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Vietnam by water

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Topic Type: Adventure

looking to trvavel from north to south by boat

richard Wigley
Post Count: 2

Msg: #1 163 days ago, July 30th 2008

Hi,

I'm setting off for Vietnam in a few weeks and would really like to travel from Hanoi to HCMC in four weeks (or thereabouts).

I'm very keen on avoiding the usual train and bus routes and would like to travel by boat on rivers and the sea.

I would quite like the journey to take the whole four weeks if possible and am not too fussed about missing out on seeing everything if it means the journey can become and adventure.

has anyone had any expereinces they can share? Is it even possible to do? any suggestions or comments are most welcome.

Thanks

Rich

galaxycondor

richard Wigley
Post Count: 2

Msg: #2 163 days ago, July 30th 2008

Just to add a little more useful information;

I'm aware of the geography of the country but am wandering for example if it is possible to travel from Hanoi out to the sea via the rivers of the north, and them travel down the coast by boat? Are there opportunities to take trips on the Ma or Ca rivers? Can I go all the way down the country along the coast by boat to HCMC?

Once down in the south are there opportunuties to explore the Mekong Delta by boat?

any advice on river trips, cruises, opportunities to charter boats etc. will be greatfully recieved, perhaps there might be a way of linking some of these up with some lnd based travel.

thanks

[Edited: 15:03 - galaxycondor - wrong information]

anonymous

Post Count: 2

Msg: #3 163 days ago, July 30th 2008

Hi there,
For 4 weeks, it is quite OK to explore Vietnam North to South, or vice versa. Since you seem to prefer traveling totally by boat/ship, it is POSSIBLE but it is NOT recommended.
- "if it is possible to travel from Hanoi out to the sea?": yes, but as far as I know, there are ships for goods only, so it seems that no tourists like this way of travel there.
- "Can I go all the way down the country along the coast by boat to HCMC? ": yes. Recently, Hoa Sen ship was run north-south and vice versa, with a SHORT stop in Hue I guess. Although the ship is very new and look luxury (imported from Italy just last year), most of the passengers are truck drivers!!! (the ship can carry lots of cars, trucks). It because the truck drivers can save more time and money than if they drive long way. It is said that it would be very BORING in the ship, since there are nearly no entertaining activites in the ship (very disappointing for such a nice ship).
For 1 month, most tourists may visit most of these plcase: Hanoi - Sapa - Halong Bay- Hanoi - Ninh Binh (Tam Coc, or Cuc Phuong National Park) - Hue - Hoi An - Nha Trang - Da Lat - Mui Ne - Saigon (HCMC) - MeKong Delta - Phu Quoc.
As a boat/river/sea lover, you can enjoy a 1 day boat tour on Red river in Hanoi, 2D/1N or 3D/2N on a big boat on Ha Long Bay, 1 day boat trip at Tam Coc (Ninh Binh), 2 days in Hue with a 1/2 day boat tour on Perfume river, 4 days in Hoi An for relaxing on beach, some days at the Beach at Nha Trang with snorkling and Mui Ne with Kytesurfing, 2 days on Mekong... Other time can be in Moutains for treking (Sapa, Dalat)... or cities for museums and historical places...
To save time, flying is the most convenient way since buses/trains in Vn are SLOW and may not be comfortable. Flights: Hanoi-Hue, or Hanoi-Danang, Danang-Saigon, Nhatrang-Saigon, Saigon-Phu Quoc. Other links can be by bus or train since there is no flights. Flights are very CHEAP too.
Travelblog is the excellent place for reading travel experience from REAL travelers. But for more unbiased advice, I would recommend you to post questions on TripAdvisor forum where there are LOTS of good advice about how to get good things and avoid bad things when traveling in VN.
Hope you have a nice trip.

VietnamGreen

Hong
Post Count: 78

Msg: #4 162 days ago, July 31st 2008

Hi,
I think, it's the best traveling route in Vietnam: you can down from North to South or South to North.
From North(Hanoi). You can stay in Hanoi some nites, Sapa and Halong bay are worth to visit but go to Halong(2 or 3 days trip) by car, go to Sapa(3 or 4 days trip) by train. After that fly to Da Nang and Hoi An relax with some beautiful beaches there.
From Da Nang to Nha Trang(some nights with beach), Mui ne is good for you relax on the sea.
Sai gon and take trip to mekong delta river by boat.
Have a good trip!

longvnt

Long Nguyen
Post Count: 1

Msg: #5 155 days ago, August 7th 2008

Hi galaxycondor

You can travel by bus and plane. Everywhere you can go on boat trip. Hue, HOi An, Nha trang, saigon, mekong. From saigon you can make 3 days trip only on boat to Phnompenh

Wish you enjoy Vietnam

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