Vietnam! - Speech of the former US president, Mr. Bill Clinton, at the Hanoi National University about the Vietnam - America relationship.

Tết 2008 in Hanoi - Vietnamese Lunar New Year with traditional customs

Vietnamese water puppets - Famous art form in Vietnam

54 ethnic groups in Vietnam - Photos of some ethnic minority groups in Vietnam

If you are interested in paintings:

Vietnamese paintings
Tranh gốm (ceramic tile paintings)
Đông Hồ woodblock paintings

Airlines and Airports

There are 4 airlines operating internal flights in Vietnam at present. They are Vietnam Airlines, Jet Star Pacific Airlines, VietJet Air, and Vasco.

Air fares increase every year, however there are different prices which you can choose. The earlier you book your air ticket, the cheaper one you can get. It's more difficult to get a ticket during the national holidays (for example, Tet lunar new year, May Day, and Independence Day on 2nd Sep).

Flight Hanoi - HCM city (aka Sai Gon) takes one hour and fifty minutes. Flight Hanoi/HCM city to Hue/Da Nang takes an hour. Seven international airports are located in Hanoi (Noi Bai int'l airport), Da Nang (Da Nang int'l airport), Cam Ranh (Cam Ranh int'l airport), HCM city (Tan Son Nhat int'l airport), Da Lat (Lien Khuong int'l airport), Can Tho (Can Tho int'l airport) and Phu Quoc island (Phu Quoc int'l airport). Other airports from north to south are located in Hai Phong, Dien Bien Phu, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Dong Hoi, Hue, Chu Lai, Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa, Pleiku, Buon Me Thuot, Rach Gia, Ca Mau and Con Dao island.

Link to website of Vietnam Airlines

Bus, Train and Railway System

There are open tour buses as well as local buses (owned by private companies). For long distance you can go by buses with bunk beds. Please see photos of vehicles and airports in Vietnam in this blog: Means of transport in Vietnam

The train from Hanoi runs to the following cities:

1. Hanoi - Hai Phong (you can take a hydrofoil from Hai Phong to Cat Ba island)

2. Hanoi - Lang Son - Dong Dang (change at border to China toward Pingxiang & Nanning)

3. Hanoi - Lao Cai (to visit Sapa 38km from Lao Cai, or to Vietnam - China border toward Kunming)

4. Hanoi down south to Sai Gon (more stations on the way, totally 1,700km railway, it's also called "Reunification Train"). Travel time from 29-46 hours depending on what type of train you choose.

Link to website of Vietnam Railway

Border Crossings

Vietnam borders with China, Laos and Cambodia. For more information about the border crossings, please read the latest trip reports posted in the travel forums or ask the embassies.

Three international border crossings with China (1. Huu Nghi Quan / Friendship Pass - PingXiang crossing 2. Mong Cai - DongXing crossing 3. Lao Cai - Hekou crossing).

Six international border crossings with Laos (1. Tay Trang - Phongsali crossing 2. Na Meo - Nam Xoi crossing 3. Muang Xen - Nong Haet crossing 4. Cau Treo - Laksao crossing 5. Lao Bao - Densavanh crossing 6. Bo Y - Ban Pakha crossing).

Six international border crossings with Cambodia (1. Moc Bai - Bavet crossing 2. Xa Mat - Trapaing Phlong crossing 3. Tinh Bien - Phnom Den crossing 4. Vinh Xuong - Kaam Samnor 5. Xa Xia - Prek Chak crossing 6. Le Thanh - O'Yadao crossing).

When is the best time to visit Vietnam?

There are 4 seasons in northern Vietnam and 2 seasons (dry and rainy seasons) in central and southern regions. It's cooler in Da Lat city (the Central Highlands) and very cold in Sapa as well as the northernmost region during the winter time (November to February).

North: The best time to visit this region is April, September to December. It's very hot and humid during the summer time, especially from June to August (including rain). The coldest months in northern Vietnam are January and February, in average, 8-20°C in Hanoi and it can get down to 0°C in Sapa, freezing and even snow.

Central region: Typhoons often hit central coast from July to October. The central region (from Quang Tri province to Phu Yen province) also experiences rain and flood during October and November.

