Jacketwatch: I have been in touch with Tri Dung Nguyen and he is arranging a tour for my wife and I.
I wish to suggest a day tour on Feb. 11 touring Saigon in 7 hours :
Pickup - Chinatown - Visit Heavenly Lady temple - Downtown Saigon - Post Office and Cathedral - Photo stop at Independence Palace - Lunch at Pho 2000 - Visit Ben Thanh Central market - Visit Hi-end shopping road, Catinat, in Saigon - Museum - Visit Handicapped arts showroom - End of tour - Return to hotel

Tour price : US$189/ 2 pax or US$94.5 per person fỏ group of 2.
Inclusive services :
Car & ES Guide
Entrance tickets
Lunch & Drink
Photos
Bottled water

Regards,
Zoom
Nguyen Tri DungThank you for the recommendation. I will certainly let everyone know how this tour turned out!

Very good! I am sure you will enjoy his services. He’s a gentleman. :tu:. Thank you for letting me know.

Crellston: I am receiving a full refund from the company that I had paid for the Cambodia Visas! I wrote an email to them which was both respectful and firm that since I hadn't completed the application process ( no passport photos) and their site did not fully explain the process that i should receive a refund...and they agreed! So upon your advice we will get our visas at the Phnom Penh airport on arrival! Thanks for your help.

Leaving on our trip tomorrow evening!

Anticipating a bit of a letdown as I didn't realize until after all the reservations were made that we arrive in Hanoi on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Many restaurants, museums, places of interests will be closed during our time here and although there will be colorful celebrations going on it is disappointing, If anyone has any suggestions for being in Hanoi at this time I would appreciate them.

In any case sending out my thanks to everyone who too took the time to help us on our first trip to Southeast Asia!

I have not been in Hanoi during Lunar NY, but have been in Thailand a couple of times at different places and Hong Kong, I never had a problem finding things that are open and to do. Right now i am in Sri Lanka which is getting a huge influx of Chinese visitors. I think you’ll be fine. Enjoy your trip!

I have been in Hanoi a couple of times over Tet. The first time was 25 or so years ago when everywhere seem to be closed was closed and we even struggled to find anywhere to eat. The last time I think was 4-5 years ago and much more was open, more restaurants certainly. I think the museums will mostly be closed but the temples and pagodas will likely be busy.

The first day of Tet is the most important and when more places will be closed. After that te city seemed to come back to life, albeit gradually. The area of the old quarter north of Hoan Kiem lake always seems busy and that may be a good place to head to. One years they closed off the road at the top of the lake and put on a circus for a couple of nights which was fun. I think the water puppets are always open.

if you have flexibility, it might be an idea to head out to one of the villages close to Hanoi, say one in the Mai Chau Valley where Vietnamese hospitality will be in full swing. We spent a very enjoyable evening in the company of the local party cadre president who was hosting a party for his family and some students from Hanoi Uni. If you do want to experience Tet in the countryside, an agency like Ethnic Travel May be your best at this late stage.

A shame that you weren’t aware of it, but I don’t think all is lost. It is a very atmospheric time to be in Hanoi with all the celebrations, the burning of teh ghost money in te streets etc. Good luck

Bon Voyage!!

All the best.

Larry

You are going to write a trip report when you get back aren't you!!!

I second that :blush:

FEW restaurants are closed because it is a very touristy time for the Viet an the Chinese. Some museums close for 2 days, pagodas and temples are open since the Asians go to pray. PLUS, lots of festivities in the streets. So, you will have an excellent time

I will most definitely write a trip report! In fact it starts tonight as we begin our 21 hour, 1 stopover in Hong Kong flight to Hanoi! In the past 48 hours I have arranged for a walking tour in Hanoi (despite the Tet New Year), a vegetarian cooking class in Hanoi ( the day before we head home) and a day trip down the Mekong Delta! Also received our first delayed flight noitice from Hanoi to Da Nang. This is going to be a very interesting trip!

I am a retired Theater Director/Acting Teacher and each trip that I plan is like the opening night of one of my productions. I have done all the research, "staging", dealt with all of the obstacles and now we are ready to go!! Thanks again!

