Accommodation and places to see in Vietnam for 5/6 nights in September.?

Question

I am planning a free & easy trip with family of 5 including my more than 70 year old mother, to Vietnam for sightseeing and shopping. Any suggestions on affordable, comfortable, convenient place to stay in Ho Chi Minh (not more than US$70 per room per night)? How's the Quarter Back area as compared to District 1? Hassle to travel to Hanoi and Halong Bay with an elderly person? Possible to cover Hanoi and if not, should I go for just Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh?

Answer 1

I was there last year and toured the whole country. It's beautiful and very cheap which is a great idea for your large family vacation. I recommend using BA Tours, there are friendly and professionaly and have the best service I have ever received from a tour group. You can google them or check it out at www.batours.com. Hope this helps, have a great vacation!

Answer 2

Hi, I recommend this Forum, especially since you have until September to plan your trip.  5 or 6 nights aren't very long to see all the beautiful places there.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g29...

It is very good reading and will cover many questions you have.  As far as travelling from HCMC to Hanoi it is easy.  Vn Airlines offers a short flight there and it is reasonable.  The accommodations all around Vn are very good.

You will enjoy your trip with all ages.  The food is fantastic, the scenery is great, the people so friendly and the shopping is so much fun.  Hope you have a great trip, Cheers.

Answer 3

took my family there last year for 3 weeks and used tnk travel.

just fill in a form on the net for where you want to go , how long and budget and they will package it together. we went on a private tour which was great , can stop when and where you want to .if you go to hanoi , halong bay is a must and shouldnt have much trouble for mum but you do have to sometimes walk through boats to get to your boat and up a gang plank but the people are more than helpful to help. the best experience is an over night train trip to sapa and the bacha markets which are only on sundays. we had a homestay but is a long  uphill walk for mum.if you are staying in the south cuchi tunnels is a must and a night in mekong is a great experience

Answer 4

I haven't been to the Quarter Back area or District 1, but this info may be useful for you.

Firstly, an excellent research tool for general visitor information, plus emailing with more questions can be found via the National Tourism website of Vietnam [ Official ] via this link:

Vietnam Tourism :http://www.tourismrankings.com/Vietnam/

US$70 per night will buy you a palace in Vietnam - every form of peronal service you can imagine. Frankly, I'd halve your budget and you'll still be happy.

Have alook through this directory of accommodation which you can sort by location, star rating , price , last minute or year round. All hotels have been inspected and if you need customer service to help you they are situated in most regions of the World. Here's some sample links:

Vietnam :http://www.cheaperthanhotels.com/Vietnam...

Ho Chi Minh Hotels :http://www.cheaperthanhotels.com/Vietnam...

Hanoi Hotels :http://www.cheaperthanhotels.com/Vietnam...

I hope this helps

Answer 5

I agree with the previous answer that you should limit your trip to Hanoi and HCMC, I think Halong Bay, which really requires at least two days to see, won't fit into your time frame and would be quite difficult for your mother, and as interesting as the Cu Chi Tunnels are, they would be next to impossible for your mother to negotiate. If you can find a hotel in District 1 in HCMC, I would stay there, as almost all of the tourist sights and most of the shopping is located there. In Hanoi, the best area to stay is in the Old Quarter, again most all of the tourist sights are located in and around there, as well as the best restaurants and shopping. I really think that three nights in either city is plenty, you'll run out of things to do if you stay in either city any longer than that. As far as which city is better, I like Hanoi for it's beautiful and quaint tree lined streets and lakes, and I think is more interesting for a tourist, and I think HCMC is more fun. I think you will be able to find hotels within your budget or just a bit more in the good locations, here's a hotel website you can check out: http://www.hoteltravel.com/vietnam/index...

have a good trip.

Answer 6

There are so many places to choose in Vietnam.

THESE ARE PLACES TO GO

My favourites would be:

Ha Long Bay (Ha = Descending, Long = Dragon)

Sai Gon (do not call it Ho Chi Minh City if you are anti-communist!)