South: November to February are the best months to visit this region. The rainy season lasts from May to October. The hottest months are March and April.

January or February is the month when Vietnamese celebrate their Lunar New Year (Tet). It may be a little inconvenient to travel before and during this time. Many people go home before the holiday, then back to work after that (in detail, before Tet from south to north, and after Tet from north to south), so traffic can be very busy. Shops and museums are closed on the 30th December of the Lunar calendar and during the first 3 days of the New Year. The good side is that you can enjoy the atmosphere and see how Vietnamese celebrate this important event with fireworks in the big cities.

UNESCO World Heritage

1. Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province

2. Phong Nha Caves - Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province

3. Hue Imprerial City in central Vietnam

4. Hoi An Ancient Town - 30km south of Da Nang city

5. My Son Sanctuary - 69km southwest of Da Nang city

6. Thang Long imperial citadel in Hanoi city

7. Ho dynasty citadel in Thanh Hoa province

8. Wood-blocks of the Nguyen Dynasty

9. Stelae at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi city

Intangible heritages of humanity recognized by UNESCO:

1. Nha Nhac - Vietnamese court music in Hue city

2. The space of gong culture in the Central Highlands

3. Quan Ho folk songs in Bac Ninh province

4. Ca Tru singing in Hanoi city

5. Xoan singing in Phu Tho province

6. Giong festival of Phu Dong and Soc temples in Hanoi city

7. Hung King veneration ritual in Phu Tho province

Tourist route and How to go from A to B

Most of tourists visit the following popular cities/sites:

North: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh
Central: Hue, DMZ, Hoi An, Da Lat
South: HCMC, Mekong Delta, Cu Chi Tunnels, Nha Trang, Mui Ne

My advice is that you should spend only one or two days in the big cities like Hanoi or HCMC then get out of it. There are way too many people with millions of motorbikes, plus the noise, air pollution and unorganized traffic in these cities. The beauty of Vietnam is the countryside area and natural landscape. Vietnam has a good transport system and you can easily move around by plane, train, bus, motorbike and cyclo. It takes time to travel on the highways, as the average speed is only 50 km per hour. Depending on your time and interest, you can choose to experience all 3 regions of Vietnam or just one of them.

If you have 7-10 days, I suggest you spend your time in one or two regions. If you have 2-3-4 weeks, you can see all the major sites. However, it takes much time to go from A to B, so you might spend much time on the road. My favorite destinations in Vietnam are No. 1 - Ha Giang province (Mapileng pass), No. 2 - Con Dao islands, No. 3 - Quang Ngai province (Ly Son & An Binh islands), No. 4 - Yen Bai province (Mu Cang Chai terraced rice fields), No. 5 - Mui Ne beaches, No. 6 - Buon Me Thuot and No. 7 - Ninh Binh.

Following is the major tourist sites from north to south:

1. HANOI - The capital city with many museums, lakes, parks and old French buildings. On 10 October 2010, Hanoi celebrated the 1,000th year anniversary. From the Noi Bai international airport to the city's center (Hoan Kiem lake), the distance is 30km. You can go by taxi, Vietnam Airlines mini bus or public bus. The Old Quarter is the area where you can find cheap hotels, restaurants and travel agents, mainly on Luong Ngoc Quyen st., Hang Bac st., Ma May st., Hang Be st. For more information about what to see in Hanoi, please read the final part of this blog.

2. HA LONG BAY (UNESCO world heritage site with 1,969 islands in the bay): Most people book a 1-2-3 day tour to Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba island (beaches, caves, jungle, fishing villages). You also can go on your own, but it's a little more complicated. Please read a separate paragraph below.

