Craig & Jeane Make Plans for April 2009 in Vietnam
Jul 9th, 2008, 06:40 AM
#21
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Thanks for all of your comments. Looks like I have some work to do.
Eks - I brought up your trip report and am slogging through it - missed it the first time around as I was recovering from my Sri Lanka trip when you started it. Got to check Femi's report too. Hanoi, Hue and NW might work...
Lyndie - makes sense to look further off the beaten track (congrads on the lottery win!)
Dogster - hopefully in the short time we have we can find a way to get "OUT THERE".
Kristina - we'll be in Bangkok at the end of the trip so we will have to take it easy our first day in Hanoi.
Eks - I brought up your trip report and am slogging through it - missed it the first time around as I was recovering from my Sri Lanka trip when you started it. Got to check Femi's report too. Hanoi, Hue and NW might work...
Lyndie - makes sense to look further off the beaten track (congrads on the lottery win!)
Dogster - hopefully in the short time we have we can find a way to get "OUT THERE".
Kristina - we'll be in Bangkok at the end of the trip so we will have to take it easy our first day in Hanoi.
Jul 9th, 2008, 06:57 AM
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Hi Craig and Jeane!
Sapa is so heavily touristed, you will be harassed non-stop by the hilltribe ladies selling things. Having said that, some of the women do have some amazing textiles if you're into that sort of thing and I believe their handiwork will soon become extinct as more and more respond to demand by machine making them. We had a very pleasant experience because we were there to buy things, if we weren't in the market, it would have been annoying. As it was we bought some hand embroidered panels that we came home and sold in a trunk show and almost apaid for our trip!
The scenery in Sapa is amazing and if you will go on at least an overnight trek, you can get away from the hordes and have a bit or a more authentic experience. The photo ops are great, so there's that.
Last trip to VN I took a three day trek in Mai Chau (a couple hours away by car from Hanoi) and that trip was much more off the beaten path. The villagers actually ran away from us in fact. Amazing scenery. Wonderful homestays.
I found Halong Bay to be so-so. If you really needed a rest, it would be great, but I got bored pretty quickly.
Do photos help?
Sapa and surrounds:
http://www.pbase.com/loricarlson/sapa&page=all
Mai Chau and Halong:
http://www.pbase.com/loricarlson/mai...g&page=all
BTW I've stayed at the DeSyloia ( a good value, centrally located, a rare mid-range find in Hanoi) and the Metropole. Unless you're on a budget, splurge for the Metropole historic wing. Can't beat the romance of that place!
Sapa is so heavily touristed, you will be harassed non-stop by the hilltribe ladies selling things. Having said that, some of the women do have some amazing textiles if you're into that sort of thing and I believe their handiwork will soon become extinct as more and more respond to demand by machine making them. We had a very pleasant experience because we were there to buy things, if we weren't in the market, it would have been annoying. As it was we bought some hand embroidered panels that we came home and sold in a trunk show and almost apaid for our trip!
The scenery in Sapa is amazing and if you will go on at least an overnight trek, you can get away from the hordes and have a bit or a more authentic experience. The photo ops are great, so there's that.
Last trip to VN I took a three day trek in Mai Chau (a couple hours away by car from Hanoi) and that trip was much more off the beaten path. The villagers actually ran away from us in fact. Amazing scenery. Wonderful homestays.
I found Halong Bay to be so-so. If you really needed a rest, it would be great, but I got bored pretty quickly.
Do photos help?
Sapa and surrounds:
http://www.pbase.com/loricarlson/sapa&page=all
Mai Chau and Halong:
http://www.pbase.com/loricarlson/mai...g&page=all
BTW I've stayed at the DeSyloia ( a good value, centrally located, a rare mid-range find in Hanoi) and the Metropole. Unless you're on a budget, splurge for the Metropole historic wing. Can't beat the romance of that place!
Jul 9th, 2008, 07:05 AM
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Forgot to mention one other thing
If you do go up to Sapa, I found the market at Bac Ha worth journeying to. I can't remember exactly, but I think it's only on held on Sunday.
Photo ops galore, scary foodstuffs in abundance, everyone with big bongs full of questionable substances.
http://www.pbase.com/loricarlson/bacha&page=all
If you do go up to Sapa, I found the market at Bac Ha worth journeying to. I can't remember exactly, but I think it's only on held on Sunday.
Photo ops galore, scary foodstuffs in abundance, everyone with big bongs full of questionable substances.
http://www.pbase.com/loricarlson/bacha&page=all
Jul 10th, 2008, 10:44 AM
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Hi Craig,
I'm also sorry you won't be going to PNG, I was looking forward to that report.
If I were to return to Vietnam, the only place I wouldn't mind re-visiting would be Sapa. It takes very little effort (<10 minutes by car) to get away from touristy downtown. I spent more time than most in Sapa, but was quite happy with that.
And remember, it's only because the area is so touristed that so many of the tribes people speak English. Far more satisfying to speak to them without having to rely on my guide's (censored) interpretation.
We did Halong Bay as a day trip and that was enough for me. Dogster was pretty spot-on. Yup, it was overcast. Of course I can say now that it was no big deal, but if I hadn't done it, I would really feel like I'd missed out.
I like the plan that includes spending your time at Halong Bay, Hanoi and Sapa.
Seeing as we tend to like similar hotels, I think you would be pleased with the Metropole in Hanoi. In Sapa it would be the Victoria.
I'm also sorry you won't be going to PNG, I was looking forward to that report.
If I were to return to Vietnam, the only place I wouldn't mind re-visiting would be Sapa. It takes very little effort (<10 minutes by car) to get away from touristy downtown. I spent more time than most in Sapa, but was quite happy with that.
And remember, it's only because the area is so touristed that so many of the tribes people speak English. Far more satisfying to speak to them without having to rely on my guide's (censored) interpretation.
We did Halong Bay as a day trip and that was enough for me. Dogster was pretty spot-on. Yup, it was overcast. Of course I can say now that it was no big deal, but if I hadn't done it, I would really feel like I'd missed out.
I like the plan that includes spending your time at Halong Bay, Hanoi and Sapa.
Seeing as we tend to like similar hotels, I think you would be pleased with the Metropole in Hanoi. In Sapa it would be the Victoria.
