VIETNAM - What, when, where & how?

Question

Hoo!It's hard reading each and every thread about Vietnam. Anyway, my friends are gonna be there this November (we're SO planning way in advance =)) - touchdown at Ho Chi Minh City. I've a few questions (& maybe a request or two):

1) How's the weather there now & what's the weather gonna be in November?

2) What hotel/s can you recommend (in terms of accessibility, price & quality of service/accommodation)?

3) Where can we go? What can we do? We're staying for a week!

4) ..and because of that, will you recommend that we visit Hanoi too?

5) Of course, please don't forget the SHOPPING EXPERIENCE (WHAT/WHERE/WHEN)!!

6) Please. If you have any useful information that I can access thru the internet myself, please do include weblinks - I'm tired googling.

7) Weblinks for great pictures taken during your visit to the country are welcome too! =)

Thank you so much! =)

Answer 1

HCMC should be warm - it is generally warm year around. I haven't spent much time there (I lived in Ha Noi for 4 years and traveled extensively) but you should check out a boat trip in the Mekong Delta. I took my mother on one a couple of years ago and it was really enjoyable.

A week? It is kind of hard to do much in a week. I really like Ha Noi, which is very different from HCMC, but I suspect it would be more worthwhile to spend your time in the south. If you want a day or two at the beach, Phu Quoc Island is nice - quiet and nice.

Alternatively you could skip HCMC and go to Ha Noi, with a side trip to Sapa.

Either region should be a winner - have fun. The Vietnamese are very friendly, the food is great, and it is a really interesting place!

Answer 2

Hanoi can be lots of fun but the outlying areas around Hanoi are the places to stay and visit.  Take the night train to Sapa and spend a couple of days there. Its beautiful and cool with great shopping and views that you won't believe.  Then pop right back to Hanoi and go to Halong bay.  You will spend 3 days on a boat and an Island with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.  That leaves you with a couple of days in Hanoi which is enough to get the feel of the city.  

I would recommend the Mountain View hotel in Sapa. (affordable with great rooms and views) there are dozens of hotels in Hanoi that are reasonable and you can vary your location to suit your needs.  Be aware that November is the rainy season. It is not the best time to visit Hanoi but if anything it is a good time in the sense that it is cooler than most of the year.  Lots of shopping in Hanoi with 2 or 3 very cool markets and blocks and blocks of shops.  You will have a great time.  have fun!  Let your hanoi hotel book your Sapa and Halong bay or your travel agent can do it in advance.  Have fun.

Answer 3

Ok... let's see what i can do for you :

1) How's the weather there now & what's the weather gonna be in November? => tropical weather; hot, warm, rainy... same throughout the year in HCMC.

2) What hotel/s can you recommend (in terms of accessibility, price & quality of service/accommodation)? =>

i haven't stayed in the hotels before... they're expensive especially around district 1. Try this site and search for HCMC hotels according to your requirements : http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g29392...

3) Where can we go? What can we do? We're staying for a week! => A week in HCMC, you can go for the Mekong river tour. Get your day tour tickets from tour agencies for about $14 each person. You can also visit the Reunification Palace in District 1, the War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi tunnel(quite far from city), ... these will take you 3 days at least. And if you have time you can take a bus to Vung Tau beach resort or to Dalat highlands on a 6-hour bus ride.

4) ..and because of that, will you recommend that we visit Hanoi too? => if you're staying for only 1 week, visiting Hanoi would be too tight of a schedule. If you want, you have to take flight and spend at least 2 days there. Good food in Hanoi.

5) Of course, please don't forget the SHOPPING EXPERIENCE (WHAT/WHERE/WHEN)!! => some places include Diamond Plaza(branded stuffs), Saigon Tax Free Centre, and the areas around District 1, Ben Thanh night and day markets... well, you have to walk to enjoy the shopping experience. Try also Saigon Square. Just to name a few well known areas... Or you can rent a bike and ride around town coz there're many shops along the streets selling clothings, shoes, etc. Many real good stuffs and genuine products sold at cheap prices... some have minor defects or acquired from somewhere.

6) Please. If you have any useful information that I can access thru the internet myself, please do include weblinks - I'm tired googling. => try the lonely planet site : http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/v...

7) Weblinks for great pictures taken during your visit to the country are welcome too! => sorry, don't have any photos uploaded to www at the moment.