CAT BA ISLAND: Read my blog Cát Bà island

3. SAPA (mountain scenery, trekking to villages of the Black H'mong and Red Dzao ethnic minority people): Most people go by overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. You also can go by bus, but it takes a full day. From Lao Cai train station, the distance is 38km to Sapa and 70km to Bac Ha. Most people spend 2 nights on train and 2 days for trekking. You also can book a trekking tour to the summit of the Fansipan mountain (9km from Sapa) with altitude 3,143m which is the highest peak in Indochina. See my blogs:

Sapa market

Cát Cát village

A photo model in Sapa

BAC HA (Sunday morning market of the Flowery H'mong people): You can go to Bac Ha town from Sapa or Lao Cai. Find more info in my blog: Bắc Hà Sunday market

4. NINH BINH (beautiful countryside, streams, caves, mountains on the rice fields): You can go from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by train or tourist bus. If you can afford the costs, then rent a car and driver. There are many sites to visit in this province: Phat Diem stone cathedral, Bai Dinh pagoda, Van Long nature reserve, Trang An nature reserve, Hoa Lu temple, Bich Dong cave, Tam Coc cave, Kenh Ga hot spring and Cuc Phuong national park. View my blogs:

Bái Đính pagoda under construction
Vân Long nature reserve
The 4th trip to Phát Diệm cathedral
Tràng An nature reserve

Cúc Phương national park - Kênh Gà - Tam Cốc

Cuc Phuong National Park (then the VResort) by Rob & Lorenza

5. MAI CHAU (Thai ethnic minority villages): You can book a 2 day tour to Mai Chau through the agents in Hanoi and trek around villages of the Thai people, enjoy the musical and song performance in the evening and sleep on floor of stilt houses. You also can go by local bus from Hanoi (Ha Dong bus station).

6. HUE (the old capital of Vietnam in the 19th century, visit the Imperial Citadel, tombs, cruise along the Perfume river): It's possible to go from Hanoi/Sai Gon/Da Nang to Hue by train, tourist bus or plane (an hour flight). You should spend 2 days in this city, in which half day at the Imperial Citadel, one day to cruise along the Perfume river and visit 3 tombs of the Kings. Cheap hotels, restaurants and travel agents can be found on Hung Vuong street and the nearby area, which is very close to the Perfume river and Truong Tien bridge. You can walk to the citadel and Dong Ba market. Some photos of Hue city: Tết 2009 in Huế city

7. DMZ - Demilitarized Zone during the American War (Vinh Moc tunnels, Ben Hai river - the demarcation line from 1954 - 1975, Khe Sanh combat base): You can book this tour in Hue city. The bus leaves Hue city at 6am and you can go back to Hue city at 6pm, or head north from Dong Ha town.

8. HOI AN (UNESCO world heritage site, old town with ancient houses, Japanese bridge): You can travel by bus or train from Hue/Nha Trang to Hoi An. If you fly, the nearest airport is located in Da Nang city, then you go by taxi (30km) to Hoi An. Read my blogs about Ba Na hills, Son Tra peninsula, Hoi An town and Cu Lao Cham island:

Hội An - Tết 2011 (the Year of the Cat)

Cù Lao Chàm island

The distance from Nha Trang to Hoi An is pretty far and it may take a day to travel by bus. Most tourist bus goes through the Hai Van pass tunnel to save time. If you can hire a car and driver and want to see the great view of the pass, read my blog: Hải Vân pass

Da Nang city is a place you should not skip as there are some interesting sites to see. Read my blog: Đà Nẵng city

9. MY SON Holy Land (UNESCO world heritage site, old brick temples of the Champa kingdom): You can book a half-day tour in Hoi An, or hire a car and driver to visit the site. See my photos: The Chàm towers in Mỹ Sơn

10. NHA TRANG (beaches, islands, scuba diving): The nearest airport is Cam Ranh (40km south of Nha Trang). It's possible to fly to Cam Ranh from Hanoi/Da Nang/HCMC, or go by train and by bus. You can book a one day tour to visit 4 islands or other sites like Monkey island or Yang Bay waterall. Other great sites are Doc Let beach (60km north of Nha Trang) and Thap Ba hotspring/mud bath. Read my blog: Nha Trang - Tết 2012 (the Year of the Dragon)

I was back to Nha Trang in March 2013 for doing Yang Bay waterfall tour: Nha Trang beach city & Yang Bay waterfall

11. MUI NE (beaches, sand dunes, fishing villages): Tourist bus can take you to Mui Ne from Sai Gon/Nha Trang/Da Lat. There are two sand dunes (yellow and white ones), Suoi Tien stream, kite surfing activity in Mui Ne. See my blog: Mũi Né beaches and sand dunes - If you go by train, then the train station is located in Phan Thiet city. You can take bus No. 1 from Coopmart supermarket in Phan Thiet city to Mui Ne.

