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 Traveller's Tales: Getting around in Vietnam
Know the most popular landmarks in Vietnam. You may read about best transportation, recommended travel itinerary, suggested routes and directions. Also, you might want to read our
Central Vietnam city guide,
Halong Bay city guide,
Hanoi city guide,
Ho Chi Minh city guide,
Phan Thiet city guide,
and Hoi An city guide.
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| M Peters |
10 July 2003 |
Stayed at Melia Hanoi - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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A visit to Halong Bay is a must. The guided tours are the cheapest way at around $15-20. Especially worth doing it now as I can envisage chaos in the future when Vietnam gets more established on the tourist map as it was pretty busy at the ferry port.
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| R Aguado |
28 June 2003 |
Stayed at Hanoi Horison Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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If you like good Vietnamese food, don't miss Seasons of Hanoi, Club Opera or Emperor Restaurant. The last cited restaurant has a very dramatic location - request for a table on the first-floor verandah. Ask your hotel concierge for directions. (Another reputedly good restaurant, Indochine, was closed for renovation during my visit.)
Also, don't miss the galleries. Quality art works in Hanoi are generally cheaper than in Saigon, even though both cities showcase the works of roughly the same artists. So it is better to buy the works in Hanoi (although Saigon galleries have more extensive collections). Do some advance research before visiting the galleries, as some of them only peddle junk.
If you are adventurous enough, try taking all the modes of transport in Hanoi - the cyclo, the motorbike taxis and the meter taxis. A ride on the motorbike taxi is an exhilarating experience. But be sure you have a health coverage or, better still, you are wearing a crash helmet!
Ask your concierge about the likely rates between destinations to save you time negotiating with the drivers (who can be very tough during bargaining). Meter taxis are generally reliable, but always remind the drivers to use the fare meter.
It is also important to learn the Vietnamese words "Di! Di! Di!" (pronounced "dee") which roughly means, "Just #!#! leave me alone!" It's a bit impolite, so reserve it only for the most stubborn street touts who sell you everything from maps to pearls to trinkets and even illegal drugs.
If you have time, take a day tour to Ha Long Bay or nearby towns. Vietnam's tourist industry is still a bit clunky and the facilities are very rudimentary, so take a guide with you, preferably from a reputable agency as this will make your travel easier and more educational. Ha Long Bay is highly recommended, but you better hurry up before this beautiful region is turned into another Pattaya.
Hanoi is not as harried or hoary as Saigon. Perhaps because of this, it is not as sophisticated as its rival city in the south in terms of tourist facilities and establishments. Some people may actually like Hanoi's provincial feel, compared with Saigon's decidedly urban buzz. (Think of Washington D.C. versus New York - up to a certain extent, of course.) Still, modernity is changing Hanoi, so one must visit it before it turns into a copy of Saigon or Bangkok.
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| J Hyde |
27 June 2003 |
Stayed at Norfolk Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Vietnam and in particular Ho Chi Minh City is becoming more visitor friendly every time I travel there. Getting around in cheap well maintained, air-conditioned taxis is a breeze.
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| J Perry |
22 June 2003 |
Stayed at Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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We found Hanoi a fascinating though tiring place to visit, especially in the summer heat and humidity. Just crossing the street is an acquired skill. We got around mainly on foot, with a few taxi trips, most taxis are metered and are cheap and air-con. A few restaurants we can recommend - Koto-excellent food and a good cause to support. Nam Phoung-close to the Hilton-great food-try the crispy fried squid. Can recommend Au Lac, opposite the Sofitel Metropole for coffee/snacks and any branch of a local chain Trang Nguyen for a huge variety of coffees very cheap. We can recommend a visit to the Perfume Pagoda, but be aware it involves a strenuous climb, especially on a hot day.
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| C Beenakker |
21 June 2003 |
Stayed at New World Hotel Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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The hotel is well located. Outside the hotel, there are some fake taxis which charge you a lot of money. So ask the concierge to call a taxi for you.
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| R Hauck |
20 June 2003 |
Stayed at Empress Hotel Ho Chi Minh City - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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HCM City is one of my favourite SEA-cities. It's easy and inexpensive to get around by motocycle-taxis, but I wouldn't recommend the public buses. Metered taxis are convenient when it's pouring, or just walk! Don't stay at Pham Ngu Lao too long, otherwise you'll miss all the typical places in this huge city.
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| B Dang |
05 June 2003 |
Stayed at Saigon Muine Resort - Phan Thiet, Vietnam.
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I just rented a scooter and rode around and explored by myself. I speak the language that's way I did not pay for a tour guide.
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| J Burlace |
03 May 2003 |
Stayed at Empress Hotel Ho Chi Minh City - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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No hotel in Saigon is central, and I don`t know anyone who walks to get to see the sites that Saigon has to offer. However this hotel is near the main tourist market and the New World Hotel, together with one of recommended dining places listed in Lonely Planet.
If you need to get cash from an ATM then there is one opposite the hotel and there is a supermarket nearby that sells fresh bread and cakes. I would definitely recommend this hotel.
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| S Barmby |
30 April 2003 |
Stayed at Riverside Hotel Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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If you are flying into Saigon ensure you buy the US$4 voucher and proceed to a taxi in the taxi rank - not a taxi parked off in the carpark. Our taxi driver took us to the wrong Riverside (there are two - the other is much more expensive) and tried to get us to pay the voucher and more... After an equally entertaining and stressful 10 minute discussion in the car the taxi driver let us get our luggage from the boot in return for the voucher only. My option to him was to take us home to his place for accommodation! Once he knew his bluff had been blown, he smiled and shook each of our hands in "defeat."
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| J Hamilton |
29 April 2003 |
Stayed at Lucky Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Halong Bay is a must, better to sleep on the boat overnite, but we weren't allowed, something about the police not allowing it.
Water Puppets in Hanoi, another must, and I wouldn't advise hiring a motorbike unless you are a really good rider. I still had big problems when you get to intersections, as there aren't many traffic lights, and you just mingle with the bikes going in opposite directions... and I have no trouble riding my 1100cc motorbike around Bangkok. Riding in Thailand is like paradise compared to riding in Vietnam.... GOOD LUCK.
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