2 weeks - Vietnam and Cambodia, or just one?

[planetgeli]

Yeah I think there's going to be some chilling at the coast..... although Ill probably look and see if I can scuba dive there.

You can scuba dive at Nha Trang, and get pissed at the same time, for pennies. Organised trip. You get to do 20ft jumps off the boat as well.

The first beach, not the main beach, at Hoi An, just up (down?) from Nha Trang, is a wonder, no tourists and beautiful sea. Nha Trang is a bit choppy. Lovely beach though.

I understand your worries over malaria if you've seen experience of it. But honestly, I've spent around six weeks in Vietnam and I can count the number of mozzies on one finger.

Have a great time.

 

[not-bono-ever]

PS - Don't whatever you do, go to the Khmer440 Cambodia forum for any kind of Cambodia tips- its a vortex of expat turds

 

[sim667]

I'm trying to work out how much currency to take, does budgeting £20 for each hostel night and £40 for each train ride seem fair?

 

[DJWrongspeed]

I'm trying to work out how much currency to take, does budgeting £20 for each hostel night and £40 for each train ride seem fair?

More than enough if I recall. Trains are slow but then you get to chat to the locals and the night trains are quite fun.

 

[sim667]

More than enough if I recall. Trains are slow but then you get to chat to the locals and the night trains are quite fun.

I think our plan is to get night trains as much as possible, so we get a bed and a train for the night.

 

[not-bono-ever]

you wont get much sleep on them trains IME and will likely arrive and book yourself into the nearest hotel at 6AM and sorta erode any savings you initially calculated you would make by training it.but don't let a wanker like me out you off- you may enjoy it

 

[sim667]

you wont get much sleep on them trains IME and will likely arrive and book yourself into the nearest hotel at 6AM and sorta erode any savings you initially calculated you would make by training it.but don't let a wanker like me out you off- you may enjoy it

Sleep tablets?

 

[not-bono-ever]

you are likely to be robbed if you take any meds - maybe some melatonin to aid dropping off is always a good plan

 

[sim667]

you are likely to be robbed if you take any meds - maybe some melatonin to aid dropping off is always a good plan

I've heard about robbings a lot in vietnam..... I've got a big DSLR which I'm started to get a bit worried about taking now.

 

[planetgeli]

I travelled through Vietnam exclusively on night buses, which have beds, slept well and never came close to getting robbed. The Vietnamese use these buses too. We did get a tyre blow out while we had a cafe break after coming down a massive hill but that's another story.

 

[not-bono-ever]

I personally have never had a problem, but I am fairly street smartz and not small, but they will be opportunist sneaky rather than violent thefts of anything. Just make sure your bag is locked down and secured if possible on the train- and pretty much most everyone is straight and would not tolerate someone openly rifling your belongings. Don't get paranoid but just make sure your stuff is not spread out all over the place.

 

[pug]

I had a great time on the night train in a seat, sat at the table a twenty something woman came and sat next to me, I think to learn english, so we chatted through the whole night, she was the daughter of someone fairly high up the ladder not that she said much about it, but she really looked after me basically translating for me to converse with the people opposite and the staff on the train too, when we got off the train at the crack of dawn her brother was there with a flashy looking car and driver, all in a great journey.

 

[sim667]

How much do I need to worry about people trying to snatch a camera? I've got a really big DSLR I'm taking......

I'm going to try and work out a way of joining the two zips together, that isn't obvious so I can feel if someones trying to go through my camera bag whilst its on my back...... And I think the bag is a bit thick for a slash and grab anyway

 

[JCB]

How much do I need to worry about people trying to snatch a camera? I've got a really big DSLR I'm taking......

I'm going to try and work out a way of joining the two zips together, that isn't obvious so I can feel if someones trying to go through my camera bag whilst its on my back...... And I think the bag is a bit thick for a slash and grab anyway

Buy lots of cable ties and bring a small pair scissors so you cut the ties when you want.

 

[sim667]

Buy lots of cable ties and bring a small pair scissors so you cut the ties when you want.

I was just going to get one of those combination cable padlocks and tuck it inside the bag.....

Can't take scissors on a plane can you?

 

[JCB]

I was just going to get one of those combination cable padlocks and tuck it inside the bag.....

Can't take scissors on a plane can you?

Padlock probably a better idea tbh. Scissors can go in check in bag but not carry on.

 

[pug]

sim667, all the Vietnamese people I met were basically sound, some might have wanted to relieve me of my money slightly unfairly by overcharging etc and good for them but in no way is the place teeming with thieves, I'd say it was easily as safe as Paris/France.

 

[sim667]

sim667, all the Vietnamese people I met were basically sound, some might have wanted to relieve me of my money slightly unfairly by overcharging etc and good for them but in no way is the place teeming with thieves, I'd say it was easily as safe as Paris/France.

Wicked... thanks.

I was just wondering as a few people said being robbed is a problem there

 

[pug]

The only place anyone's theived anything off me when travelling is the arrivals gate at heathrow airport

 

[sim667]

The only place anyone's theived anything off me when travelling is the arrivals gate at heathrow airport

 

[Supine]

Wicked... thanks.

I was just wondering as a few people said being robbed is a problem there

Its probably more of a problem where you live now

 

[sim667]

Trying to put together a bit of a rough idea of what I might like to see, has anyone got any comments on what is a let down, and good alternatives on my lists?

Hanoi

Hoa Lo Prison Museum (Hanoi Hilton)

Hoan Kiem Lake (Friday - Sunday Traffic Banned 7pm - midnight, funfair vibes)

Bach Ma Temple

Temple of Literature

Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

Vietnam Military History Museum

Old East Gate

Ceramic Rd



Hai Long Bay

Bai Tu Long National Park

Hang Dau Go



Hue

Citadel

To Mieu Temple Complex

Ngo Mon Gate & Imperial Enclosure



Danang
?


Hoi An

Tan Ky House

Quan Cong Temple

Hoi An Old Town



Nha Trang

Ba Ho falls

Po Nagar Cham Towers



Ho Chi Minh

Jade Emperor Pagoda

Binh Tay Market

 

[not-bono-ever]

HCM mausoleum in Hanoi? assuming the old rascal is still there

 

[Supine]

HCM City - google for the bar on the 53rd floor of a skyscraper. Worth a quick pint for the view

 

[sim667]

HCM mausoleum in Hanoi? assuming the old rascal is still there

I only went through this very quickly, so I may well have missed this.....

Got any suggestions for danang?

 

[sim667]

HCM City - google for the bar on the 53rd floor of a skyscraper. Worth a quick pint for the view

good call.

 

[Supine]

I only went through this very quickly, so I may well have missed this.....

Got any suggestions for danang?

I stayed out on the beach. The river is nice to walk along at night. Bit like Las Vegas. Big recommendation for the Kangaroo Bar for food and drinks western style. The owners are lovely.

 

[hash tag]

Trying to put together a bit of a rough idea of what I might like to see, has anyone got any comments on what is a let down, and good alternatives on my lists?

Down in Saigon, there is the very touristy Cu Chi Tunnels. My Lai (scene of horrific masacre) worth a visit. Also went to some temples near here but can't for life of me remember their name. One of my fave places
was Marble Mountain with nearby China Beach. Avoid DMZ and I also avoided a visit to Uncle Ho!

 

[pug]

I quite enjoyed the marble mountains.

 

[sim667]

I quite enjoyed the marble mountains.

Excellent. I've got nothing down for danang.

I asked about vietnamese food delicacies on reddit, and was told in no uncertain terms to avoid them like the plague.