Can Tho and the Mekong (Cuulong | Cuu = 9, Long = dragons) River. The Vietnamese name for the Mekong river is Cuu Long similar to Kowloon in Cantonese. Same meaning. Although the waters are quite severely polluted, so too the cities, that won't detract you from the many wonderful experiences of an Oriental nation.

The Mekong delta provides great tours in the rice basket of VIetnam (It's where 50% of all Vietnam's rice production is). The Mekong was once Khmer land and attains many old structures. Once you get there, you cannot leave without trying the BOWLS of tropical fruits. For fruits, head here!

For cheap shopping, head to Chinatown (Cho Lon - Big Market) region in Saigon. Saigon has changed drastically since I was last there (besides the population growing form 5 to 6.5 million). It makes you forget Vietnam is still one of the world's poorest nations although 2nd only to China in economic growth.

If you would like to go sight-seeing, the ancient city of Hue (Central Vietnam) or Hoi An is a must see. Nha Trang is a haven for beach lovers and Hanoi is a sleepy yet growing city of over 3.5 million.

Ha Long Bay is a tranquil part of Vietnam. Close to Hanoi, you can enjoy the red sunsets of one of the most beautiful heritage sites in the world. (The sunsets are an awe).

As is the case in any nation, crime in Vietnam is there but not too concerning. Corruption is a problem though but fight it! Do not give in to the communists whose families take in all the aid money for their own benefits.

The cuisine of Vietnam varies, however the best cuisine can be found from the centre downwards. (Northern food is c**p!)

Even a bowl of Hu Tieu or Pho (originally northern) can be enjoyed anywhere. As mentioned, tropical fruits are abundant in the south. The economic boom has seen Saigon emerge as one of the largest economic hubs in South East Asia. The government is planning to complete a subway (metro) and skyrails by 2020 (not clarified).

Also currently under construction are dozens of new high-rise buildings in Saigon and the highways connecting the Mekong delta (Can Tho city) to Saigon. Can Tho not only has the highway being built, it also has two of its biggest ever engineering feats.

1. The Can Tho bridge which is to be the longest suspension bridge in South East Asia. Originally it was to be 2,750m in total length.

2. The renovation into a new International airport (Binh Thuy).

Within a decade or so, Vietnam will have great economic growth and these projects should help the people as much as the tourists to get around.

- RECAPPING -

If you want...

Culture - Experience the mountain tribes or one of the many culturally rich towns/cities like Hoi An (A Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese inspired town), Hue (the ancient capital) and others...

Fun and leisure - Try Saigon =)

Shopping - No need to answer (Saigon)

Cuisine - Do abit of travelling.

Fruits - The Mekong Delta.

Beaches and resorts - Try places like Phu Quoc island and Nha Trang.

Business - Saigon, Hanoi, Can Tho.

Also try these places...

Da Nang, Da Lat (great landscape) and much more!

Answer 7

I suggest with an old person you should only cover Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi.In Ho Chi Minh don't take a room at District 1 in the Center it's expensive (more than USD 100 usually)Try the BackPack quarter,it's in District 1 too but less less expensive than the Center.Here with USD 70 you can have a very comfortable room and it's convenient too because all the services (car rental,meals,bike rentals,taxi etc...) are there to serve the tourists.Always ask the Hotel staff to help when you want to hire something.Many interesting places to see and shop in Ho Chi Minh City.You can see the old pagodas,the Notre Dame Cathedral square and the Old Post Office,The war Museum,Cho Lon the chinese quarter....You can shop at the Central Market,Diamond Plaza,Tax Plaza,Zen Plaza etc...

In Hanoi a room worth USD 70 is also very comfortable already you can book a tour for two days from Ho Chi Minh City.A lot of things to see like the one pillar pagoda,Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum,the 7 lakes in Hanoi especiaally the sword lake etc...

Have a good stay in Vietnam