vietnamhomestay

In Ha Noi, Beside Motropole hotel,You could choose Daewoo, Horizon Hotel, Sofitel Plaza(in ancient Town) 4 - 5 stars also.

From Ha Noi, you could flight to Hue at morning, It take About 45 minutes. From Phu Bai Airport (Hue city) you tranfer to Hue city Centre by Taxi (7 - 10 USD).
In Hue city centre, You could choose alot of good hotels: Saigon Morin (120 USD), Huong Giang Hotel (nexk to Huong River - It's mean: Perfume River) or Asia Hotel (35 USD), or small hotel in Pham Ngu Lao Street, Hung Vuong Street from 10 - 20 USD/pernight. You could have meals in hotel's restaurant (4 - 10 USD).
After check in, you come to visit Hue Citadel by Cyclo (one of the best exciting transport in Hue) Only from 2- 5 USD. Visiting Dong Ba Market,Truong Tien Brigde at this morning.
IN the evening, you could visiting Hue Dynasty tomb by Boat or Bus (From 5 -12 USD/person)
Nexk day, You catch bus to Hoi An (4 hours, 3 USD)
It take you about 3 days 2 night for: Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An
Wish u have nice trip in Viet Nam

vietnamhomestay

In winter is the best time to visiting Hue - Hoi An and VietNam.The weather is not hot, cool and services are good also.
Thank you for chosed Viet Nam for your trip.

patt711

I'm wondering if anyone knows the best way to get to most of the same places ekscrunchy mentioned. We're going to HCMC, then Hoi An, Hue, HaNoi, then Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and back to HCMC to fly home. We priced out the cost and it's over $1100 each just for the flights within Vietnam and Laos.
Anyone have any other ideas? We're considering an overnight train from HaNoi to Hoi An as one possibility but the one I just checked takes about 19 hours.
Thanks,
Patt

Kathie

$1100 each??? By my count, that should be 5 flights each. None of those flights should be over $200, and many will be less. I'm not sure where you got your figures, but you should certainly be able to fly for less than that.

You need someone in SEA Asia to get you an accurate price on those. Since you'll be based in VN mostly, you'll like want one of the VN travel agents, like Vietnamstay to quote you a price.

ekscrunchy

I booked the Pansea in LP; are there any other bookings I should think about making this far in advance? (I guess I will go for the Hilton Opera in Hanoi because of the heated pool and the decent reports).

ekscrunchy

Here are a few further questions for Kathie and/or the other "expertsquot;

How far in advance should I think about booking flights within SE Asia (BKK-LP; LP-Hanoi and within Vietnam)?

Is Lao Airways the only carrier direct between LP and Hanoi? Am I correct in assuming that the "1" on their timetable refers to Sunday?

Vientane? To go or not to go? It loks like there are more options for flying between Vientane and Hanoi than there are between LP and Hanoi... visit for 2 nights/ one day? (This would not mean taking time away from anyplace else; I could add it on)

I have just about decided on Peninsula Bangkok after reading reports here...do I need to book this asap for next January?

thursdaysd

If it won't take time from somewhere else, yes, visit Vientiane. It's quite a different vibe from LP, but is still a pleasant small town, with a couple of worthwhile sights and some good (foreign) food. My favorite site was Wat Si Saket, old (from 1818) and peaceful, with hundreds of Buddhas of all sizes. You may also like the beautiful silk at Carol Cassidy's shop. Don't remember if I've recently posted the link for my 2002 SE Asia trip, which included Vietnam and Laos, it's www.wilhelmswords.com/asia2002 and has a few pix, including Vientiane.

Kathie

If you can add on Vientiane withou cutting other places, I'd say do it. As you note, it will make for an easier transfer to Hanoi. I believe there is a Vietnam Air flight between Vientiane and Hanoi.

Since January is high season, it is worthwhile booking your air at least a few months in advance. The BKK - LP flight does get booked up. Once you know all of your dates get a price quote from Eddie or someone else in SE Asia who can get you tickets.

And I'd book the Pen reasonably soon - it isn't as vital as booking the LP hotel. KimJapan has found the best rates on the Pen's website. See if they are quoting yet for January.

ekscrunchy

Thanks again. I consulted a travel agent recommended here and am thinking of doing the Bangkok/Laos part on my own and having him plan the Vietnam part with me.

