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 Traveller's Tales: Places to go and see in Vietnam
Take a tour of the top places to go in Vietnam. You may read about must see places and activities in the area. 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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| W Zhang |
20 January 2004 |
Stayed at Novotel Garden Plaza Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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Hanoi has much to offer than Saigon. We highly recommend Phan Thiet, 3 hours drive from Saigon, which has beautiful beaches and very good sea food.
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| M Smith |
13 January 2004 |
Stayed at Rex Hotel Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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We'll be returning! All should visit Cu Chi and Tay Ninh. And a stay in Mui Ne is highly recommended (Coco Beach resort). We couldn't believe how interesting and friendly the country and the people were. And crossing the road in Saigon is certainly an experience! We plan to visit Hanoi and the north next time.
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| M Clare |
05 January 2004 |
Stayed at Hoi An Beach Resort - Hoi An, Vietnam.
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We rented bikes at the hotel everyday and rode into Hoi An. That was really fun. We ate at a really delicous place specializing in the local noodle dish "cau lau" at Yellow river restaurant, #42. Besides the noodle dish, the other dishes we tried were also excellent.
Visitng My Son is a must for anybody interested in Cham hindu temples. Our guide book didn't recommend it, but we went anyway and thought it was really exceptional. Next to the Hoi An Beach Resort is a drawbridge that leads across the river which you must pay to cross to go to the restaurant. It's worth it. You can sit on the river and have a drink or a meal and definatly walk around and look at the other out buildings here. It was built by a french architect, and very charming. We had some of the best tasting chicken here too. Everyone was very friendly.
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| L Vevers |
05 January 2004 |
Stayed at New World Hotel Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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A visit to saigon is not complete without a visit down the mekong river, war history museum and down in the cu-chi tunnels. Saigon is a city full
of shops of every descriptions where there is certainly plenty of bargains to be had! There are plenty of bars and nice restaurants with varied dishes. Everyone is very friendly but be aware of the street sellers and don't get on a cyclo without agreeing a price and sticking to that price.
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| D Nguyen |
03 January 2004 |
Stayed at Amara Hotel Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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I loved HCMC! I went to visit the War Crimes and History museums, which were worth the effort. The Cu Chi tunnels were an absolute must, if not for the sweaty tunnel crawl, then the propagandist films, shooting range and random caged animals dotting the whole theme parkish place. Shopping is an experience in itself, with everything for sale at a fraction of the price. I bought a North Face backpack for six dollars, and several hand painted souvenir dishes for a quarter each. Do bargain, as they expect it. My friend got authentically labeled Diesel jeans for sixteen dollars!
Food was ridiculously cheap, obviously more so at the local restaurants. As for spas, I went to a pretty upscale one called Qi Saigon Shisheido. They have a nice package for 54 dollars for a five-six hour treatment. Afterwards, if you have the time, get your nails done for two dollars. They do a wonderful job and it may not be the dollar massage at some sketchy street corner, but it also is not what you would pay back at home. Do check it out if you have the time, and the men's section is reputable.
One more last thought. I swore to my mother I would not get on the back of a moped for a xe om, but now I wonder why I didn't as much as I should have! It was so fun, pretty safe (they do know what they are doing) and way cheap!
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| A Mackie |
31 December 2003 |
Stayed at Hoi An Riverside Resort - Quang Nam, Vietnam.
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We only had time for Hoi An or Hue, not both. In hindsight, Hue might have been more attractive with its historical offerings. The number of Hoi An tailor shops has apparently grown from just a few to over 300 in recent years and the whole 'custom-made clothing' experience seems to border on the tacky. It's also very time-consuming and can be done in larger cities if you have more time there. Now somewhat regretting missing Hue's history. If you're flying out of Danang, do check out the Danang's Cham Museum--about an hour is all you'll need.
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| G Petursdottir |
17 December 2003 |
Stayed at Sedona Suites Hanoi - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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A trip to Halong Bay is essential, but perhaps one day is enough - the cost of a two day trip was more than the entire budget for our 4-days in the northern mountains. With an excellent local English speaking driver/guide, we took a 4-day trip to the Northern mountains, with a 10 hour drive to SaPa. A long drive, but worth it, because of the chance to stop in the villages on the way. SaPa is getting quite touristy with its "efficient marketing" of local handicraft. We visited a number of the local people. On Sunday morning there is a very colourful market in BakHa, about 3 hours drive from SaPa (past Lao Cai).
