Splitting time between Hoi An and Hue
Nov 22nd, 2015, 04:41 AM
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Splitting time between Hoi An and Hue
For the past month or so I have been putting together an itinerary for SE Asia, the second leg of an eight-week New Zealand—SE Asia—Japan trip.
As things stand right now, we arrive in Hanoi on February 29, 2016. We fly to Luang Prabang on March 5, and then on to Siem Reap on March 9.
It's the next part where I need a reasonableness check. The tentative plan is to fly from Siem Reap to Da Nang on the evening of March 14, 2016, and then back to Hanoi on the afternoon of March 21.
I think we'd like to visit both Hoi An and Hue, so the question becomes: what's a reasonable split between the two? We would arrive in Da Nang at 2045 on March 14, then taxi to Hoi An. We could spend three full days there, allowing a day-trip to My Son, and then get a drive to Hue on March 18. We'd return to Da Nang in the late afternoon of March 20, visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture on the morning of March 21, and then catch the 1320 flight to Hanoi that afternoon. (We are booked to fly HAN-HND on the afternoon of March 22.)
Are we overdoing one or the other? We like historic sites, but are equally happy on food tours, at cooking lessons, poking through markets, or lounging about in cafés.
If you have any observations or advice, I'd be grateful.
As things stand right now, we arrive in Hanoi on February 29, 2016. We fly to Luang Prabang on March 5, and then on to Siem Reap on March 9.
It's the next part where I need a reasonableness check. The tentative plan is to fly from Siem Reap to Da Nang on the evening of March 14, 2016, and then back to Hanoi on the afternoon of March 21.
I think we'd like to visit both Hoi An and Hue, so the question becomes: what's a reasonable split between the two? We would arrive in Da Nang at 2045 on March 14, then taxi to Hoi An. We could spend three full days there, allowing a day-trip to My Son, and then get a drive to Hue on March 18. We'd return to Da Nang in the late afternoon of March 20, visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture on the morning of March 21, and then catch the 1320 flight to Hanoi that afternoon. (We are booked to fly HAN-HND on the afternoon of March 22.)
Are we overdoing one or the other? We like historic sites, but are equally happy on food tours, at cooking lessons, poking through markets, or lounging about in cafés.
If you have any observations or advice, I'd be grateful.
Nov 22nd, 2015, 05:52 AM
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We spent a couple of weeks apiece in Hoi An and Hue earlier this year. We enjoyed our time in both but they are very different. In essence, I think you have the split about right.
Hoi An is very quaint and pretty but jam packed with tourists. Great place for cooking lessons and chilling out in the many cafes. Many good restaurants around, some of which you will need to reserve in advance.
Hue of course, has the The Imperial Citadel and the tombs. The former is walking distance of the centre ( across the river) and has a great market nearby as well as my favourite restaurant in Vietnam, Lac Thien ( don't miss it and make sure you pick the "right" one!). There are lots of other great places to eat in the city at all levels.
The tombs are more spread out and can take time to get around. Tours costing around $10-15 pp are the usual way of getting to see maybe three in one day. Alternatively, hire bikes to cycle out to some of the closer tombs or maybe a river trip to Thien Mu Pagoda.
From memory a taxi from da Nang to Hoi An was around $10 and from Hoi an to Hue was around $60 over the Hai Van pass inc. a stop at the marble mountain. There is also the train which is a nice ride.
Hoi An is very quaint and pretty but jam packed with tourists. Great place for cooking lessons and chilling out in the many cafes. Many good restaurants around, some of which you will need to reserve in advance.
Hue of course, has the The Imperial Citadel and the tombs. The former is walking distance of the centre ( across the river) and has a great market nearby as well as my favourite restaurant in Vietnam, Lac Thien ( don't miss it and make sure you pick the "right" one!). There are lots of other great places to eat in the city at all levels.
The tombs are more spread out and can take time to get around. Tours costing around $10-15 pp are the usual way of getting to see maybe three in one day. Alternatively, hire bikes to cycle out to some of the closer tombs or maybe a river trip to Thien Mu Pagoda.
From memory a taxi from da Nang to Hoi An was around $10 and from Hoi an to Hue was around $60 over the Hai Van pass inc. a stop at the marble mountain. There is also the train which is a nice ride.
Nov 22nd, 2015, 10:04 AM
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Spent a week in Hoi An in September, and loved it. Stayed at Travel Lodge hotel [recommended by Crellston].
Stayed in Danang too. Visited the Museum of Cham Sculpture, but was totally underwhelmed.
Get the train from Danang to Hue. It's very scenic, and you get a lot closer to the scenery on a train than you will from the road. There's a train leaves Danang @ 0835. We went 3rd Class and only paid 42k dong each.
We got rained out in Hue for 5 days.
Stayed in Danang too. Visited the Museum of Cham Sculpture, but was totally underwhelmed.
Get the train from Danang to Hue. It's very scenic, and you get a lot closer to the scenery on a train than you will from the road. There's a train leaves Danang @ 0835. We went 3rd Class and only paid 42k dong each.
We got rained out in Hue for 5 days.
Nov 22nd, 2015, 10:11 AM
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Thanks, crellston, that's reassuring information.
On a related note, I have been looking at accommodation in Hoi An and noticed a thread from last summer in which you recommended the Travel Lodge in Hoi An. They are still offering a nice discount on their web site, so I'll book that when we firm this up.
shelleyk, great follow-up questions!
On a related note, I have been looking at accommodation in Hoi An and noticed a thread from last summer in which you recommended the Travel Lodge in Hoi An. They are still offering a nice discount on their web site, so I'll book that when we firm this up.
shelleyk, great follow-up questions!
Nov 22nd, 2015, 10:14 AM
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LancasterLad, we were posting at the same time. The thread I saw included a conversation between you and crellston about the Travel Lodge.
I'll take a look at the train. Northbound, I think, from Da Nang to Hue, and then perhaps a car and driver on the return leg.
I'll take a look at the train. Northbound, I think, from Da Nang to Hue, and then perhaps a car and driver on the return leg.
Nov 22nd, 2015, 11:58 AM
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Shelleyk, the "right" Lac Thien is the one furthest from the main riverside road. The other is called Lac Than ( or something like that! ) is right next door but the food is just not in the same class. It is the brother of Lac Lac Thien - most of the family are deaf mute but outstanding communicators. Be sure to order a couple of beers and you may be lucky and be given one of their iconic bottle openers.
A link to the TA page http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur..._Province.html
Travelogue is a good choice Anselm.
Didn't get around to a cooking class but did look at one or two. Morning Glory seemed to be the most popular and there was one across the river that looked interesting, set in a sort of indoor market. Will rack my brain to try and recall the name!
A link to class info on travel fish http://www.travelfish.org/sight_prof...nam/hoi_an/717
A link to the TA page http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur..._Province.html
Travelogue is a good choice Anselm.
Didn't get around to a cooking class but did look at one or two. Morning Glory seemed to be the most popular and there was one across the river that looked interesting, set in a sort of indoor market. Will rack my brain to try and recall the name!
A link to class info on travel fish http://www.travelfish.org/sight_prof...nam/hoi_an/717
Nov 24th, 2015, 09:43 AM
#9
I am not up to date on Visas but when we went to VN from the US if you enter more than one time you needed an multiple entry visa which was more expensive.
I agree that you have the time split well. As mentioned they are very different, but I found them both very enjoyable.
I agree that you have the time split well. As mentioned they are very different, but I found them both very enjoyable.
