| K Starke |
16 April 2004 |
Stayed at De Syloia Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Handspan Tours [and presumably all others] have greatly improved the boats that tour Halong and it is an even greater "must" now. Hoa Sua Restaurant is great value and very good. Also KATO near the Temple of Literature. Taxis easy and cheap. Handspans tour to Khen Ghai about 2 hrs south of Hanoi is a very absorbing boat tour and the people are not yet exposed to the corrupting influence of tourists as is the case at Tam Coc. Special Dim Sum at the Nikko is a killer.
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| B Williams |
15 April 2004 |
Stayed at Sofitel Dalat Palace - Dalat, Vietnam.
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Dalat is worth a visit and the market is fascinating. Walking round the lake is a good way to spend 1/2 day.
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| T Conway |
13 April 2004 |
Stayed at Victoria Chau Doc Hotel - Chau Doc, Vietnam.
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Took tours of the floating markets around Chau Doc and of the Seven Mountain areas of the Mekong. Used the Hotel's river boat as transportation up the Bassac from Chau Doc to Phom Penh. Staff very helpful at border (visa) checkpoints.
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| W Corner |
12 April 2004 |
Stayed at Lucky Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Make sure the taxi taking you from noi bai airport to the lucky hotel does not drop you off at a different hotel (namely the pacific hotel). Be vigilant if you suspect this to be the case, keep close attention to where the taxis take you.
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| J Sandra trotman |
10 April 2004 |
Stayed at New World Hotel Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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We walked and walked and walked - wear comfy shoes - the pavements are uneven - and if you want to see a lot within the area from the hotel to Dong Khoi - feet are your best bet. There are so many little side roads and little shops - you would miss them in a car. Of course if you are crazy enough to hire a motorbike - good luck - you will still miss everything - because you will be too busy trying to avoid being crashed into by all the mopeds around you.
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| K Starke |
07 April 2004 |
Stayed at Hoi An Riverside Resort - Hoi An, Vietnam.
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We were here in Feb 03 and there appears to be a large increase in restaurants. Miss Ly's still the best standard Resto in town. Brothers Cafe excellent for the special meal. Wandering at night is terrific and more comfortable than the heat of the day. The central market is an intense and sensory experience. It has a certain ambience not present in others in Vietnam.
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| W Bartholomew and hellene |
07 April 2004 |
Stayed at Majestic Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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We did the whirlwind two week tour of Vietnam (on our own without a guide). I would suggest a little less aggresive trip the next time. We really enjoyed our holiday however. A few highlights: Do take advantage of the Cyclos! What a wonderful way to see the area. We took in a day trip to the Delta from Saigon with a hired guide. Well worth it, at least once, and be sure to take in the floating market-it's a long day, but very do-able.
A few highlights along the way were Dalat-for secenery and a cool off and Hoi An for shopping and food!
Our favorite restaurant was in Saigon-not in any of the tourist books we had, but came recommeded by another family of tourists we met on a street corner-quan an ngon, not far from the War Remnants Museum. It's open air, large, very nice and frequented by many locals-especially the young business people and students.
There is just too much to tell and too little time! Overall a great experience-we will be back!
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| E Pinel |
06 April 2004 |
Stayed at Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Vietnam Immigration can be a long long waiting experience...as it seems several (big) planes always land in the same time. I have noticed that the flights arriving mid afternoon (around 3-4pm) usually give you way to desert immigration counters...such a bliss for whoever is used to the very long queues and the 1-hour-minimum-wait that is commonly associated.
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| B Mcnamara |
02 April 2004 |
Stayed at Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Hanoi is still a very charming place. Try the Mediterraneo restaurant on Nha Tho in Hoan Kiem district. The best pizza in Asia!
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| B Mcnamara |
31 March 2004 |
Stayed at Yasaka Saigon Nhatrang Hotel - Nha Trang, Vietnam.
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Nha Trang is the sort of "off the radar" resort that appeals to me. It's a real city full of real people that just happens to be on a beautiful stretch of the South China Sea.
You almost can't miss with any of the restaurants as the food is impeccably fresh and beautifully prepared. Try Nha Trang Seafoods, 46 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street; they are a seafood processer and exporter with their own restaurant, and Con Ga Phap, a chicken place with a French twist.
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Vietnam travel tales 
