Visiting Vietnam

A few threads, but nothing specifically on travel.

Has anyone got any must-see/do recommendations?

Saigon, Hoi An, Danang, Hanoi this trip, but there are already places on the list for another (Sa Pa?)

I need to go here. I took a college class on vietnam but the thing I remember most is how many times to wash rice.

Hey a thread I can contribute to! I live in Saigon and have seen a decent amount of the country (though still quite a bit yet to see). Da Nang and Hoi An are excellent, tons of great food and sights, and Da Nang itself is not even very crowded. Even Ba Na Hills, which is like a tacky Disneyfied area in the mountains, is worth it for the cable car and views imo

I haven't really enjoyed Hanoi city much outside of the touristy Old Quarter, but Ninh Binh, my favorite area so far in Vietnam, is easily done as a day trip. Ha Long Bay is quite famous and also not too far from Hanoi, but I still haven't been! Sa Pa is top of my list of places to see, I've heard great things

Also I'm not sure when you are traveling but the Coronavirus is affecting travel and businesses throughout the country atm. Much less tourists than usual so some places have temporarily closed due to lack of business

I can gladly expand on these at your request, but REAL briefly:

Hanoi: Way too many things to list but I'd recommend these day (overnight?) trips:
- Ha Long Bay & if you have time Bai Tu Long Bay which is less touristed and equally beautiful.
- Ninh Binh, ride bikes along the river, then hire a boat to take you to the Hang Mua caves for a nice hike & view.

Hoi An:
I really, really liked it here, despite only spending a few days here on two occasions. Pretty chill compared to the hustle of Hanoi/Saigon.
B'Lan - Undoubtedly of the best tailors I've ever been to (which is a lot, trust me), had a couple suits and shirts made here. Came back on a return trip and the proprietor (Bich Lan aka B'Lan) remembered me and was just lovely. An absolute treasure.

Da Nang: I really didn't love it here, flew in/out of here when I was touring the Central coasts. I strongly recommend instead:

Hue: absolute best food/regional cuisine in VN, former feudal capital of VN, about 90km northwest of Danang

Saigon:
Again, way too many to list but one of my absolute highlights was a 2-day trip up the Mekong that culminated in the visit of a tropical fruit farm, where I feasted on insane amounts of hand-picked tropical fruit that you never get to taste so fresh and perfectly ripe.

Other places I'd recommend:
Nha Trang: seaside resort town about halfway between Saigon & Da Nang, access to waterfalls, mud/spring baths & a salt fields
Phu Quoc island: very nice tropical island off the border of Cambodia, again a welcome break from the urban hustle.

Never been to Sa Pa but looks/sounds really beautiful.

Going back, just for a week to see a friend.

Going straight to Hoi An and then stop in Nha Trang on the way back to Saigon.

If the forecast occurs as predicted, what are the best things to do if it's raining all the time?

Saigon is now Ho Chi Minh City. After more than a million dead I think they earned the right to rename it.

sweet revive as there's a possibility i'll be moving to Hanoi for 3 years. if anyone knows much about the city i'd love to hear.

I shared a couple thoughts upthread but Hanoi has terrible traffic and pollution, even worse than Ho Chi Minh City (where I live). Summer is supposed to be very muggy too, but winter is chillier. I wasn't impressed by the food any time I've been there. I do have friends that have lived there a while and like it, so I'm sure it has its upsides. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear!

As for S-'s question, it's rare that it rains all day but when it does, I don't think there's much to do in either Hoi An or Nha Trang, they're both outdoor locations. Some of the mud bath stuff in NT can be done when it's raining. I'd probably sit in a cafe with a book

thanks Vinnie. if i end up going we'll be looking for good neighborhoods, so if you'd be up for asking those friends it would be much appreciated. we would be taking a two and five yr old

Thanks Vinnie and Albert. Would have love to check out Hue... Next time I guess.