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| I Edwardes |
14 December 2003 |
Stayed at Bong Sen Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.
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With some apprehension I boarded the early morning flight from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City. Having heard the traveler’s tales and read the guide books I was convinced I would be met by surly, anti-Western officials, hassled by the police, have my pockets picked and be swindled out of all my money within minutes of landing.
The reality of my experience was quite different. I found the Vietnamese people very kind, courteous and friendly and never lost anything more than perspiration and calories while exploring the city alone on foot.
Even if you are not a museum enthusiast I would recommend a visit to The War Remnants Museum, but be warned there are people who might find some of the photos and displays a bit upsetting. If that is the case, do not go into the exhibition rooms, instead wonder around the open-air displays.
Vietnamese History Museum and the Ho Chi Minh City Museum are housed in architecturally interesting buildings. The displays are quite small but in most cases have explanations in English and French. An hour in each will give you a fairly comprehensive history of the country.
For those who like more lively action try to visit D Dong Khoi on a Saturday or Sunday night. The road is packed with young people riding their mopeds around and around the block. It is a time and a place to be seen. There are plenty of good restaurants and cafe in this area too. Meter taxis can be easily found near the Bong Sen hotel.
Remember there is an art to crossing the road. The trick is to be alert, step out and walk slowly, the bikes will then flow around you. If you try to run you stand more chance of being hit. If in doubt tag onto one of the locals and follow them as they glide through the endless stream of motorbikes.
Ho Chi Minh City is an interesting place with friendly people and good food. If you take the same personal safety precautions as you would in any other metropolis you should have a trouble free visit. Be streetwise, relax then enjoy the delights of this quaint, colourful, laid back city.
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| K Rispoli |
29 November 2003 |
Stayed at Lucky Star Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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We came from Bangkok to Hanoi, the traffic in Bangkok is bad but bearable. In Hanoi the constant beeping of horns can be a bit much. I have found that there are no road rules, every person for themselves and the biggest vehicle wins. It should be considered an artform to cross the road. Walk slowly and the masses of mopeds will hopefully go around you. You would be pretty insane to rent a motorbike in this city. I would recommend the Water Puppet Theatre, and trying the Pho Bo beef noodle soup which originated in Hanoi. If you're there for a while you could check out Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the Temple of Literature. If you're on a budget stay away from the restaurants and cafes that display prices in U.S. Dollars, in one restaurant we paid about 34,000 dong (about $2 U.S. Dollars) for two plates of food and 3 draught beers, at another restaurant we paid about twice that for two nonalcoholic fresh fruit drinks. If you go outside of the Old Quarter you will find some places considerably cheaper.
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| M Maiwald |
27 November 2003 |
Stayed at De Syloia Hotel - Hanoi, Vietnam.
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In Hanoi, our favorite restaurants were Bobby Chin's, Le Tonkin, and Emperor. Bobby Chin, though expensive by Vietnamese standards, served superb and creative upscale fusion cuisine; food like this could easily cost 3-4 times the price in NYC. Don't miss out on the fresh fish dish stir fried at your table at the unlikely hole-in-the-wall, Cha Ca Van Long. This place is a real Hanoi institution, and the mixture of herbs and exotic ingredients is a perfect flavor harmony.
Inside Hanoi, don't miss the wonderful Museum of Ethnography, even though it's a long cab ride from the city center. There's a bicycle there with 800 fish traps on it, the preferred means of commercial transport of a particularly industrious Mekong Delta entrepeneur. Also don't miss the Temple of Literature, am oasis of serenity in chaotic Hanoi.
For trips outside the city, I recommend Kheng Ga for a scenic boat trip that reveals an untouched rural river life. You'll marvel at the Vietnamese women who power their rowboats with their feet while cutting up vegetable for dinner. Another "must-see" is Halong Bay. Try to stay out here at least two nights, and do some sea-kayaking amongst these serene islands.
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