Vietnam travel tales and tips

Vietnam travel tales

Our customers share their travelling experiences in Vietnam. Read about first hand stories on travel tips and guides, events, entertainment,shopping, food, business and transportation. Also, you might want to read our Central Vietnam city guide, Halong Bay city guide, Hanoi city guide, Ho Chi Minh city guide, and Phan Thiet city guide.

C Scott	28 May 2004
Stayed at Novotel Garden Plaza Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
Vietnam is a wonderful country to visit, but one must be careful in Ho Chi Mihn City. I met the most dishonest street "guides" here and it's best to only take metered taxis if you need transport beyond walking. A metered taxi should cost about $3-4 USD from the airport to downtown and $2 to the Novotel. When you get out of the airport, you have to beat off the unofficial drivers begging for a ride to get to the metered taxi area that generally come unsolicited. If it's not metered, they have a tendency to change the price once you arrive or drastically over inflate the initial fee.
J Tay	26 May 2004
Stayed at Grand Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
We were on a food hunt. Somehow, the highly rated ones like Temple Club, though nice ambience, failed to deliver on the food which were very oily. Our hunt for the perfect Pho also disappointed. Probably the best we had was at Bin Thanh Market. It cost on VN12000 compared to the small bowl we had at one of the joints along Don Khoi which cost us VN 48000 with stale beef. Tour guides from Sinh Cafe to Chu Chi Tunnel and the full day My Tho tour were excellent.
A Van esch	17 May 2004
Stayed at De Syloia Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hanoi is a charming city, awakening from its past, trying to withstand modernism which has left its footprints everywhere. And yet, with all the chaotic traffic, the millions of motorbikes, the dusk, the noise, hustle and bustle on the streets, life to a great part seems still to be what it must have been hundreds of years ago. The French impact is reflected in the beautifully restored colonial houses, the small streets full of art shops and little cafes. Mass tourism has not succeeded to intrude which makes Hanoi a very special destination. The trip to Perfume Pagoda leads thru little villages and rice fields with some breath taking views. Experience total tranquility when your boat takes you up the river to Perfume Pagoda. Don't try to go there on your own, take a guide who speaks English and can help you thru the day. Don't expect proper toilets or restaurants on the way there, they simply don't exist. Be adventourous and just enjoy the beauty of this lovely country.
P Young	11 May 2004
Stayed at Majestic Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
We had a great night at the Q bar by the theatre, more expensive but a great atmosphere to meet friends.
M Keats	09 May 2004
Stayed at New World Hotel Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
This trip we visited charcoal making plants along the southern cost in Ben Tre province. We went from car to ferry to boat to smaller boat and then onto a smaller boat that fits one person and 100kg of Charcoal. It is amazing to watch these people make a living in such a harsh environment.
M Anthony	04 May 2004
Stayed at Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hanoi still retains a bit of the charm from its colonial era; get there before it's gone. For a bit of this ambience, I especially recommend the Emperor Restaurant for a great dinner served by a gracious staff.
M Wilson	04 May 2004
Stayed at Majestic Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
Allow plenty of time to travel from central Saigon out to airport - not far but traffic was bad early morning. Lots of good restaurants - Vietnam House and Lemongrass have good food and pleasant decor. Espana tapas bar good if you want a change from Asian food. Saigon Tax shopping centre has a wide choice of gifts and is less crowded than the markets.
M Wind	21 April 2004
Stayed at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi - Hanoi, Vietnam.
The best restaurant in town is The Emperor (close to the opera house), great food and good value. Do not bother with IndoChine, it's very disappointing nowadays. Other pleasant restaurant is Le Tonkin.
D Oyster	21 April 2004
Stayed at Grand Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
Vietnam is a wonderful place to visit. The food is excellent and inexpensive, the beer is good, the people are friendly, the land is gorgeous. The country seems to have done a remarkable job recovering from the "American War" It is still a poor country but business seems to be thriving in the major cities. One can only hope that in Vietnam's quest for prosperity that they do not make some of the catastrophic errors of the "first world" in terms of intrammeled growth and development. The signs that they are on the wrong path are already there, too many motor bikes, growing numbers of cars, little sense of appropriate urban planning. One example is that the Saigon Government chose to ban cyclos from streets in the core of the city when in fact they should encourage cyclos and ban motor vehicle traffic. Speaking of cyclos, I encourage any visitor to use them, they are a delightful way to get around, especially in Hue, the drivers are great guys, funny and full of information if you try to engage them. They also need the work.
S Mori	20 April 2004
Stayed at Duxton Hotel Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
Foot massage --- Just opposite the Hotel. Restaurant --- Draemon Kaka is very family-friendly Japanese restaurant (50 Dong Du St).

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