Here is a rough idea of what I have so far: (Remember I want lots of time to swim and shop and not rush from "site" to "site" I have been to Bangkok and HCM before but never to the other places.

Bankok..6 nights..Peninsula Hotel (on my own) includes time to recover from long flights

Fly to LP on Bangkok Air

LP..Pansea..5 nights (on my own; will arrange tours when I arrive)

LP-Vientiane flight
2 nights Vientiane Settha Palace

OR

LP-Hanoi flight Lao Airlines (they seem to fly this daily)

5 nights Hanoi....Metropole OR Hilton (want to be able to swim; Hilton pool appears to be heated; agaent recommends Metropole)
..day trip to Perfume Pagoda/Hoa Lu (agent says these can be done on same day)
..full-day tour (as part of package)

Drive to Halong Bay
1 night Emeraude Cruise (part of package)

Drive back to Hanoi..transfer to airport for flight to Hue

Hue..2 nights..La Residence Hotel (need to include sightseeing as part of package deal)

Drive to Hoi An

3 nights..Hoi Ann..Life Resort (on my own)

Transfer to Danang
Flight to HCM

2-3 nights Saigon..Park Hyatt (agent recommends as best in town; pool looks great)

Fly to Seoul connect with Koreanair flight to JFK

Does this sound about right, with the question remaining about whether or not to include Vientiane?

Thanks again.

thursdaysd

That looks good! Make sure to visit My Son while you're in Hoi An - arrange for a car and driver early or late in the day. Also plan to eat at the Brother's Cafe on the river while you're there. You really don't need a tour in Hanoi, and in fact it's a great place to just wander around on your own.

ekscrunchy

Thanks, Thursday. I enjoyed reading the accounts of your travels.

Regarding Laotian visa: Does anyone know if I can get one here in NYC from the consulate? If not, what is the procedure for obtaining visa in the US..send to Washington embassy? I do not want to waste time in Bangkok and would like to have visa in advance of arrival in LP possible.

ekscrunchy

Here is the new and improved proposal; I welcome comments: I have pretty much decided to do Bangkok and LP on my own and have the agent plan the Vietnam portion since there is more touring and travel in that country:

5 nights Bangkok (will change this to 6, I think)..Peninsula Hotel

5 nights LP..Residence PV/Pansea

6 nights Hanoi..Metropole or Hilton

Day trip to Hoa Lu
Day trip to Perfume Pagoda (Can these two be done in one long day??)

Full day tour of Hanoi

Transfer to Emeraude for HAlong Bay cruise/overnight

Drive back to HAnoi/fly to Danang and drive to Hoi An

3 nights Hoi an..Life Resort (no tours)

Drive to Hue..

2 nights Hue..Le Residence Hue
Boat trip to Perfume Pagoda
Tour to Citadel and various mausoleums

Transfer to Hue airport for flight to Saigon

Two nights (may extend this to 3) Saigon..Park Hyatt Hotel (no tours)

Fly back to US via Seoul

Total number of days: 25

Including all flights within Asia (but not flights from JFK-BKK or from Saigon to JFK); all hotels (Metropole Hanoi; Hilton would be less costly); private tours with a/c vehicle In Vietnam only; and all transfers throuhgout trip the price comes to
approximately: $390 USD per day.

Does this sound about right?

Many thanks!!

Kathie

What a great trip!

$390 per day in VN sounds high to me, though it does include flights. Still, VN is pretty inexpensive. I think you could do it for half of that price on your own. Are you using a VN based agent or a US agent?

You don't need a tour in Hanoi, that is very easily done on your own. We hired a car and driver from our hotel to go to the Perfume Pagoda and it was very inexpensive. Indeed, most of the transport is quite cheap - airport to hotel in Hanoi is US$10. Transfers and a car and driver are easily arranged everywhere.

Kristina

Kathie, I think her cost estimate is for all days, not just VN, and including 6 nights at the Pen in BKK. While it does sound high to me for Asia, since she's traveling alone, she's not able to lower her daily pp cost by splitting hotel rooms and such.
Still, it might be on the high side since food and sightseeing costs are generally low in the region.

esk-did you have a similar budget on your trip to China? Looking forward to hearing more about this upcoming trip as I'm planning a trip to VN for next year. In fact, I think I'm "following" you somewhat- Rome in 3/08, VN in 7/08 and China probably in '09.

ekscrunchy

Yes, the cost is an average of the entire trip so it includes the 5 nights at The Peninsula Bangkok, as well as all hotels in the 3 countries. It is true that as a single I get really hit hard.

