Difference between revisions of "Vietnam"
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==Ninh Binh== | ==Ninh Binh== | ||
From a base in Hanoi, we could take a Limo Bus From Hanoi get dropped at Bich Dong. Or we come straight from Quong Binh, Dong Hoi. That takes 6hrs by bus, 9 1/2 hours by train. | From a base in Hanoi, we could take a Limo Bus From Hanoi get dropped at Bich Dong. Or we come straight from Quong Binh, Dong Hoi. That takes 6hrs by bus, 9 1/2 hours by train. | ||
= Nha Trang = | = Nha Trang = | ||
Revision as of 10:09, 12 January 2026
currency
USD / 4 = more than 100,000 * VND,
- $100 = >2,500,000 VND
- $20 = >500,000 VND
- $300 = >7,500,00
VND/100,000(minus 00000)* 4 = almost USD
- 100,000 VND = $4 (3.80)
- 250,000 VND = $10 (9.51)
flights
Booking reference: F9SWXD
to vietnam
Boston to Hong Kong
Tue, Mar 3, 12:30 AM - Wed, Mar 4, 5:00 AM 15h 30m Cathay Pacific CX811
Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City
Wed, Mar 4 • 8:40 AM - 10:35 AM Cathay Pacific CX767
to Boston
Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong
Sun, Mar 22 • 11:35 AM - 3:20 PM 2h 45m Cathay Pacific CX766
Hong Kong to Boston
Sun, Mar 22 • 7:40 PM - 11:00 PM 15h 20m Cathay Pacific CX812
refs and tips
multiple services
domestic air
trains/buses/limos/grab
- Vietnam Railway
- grab -app installed
- 12Go
accomodations
tours
blogs
todo
senior travel tips
1. Weather and Climate: Vietnam’s weather varies a lot depending on the region and month. December to March, North (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh) can be cool 53-64°F so pack a light jacket. Central (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue) is mild and pleasant South (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta) stays warm and humid-avoid midday outdoor activities to prevent exhaustion or dehydration
2. Accommodation: Choose accommodations with elevators, air conditioning.
3. Transportation: Use private car services or ride apps like Grab, where you can travel comfortably with air conditioning. For longer distances, domestic flights or trains with sleeper cabins are great options just book early for convenience.
4. Sightseeing: Stick to accessible attractions with minimal walking or steps. Many famous spots like the War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market (HCMC), Hoi An Ancient Town, and Hanoi’s Old Quarter can be enjoyed at a relaxed pace.
5. Health and Safety: Make sure to stay hydrated, use sunscreen and a hat, and takes short breaks during the day. It’s a good idea to bring any prescription medications and a doctor’s note, and to check if travel insurance covers medical emergencies abroad. Hospitals in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have international clinics with English-speaking staff.
6. Food and Hydration: Vietnamese food is delicious but can sometimes be oily or spicy. Choose restaurants with good hygiene or those catering to tourists. Always drink bottled or filtered water.
7. Rest and Schedule: Plan shorter days with breaks in cafés or shaded areas. Many older travelers enjoy Vietnam’s slower, relaxed rhythm watching daily life from a riverside café is often just as memorable as sightseeing.
Da Nang / Hoi An
We could start the trip by flying right into Danang sometime after our flight arrives in SGN at 10:35AM. They say it takes 3-4 hours to clear customs and get to the domestic terminal and the last flight is 3:25 so it could be tight. Getting an e-visa might help.
The attraction is a few days on the beach, snorkeling and possibly body surfing.
Options are stay in Hoi An near An Bang beach at an airbnb or maybe a hotel. From there we could maybe bicycle 5.2km(3.1mi) into town for an evening or take a Farm Cooking Class.
Or we could base ourselves in Da Nang, maybe near My Khe beach, where the better waves are.
The taxi ride from Da Nang to Hoi An covers about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) and typically takes 45 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic, with travel times around 40-55 minutes common by taxi or ride-hailing apps like Grab. Expect costs around 300,000 to 430,000 VND ($12-18)
One possible itinerary could have us start out in Da Nang for 2-3 nights, then go and take the Cham Island Ferry in the morning, hang on the island for a day, maybe ride a scooter around and stay the night. The next day we could jump on the snorkel tour and get a ride back that afternoon. That evening we could visit oldtown and get a place for the night. Next day we could bicycle rice paddies or do a farm cooking class. That evening we could get a Grab back to Da Nang train/bus/air station and head to our next spot.
Another itinerary could have us base in Hoi An for 2-3 nights. Take day trips to da Nang when there might be waves. Do the beach, oldtown, bicycling, cook class. We could end with an overnight to cham island, come back, and either stay another night or take off for Da Nang. Stay there for a night and then sometime the next day, head for our next spot.
Da Nang Snorkeling
The best snorkeling near Da Nang is found at the Cham Islands and the Son Tra Peninsula. The Cham Islands offer a richer marine ecosystem, while the Son Tra Peninsula is more accessible for shorter trips from the city.
Tours: Half-day tours by boat are available and often include snorkeling, fishing, and island hopping to various bays (prices start around $18-29 USD). Tour operators like Dacotours - Da Nang Tours and Sea Trek VietNam offer these excursions.
Son Tra Peninsula
Best for: Close proximity (8km from Da Nang center), natural/less developed feel, local coral spots. Location: Just north of Da Nang city. Key spots: Bai But, Hon Sup, Bai Da Den, Nam Beach area.