Have a fantastic trip! I look forward to reading all about it.

A quick update on our Southeast Asia trip so far: Due to the Coronavirus we ended up canceling our plans to fly to Da Nang for 3 days and instead stayed in Hanoi. While we were able to get a full refund on our flight we were charged 50% for our hotel in Da Nang. We then flew to Hoi An for 4 days and unfortunately both my wife and I ended up with a 24 hour stomach issue. We flew from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City and originally planned only 4 days here and one of those days was to spend a full day on a tour of the Mekong Delta. Unfortunately, my wife ended up with an infection in her ankle causing her to seek medical attention ( excellent staff and facilities) and the Doctor advised her not to travel for a few days thus cancelling our Mekong Delta Tour and 3 days flying into Phnom Penh. Loss of trip, flight and hotel! Hopefully, our next flight and stay in Siem Reap and Luang Prabang will go well as my wife is slowly healing. Our only other issue will be flying home from Hanoi through Hong Kong airport ( which we understand so far will be okay for us back to the USA)..Despite the obstacles we have loved our stays in Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An and now Ho Chi Minh City. Always attempting to making Lemonade out of life dealing you Lemons!

My goodness, so sorry to hear of your travel woes. Glad your wife got good care. Hope you have smooth sailing ahead.

Can you please tell us why you couldn't fly to Da Nang because of the Coronovirus but could fly to Hoi An? Is there a problem flying into that airport? But then you could fly out of Da Nang a few days later?

The reason why we cancelled our 3 days in Da Nang started with the concierge at our hotel in Hanoi. He informed us that 20 or more individuals from the Chinese region where the virus had started were being quarantined in Da Nang and that several tourists sights were closed. We learned that Da Nang receives many visitors from the region of the virus each year who visit the few tourist sights we were interested in seeing in Da Nang. So our decision was made to cancel! The irony is we then stayed in Hanoi 3 extra days ( and loved what we ended up doing including a wonderful vegetarian cooking class) and visiting several museums that we wouldn't have seen. We flew directly to Hue and then had a car drive us to Hoi An. During the car ride we were able to visit the Hai Van Pass, a beach near Da Nang and drive through downtown Da Nang. So it all worked out for us!

Sorry to hear of how your plans were adversely affected and that you had to bite some losses but its great to hear your plan "B" and how you made the best of it.

Upset tummies do happen. I had a day recently of raging "Delhi Belly" with emesis and diarrhea but it was short lived. What was puzzling is we ate only home cooked, drank bottled water that had then been boiled so who knows how it happened but that's life. Thank God it wasn't more.

You do seem to be making the best of it! Bravo!

Larry

Thanks, allyboy.

allyboy, Glad to hear you’re still having a great trip despite the different challenges, smaller and larger, that have arisen.

Have a great rest of your trip!

Good to hear it is all working out for you despite the various challenges you face. A good move to spend as litt
e time in Da Nang which is renowned for its swathe of mega hotels catering mainly to the Chinese tour group market. You really didn’t miss much.

as you say - lemons and lemonade - a great attitude when travelling anywhere!

Yes, ability (and willingness!) to come up with Plan B (C, D...) on the fly very important for good travel. I would be a bit worried about Hong Kong, hope it works out and you stay healthy.

Glad that you're having a great time even with the health issues and the Wuhan virus situation.

I agree as to having a plan B/C/D if possible. I remember years ago when I was all set to go to Bangkok, but then the Yellow Shirt protestors took over the international airport and shut it down and many were stranded. It had recently reopened by the time I was to fly there, but I wasn't taking a chance as I couldn't chance it possibly happening again and thus be stuck there and not get home in time to go back to work. So, I went into Plan B mode and in a short period of time, flew off to Argentina instead which was a trip that had been planned for that upcoming summer instead of December/January. By the time I got home from Argentina, Thai Air had refunded me 100% of my airfare.

Happy Travels!

people overlook the most common cause of transmission of viruses & bacteria, that is hand to mouth.
Your own hands touch a lot of unpleasant stuff during day's tourism and it isn't hard to see how you can infect yourself with either a virus or bacteria.

