Re: Vietnam
Originally Posted by
orangutan
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I've got a trip to Vietnam booked for 28 February and have been spending the last couple of days looking at places to stay and things to do. Looking forward to it! Anyone been?
Yes, I've been but only to the north of the country - Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Tam Coc etc. Wonderful place, wonderful people, make sure you have plenty of small change, they don't like giving change and expect tips everywhere. US dollars are king most prices are in US dollars as well as Dong but again if you have US dollars makes sure you have small ones ie $1 notes only
The roads are appalling and if you rent a car be careful, there probably are rules but I couldn't work out what they were. Yet in among all this chaos you will see a school girl cycling serenely 2 metres out from the kerb apparently unaware of the madness around her. Has to be seen to be believed. No motorways just narrow roads (bit like England actually
) and the bigger you are the more right of way you have, ie trucks and buses just sound their horn and proceed.
If you order a beer stress that you want it cold, very cold otherwise it might be warm. The food is brilliant - ate from stalls, boats, anywhere with no problems (but I seem to be able to do that anywhere in Asia).
You will have a wonderful time. I went with a friend - in Ha Long Bay we had a massive boat to ourself - the caves were good, not much OH&S so be careful. Hanoi we had personal tours with English speaking guide and a driver that we booked in Malaysia - dirt cheap.
The North Vietnamese mainly cater for the Chinese who come by bus from the north and are really only just coming to grips with Europeans if you speak Mandarin you will be well catered for (my friend speaks it
) but there are English speaking guides and they do their best. I suspect that the south is a bit different in that regard.
My daughter went back packing there and had a similarly good experience though she said the trains were a bit scary the way they rocked but you got used to it.
Vietnam is cheap and fun, try all the types of food - go to the silk factories they are using machines straight out of 19th Century Britain. go into the tunnels the Viet Cong used during the American War. What ever you can afford go and see it, look out for the 'factories' which employ disabled people. They have a lot as a result of the war and the use of Agent Orange. These factories make everything from small souvenirs to 5 metre statues of Buddha or the Goddess of Mercy which they will ship to your home (at a very reasonable cost)