Specific Conditions Bai But: Known as one of the five protected coral reef areas on the peninsula, it offers a well-preserved environment for viewing marine life. Bai Nam: This spot is also part of the nature reserve and is noted for its shallow, calm water, which is great for morning paddling and avoiding crowds. However, some reviews mention sharp rocks in some areas, so caution is advised when entering the water from shore.
Cham Islands
You should go there and stay one night, rent a scooter and visit the beaches, visit Ray Ong Bang. Then the next morning do a snorkeling tour with Tigerfish and catch a ride with them back to Hoi An. They pick up and drop off customers in Hoi An and take them over to Cham on a catamaran so you get a nice boat ride. They have to make a stop on Cham (to check in with the local authorities and they have to check out later, too) before taking everyone to the snorkel/diving sites. So if you are already on Cham, you avoid the early wake up in Hoi An. They'll pick you up around 9:15am on Cham. They finish with lunch on Chong beach so you can skip visiting that beach by yourself as you'll get that with them Josephine Cong
- Full-package tours can cost from 500,000 VND to 700,000 VND ($20-28)
links
Hanoi
From Quong Binh, Dong Hoi (VDH) the best option might be to fly. But there is only one direct flight a day, leaving at 10:25AM. That would make Hanoi our base for the exploration of the north.
Sapa
Ha Long Bay
dirty, loud , ugly, crowded
instead research Lan Ha Bay Tours
Ninh Binh
From a base in Hanoi, we could take a Limo Bus From Hanoi get dropped at Bich Dong. Or we come straight from Quong Binh, Dong Hoi. That takes 6hrs by bus, 9 1/2 hours by train.
Nha Trang
meh
Ho Chi Minh city
meh, don't want to go to the post office, cathedral under repair, plaza w Ho Chi Minh statue, opera house or marketplace.
David and Tami
Last night we watched the first youtube that concentrated on the north/central regions and are super excited. Today we looked up flights for the best window of time we have. One possibility gets us to SGN Wed. March 4 at 10:30 AM and has us leaving at 1:50 PM On Sunday March 22. We are happy to spend part of that time on our own should you not be ready to leave the nest. How does that sound? Should we buy those tickets?
We can't wait to meet Liam. We are ready to book our flights and wanted to run some things by you. We want meet Tami's family and see your new spot. So what would you suggest for how long 3 days? 4 days?. It makes sense that it would be at the beginning or ending of our trip, since our flight is out of SGN. We are there for 18 days by the current plan. I would like to spend 5-6 days around Da Nang / Hoi An. This time will satisfy my 'escape Boston winter' desires to be in a place where you can snorkel, maybe ride some waves and sit on a beach. Son Tra Peninsula looks interesting, so does Cham Islands and My Khe beach. Maybe stay in a place in Hoi An, that's walking distance from An Bang Beach and use that as a base. Maybe take a train north after that stay.
We are also attracted to the north. We like the beauty of the rural farming landscape around Sapa, and the amazing waterways and island of Halong Bay. Hanoi is probably the city we would like to spend time in. It seems like 7 days in the north would be super cool.
Some things we are less interested in: French colonial architecture, churches, government buildings, post offices, war museums, marketplaces/malls. We like temples a little more, probably especially nestled in a beautiful countryside.
I am sure you both don't know how the three of you will feel, and how much travel you will want to do with a new baby. We can keep things flexible. What do you think of these ideas? Might you have a preference for timing of our stay around your spot and Saigon? Which of these other spots could you see yourselves joining us at? What are other places along our proposed route that you would suggest?
Date: December 12, 2025 at 4:58:52 AM PST
Hello to both of you,
To answer a few of your questions. I think the visit to see us would work out best on the tail end of your trip. 3-4 days would work, including meeting in Saigon the first day. It’s hectic but the visual stimulation makes it worth it. Even just sitting outside on top of one of their hop on hop off busses is really fun. Great overview of the city . There is bus service from Ho Chi Minh direct to the new development here called Waterpoint. Otherwise, it’s a one hour taxi ride for about $14 Not a lot of action around here. But I think you both would enjoy for 2-3 nights, including "Can Tho." The floating market there is facinating. I’ll try to find a few pictures. That is near us. And yes, going over to Tam’s family house would be worthwhile, perhaps having dinner there.
5-6 days in Da Nang and Hoi An would be rewarding. The beachfront accommodations in Da Nang are reasonable. Also, review the city of Hue which is near those areas. The Kings of the Nguyen Dynasty ruled from that area. You can take a boat up the river to the Imperial Palace/countryside temple. It is impressive and informative.
But yes, I agree and get your dislikes as far as what you would not want to waste your time seeing. I have yet to visit the Cham Islands and those other places you referenced. Tami could fill you in better.
To go out in Halong Bay would be epic, coupled with a few nights in Hanoi. We did 2 nights with Dora Cruise Line. One night might be rushing the experience in my view. Sapa, which both Tami and I have not been, might be a stretch with your time frame. Certainly worth a consideration. Utube Dalat which is more near us, somewhere we could perhaps all meet as well.
Excited for you both.
Our first night in the new place with our son. A bit overwhelming for both of us. Exhausted in a good way. Tami taking to motherhood quite well. Her doctor had a lot of confidence in her.
Be well; Fire back with any questions or concerns.
nice baby
So, to summarize our discussion so far...we should plan to get to Saigon on Wed March 18th or Thursday March 19th. Then we would meet up with you there or at your house and then spend time with a couple of adventures that might include Utube Dalat. Or we could meet in Utube Dalat and start our southern adventures with you from there.
Either sounds great and it seems we could keep things open til we are on our way south finding accommodations and such depending where we are.
Tami knows Dalat well , I have yet to go there .
Meeting there appeals to me for sure
