Looking for a destination.

Like being on the road - not planning too much - and variety - a bit of this and a bit of that. Not resort minded. Like to stay in places with just enough in the way of budget accommodation and eateries, but not too much. Beaches appeal if I can base myself close to one but there's plenty to do (walk, shop) roundabout as well.

So if you have been to both and feel like giving an off the cuff opinion - what do you think are the pluses and minuses for Vietnam and the Philippines.

Thanks folks.

Never been to Vietnam but the Philippines is great. Skip Manila, fly into Cebu instead. Manila is crazy, polluted and the traffic is bad - real bad.

The resorts on the island at Cebu are nice, but you must take the speed boat ferry over to Bohol and stay there 3 or four nights.

I stayed at the Bohol Beach Club - absolute paradise, white sand, clear water, good food. The Chocolate Hills are wonderful, and the river ride (same tour) is very nice too.

If your dive or snorkle this is the place to be too. Classes available, or you can be like me and just float like a jelly fish.

In the PI you will be treated like a rock star, as they really like Americans. Most people speak some English too, or at least enough to get by. The Marriott in Cebu City (away from the beach) is also nice, right next door to a large mall if you find yourself missing shops, food courts and movie theatres. There is an even larger mall 20 minutes away (by taxi).

The city of Cebu is really just as dirty to look at as is Manila, but the island (across the bridge) and Bohol (by ferry) are the main attractions. The malls are fun for people watching, watching them watch you!

One can even plan a trip taking the high speed ferry to several islands in a large circuit around the central part of PI. I have not been to Boracay either - which is touted as THE place to be - a small island, with the same white sand, clear water as Bohol, but more hotels and restaurants to choose from. Boracay is much busier than Bohol.

I never felt scared or too far away from safety when in the Philippines. The comfort/safety factor is pretty good.

I do want to go to Vietnam someday, I just haven't made it there yet.

Have fun!

Vietnam!
Just came back last week from my second trip there - absolutely wonderful

at this particular point in time, since you have no clear preference, I might be inclined to say whichever offers the cheapest airfare! Have you looked at the prices lately???

Well, yes, acctg - that's what prompted the post. I was looking around for cheap airfares a month ago and found this amazing deal from Sydney to Saigon - about 850aud inc taxes - a bargain. I got really up for it. Started doing the research. etc, etc, - but by the time I checked if I could take that particular period off, the availability was gone.

Ít would now cost me about $150 more for the same trip; and maybe I will still go for it - but the Philippines have always been on the list.

Any one else like to help me with this decision?

Thx.

I've not been to Vietnam so i can only give advise on the Philippines.

Boracay has a mix of beach, shops and restaurants. All within walking distance on a stretch of white sand beach.

I am in Phuket right now and just went to Phang Nga Bay yesterday and it struck me that although Phang Nga Bay was beautiful and we were with a very well organized tour group, and did enjoy ourselves, the islands lakes and lagoons of Coron (northern part of Palawan) were more beautiful, in my opinion. Barracuda Lake, Kayangan lake, Coron Island, Black Island and the numerous islands in the bay. Lots of budget accomodation and dining options in town where you could arrange your tours though these are not really organized tours like the ones here in Thailand. You just negotiate with a motor boat at the pier and tell the boatman where you like to go. Pack a picnic lunch and pick any island where you want to have your picnic. Some of my friends did this when they went (stayed in town) but my family opted for the easier and more comfortable way. We stayed at Sangat Island Reserve - a magnificent Island 45 minutes away from town and arranged all our tours with them. Not expensive at all. There are some resorts in the area but we picked Sangat despite the absence of aircon because it is an eco resort. But we were surprisingly very comfortable even without the aircon. The cottages are beautiful! We stayed in the Lambingan Villa and had a small beach cove all to ourselves! Kayaks provided for free to explore the island and you can kayak to and from the main cove (where the restaurant is)for your meals. When we were lazy to kayak, they sent a small motor boat to pick us up.

The English owner, Andy, is very active in the preservation efforts of the marine and forest areas of Coron. He has definitely done a good job at preserving Sangat: abundant wildlife (monkeys, monitor lizards, birds, etc) just outside our cottage, an amazing coral reef and great snorkelling a short distance from the white sand beach, kayaking around the island and exploring mangroves and lagoons and a natural hot spring pool inside the mangroves at the edge of the limestone cliffs where monkeys watch you as you dip in the hot springs. And if you can pull yourself away from just lazing around the beach and enjoying Sangat, there are many tours around the area you can take. Sangat has some boats you can hire for the day and it will take you anywhere you want to go and they'll pack a picnic lunch for you too. (Meals are included in your stay). There's also great wreck diving in Coron - this is what it's known for. But we're not divers so we didn't do this.

Cebu and Bohol are worth visiting too. We've also visited these places. In Cebu, aside from the places the previous poster recommended, you may opt to visit Moalboal. It depends on what you like. Its about 2 or 3 hours from Cebu. Great snorkelling and diving destination. Again, we only snorkelled. More provincial and out of the way. Few tourists, more locals. The Philippines is largely an English speaking country so its easy to get around.

But Sangat is our favorite destination in the Philippines. We plan to go back. Haven't seen all the islands yet. I just hope the Philippine government shapes up and takes care of their beautiful islands and forrests. We noticed many islands and mountains were bare (no trees) and with no developments on them either so what did they cut the trees for? This is lost on me.

Check out Siargao too. I've been doing some research and plan to do this next trip. Pansukian looks amazing! But not cheap.

I need to go out now and enjoy the rest of my Phuket vacation.