Other popular tourist sites in Binh Thuan province: Phan Thiết city - Kê Gà lighthouse - Tà Cú mountain

12. DA LAT (Central Highlands, cool weather, mountains, waterfalls and lakes): Tourist bus from Sai Gon/Mui Ne/Nha Trang is a good choice. You also can fly from Hanoi/HCMC to Lien Khuong Airport (28km north of Da Lat city). If you spend a couple of days in this city, you can visit all the major sites (I made a list of must-sees with a local motorbike driver and we visited 16 sites). I made the second trip to Da Lat city in 2013. See this link: Đà Lạt city & the Valley of Love

13. HO CHI MINH CITY or SAI GON (the most developed city in Vietnam): People prefer calling "Sai Gon" as this name is short. You can fly from all major cities in Vietnam to HCMC. The airport is not far from the city's center, so you can go by taxi or public bus. De Tham and Pham Ngu Lao streets in District 1 are the area where you can find cheap hotels, travel agents, bars and restaurants. See some photos of Sai Gon in my blog:

Sài Gòn 2013 (twenty years since my first visit)

Sài Gòn - Tết 2013 (the Year of the Snake)

Sài Gòn city at night

Discovering Sài Gòn by bus

Water puppet shows in Sài Gòn

One of the tours you can book in Sai Gon: Cần Giờ mangrove forest

Information about the bus from Sai Gon to Phnom Penh can be found in my blog: Phnom Penh

14. MEKONG DELTA (floating villages & markets): Most people book tours (1-2-3 day tours) to this region. Read my blog: The Mekong Delta (Sinh cafe tours) - If you want to go to Can Tho on your own, there is Mai Linh mini bus service. Can Tho is the biggest city in the Mekong Delta. The airport is open recently, so you can fly from Hanoi to Can Tho. If you want to go to Cambodia by the river way, you can book a tour from Sai Gon or Chau Doc to Phnom Penh.

15. CU CHI TUNNELS (used by the Vietnamese communists during the American War) & CAO DAI TEMPLE: Both sites are located in Tay Ninh province. You can book a one day tour at the travel agents in HCMC.

Off the beaten track

When you visit the northernmost point of Vietnam in Lung Cu village (Ha Giang province) and Ban Gioc waterfall (Cao Bang province), you must get a permit from the local authority. Both Lung Cu village and Ban Gioc waterfall are very close to or on the border line with China. Most people hire a car and driver to visit the sites out of the tourist trail, but a few go by local bus (a challenge but fun). One of the problems in the remote regions is that most locals you meet cannot speak English, so you should prepare a list of necessary words in both English and Vietnamese.

Another update on my trip in October 2012 to the towns (for example, Bat Xat, Muong Khuong, Y Ty & Simacai in Lao Cai province) and islands (Co To & Ngoc Vung islands in Quang Ninh province) which are located in the border area and under military control: Foreigners must get a permit from immigration office or military office in the province.

Following is the sites off the beaten path in 3 regions of Vietnam:

1. QUAN LAN ISLAND in Bai Tu Long bay (northeast of Ha Long bay): There are some great beaches with white sands. See the link: Quan Lạn island

2. CO TO & NGOC VUNG ISLANDS: Both islands are under military control, so you need a permit to visit them or you can ask a guesthouse on the islands to support you and then you'll pay some fees. Read my blog Cô Tô & other islands with information about 4 islands (Co To, Ngoc Vung, Van Don and Cat Ba)

3. BA BE LAKE (200km north of Hanoi, the largest natural lake in Vietnam), CAO BANG & BAN GIOC WATERFALL (390km north of Hanoi, the most beautiful waterfall in Vietnam which lies on border with China): It takes a day to travel overland from Hanoi to Cao Bang. To visit these sites, you will need 4 days. Below is my blogs about the trip to 6 provinces in the North East of Vietnam (Find the route in Part 2 & Part 4):

Tuyên Quang (North East - Part 1)

Ba Bể lake (North East - Part 2)

Lạng Sơn (North East - Part 3)

Bản Giốc waterfall (North East - Part 4)

You also can refer to another blog Ba Be National Park, micro hydro electric scheme, time slowed down published by Rob & Lorenza.