The agent is here in the Ny area and was recommended in an earlier post asking about travel agents for SE Asia.

I am wondering how the price would play out if I got the hotels on my own..do agents get a better rate than an individual and do they pass on some of the savings? I guess I will have to ask about this and get some kind of a breakdown.

I know I don't need all those tours in Vietnam...it is just that I don't want to go about arranging the entire Vietnam part by myself, although I know it would not be too difficult. It is all the traveling from place to place that gives me pause...

As for my China trip, it is hard to say since I did it all myself. It certainly did not cost anything near that amount. The 2 hotels would average about $250 per night; food might have been $30 and I only had a guide/car on a couple of days and taxis were so cheap...so let's say $330 per night on average figuring in the days with car/driver/guide.

I am sure the Halong Bay cruise is jacking up the Vietnam price, too.

What do you alll think??

ekscrunchy

Correction: As suual I could not do simple math. The figure is not $390 per day, but $309 USD per day over 25 days.

Kathie

In my experience, agents no longer get better hotel rates than you can find on the interenet (I'm sure there are exceptions).

The price for that particular Halong Bay cruise varies by a hundred dollars depending on where you book it.

You might want to ask a VN based agent for a price on the VN portion of the trip. vienamstay.com gets good recommendations here (I haven't used them).

I always use Eddie for my within Asia air tickets. I find he can get them for significantly less than I can from the US.

You're paying for the convenience of having an agent book the whole thing for you. If that is important to you, do it. If not, do some looking on your own.

KimJapan has noted that she found great rates at the Pen on the Pen's website. For some hotels, I find I do best at the hotel's website, for others, internet booking agents have better prices.

connette

We stopped booking with agents that do not live in the country we are traveling to years ago. In fact, we contacted a US agent who was recommended on this board for our trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. I don't typically contact several agents as I don't want to make several work for free (if I don't book with them). I know they put a lot of time and effort in. But this guy was just taking forever to get back with me. I emailed an agent in Vietnam and heard back immediately. Glad I did that as we ended up going for almost half as much as the US agent quoted us when he eventially got back with us.

I think in Vietnam in particular, the local agents do get a better rate on the hotels. I would look on line on a varity of sites, compare with what we were getting, and they were always the same or less, and/or a better or upgraded room. I think there is just a huge mark-up from non-Vietnamese agents and that they get a better rate. We have found this to be the case in many places in Asia as well as South and Central America. There were two of us and we stayed in a combo of 4 and 5 star properties, many of the same ones you listed (we did not go to Bangkok on that trip though, and I know the Peninsula is adding a lot to the cost), we had all of our tours, flights (not from US though), visas for Vietnam and Cambodia, all entrance fees and a guide and a driver for most days and I think our per diem was around $115-120 per day each. We had lots of things included like Aspara dancing, water puppets, Halong Junk, Perfume Pagoda. Those are all real inexpensive things though. It was just nice that they knew the good ones, provided transporation, etc. Always making sure everything ran perfectly smooth. I know that is not the same as traveling as a single though.

We always wonder if it is safe, sending money overseas, etc. - but we always get 3-4 references. We leave Monday and the same thing - we booked thru an agent in Costa Rica and are going for about 1/2 of what we paid when we booked thru a US agent the first time we went. Live and learn.

ekscrunchy

Thanks to both of you for the heads up. The Peninsula Bangkok has online rates beginning at $240 US so that is not what is driving up the cost here.
I took a look at a few agents for Emeraude and did not find too much variation on the ship price itself; Emeraude's site has cabins at $308-$320 and Vietnamstay at $315. The transfer with Vietnamstay is $40 and the Emeraude transfer is $120; one must be by bus and one by private car. Sinh Cafe seemed cheaper but the price is based on 2 people sharing a cabin, as is that on another site I looked at.

I will write to Eddie and get an idea of prices for the airline tickets. And will try to get a breakdown on hotel costs in Thailand and Laos from the agent who worked up this plan, and if I can do this better price-wise, will do it myself.

Is there another in-country agency that you might recommend along with Vietnamstay?

thursdaysd

Emeraude seems very expensive. A single on the Dragon Pearl for one night, with the same number of meals, and including transfer, is a bit over a third of that.