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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.
Pages (9 of 14):
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| A Luukkainen |
23 February 2002 |
Stayed at Lucky Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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In general we enjoyed our stay in Hanoi. The tour to the Parfume pagoda was something else we anticipated, the visitors should be informed at least the following: good walking shoes are vital, the two hour's trek up is very hard for people who are not fit, it is very slippery if it happens to rain or there is a lot of moist in the air. It is not a good idea to take foreigners there during the Tet, the pagoda is too crowded.
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| S Sing tong |
11 February 2002 |
Stayed at Nam Phuong - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Be reminded that you have to pay USD 14 airport tax when you leave Vietnam from Hanoi.
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| G Mason |
06 February 2002 |
Stayed at De Syloia Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Hanoi is great city. Initially it seems unorganised, but order is apparant if you are there for a few days. Taxis are inexpensive, but walking down the side streets is the only way to experience the true texture of the place.
People are friendly, but visitors should expect to get pestered by postcard sellers and shoeshine boys. Beggars are aplenty, so develop your 'edge' before arriving. It can be trying and it is important not to lose temper or face - something which we saw on a regular basis with some visitors.
Look out for contemporary decorative items. Well priced and attractive and worth bringing home.
Hanoi has just opened a new airport. Expect delays on everything until the new system beds in.
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| J Schoor |
29 January 2002 |
Stayed at Bong Sen Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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In Saigon I walked around the city on my own and went to Le Mandarine Restaurant which I recommend. Viet Nam in general is a fabulous country to visit now; it is fascinating and very cheap, but a serious drawback is that everywhere you go there are people hounding you aggressively to buy something to take a motorbike or cyclo.
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| S Rutherford |
27 January 2002 |
Stayed at Bong Sen Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Cyclos are great and cheap - but you do have to ignore the guys' constant requests to take you to a massage parlour!
I found the street children to be very helpful and charming - a couple acted as my unofficial guides. Another one did say 'get out of my country' when I wouldn't buy anything but the rest were great!
A few beggars were intrusive from time to time.
Couldn't get into Lemongrass restaurant on the evenings - all the tables were taken - advise you to go early as the food is very good but in small portions.
Don't try to go to the Kimdo Centre's classic rock night which is advertised every week in the local paper - it doesn't exist anymore!
Pirate books/videos are in abundance at really cheap prices.
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| J Dykes |
24 January 2002 |
Stayed at De Syloia Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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The positive: Fantastic craft shops and art galleries on Hang Gai Road and the nearby area around Joseph's Church. Buy silk at Song. Go to Apricot Gallery for the best paintings. Plenty of good restaurants/cafes in lovely old buildings (liked the Emperor & the Metropole's restaurants & bar). Ha Long Bay was brilliant but shop around & look at different transport options as prices for side-trip packages vary.
The negative: Get used to dealing with constant interactions with postcard sellers, shoe shiners and guys wanting to transport you on the back of their their motorbikes. Avoid eating at establishments with "fast food" signs outside.
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| P Aroney |
15 January 2002 |
Stayed at Oscar Saigon Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Someone on a motorbike tried to snatch my wife's bag on the first night in Saigon. We had been warned about this and were very careful. We have travelled extensively in Asia but this was a first. A number of other people related similar experiences. Beware!!
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| L Chen |
14 January 2002 |
Stayed at Rex Hotel Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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I prefer to go Hanoi rather than Hochimin City.
The price between two cities is different
you will find the money worthwhile in Hanoi, the streets of Hanoi is nicer, with more French biuldings in Hanoi.
I don't like the taxi driver's in HCMC either, they cheated all the times, they takes you more roads to earn extra money, ONE MORE THING, they cheated by pulling the meter device by left hand when right hand on the steering , the money on the meter jumps very quickly when you look outside the window. Please look closely to the meter and don't let the dirver's fools you and your money is gone!
In general, peoples are nice. Foods is good.
but they don't comes cheap, you will find more cheaper in Hanoi.
Don't buy the souverier in HCMC, for the price is not reasonable and very high.
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| D Healy |
08 January 2002 |
Stayed at De Syloia Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Hanoi is a bustling city. While the air quality ranks right up there (or down there, as it were) with Bangkok and Beijing, the people are relaxed and helpful; the hordes of teenaged boys selling post cards and travel guides were very willing to help point me in the right direction whether or not I'd bought anything from them. Also, the cyclo drivers are abundant and reliable--each seems to know where everthing is and will take you almost anywhere around the city for about USD1.00--though one should take care to negotiate the price before getting on!
Hanoi has plenty of restaurants and internet cafes. I'd recommend Al Fresco's and Il Padrino restaurants for those looking for a break from the standard S. East Asia cuisine.
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| G Karas |
02 January 2002 |
Stayed at Saigon Morin - Hue, Vietnam.
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Hue is much more laid back than most of the other
cities in Vietnam. It's a great place from which
to tour the DMZ. Watch out for cyclo drivers
trying to rip you off. One quoted our friend
a rate of $10/hour (already too high), asked her
for $65 after two hours, and then got into a big
fight with her when she refused to pay such an
absurd amount.
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