4. HA GIANG PROVINCE (the northernmost province of Vietnam): This region has the best mountain scenery in Vietnam. Some people choose motorbike tours to this region, but you also can go by local bus or rent a car to Ha Giang town - Dong Van - Meo Vac - Lung Cu - Mapileng pass - Meo Vac. Information about the permit for visiting the flag tower at the northenmost point of Vietnam can be found in Part 3. See my blogs below:

Hà Giang - Part 1 (Quản Bạ & Yên Minh)

Hà Giang - Part 2 (Phố Cáo & Sủng Là)

Hà Giang - Part 3 (Đồng Văn & Lũng Cú)

Hà Giang - Part 4 (Mapileng pass & Mèo Vạc)

Sunday market in Hoàng Su Phì & Xín Mần

Other photos of Ha Giang: How do young Vietnamese travel?

5. The North West loop (6 provinces) HOA BINH - SON LA - DIEN BIEN - LAI CHAU - YEN BAI - LAO CAI: Beautiful mountain scenery, terraced rice paddy-fields and ethnic minority people are the highlights of this region. I have done a solo trip in the North West route Yen Bai - Lai Chau - Lao Cai by train, local bus and motorbike.

Hoa Binh province: Other than Mai Chau, you also can visit Thung Nai valley

Son La province: Mộc Châu highlands

Dien Bien province: Dien Bien Phu was the final battlefield where the French troops were defeated in 1954. See my blog about Dien Bien Phu: Where the French war ended

Another trip to Hoa Binh - Son La - Dien Bien in Oct 2012: Hòa Bình - Sơn La - Điện Biên

Lao Cai province

Simacai - Mường Khương - Bát Xát - Sapa

Yen Bai province

Old tea trees & Red H'mong people in Suối Giàng

Mù Cang Chải terraced rice paddy-fields

The North West route Yên Bái - Lai Châu - Lào Cai

The rice harvest in Mù Cang Chải & Trạm Tấu

Lai Chau province

Than Uyên & Lai Châu

Mường Tè & wedding of the Dzao people in Sìn Hồ

Pa Há & Dào San (3rd visit to Lai Châu)

6. PHONG NHA CAVES (UNESCO world heritage site): The nearest city to the caves is Dong Hoi in central Vietnam. You can reach this city by train, bus or plane. Read my blog: Đồng Hới city - Phong Nha caves (over 30 caves and total discovered length of 100km) are located 45km away from Dong Hoi city. You will get into the caves by boat.

7. TAM KY CITY: The city is located 70km from Da Nang city, 50km from Hoi An town in central Vietnam. The countryside area is a highlight. Read my blog: Tam Kỳ city

8. QUANG NGAI PROVINCE: This is a very interesting place to visit with beautiful beaches and islands, salt fields, cheap food and friendly people. I highly recommend it. Read my blogs:

Back to my father's homeland (Quảng Ngãi - Part 1)

Lý Sơn island (Quảng Ngãi - Part 2)

An Bình island (Quảng Ngãi - Part 3)

9. CENTRAL HIGHLANDS (3 provinces Gia Lai - Kon Tum - Dak Lak, elephant ride, special culture of ethnic minority groups and best coffee plantations): It is possible to fly from Hanoi/Da Nang/HCMC to Buon Me Thuot (Dak Lak province) and Pleiku (Gia Lai province). You also can travel overland from Sai Gon, Da Lat, Nha Trang or Quy Nhon to the capital cities of these provinces. For more information, please read my blogs below:

Buôn Mê Thuột (Central Highlands - part 1)

Kon Tum (Central Highlands - part 2)

Pleiku (Central Highlands - part 3)

The third trip to the Central Highlands

10. QUY NHON beach city with beautiful Cham brick towers built in the 12th century. Read my blog: A trip sponsored by the US organization Viettelco

11. TUY HOA beach city which is famous for beaches and fishing ports. Read my blog: Tuy Hòa city

12. PHU QUY ISLAND is one of the great places to visit in Binh Thuan province (south central Vietnam). However, foreign visitors must get a permit as this island is under military control. Read my blog Phú Quý island

