Private tour guides for cruise ships visiting Vietnam
Feb 15th, 2011, 10:58 PM
#1
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Private tour guides for cruise ships visiting Vietnam
Dear Fodorites, I am stumped!
So looking to your wonderful advice once again on the land portion of our March, 2011 cruise.
In the past we have found having our own guide/driver allows us to see more and learn about local history at our own pace, we love the easier access to historical sites as well.
(We will skip the tunnels in Saigon!). We are foodies, love antiquities and cultural events. Of course we cant wait to meet the charming people who we hear are in abundance in Vietnam.
Can anyone assist with recommendations in the following cities:
1. We are docked in Saigon for two days.
(We were thinking taking the Saigon River Express to the Mekong Delta one day. Is that a good trip? Sounds better than sitting in a car for a couple of hours. Can we do that from a cruise ship?)
2. Then, half Day in Nha Trang
3. A day in Chan May (Hue/Danang)
Can't make up our minds which place to visit in one day. Can we visit both?
4. Then a day in Haiphong where we would like to visit Hanoi and its fabulous sites.
Any suggestions would be gratefully received. Thank you in advance for your experience and wisdom!
So looking to your wonderful advice once again on the land portion of our March, 2011 cruise.
In the past we have found having our own guide/driver allows us to see more and learn about local history at our own pace, we love the easier access to historical sites as well.
(We will skip the tunnels in Saigon!). We are foodies, love antiquities and cultural events. Of course we cant wait to meet the charming people who we hear are in abundance in Vietnam.
Can anyone assist with recommendations in the following cities:
1. We are docked in Saigon for two days.
(We were thinking taking the Saigon River Express to the Mekong Delta one day. Is that a good trip? Sounds better than sitting in a car for a couple of hours. Can we do that from a cruise ship?)
2. Then, half Day in Nha Trang
3. A day in Chan May (Hue/Danang)
Can't make up our minds which place to visit in one day. Can we visit both?
4. Then a day in Haiphong where we would like to visit Hanoi and its fabulous sites.
Any suggestions would be gratefully received. Thank you in advance for your experience and wisdom!
Feb 16th, 2011, 08:06 AM
#3
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haiphong is basically a boring town... it is quite far by car from hanoi for a day trip---maybe 3 hours each way...
you could hire a car and driver to drive you around town and see the few sites and then out along the coast... that is what we did....our hotel in hp arranged the car for us... i think it was just a taxi and the manager told him where to take us... it was very reasonable...
i would consider an overnight in hanoi, away from the ship, if you have time---stay in the old town....we loved the gia boa grand hotel---under $100.
you could hire a car and driver to drive you around town and see the few sites and then out along the coast... that is what we did....our hotel in hp arranged the car for us... i think it was just a taxi and the manager told him where to take us... it was very reasonable...
i would consider an overnight in hanoi, away from the ship, if you have time---stay in the old town....we loved the gia boa grand hotel---under $100.
Feb 16th, 2011, 09:07 AM
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The problem is that cruise ships often dock far away from the places you really want to see.
The day you dock at Chan May, you'll need to decide which place you want to visit - no time to visit both.
And from Haiphong, it is a long drive to Hanoi. Hanoi is a fascinating city, so take as much time as you can there.
You don't really need a guide for these places, but you do need a car and driver.
The day you dock at Chan May, you'll need to decide which place you want to visit - no time to visit both.
And from Haiphong, it is a long drive to Hanoi. Hanoi is a fascinating city, so take as much time as you can there.
You don't really need a guide for these places, but you do need a car and driver.
Feb 16th, 2011, 09:17 AM
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sf7307 My apologies...I did not spell it out our itinerary clearly.
We are on a cruise so will be sailing along the Vietnam coast departing Singapore stopping in Saigon, Nha Trang, Chan May, Ha Long Bay, Haiphong then to Hong Kong. We will have to drive to and from the ship in one day but it gets in early AM and departs late at night.
rhkkmk . Thanks so much for the information about how long it takes to get from Haiphong to Hanoi. Will factor that into our planning. We definitely want to visit Hanoi so will need a driver for that I guess unless the ship has a bus that takes passengers there. Your point is a really good one, and much appreciated. It will be a long day that is for sure.
Fodorites are the best!
We are on a cruise so will be sailing along the Vietnam coast departing Singapore stopping in Saigon, Nha Trang, Chan May, Ha Long Bay, Haiphong then to Hong Kong. We will have to drive to and from the ship in one day but it gets in early AM and departs late at night.
rhkkmk . Thanks so much for the information about how long it takes to get from Haiphong to Hanoi. Will factor that into our planning. We definitely want to visit Hanoi so will need a driver for that I guess unless the ship has a bus that takes passengers there. Your point is a really good one, and much appreciated. It will be a long day that is for sure.
Fodorites are the best!