True. We were careful but who knows. Could have been bad food too. In any case it was short lived.
Thank you.

It was not 20 quarantined in Danang, but 12, including 7Chinese and 1 Czech. All have been released. As of today, 16 cases of the virus in Vietnam, proportionally LESS than in France (12 cases out of 66 million inhabitants) than in Vietnam (97 million). INFINITESIMAL risk, the Viet Government took strong measures starting end of January, including banning all flights between China and Vietnam starting 1 February (later lifted for Hong Kong flights), a very courageous decision considering that, in 2019, there was 1.5 million Chinese tourists in the country.

The latest Corona news from Vietnam are ; very few new cases, immediately taken care of ; no new deaths since mid-2020 (35 victims).and people living in Vietnam can travel throughout the country . On another side, the borders are still closed to foreign visitors (they were closed on 22 March 2020) except diplomats and officials, experts, investors, and skilled workers , many touristy-sites hotels are closed, ; in Hanoi, all the best restaurants are closed except 2 or 3, some for good, because of high rent . There are talks about the Government opening the borders to vaccinated foreign tourists in September, but absolutely nothing certain.

Thanks for the update. Hoping to be allowed in (without quarantine) in November.

I think the main problem will be going to multiple countries and meeting all their visitor regulations.
You also need to confirm that the countries you intend to visit are permitting visitors from your country. This may change as Covid figures in your home country change and the viral strains change.
I would thoroughly recommend subscribing to your home country's "Vaxport" system.

A few questions:
The flight I am interested in flies from LAX- Hong Kong (Cathay) for a stop over of 1:15 before the next flight to Hanoi. Will this be enough time? Do you have to go through customs once again?

If I obtain a 30 day Visa for Vietnam but actually end up staying 32 days what do I need to do?

Thanks!

Ì you stay longer than entered in your vísa, you will pay a fine at the Airport Immigration Office, where you have to go BEFORE going for checking

Unless you are on a single ticket with carryon only or checked through bags only when you will just stay in the transit area and not go through customs, that is not enough time. Even then, I feel it is unlikely any airline will sell you such a ticket with such a short connection. Staying over for a couple of nights in HK will solve your Vietnam visa issues. If not, why not get a 3 month visa and avoid any problems. Either way, it is extremely unlikely that Vietnam will be allowing tourists to enter this year and if they do, it will likely involve some element of quarantine.

1) Northern Viet Nam can be quite cold and foggy in February
4) Definitely too ambitious in my opinion. I have spent over 300 days in VN and about 100 in Thailand and I still have not seen nearly as much as I would like.
5) To suggest an itinerary we would need to know your interests and what you want from this trip. SE Asia ticks all the boxes for scenery inland and coastal, history, wildlife, architecture, food, nightlife...
6) I have always preferred to travel alone, you can do what you want when you want that way.

One month for 4 those countries ? You must be kidiing . This si no USa ! Very few superhighways, regular roads for the main touristic sites, etc. Moreover, you are dreaming. considering the teh covid situation in South-East Asia ; Thai land has tightened the screws and so have Cambodia and Laos; we are confined in Hanoi, Saigon is closed, all the tourists sires are closed, and so are most hotels and decent restaurants. Some of the MUST SEE (Tam Coc and Hoi An in Vietnam, Angkor Temples in Cambodia? the Royal Palace in Bangkok, etc.) ) are under complete confinement also, . Anyway, right now, none of those countries deliver an entry visa, so the problem is solved !.

The thread was originally started in October 2019 and has been revived by a new poster who apparently didn't bother to check the dates. The OP's current plans are unknown.

Covid situation is Vietnam very bad. 10 000-15 000 new cases and 300-350 dead a day (5000 new cases A DAY in Saigon). Hanoi confinement probably off 5 Sep, but no chance of coming here until probably 2013

Thank you for the latest updates, sad as they are. :tu:

It is often worth updating these threads as others may find it on a search....so it isn't just the OP that benefits.

I completely agree. I dont know why people feel that older posts are not necessarily valuable. Having more current info is helpful.

I think so too. I find it helpful as well.

It’s the bigger picture really.