Honeymoon in Vietnam
Sep 26th, 2016, 08:08 AM
#1
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Honeymoon in Vietnam
Hello all,
My fiance and I are looking to go on our honeymoon in Vietnam. Neither of us have been to SE Asia before, and we are looking forward to our first experience there! We have 7-10 days, and I was wondering where I should look at going for that time. We plan on going in the middle or end of July.
It would be fun to have a few days to enjoy the culture and sight see, and a few days on a beach at a resort of some kind. We are trying to be cost effective, so nothing too expensive. I would really like to know where we should go to get the most out of the short amount of days we have.
Any ideas on where we should go?
Thanks!
My fiance and I are looking to go on our honeymoon in Vietnam. Neither of us have been to SE Asia before, and we are looking forward to our first experience there! We have 7-10 days, and I was wondering where I should look at going for that time. We plan on going in the middle or end of July.
It would be fun to have a few days to enjoy the culture and sight see, and a few days on a beach at a resort of some kind. We are trying to be cost effective, so nothing too expensive. I would really like to know where we should go to get the most out of the short amount of days we have.
Any ideas on where we should go?
Thanks!
Sep 26th, 2016, 08:17 AM
#2
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Several questions before trying got answer your questions:
What country's passport do you travel on? If you are on a US passport, traveling to VN has just become more expensive - at least $185 per person for the visa.
What are you interested in - what do you want to do/see/experience in VN?
Where will you be flying from? You will lose at least a day getting to VN from the US, Canada or Europe.
What country's passport do you travel on? If you are on a US passport, traveling to VN has just become more expensive - at least $185 per person for the visa.
What are you interested in - what do you want to do/see/experience in VN?
Where will you be flying from? You will lose at least a day getting to VN from the US, Canada or Europe.
Sep 26th, 2016, 01:06 PM
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July is a great time for central Vietnam. Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang and Nha Trang will all have great weather. The north and south i.e. Hanoi and Saigon are both firmly in their wet seasons so, much as I love both cities, I would probably avoid at that time of year.
Hue has the culture. Nha Trang and Da Nang have the beaches. Hoi An has a little of both. Hue and Hoi An would make a nice combination and Danang would be the most convenient airport.
As far as budget is concerned, if you provide an idea of the daily rate you would like to pay for accommodation, I am sure you will get some recommendations. Vietnam is one of the cheaper countries in SE Asia and offers great value. Food is very cheap and accommodation very reasonable.
Hue has the culture. Nha Trang and Da Nang have the beaches. Hoi An has a little of both. Hue and Hoi An would make a nice combination and Danang would be the most convenient airport.
As far as budget is concerned, if you provide an idea of the daily rate you would like to pay for accommodation, I am sure you will get some recommendations. Vietnam is one of the cheaper countries in SE Asia and offers great value. Food is very cheap and accommodation very reasonable.
Sep 26th, 2016, 05:36 PM
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We are traveling from the US, thanks for the info on the visa and travel time. We are pretty open on what we want to see, because we know with limited time we won't be able to see everything we would want to see. We also want to make sure we go where the weather would be best, so thanks for directing us away from Hanoi and Saigon.
I would love to go to both Hoi An and Hue.
We are looking for a combination of culture and relaxation. Anyone know of a resort in that area? What's the easiest way to get around in Vietnam? What's the average rate of accommodations in Vietnam? Thanks for you responses, extremely helpful!
I would love to go to both Hoi An and Hue.
We are looking for a combination of culture and relaxation. Anyone know of a resort in that area? What's the easiest way to get around in Vietnam? What's the average rate of accommodations in Vietnam? Thanks for you responses, extremely helpful!
Sep 26th, 2016, 10:53 PM
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You can securely arrange a visa online with www.vietnamvisapro.net @ $40 for their service including Visa Authority Letter PLUS on arrival $135 for the Visa stamp.
7 to 10 days isn't very long, so keep domestic travel to a minimum. I'd include Hoi An for part of your trip, it's v.touristy but also has that wow factor, especially from dusk onwards. You can get in some beach time there too.
Hoi an is a 90 minute flight from Saigon to Da Nang, and 40 minute taxi.
Dalat is v.pleasant, and a 30 minute flight from Saigon. You can fly from Dalat to Da Nang
Hue will really eat into your time.
On the other hand you might to arrive at Hanoi, and spend your time there, plus places like Sapa and Halong Bay.
There's loads of other options.
The cost of accommodation ranges from just a few dollars to hundreds. So long as it's clean and comfortable does me.
7 to 10 days isn't very long, so keep domestic travel to a minimum. I'd include Hoi An for part of your trip, it's v.touristy but also has that wow factor, especially from dusk onwards. You can get in some beach time there too.
