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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Vietnam 2024

35 replies

Vkcs20 · 31/01/2024 18:50

Hi all

We are going to North Vietnam in August.

Started doing my research and planning a luxury cruise on Halong Bay.

So many cruise companies and most of them with good google and TripAdvisor reviews.

Narrowed down my list to Aspira, Orchid, Doris, Mon Cheri, Genesis and Paradise. Most of them are around $650 for a 2 night cruise. Has anyone done a cruise with these companies? Or any HaLong Bay cruise? Any feedback?

Will be spending some time in Hanoi and Ninh Binh too, if anyone has got any experience to share. Most welcome.

OP posts:
Readytoevolve · 25/03/2024 02:51

Hanoi 2/3 nights to induct to Vietnamese life, go shopping and check out the sites.

Halong 2 nights.

Ning binh is extraordinary. Good choice.

Hue has little to offer, so don’t bother.

Hoi An 100%, 3/4 nights.

Stowickthevast · 25/03/2024 12:16

@Vkcs20 we went in 2022. I actually really liked Hue - we spent a day doing a moped tour round a few of the ancient sites and it was very atmospheric - like something out of an Indiana Jones film with old buildings in the jungle. A day and a night is probably enough. But we also did a moped ride from Hue to Hoi An which was really fun and probably the DC's highlight of the trip.

For Hanoi, there's a student street food tour that's amazing. Basically in exchange for practising their English, students take you round some street food places. So delicious!

Original poster
Vkcs20 · 25/03/2024 21:22

farnworth · 24/03/2024 21:41

@Vkcs20 Really pleased you are now going to Sapa - heard glowing comments about it. Plus you are evidently going at perfect time of the year to see the rice fields (and patterns) at its lushest /most colourful, plus the best temperature. I think it will make a great contrast to the heat and bustle of Hanoi…

We found some of the Hanoi restaurants very touristy and food only ok / very geared to Western taste. We did really like the Met chain - although they are quite bright inside, and there were lots of tourists in them, we thought the food delicious and the staff great. We also did a street food tour which we loved. Vietnamese food was definitely a highlight of the trip….
I agree with @StoneColdAlibi that you don’t need 6 nights in Hanoi - especially as it will be far hotter when you are there. An air conditioned bedroom will also be crucial!

Oh Met is on our list! Have so many restaurants and massage places we want to try out in Hanoi. Might even get some tailored shirts.

Didn't want to travel too much and go to too many places but everyone keeps talking about Sapa so decided to add it to the itinerary. It's just over 5 hrs drive from Hanoi and we will have to come back to Hanoi one day before of cruise.

Hanoi (5)
Sapa (3)
Hanoi (1)
Halong Bay (2) cruise+(1)
Ninh Binh/TamCoc (3)

OP posts:
Original poster
Vkcs20 · 25/03/2024 21:28

farnworth · 23/03/2024 07:26

Back and had a wonderful time.
Hanoi was fascinating- but chaotic and busy! We felt slightly overwhelmed on the first day but it ended up being very easy to get about. Interesting sites to visit. Lots of good restaurants and bars - amazing inventive cocktails at Ne cocktail bar! We stayed very close to the lake in the old town - really nice to escape from the non stop traffic and wander round the lake. I would recommend a guided tour - really interesting to talk to locals about their life experiences.
(We personally found Hanoi cheapest and easiest place to get clothes washed. Other tip, think carefully about what you take - temperature can vary greatly week to week and between different areas.)
We didn’t try cycling in Hanoi - roads too chaotic for us!

We loved Halong Bay trip - only did one night, wish we’d done two! It made a very chilled contrast to Hanoi.

We loved Nimh Binh area - stayed at a very peaceful resort just outside Tam Coc (very much a backpacker/tourist town). Best place to cycle round out of our stays - roads much quieter, very flat, some good cycle tracks. Lovely lush green landscape, very atmospheric. You can do different little boat trips from Tam Coc, but we did a glorious one at Van Long nature reserve (where they filmed Kong, Skull island!)

@kidyounot2 Had one night stopover in Hue and saw the citadel which is quite impressive but much of it is a reconstruction. In hindsight we would have definitely skipped Hue, as it meant extra travelling and yet another hotel entailing the nightly hunt for what I needed from the suitcases.
I personally would pick Hoi An over Hue. We did find Hoi A very touristy and very busy, but lots of people find it fun - lots of attractive looking coffee shops and bars, boats with lanterns hanging, clothes/gift/leather shops. Plus it’s a few km from a glorious long stretch of sandy beach, (can walk for miles) and you can get out and cycle in area. (Again very flat). Look for a hotel that’s at least 10 minutes walk from the old town where reviewers comment on it being peaceful!

You will need quite a few jabs - our local GP has a travel clinic and did most jobs free. Worth checking a few months ahead if possible. Rabies jabs are recommended- current shortage - so again sort sooner rather than later!
I normally get badly bitten by mosquitoes - Jungle Formula max strength worked really well!

I wish we had also looked at going north of Hanoi to mountains - various people really recommended it.

Hope you all love your trips. We will be going back!

Which hotel did you stay at in Ninh Binh/Tamcoc if you don't mind me asking?

OP posts:
Muckingpuddle · 26/03/2024 05:33

We booked one of them cruises a few years ago. It got cancelled while we were in the bus heading there due to a storm. We just got dumped in Hanoi with nowhere to stay.

Found a hotel no problem but keep that in mind that plans do and can change with the weather.

Mia85 · 26/03/2024 14:00

We are thinking of something similar at the same kind of time but are a bit worried about the weather in Sapa/NinhBinh/Halong Bay so wondering about spending more of our time in the central area. Has anyone been to these areas in August?

ShanghaiDiva · 26/03/2024 19:52

Central Vietnam is dry in July/August but not a good time to visit Sapa.

ShanghaiDiva · 26/03/2024 19:53

Sapa is great - we got the overnight train which was fun.

farnworth · 26/03/2024 20:19

@Vkcs20
We stayed in Namh Village as it had come highly recommended. It was incredibly lovely and peaceful, and I would love to go back - but it did cost more than a lot of other places. I personally would look for one just a little out of the main part of Tam Coc and also check it isn’t one that won’t be full of student backpackers. (unless that is your thing!)

Mia85 · 28/03/2024 18:19

farnworth · 26/03/2024 20:19

@Vkcs20
We stayed in Namh Village as it had come highly recommended. It was incredibly lovely and peaceful, and I would love to go back - but it did cost more than a lot of other places. I personally would look for one just a little out of the main part of Tam Coc and also check it isn’t one that won’t be full of student backpackers. (unless that is your thing!)

Do you remember what time of year it was? It looks lovely but am not sure whether it is worth the days in the summer. So many amazing places and not enough time!

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