allyboy

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!

jacketwatch

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

allyboy

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.

allyboy

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!

yestravel

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!

crellston

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

jacketwatch

Bon Voyage!!

All the best.

Larry

isabel

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

jacketwatch

I second that

Larsay

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

allyboy

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!

crellston

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

allyboy

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!

yestravel

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

SusanP

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?

allyboy

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!

jacketwatch

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

SusanP

Thanks, allyboy.

progol

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!

crellston

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!