Hoi an is a 90 minute flight from Saigon to Da Nang, and 40 minute taxi.
Dalat is v.pleasant, and a 30 minute flight from Saigon. You can fly from Dalat to Da Nang
Hue will really eat into your time.
On the other hand you might to arrive at Hanoi, and spend your time there, plus places like Sapa and Halong Bay.
There's loads of other options.
The cost of accommodation ranges from just a few dollars to hundreds. So long as it's clean and comfortable does me.
Sep 26th, 2016, 11:02 PM
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Just to give you an idea, we're staying here in February...
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...tay-Hanoi.html
...and it's costing $133 total for 5 nights B&B, including airport pick-up. If you look at their website they can arrange all sorts of tours, and is much cheaper than organising things from home.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...tay-Hanoi.html
...and it's costing $133 total for 5 nights B&B, including airport pick-up. If you look at their website they can arrange all sorts of tours, and is much cheaper than organising things from home.
Sep 26th, 2016, 11:06 PM
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Here's a recent thread on hotels in the Old Quarter in Hanoi...
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...ld-quarter.cfm
The options are endless.
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...ld-quarter.cfm
The options are endless.
Sep 26th, 2016, 11:12 PM
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Jfran- as I mentioned previously, if you provide an idea of what you want to spend, we can provide some suggestions. No point in suggesting $100 PM places if you only want to pay$10..
LL - when in Feb are you there? Just Hanoi? We may be around at the same time.
LL - when in Feb are you there? Just Hanoi? We may be around at the same time.
Sep 27th, 2016, 07:50 AM
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Asking what the average rate for accommodations is is VN is like asking what the average rate for accommodations is in the US. There is too much variation to give you any kind of answer.
As others have said, in VN in July you will want to be in central VN - Hoi An Hue, Da Nang. These are quite close together, and a car and driver is an easy and inexpensive way to get from place to place. If you were going to places farther away from each other (like to Hanoi or HCMC), you would want to fly.
Is VN the only place you are considering for your honeymoon? You might want to look at other options, just so you remember that you have choices. For instance, you could go to Thailand (Koh Samui is the beach area best at that time of the year) or to Bali, for example. With just a week, you want to choose a place and stay there, not hop around.
As others have said, in VN in July you will want to be in central VN - Hoi An Hue, Da Nang. These are quite close together, and a car and driver is an easy and inexpensive way to get from place to place. If you were going to places farther away from each other (like to Hanoi or HCMC), you would want to fly.
Is VN the only place you are considering for your honeymoon? You might want to look at other options, just so you remember that you have choices. For instance, you could go to Thailand (Koh Samui is the beach area best at that time of the year) or to Bali, for example. With just a week, you want to choose a place and stay there, not hop around.
Sep 27th, 2016, 07:52 AM
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Sorry, I wasn't sure what an average rate for stay would be, but it sounds like it's a wide range... We would be fine with $80-100 a night.
Someone previously mentioned that Hanoi and northern VN (and southern VN) has it's wet season when we plan to go in July, and I think I'd like to avoid that if possible.
I agree with avoiding extra travel time, with our time constrains.
Someone previously mentioned that Hanoi and northern VN (and southern VN) has it's wet season when we plan to go in July, and I think I'd like to avoid that if possible.
I agree with avoiding extra travel time, with our time constrains.
Sep 30th, 2016, 06:56 AM
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Vietnam, like Napoleon's army, moves on its belly. Eating is a dominant part of life, which means encountering the culture is deliciously done across a dining table. I've taken cooking classes in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. The hosts all stressed that food is culture. Compared to first-world cooking schools, the prices are very cheap and you get to eat the lessons. You can Google cooking schools in both of those cities. My favorite was in Hanoi, out of the kitchen and onto the sidewalks to eat the street food the way the residents do all through the day. I put some mighty strange flavours in my mouth but the conversations with the guides have lasted in memory even longer. The tour continued for over five hours and cost one and a half million dong. Don't flinch; that's under $60 US. http://hanoicookingcentre.com/ But search around; there are plenty of other places on line. You do get what you pay for.
And while I am talking with my mouth full, the last time I was there I found new, and mostly huge, brewpubs in both cities and I expect there will be more now. Vietnamese drink beer as eagerly as tea. But avoid at all costs the habit of dunking an ice cube into a beer glass, without asking the tourist with a delicate tummy.
And while I am talking with my mouth full, the last time I was there I found new, and mostly huge, brewpubs in both cities and I expect there will be more now. Vietnamese drink beer as eagerly as tea. But avoid at all costs the habit of dunking an ice cube into a beer glass, without asking the tourist with a delicate tummy.