Getting in too late tomorrow to go straight to Hoi An, so staying here overnight.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y4KaUE2kZFkkfry3A

I don't suppose there are any recommendations for good late-night food/bars immediately around there?

Thanks Vinnie and Albert. Would have love to check out Hue... Next time I guess.

Getting in too late tomorrow to go straight to Hoi An, so staying here overnight.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y4KaUE2kZFkkfry3A

I don't suppose there are any recommendations for good late-night food/bars immediately around there?

Closes soon so it might be too late for you but I love Bún thịt nướng Anh Ba

https://maps.app.goo.gl/qeFAHk6UgyWpv9Rv5

I used to live close to there, I mis that area!

Thanks Vinnie, went there for lunch, great spot. Need to find out what that green chili is. Now the interminable delays with Vietjet...

Enjoy your trip! I got too fed up with Vietjet - I've never had a flight take off on time, and one time they delayed my flight a whole day with no reason given...

Heez: The Tây Hồ (West Lake) neighborhood is probably best if you don't speak the language and have a family. Most expats live there, including my friends. A lot of the businesses cater to expats. It's also the most expensive area, unsurprisingly

Hoi An is so lovely... Staying in Khu dân cư Trung Sơn in Sài Gon (up yours Aimless) until Thursday, doesn't seem like the most action-packed area, but got into the habit of the back of a Grab to anywhere if you have any more recommendations. I didn't do too much touristic stuff last I was here apart from cocktails at the Majestic.

Spent about 6 great weeks there about 5 years ago. Very jealous that you’re there now!

One highlight of our trip that’s a little of the main tourist paths: we did a road trip to the Mai Chau area west of Hanoi. Beautiful, quiet country near the Lao border and we didn’t see a single western tourist over 4 days there. It’s worth consideration as an alternative to the northern trekking areas that are such a destination.

Ha, you're only about a ten minute drive from where I live, S-! If I wasn't sick right now, I'd suggest meeting up. I'm not sure what things you like to see, but some places I like:

- War Remnants museum in District 3 to see a Vietnamese (north Vietnamese if we're being honest) perspective on the war
- Some cool pagodas scattered throughout like Chúa Vạn Phật, the 10,000 Buddha temple. There's a huge pagoda in District 2, Minh Đặng Quang, that I haven't made it out to yet but would like to
- Bitexco Tower bar for a drink at sunset. Happy hour price for a drink and a nice view from the 28th floor. I recommend the bar over the observation deck which is about the same price but no drink and no seat

Nowadays a lot of the places we go revolve around my son so I don't know if those would be of interest to you, but we often go to Vinhomes Central Park for a big green space to walk around on the river. Also note a lot of people are off today for a holiday so things might be more crowded

Ah right - staying at a friend of friend's who works at the RMIT (my old uni, actually) campus here, hence the area. Last time I was here it was leading up to Tet, didn't realise the holidays last weekend were as big, and that there are weekdays off in lieu. No wonder the airport was mobbed on Friday, and sadly the trains were all booked out. Vietnam Airways was a much more pleasant experience than Vietjet.

Today I think I'll check out this painfully hip men's clothing/design store near your original cafe recommendation and the 10,000 Buddhas which seems reasonably close, cheers. Got a late flight Thursday so if you're feeling up to it then let me know, otherwise cheers for the info so far.

Oh, almost embarrassing to ask but would you recommend any more-western style restaurants for dinner tonight? I'll throw my American travelling companion under the bus for asking.

Yeah it's a four-day weekend so the usual travel places, airports, etc are mobbed. Don't feel embarrassed about western restaurants - I still crave to eat that kind of food a couple times a week! Some I like, all of which deliver (check their Facebook):

- Wagon Wheel: American southern food
- Chickita: like Nando's Peri-peri but better
- Gringo Tacos: Mexican
- Pizza 4Ps
- Ganesh: Indian

Lang Thang rooftop bar around the corner from your cafe is an excellent place for a drink/work.