Have you ever been in Viet Nam ?

Question

Can you give your travel tips ? I will place them to my website to share with other tourists. Thanks

Answer 1

yes, many times. and viet nam is always in me...

tip 1. meet as many people as you can 2; learn a little of the language [ it will help with tip 1] 3; dont be afraid to bargin, overpaying makes you look like a fool.. you dont have to be ruthless and you'll always pay more than the viet namese.. just be fair to them and yourself.. you will not only get but give respect..4; be adventurous, dont be afraid to take the back rds and back alleys...5; get up early in the morning, out on the street by 4:30 am, at least once in every place you visit.. viet nam comes alive before sunrise.6; be flexable, everything will not go as you planned, have a back up plan or just go with the flow.. every day will not be funn but if you follow this "rule " every day will be a memorable adventure[see tip #4]. stay out of the 5 star hotels and facncy resturaunts.. thats not even "viet nam "..you're better off in "the 1000 star hotel" lol....kinh men ,ong jon

Answer 2

yes, i been to vietnam...in fact, i went back this summer.....u want tips? too bad, people already give it to you

Answer 3

Ong Jon always gives great advice.  Here is a blog that I give to first timers that are traveling international.  

Get travel insurance. It is not expensive and can save you in nasty situations. Make sure to inform your Credit card companies that you are going to be out of the country so they don't freeze your accounts when they get a charge from Saigon or where ever you end up. It can be a real pain trying to straighten that out over the international phone.

Carry copies of your passport and visas, your birth certificate, air line tickets and driver’s license in 3 or 4 different places. If your primary bag gets lost or stolen this will help you get back on track. Don't carry a lot of money with you. ATM's are just about everywhere now, so you can get more cash when you need it. Pack light. Most of the places that you are going have nice inexpensive clothing shops and you will need room to bring them back.   Leave your computer at home. There are internet cafes everywhere and they are very inexpensive. Use them. That way you don't have to worry about someone stealing your brick and you don't have to lug it around. Keep your passport, tickets etc in a sturdy pouch that goes around your neck. Never wear it in back. I haven't lost mine in over a year on the road and there have been a couple of attempts. Bring your cell phone. It needs to be the one that is most compatible with the various international systems a GSM Phone.   Make sure it is unlocked so you can use different Sim cards from different countries. In most places, incoming calls are free. So your friends can reach you in an emergency and you can do the same. This works good. Just email the new number to those who need it and you have a safety net. Bring a basic medical kit. Band-Aids, antiseptic and antibiotics. Anti diarrhea meds, aspirin etc. If you get food poisoning to the point that you have a fever go the doctor immediately. (The Hotel usually has one on call) You can die from food poisoning so don't s***w around. Wear slip on shoes. It saves time and trouble in airports and all Asian countries. Always let your hotels know when you leave. It’s best to give them the key, and tell them where you are going. Get a card from the hotel so you can find it again in case of extreme drunkenness or just a lack of directional ability. Also. Read your passport. It can pay to have the various Embassies know when you are in the country. They are not much help but they are a safety net in emergencies. Have I forgotten anything? I am sure I have but this is a good broad list to remember. and... Let the hotels handle booking your tours and local stuff. It costs a little more but it is worth it. Hey, Have fun. You are on vacation! Here are some good Web sites to remember.

Lonely planet.com

http://www.xe.com/ucc/ for currency quotes

Google earth for finding where you are.

Oh... get a good travel book. Lonely planet is good and gives you ideas about scams and rip offs in the areas where you are and good maps and directions to hotels and restaurants. Worth the money

and the short tour!

Vietnam is the in place to visit right now. If you start in Hanoi make sure to take the night train to Sapa and stay at the Mountain View Hotel. (Great views and inexpensive)  It could be the highlight of your trip. Take the 2 day tour to Halong Bay. Very nice. Then start south bound. I firmly believe that Hoi An is the best place to visit in Vietnam. The ancient town is a World Heritage city and absolutely beautiful. The beach is white sand and 40 kilometers long. Vietnam is really inexpensive. Hotels cost about $10 a night. You can find beer at less than 15 cents a glass. The people are wonderful. Pass on Nha Trang unless you like multi story buildings on the beach. Although there is some great diving and it is a party town! Dalat is great but geared to Viet tourists and Saigon is always and experience. Phu Quoc was disappointing to me. They just don't have a clue as far as conservation and the beach's and harbors were filthy. The infrastructure is just not there yet but you can see that the island will be something special in the future. It’s not special now. The Mekong is great with lots of things to see but you can do it in a couple of days if you are not into detail. You are going to have a great time. I went around the world to many different countries. I have been on the road for over a 2 years. I chose to purchase a house in Hoi An. It’s the best.