13. The Southernmost Region (Can Tho - Soc Trang - Bac Lieu - Ca Mau cape): To get to the cape, which is the southernmost point of Vietnam, you must go by bus to Ca Mau city or Nam Can town, then change to water taxi. For detail, please read my blogs:

Cần Thơ (Mekong Delta - part 1)
Sóc Trăng (Mekong Delta - part 2)
Bạc Liêu (Mekong Delta - part 3)
Mũi Cà Mau - the southernmost point of Vietnam

14. TRA VINH is one of the provinces in the Mekong Delta. 70% of the population are Khmer people. You will see some festivals during their new year in April. Read my blog: Trà Vinh city

15. PHU QUOC ISLAND (beaches, fishing villages): Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air fly between Hanoi/HCMC and Phu Quoc island. You also can go by hydrofoil from Ha Tien town or Rach Gia city to this island. Read my blog: New camera & Phú Quốc island

Other places to see in Kien Giang province: Hà Tiên town - Hòn Tre island - Rạch Giá city

16. CON DAO ISLANDS (beaches, prison of French and American wars): Vasco and Air Mekong fly daily between HCMC and Con Son town. There is a prison built during the French war and the Americans used this place to imprison Vietnamese communists during the war. Read my blog: Côn Đảo islands

17. VUNG TAU beach city (120km south east Sai Gon) and other sites in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. Read these blogs:

Vũng Tàu city - Long Hải beach - Bình Châu hot spring

Vũng Tàu beach city

18. BIEN HOA city is 60km from Sai Gon. There are some industrial parks. Read my blog: Biên Hòa city

Ha Long Bay tour

Most of travelers choose a tour due to shortage of time and comfortable services. There are many travel agents in Hanoi which offer the Ha Long bay - Cat Ba island tours at different prices. If you search around Hanoi Old Quarter, you will find their price is very competitive. My advice is 1) do a search before you book a tour, and 2) choose a good and reputable company to avoid your trip to be ruined.

The Ha Long bay - Cat Ba island tour price ranges from US$25-US$200 (1-2-3 day tours), depending on quality of the boats and services, number of people on the same tours, overnight on boat or at hotel, kayaking, food, English speaking guide etc. There have been both good and bad comments about the tours. Most of the complaints were about the cheap tours or bad agents that did not provide what they promised and failed to satisfy your expectations. You may end up with many people on the boat, lack of food, low quality of boat and unhappy trip. If you think about the distance you will travel between Hanoi and Ha Long town (approx 300km two ways) by bus, then the costs for boat, food, hotel and entrance tickets, as well as commission that hotel/agent receives, it will be difficult to make a good trip at a very cheap price.

There are some types of tours as follows:

1-day tour: this is a very busy day trip, as your bus ride Hanoi - Ha Long town takes almost 4 hours, then you cruise in the bay for a few hours (including lunch on boat and kayaking if someone likes) then go back to Hanoi (another 4 hours by bus). I had some photos in this link: Hạ Long bay

2-day tour: there are some options that travel agents will offer you to choose. For example, 2-day tour for only Ha Long bay (overnight at hotel or on boat), 2-day tour for both Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba island (overnight on the island). On the second tour, you will have a very little time on Cat Ba island. When you go there, it's already 5-6pm, just sleep one night at hotel then leave early morning next day, back to Ha Long town by boat.

3-day tour: You will have one day on Cat Ba island, either trekking at national park, or visiting a fishing village, or doing whatever you want. Read my blog Cát Bà island

You can travel on your own, but then you will have to hire a boat for yourself or find some people to share the boat. In my understanding, the travel agents do not want to let independent travelers to join the boat with their tourists. For saving time and convenience, most people choose to go on a package tour.

Culture shock in Vietnam - the traffic

Air pollution, traffic congestion and fatal accidents became some major issues, not only in the large cities of Vietnam, I think, also in some countries of South Est Asia during the development process. Awareness of traffic safety plays an important role, however many people in Vietnam often ignore traffic rules, when there are no police. Sometimes they ignore red lights, or turn left-right anytime they want. You may be surprised at the noise and why Vietnamese use horns so often, but if they don't, it's very easy to hit the people in front of them. Horns are also important to warn, as someone may suddenly come from the alleys at a fast speed. However, some people use horns which are too loud and unnecessary just to mean "I am here. Move out of my way!". I hate this type of horn.

