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 Traveller's Tales: Advise for travellers in Vietnam
Heed our handy tips on safe travel in Vietnam. You may read about travel warnings, health, what to wear, travel with kids, travel with pets, local weather, local government, medical information and traffic information in the area.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.
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| T Bond |
17 January 2003 |
Stayed at Asian Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Saigon is a great city. In order to soak it up, the best way is to walk. Although there is quite a lot of petty theft (less now than before), it is a safe place. So if you don't encourage pickpockets by exhibiting your valuables, you will be fine.
Taxis are cheap and reliable, and most taxi drivers speak a little English. Cyclos are becoming less common now, because there are fewer and fewer streets that they are allowed to use, but a cyclo tour of the city is a good way to spend half a day.
There are many restaurants throughout the city, too many to mention. Dong Khoi Street and its side roads have plenty. It is also good fun to have dinner on one of the floating restaurants, which leave from the port at the bottom of Dong Khoi every evening at around 8.30.
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| V Aguilar |
31 December 2002 |
Stayed at Best Western Chancery Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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This I would like to bring to the attention of the Vietnam's Government (Dept. of Tourism). Me and my companion were fooled twice on our first day in Ho Chih Minh (bad!). First, we were overcharged by the taxi outside the airport. We thought that no one's gonna harm or fool us, since we are tourists. I surfed through the Internet that the taxi charge from the airport to the chancery Hotel would only be $5-6. I even confirmed it in the airport reception area. Upon alighting, the taxi driver charged as 200,000 VND (equivalent to $13) we have no choice but to pay him, because we are in foreign land.
Second, in the afernoon, while walking in the Notre Dame Cathedral, we were approached by a cyclo driver. He told us that for just $1, he will tour us to different places (such as pagoda, Chinese market, war museums, etc). At first we are hesitant to grab his offer, because it's too good to be true. I have brochures with me that for a package tour (of the places he mentioned) would cost $24. So, we clarified it to him, many many times, that there will be no other charges, and that $1 consists of all the places he mentioned. He agreed to it, since he can speak and comprehend English well.
After 2 hours of tour, when I'm about to pay him $1, he exclaimed and said "Whaaat?!! $1 for 10 minutes one way only!!!" He even harrassed us. Whew, it made me crazy!!! In other words, he charged us of 210,000 VND /each ($14/each). Crazy!!!! Lessons learned? Don't talk to strangers.
Ho Chih Minh is a good place. But the people around (I mean outside the hotel), whew, crazy!!! They are abusive, they fooled the tourists.
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| R Egger |
26 December 2002 |
Stayed at Melia Hanoi - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Good weather and location, be careful at restaurants that do not have prices on the menu, they will double or triple charge you!!
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| S Clarkson |
23 December 2002 |
Stayed at De Syloia Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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We mainly explored Hanoi by foot. Shopping in the Old Quarter was great. I enjoyed watching the Water Puppets too. We took a 2 day, 1 night trip to Halong Bay which was fun (great scenery) although a bit too much travelling for just 1 nights stay. Take care of your money on Cat Ba island. Two members of our group were drinking in a cafe on the water front and had 1000 US stolen. They were possibly drugged because were unable to walk or remember anything after they shared a bottle of wine.
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| P Gopalan |
22 December 2002 |
Stayed at Bong Sen Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Hot, hot, hot. Slightly dusty but a real eye opener. Don't be bothered by the amount of zeros behind the currency as things are relatively cheap. If you're out to buy souveniers be prepared to bargain. Didn't take any tours as it's really possible to travel to most of the tourist destinations via cyclos or cabs even to walk.
I'd recommend the Santa Lucia Italian Restaurant in District 1, it's excellent, food and staff are superb. Vietnam House in District 1 on the other hand was overpriced, with the food quite bland.
Beware too of the postcard and coconut sellers in the areas as harmless as they are, they have this habit of following you around till you give in to them, saying no just doesn't cut it. Don't worry though after a while once you've started to ignore them they get fed up and look for easier prey.
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| D Harrop |
27 November 2002 |
Stayed at Omni Saigon Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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On a whole, the experience was enjoyable. Getting into Vietnam was an experience, as we entered the country in De-nang where we were told our Visas that we had gotten from the Vietnamese Embassy in Canada were not valid. We had to pay the customs official an additional $25USD/person and pay $5USD for the phone call to Ho Chi Min City to verify that the visas that we had, were logged with the government? The whole thing didn't make alot of sense so we weren't supprised to learn that we could not get a receipt for the money we had to give the customs official that incidently went straight into his pocket.
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| F Mcmullan |
03 November 2002 |
Stayed at Hoi An Riverside Resort - Hoi An, Vietnam.
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This was our 3rd stop on our holiday and although we had planned on a couple of tours while we were in Hoi An we found the location so relaxing we did nothing but eat, sunbathe and fit in trips to the tailors each day where we had lots of things made.
We spent one very enjoyable day on the beach which we rode to on hired bikes. The girls and boys trying to sell you a manicure or beads were a bit of a pain and I suggest women should have the manicure and pedicure as soon as possible, they do a good job and once you've got the varnish on they leave you alone.
One warning there are VERY strong rip tides and my husband got into difficulties as there were no life guards it was left to me to rescue him!!
A good location for re-charging the batteries.
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| N Swamy |
28 October 2002 |
Stayed at Golden Key Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Be very careful when making arrangements for tour packages. The hotel front office helps but some of the tours will not bring you back to the hotel. We were dropped a few miles away from the hotel unceremoniously. We had to make our own arrangements for return which was not easy because taxis were not available and no one spoke English .
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| A De boisboissel |
26 October 2002 |
Stayed at Saigon Morin - Hue, Vietnam.
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You will not be alone in Hue, which is a major touristy destination in Vietnam. Groups and backpackers are almost everywhere. Beware of the rain, when it starts it can last for days (and nights).
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| C Aubry |
22 October 2002 |
Stayed at Saigon Morin - Hue, Vietnam.
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Nice citadel and emperors' tombs but local people constantly harrassing tourists for money!
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