[Closed] Vietnam. Anyone been?

I hear it was very popular with the yanks in the 60's

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good guide here.[/url]

I remember watching that TG episode and once they got out of the city thinking what a beautiful country.

never been but the ones i have met, well the chicks are good looking. get a guide book some are great.

I went this summer for a month, very beautiful country, we went the otherway Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi, loved HCMC maybe as it was a little western, Mui Ne is very nice if your into Kite Surfing, or Wind surfing otherwise its quite quiet, Nha Trang is a good night out, the beach isn't great but the nights make up for it. A must is Hoi An, by far the most original city, best architecture nice food and cheap suits, one of the best beaches in Nam as well., we got a taxi to Hue (the awesome mountain road on TG) we visited a natural park place with natural pools which was cool, of the tourist route a little. Found Hanoi pretty stressful, as you have to be careful of any local to do with tourism, so we escaped to Sapa, near china, which was amazing, climbed the highest mountain in Indochina, 3143 meters, a must see!

Hope that helps

thanks c_klein. Sapa is a definte as is climbing the mountain. Trying to work out a rough itinerary.

Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay, Tam Coc, Hue, Hoi An, DaNang(?), Nha Trang, Mui Ne, HCMC, Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong Delta so far.

Gonna get the Rough Guide book today. Intend to travel north to south via trains and hire bikes everywhere else.

Did you book the Sapa trip with a tour operator?

No Worries, yeah all those places are where i went, tho not Tam Coc or DaNang, But all those places are easy and plenty of travelers and places to stay.

We travelled mainly by bus, as they're faster, cheaper and they have beds.....Easy to hire bikes and mopeds, we got bikes in the cities and mopeds in the country side.

We only had a day to do sapa, and its meant to take 2, so we had to organize our own guide, and it took 9hrs! i'd recommend doing it in 2 tho.....

I spent 5 weeks travelling from Hanoi down south to Ho Chi Minh, then up the river into Cambodia. That was in Jan 2005.

One of the best and most memorable trips of my life. Hanoi is a much better city than HCMC - more interesting and less damaged by globalization. From Hanoi def get a trip out East to Ha Long Bay and take a boat trip around the Islands - very touristy but a great sight - I took an overnight boat which meant we got to experience the phosphorescent seas.

In Hue, get to the 'Cafe on Thu Wheels' and take a moped trip around the ancient temples of the area.

Hoi An is very pretty place (but touristy) and a good place to get custom made clothes.

Nha Trang is pretty naff - it was turning into Vietnam's Benidorm when I visited.

Cu Chi Tunnels outside HCMC are worth a visit to see how resourceful the Vietcong were.

Take time to explore the Mekong Delta south of HCMC as it is such a contrast to the mountainous north.

Tip: when getting a ride anywhere (on the back of a moped or taxi) - agree a price first. Cyclos (pedal rickshaws) can be a real rip-off.

Enjoy it - its ace.

This may sound a strange question but having only ever having travelled with the missus or on my own for work (where you just sit in a hotel bar)is there a lot of potential for meeting fellow travellers?

Whats the best approach for meeting folk? Staying at Hostels or Hotels? Organised trips?

Excited about the experience but nervous at the same time.

I traveled with my mate, but it was never just the two of us, usually traveled with a few others, people are more open, I found it easier to meet new people, as everyone is wanting to do the same. Head to hanoi backpackers first as its a dorm, wise to book ahead tho, gets busy.

Certain places which are basicaly cheap hotels (US$5 a night) almost act as a hostel in the way that everyoe staying there is on a budget and usualy very friendly.

Failing that, the [url= http://www.kangaroocafe.com/ ]Kangaroo Cafe[/url] in Hanoi is a base for ex-pats and western travellers. I met loads of good people here and you can book trips through them as well.

Whats the best approach for meeting folk? Staying at Hostels or Hotels? Organised trips?

Well alot of people do this 'package traveling' where you will put in a group as you have already booked. I would maybe book a hostel or just have a look around the area where the hotels are look around the back streets, you'll find some gems small hotels, nice staff, often very fun to chat to as they have gained alot of knowledge through fictional books or tv.

Hell go hang out with the locals you'll have to pay for most of the drinks but it'll be very cheap. Most traveling people like to chat so don't be shy.

The chihuaha curry is a must have

You weren't there. You don't understand.

Ahhh, the smell of boiled poodle.............................

I'll be relatively close (well Thailand) for a bit while your there 10-20th as my travelling companion has also pulled out. Coming off the back of a month in India I may just find a beach and hibernate!

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me?
recently single?
in vietman?
with a fist full of 5 dorra?

Did a month there 4 years ago, loved it. Hanoi was brilliant the traffic will blow your mind, crossing the road is like some zen trick you just walk and they all go round you. Dont hesitate just walk. I didnt like the cu chi tunnels just to many dead kids on both sides. The shooting guns bit is mad a dollar a bullet and you have all the choices,AK47 M16 M60 this Finnish bloke unloaded AK on full auto about a metre away from me. Just about shit my shorts the most violent sound I have ever heard.

Sapa stunning, Ha Long Bay watch your stuff on Monkey Island, MeKong is hot just mind bendingly hot. I loved every second.

Sorry forgot to mention the local booze with snakes, scorpions, crows in the bottle as well. Seemed powerful stuff. If you are in HCM at about 4 in the morning you will see rats the size of badgers 😯 really pretty girls and the national dress is stunning. I could type for hours about the place. Enjoy

Can always go to the old Beckton gas works in East London it was where
they filmed Full Metal Jacket if Vietnam is to far to go for the
expireance

now I've fought in chippenham, seen three tours of cheltenham, but not heard of Vietnaham, is in in Cornwall?

lol @ mrchrispy. I think now that I've had time to think about it thats the approach I'll be taking.

Thanks pigface, I've heard from several people that crossing the road is an experience in itself. I'm soooo looking forward to it now. Only 8 weeks left until I fly.

A dollar a bullet? It would be rude not to unload an AK47 when in 'nam. I fired a Berretta 9mm in Prague ans sh@t myself so this will be something else.