An advice for you if you want to cross streets in Hanoi and HCMC is that you should walk slowly (don't run) and watch both sides. In most cases, the locals will know how to avoid you. Better still, wait for a Vietnamese person to cross and follow them.

Vietnamese people

I am sad to say there are many Vietnamese who want to earn quick money from tourists. You should be careful with the fake taxis in the big cities or cyclo/motorbike drivers who want to overcharge you at the end of your ride. Also, remember not to take the offer from taxi drivers or touts you meet at the airports, as they want to take you to their hotels. Hawkers, beggars, cyclo/motorbike drivers are quite persistent, so I know it's annoying at times, although they only want to make a living. But that's common in the tourist areas in the big cities like Hanoi, HCMC, Hue or Nha Trang. When you get out of the tourist trail, it's more relaxing and people, who don't care about tourists money, are gentle and friendly in general. I think this is not the rule in only Vietnam, but many countries.

On the other side, not every foreigner, who visits Vietnam, is great. Some people visit Vietnam just to do a country in their list, then they moan when things are not the same as they expected. While they were busy thinking about the local price and tried to fight for it, they forgot to enjoy the other good things. In some discussions in the Thorn Tree travel forum, some westerners even said "Vietnam is better without you" when the complaints made by other westerners were unworthy. For whatever reason you choose to be in Vietnam, I hope you enjoy the visit. I think most people, who don't like Vietnam, have very tight budget, or they haven't done enough preparation for the trip (reading posts in the travel forums, for example), or unable to face the culture shocks and handle the tricks. They only see negative things here or there and make a generalization for the whole nation and people. The truth is that Vietnam is not for everyone. If you feel tired of wild traffic and people in the big cities, then get out to the countryside or remote regions. Always remember that a country is not there to furnish your experience. If you are still in a bad mood and cannot go with the flow, then move on to another country where you may feel happy. Certainly, I know many foreigners who have connection with people and love Vietnam so much that it's never enough for them to go back. Even I myself am surprised at their huge affection for the country.

While searching information for my next trip to Sri Lanka, I found a post with great advice from MK_Ultra in the Thorn Tree travel forum. The advice was made for Sri Lanka, but it can be applicable to many countries. I hope you agree with what he wrote: "I know it can be frustrating, and even infuriating at times when the locals lie and scam to get some money out of you, but that's the third world for you. People are poor, and a dollar here and there means a lot more to them than you possibly realize. Try to just relate to the people, and if they don't want to get to know you and merely want your money, just let them know you're not interested.

If you're going to continue to travel in impoverished areas, you're going to have to develop a thicker skin. People will try to get money out of you, but you can't let it get to you. Just let it go. I promise it will happen more in the future. You'll only wind yourself up by worrying about it. Just stay calm and realize that they are not individuals with whom you would like to spend time, and move on. You'll find some decent people eventually with whom you'll get along well and have a great time."

Vietnamese food and drinks

Eating around Vietnam

My favorite food in Hanoi

"Phở" noodle soup - a feature of Hanoi

Bia Hơi (Vietnamese fresh beer)

Northern Vietnam - Food & Home Made Wines by Rob & Lorenza

Trung Vit Lon (incubated duck egg) by Kent

Tet - Vietnamese Lunar New Year

Tet is the Vietnamese lunar new year. It is also the biggest festival of the year in Vietnam. Most of the years it coincides with the Chinese lunar new year. However, our calendars are not always the same. Some years ago the first day of the new year in Vietnam was ahead of the Chinese lunar new year. You may find it difficult to move around or find food as most restaurants and services would be closed during the holiday. The good side of visiting Vietnam at this time is that you can see the Tet preparations, fireworks on the New Year's Eve and other activities. According to the law, we have 4 day holiday of Tet (the last day of the old year and three first days of the lunar new year), however the holiday often lasts a week or even 9 days because of the weekends. Most travel agencies don't work on the first day of the new year except Nha Trang where you still can book a tour to visit 4 islands. For more information, please read the blogs below:

