| M Cowlishaw |
21 April 2003 |
Stayed at Green Park Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Hanoi is a very charming city and the French influence is quite apparent. The restaurant and bar alongside Hoan Kiem lake is recommended for the excellent view and delightful food. I felt much safer here than in HCMC and was not averse to taking motorbike taxi rides which I wouldn't consider in HCMC.
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| G Nicolaas de boer |
21 April 2003 |
Stayed at Lisa Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Everything you need is to get in the neighborhood, like everywhere in Vietnam. Easy to take an always available cheap taxi to where ever you want to go.
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| S Watson |
18 April 2003 |
Stayed at Palace Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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City excellent to visit - Lonely Planet gave us ideas on where we might like to try. Also our taxi driver from the airport was an excellent source of information.
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| F Mabrey |
16 April 2003 |
Stayed at Best Western Chancery Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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HCMC is a vibrant city. It hums with the excitement of a very young population on-the-go.
There is an amazing amount of English spoken. One gets used to tourist related businesses having staff who speak English well. Should you bump into a random person on the street they may well say "Sorry" or "Pardon me." School kids may well want to say a few words to you to practice their English.
The traffic, mostly motorcycles, can seem intimidating to pedestrians. The drivers find a way to weave around you as you cross streets. For the more timid, there are taxis available almost everywhere. A typical taxi ride in the downtown core costs about one US dollar, including tip, so you can avoid the pedestrian experience. Cyclo rides can be exciting but are not much cheaper than taxis. They can be considerably more expensive if you fail to negotiate a rate before you take the ride.
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| M Cowlishaw |
15 April 2003 |
Stayed at Oscar Saigon Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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HCMC very refreshing after Bangkok. Treelined avenues, magnificent restaurants - particularly Da Nam - between Nguyen Hue & Dong Khoi Sts. Would only take taxis not motorbikes. Terraces of both the Majestic Hotel and the Rex Hotel are de rigeur for a cocktail in the evening.
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| R Schranner |
14 April 2003 |
Stayed at Empress Hotel Dalat - Dalat, Vietnam.
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Dalat is an interesting, busy and lively town with a large market. Close to the hotel is a food night market with a great selection of local food that you do not find in the restaurants that have English menus.
We left Dalat in an open army jeep (with driver and guide) and took a three day trip to Nha Trang through the Central Higlands. Astonishing landscapes, friendly people, great food, tea/cofee plantations, rubber trees.
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| A Mitchell |
10 April 2003 |
Stayed at Empress Hotel Ho Chi Minh City - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Booked an open ticket to travel up to Hue and stopped at Dalat. Was unaware that Empress Hotel was in Dalat also and would have stayed in your hotel, but had already booked accommodation. Visited the temples, museums, and all tourist destinations. Got around by walking and taxi.
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| C Jack |
30 March 2003 |
Stayed at Bong Sen Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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I only had 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City but I really enjoyed the visit and wish I had arranged to stay for longer. I ate In the Vietname House which is close by and was very impressed.
I walked around which is they way I enjoy getting a 'feel' for anywhere I visit but also took cyclos and motor bikes. One cyclo in particular was very friendly and even took me around the pagoda I was visiting buying me joss sticks to use at the altar.
I will definitely come back to Ho Chi Minh City and spend more time in and around the area.
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| M Delude |
30 March 2003 |
Stayed at Hoi An Riverside Resort - Quang Nam, Vietnam.
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Hoi An is a wonderful town. Very friendly local people, decent food and the best selection of local art anywhere in Vietnam (far superior to Hanoi and Saigon).
Renting a motorbike here is a great way to get around -- a good primer for Saigon. Police now require motorcycle driver licenses -- never used to. Renting them from hotels usually gets you better equipment (higher costs -- $7 day) but not here. Rather than adding to their overhead buying motos, they get them from local people -- gas gauge didn't work at all, the horn barely, idled too low, etc. look elsewhere to see if bikes are in better shape.
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| T Sarro |
28 March 2003 |
Stayed at Saigon Morin - Hue, Vietnam.
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There are many wonderful things to see in Hue. The East Gate of the citadel, and the Dynastic Urns are "must see".
For some local color and good Vietnamese food, try Am Phu at 35 Nguyen Thai Hoc. This is a place popular with the locals, so do not expect "tourist" amenities, although the menu does have an English translation. The food is simple but excellent. Geckoes scurry freely on the walls. The pork hash and miscellaneous rice were very good.
A train ride down to DaNang to see the Cham museum is a worthwhile adventure. It takes a full day.
The Minh Mang tomb complex is also very interesting. The water gardens were an unexpected pleasure.
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Traveller's Tales: Getting around in Vietnam
