Thailand or Vietnam

[wondabar]

We are thinking of going to either Thailand or Vietnam in August. We have been to Thailand before and love it but would like to experience somewhere slightly different. If we went to Vietnam we would spend a week doing cultural excursions and then a week on the beach in Hoi An.
I'd love to hear of anyone's experiences of Vietnam. What did you think of it? I understand it is very beautiful and the people are very warm. What was the food like and the getting around? I think we would spend our whole time in the North and on the coast.

We are just back from a 2 week trip to Vietnam and loved it. We toured from the North to the South and there is so much to do.

That's great to know. Did you spend much time on the coast?

Outstanding. I adored Ho Chi Minh city. Hue as well. Hoi An was a bit too touristy for me. Hanoi was a shit hole and manic. Internal flights are dirt cheap if you have under 7kg (from memory). It's not that pricey to fly to cambodia for a side trip but in that case look at flying into there and put from Vietnam so that you only need a free visa rather than a paid multiple entry. Food is fucking amazing or fucking vile 🤣 Continental in HCMC was disappointing for a drink, the Caravelle is marvelous. If you are into your military history you will be utterly fulfilled, if you are into people, food, sights you will be fulfilled.

Food was good. Lots of 'pho' - noodles in a broth and dishes with rice. We spent a night on a boat in Halong bay, a night on an overnight train and a night at a homestead which was different. The rest was in hotels.

I went last December. As pp says, lots to do. Hoi An is great for chilling out and relaxing. The food is delicious. And everything is so cheap.

I've also been to Thailand - also fab - I think if you like Thailand, you'd also enjoy Vietnam.

I don't agree that Hanoi was a shit hole. I had a great couple of days there, visited Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, the country's oldest university and went to a water puppet show.

Definitely Vietnam.

I loved old Hanoi!

Loved Vietnam Hanoi and Hoi an both fabulous.

Just adults or children too?

Check the weather. I think in August it is rainy season North and South.

However there is loads in Central Vietnam to occupy you for 2 weeks, especially if you want to spend some time at the beach.

I loved Hoi An even if it is touristy. The Eco Fishing trips, visit My Son, Marble Mountain, cycling round the herb villages, maybe a Cham island visit. Da Nang and China Beach. Hue, over the Hai Van pass is another great base. The Citadel, night market, the tombs and pagoda.

Trips to Bach Ma National Park, Elephant Springs and Ba Na Hills accessible from both Hoi An and Hue.

Amazing food.

Thanks, this all sounds very encouraging. We would be travelling with two teens. Would you stay on the beach or the town in Hoi An? Can you recommend any good hotels and restaurants?

We stayed at the beach at Hoi An, near ‘Hidden Beach’ , at the Hoi An Boutique Hotel, which was amazing but much more expensive now, I think. We took their free shuttle bus into town at night to explore in the cooler evening and eat, and did excursions and / or beach time in the day. Ate at beach cafes at lunch.

Having been once I would now feel much more confident staying at ‘Homestays’, which are like guest houses or small private hotels.

I think the beach at the S end (Cua Dia? ) is now more eroded.

Went to Vietnam + Cambodia in July 2015 with 3 boys (7-12) for almost 3 weeks. Stayed away from the north as very rainy in our summer (as it turned out they were having floods that year in July!). started in HCM city (did some trips from here up river to see the famous war tunnels) and then went to Danang region, Hoi An, beach area of An Bang, then went to Cambodia to Siem Reap and temples angkor wat (highlight for us), finally flew to Phu quoc island (belongs to vietnam but off coast of cambodia), amazing, very quiet in july due to dodgy/wet weather but we were lucky.
Have not been to thailand with kids but I know its much more commercial and party place.
We adored the food, especially the pho (noodles), people were so so friendly, that's what our kids remember most. One man who rented us a house at an bang beach invited us to eat on the beach with his family at night and was always watching out for us.
very family friendly in my opinion, loved it.

Meant to add that we stayed in a couple of homestays which were amazing, one at An Bang beach, little 2 bed cottage where they brought you breakfast in the morning to the porch!

I second Vietnam and Cambodia (though personally I prefer the latter and would just travel in that country plus islands). I’m not a big fan of Ho Chi Minh City so would recommend Hanoi, staying in the Old Town, which is full of character. Then flight to Hoi An/Danang (overnight train there is interesting option) or Phu Quoc island.

Hello, I moved to Vietnam in 2017 and would highly recommend for a holiday with teens! If you're travelling in August it's rainy season in the south (HCMC/Mekong Delta/Phu Quoc island) but this will be 2pm tropical downpour for a few hours. Phu Quoc will be a lot more rainy though, not recommended in August.
The middle of Vietnam - Nha Trang up to Hue will be dry though. Hoi An is absolutely beautiful and lots to do. Beaches are nice in Vietnam but apart from Pho Quoc they don't come close to Thailand's beaches.
I always use Selective Asia website to check for weather as Vietnam has so many different weather types due to its long and skinny shape!
PM me if you want any other Vietnam info.

Thanks so much for all of the advice. We have booked our trip and very excited. A few days in Hanoi, then a cruise in Halong Bay followed by 10 days in Hoi An which we will use as a base to do a few trips from. And flying back from Hanoi. Really happy to be trying something different.

We’ve just booked our trip too! Very excited! Hanoi to Ho Chi Min City via Ha Long bay, Hue and Hoi An with a stopover in Bangkok on the way home.

We know it will be the rainy season in July but just excited to go somewhere totally amazing.

I used to live in China and had many fabulous holidays in Vietnam. Hoi An and Hue will be dry in July, but very hot. I have also been to Hanoi in July and only had one day when it absolutely poured with rain. There are plenty of museums to visit and great shops and restaurants to explore in Hanoi so a couple of rainy days won’t be a problem.

We are just back from a 3 week trip. We began in Hanoi and finished in Ho Chi Minh.

The rubbish in Halong Bay is upsetting to see. My husband and daughter spent time clearing up the beach we were brought to with the locals. It just looks never ending though as you can see more and more rubbish sweeping in. Some tourists looked completely unaffected by it all but it is heart breaking to see the destruction we are causing to our planet.

We didn't like Ho Chi Minh at all and we were all in agreement that we would never return to Ho Chi Minh. We also found the people were less friendly as we travelled south.

All in all we had an absolutely incredible time and our favourite places were Hanoi and Hoi An. You made a great choice and we will certainly be going back again.

That is sad to hear about the rubbish in Halong Bay.
@SconeCreamAndJam seems as though you have booked a great trip!
Thanks for everyone's answers. For those who have been to Hanoi and Hoi An, are there any lovely restaurants or places to visit that you can recommend? We hear that there are amazing tailors in Hoi An. Did anyone get anything made when they were there?

We're looking at a trip to Vietnam, it would be our first really exotic holiday with DC. Has anyone been with Exodus or Explore on one of their family trips? Or who have you travelled with?

I used ay dong silk in Hoi an, not the cheapest but good quality. Ds and dh both had suits made

We organised the trip ourselves. Internal flights with viet jet, collection from airport by hotel or hired a car and driver, not expensive. I use the selective Asia website for itinerary ideas.