eurotraveller

I just googled for this and realized APEC will be in Hanoi at the same time I will be.

I am guessing they won't be staying in budget accomodations, right? I will be and I haven't booked my room yet because my flight isn't confirmed.

Will this conference affect everything around Hanoi? I am wondering if I should just head straight up to Mai Chau or Sapa upon my arrival.

I would love to hear from someone who has had the experience of being in a city when APEC has their conference there.

Thanks!

mrwunrfl

e.t., I don't have that experience but I can nonetheless guarantee that the conventioneers will not be staying in budget accommodations. The Sofitel Plaza is sold out but you could still get a room at the Sofitel Metropole for $220 (compared with $170 for Nov. 30) for the 15th. So the conventioneers still have 4* options.

Kathie

Tamara, it will affect everything and everyone. Security is very tight. Make sure you have the right kind of visa (a 30 day one, not a 15 day one) as they suspend admission of people with 15 day visas to VN for the time around APEC. If I were you, I'd head elsewhere, come back to Hanoi when it's over.

Wirebender

E.T. We had plans earlier this year to visit Hanoi in Nov and unknown to us, during the APEC conference. The couple we were traveling with had reservations, or so they thought, at the Metropole until their travel agent called and said the government had taken over the hotel for the conference and they no longer had a room there. So we eliminated Hanoi and decided to go to Cambodia.
So I would be VERY careful where you make reservations, as you may not have them for long.
I would skip Hanoi during this APEC period and go elsewhere.

mrwunrfl

Really, it is that big of a deal? How many people?

eurotraveller

Hmmm... It might be interesting to be there during this time. I was in on my way from Ancona to Rome a couple of years ago via train and the train filled up with Bush protesters. Tehy were all on their way to Rome because Bush was there for a conference. The streets were filled with riot police and protesters and several streets were closed but I found it an exciting time to be there and I didn't mind it a bit.

As I mentioned in my original post, I will be staying in budget accomodations so I doubt I will have an issue there.

It may be a bit more crowded and security a little tighter but what are the other pitfalls?

I am specifically going there at this time because I have a friend from Portland that is going to be there on those nights with her husband and we want to meet up for dinner. I would hate to miss out on this chance meeting on the other side of the world due to an APEC meeting!

Kathie

There are lots of people involved in the APEC meeting, not just the delegates, of course, but also all kinds of support people, the press, etc.

A few years ago, APEC met in Laos, (Vientiane) and they allowed no foreigners in the city not only during the conference, but also for a few days before and after. They cleared everyone out of the hotels and guesthouses and if you landed at the airport, you were required to take a connecting flight or a bus out of the city immediately!

Hanoi has not taken those kinds of measures in the past for APEC meetings. However, there have been plenty of reports of hotel reservations being cancelled, etc. I doubt that being in Hanoi at that time will be very exciting, but it may have lots of logistical problems (hotels, restaurants, etc).

Tamara, you may want to contact your friends and see if they know about APEC and whether they are still planning on being in Hanoi at that time.