Tết 2008 in Hanoi

2009 - the Year of the Buffalo

Tết 2009 in Huế city

New Year's activities during Tết 2009

2010 - the Year of the Tiger

Hội An - Tết 2011 (the Year of the Cat)

Nha Trang - Tết 2012 (the Year of the Dragon)

Sài Gòn - Tết 2013 (the Year of the Snake)

Other blogs about Vietnam

Vietnamese souvenirs

Fishing villages in Vietnam

Vietnamese propaganda

Cultural Activities in Vietnam by Kent

Pagodas and temples in northern Vietnam

Flowers in Vietnam

A wedding party in Hanoi

My sister's wedding in Sài Gòn

New building of the Vietnam Television

Happy women's day 8 March!

One or two days in Hanoi

What to see on 1-2 days in Hanoi?

1. Ho Chi Minh President Mausoleum and Museum
(the Mausoleum is often closed between Oct. & Dec., for annual re-embalming, but you can visit the front side of the Mausoleum, the Museum in the same area and Ba Dinh square)
2. Army Museum and the Flag Tower
3. Van Mieu (the Temple of Literature)
4. Hilton Prison (Museum)
5. Hanoi Opera House (French style building)
6. The Old Quarter
7. Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Pagoda in Hanoi's center
8. St. Joseph's Cathedral
9. Thang Long Water Puppet Theater (some shows every evening and you can choose time)
10. Museum of Ethnology
11. American B-52 bomber wreckage in Ngoc Ha village (Huu Tiep lake)
12. Long Bien Bridge and the Red River
13. Fine Arts Museum

How to go from Noi Bai international airport to Hanoi's Old Quarter?

- You can go by taxi (Noi Bai airport taxi, about US$15-17 one way - 30km). Tel: 84-4-38868888

- You can get Vietnam Airlines or Kumho mini bus (VND 40,000, about US$2). This mini bus stops at their parking site opposite Vietnam Airlines office at No. 1 Quang Trung street.

- If you want to experience a local bus, then take bus #7 from airport to Cau Giay (end of this bus route) ticket VND 5,000, then change to bus #9 from Cau Giay to Bo Ho (Hoan Kiem lake), which is a short walk to the Old Quarter, ticket VND 4,000. Total price for two tickets is VND 9,000 (40 US cents).

Some blogs of mine about Hanoi:

The Old Quarter in Hanoi
The Temple of Literature
The lotus season in Hanoi
Old French buildings in Hanoi
Sunday at Việt Phủ Thành Chương
B52 wreckage in Ngọc Hà village
A wedding party in Hanoi
Mosaic wall along the Red River
Christmas 2008 in Hanoi
Old photos of Hanoi (early 20th century)

Villages around Hanoi which make traditional products:

Bát Tràng ceramic village
Phù Lãng ceramic village
Đồng Kỵ furniture village
Chuông hat village (Nón làng Chuông)
Vác village & Cự Đà village
Chuà Thầy pagoda & Chàng Sơn fan village
Đọi Tam drum village

Thổ Hà old village

Vạn Phúc silk village

Festivals in Hanoi:

Autumn Festivals

The Mid-Autumn Festival 2008
My favorite season of the year
The 1000th year celebration in Hanoi

Flower Festivals

Hanoi Flower Festival 2009
Hanoi Flower Festival 2010

Hanoi Flower Festival 2012

Japan Sakura Flower Festivals

Japan Sakura Festival 2008
Japan Sakura Festival 2009

You can book a tour, or hire a car and driver to make a one day trip to one of the following places:

Cruising the Red River
The old houses in Đường Lâm commune
Chùa Hương (the Perfume Pagoda)
Some pagodas in Hà Tây province
The festive season (Mùa lễ hội)
Đền Hùng (the Temple of Kings Hùng)
Weekend at Khoang Xanh & Thác Đa
Tản Đà spa resort

Đá Chông historical site (for reference only as the site is not opened to tourists)

Author's Note

In case you want to contact me for further information about traveling in Vietnam, you can send me an email directly to vietnamtravelblog@yahoo.com

If you use private message / comment functions in Travel Blog, please provide me with your right contact. Some people sent me private messages without their correct email addresses, so I couldn't reply to them. Thank you.

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