ekscrunchy

I am still in the throes of jet lag from my last trip (working on the trip report) and already thinking ahead to next winter when I would like to return to Asia. I am planning for January 2008 and thinking something like this:

Bangkok..6 nights to recover from jet lag, swim, and do some light sightseeing and less light shopping

Fly to Luang Prabang...6 nights to include lots of time to meander around, take side trips, swim. Considering Pansea for the pool and good reports.

Fly to Hanoi...6 nights (??) Wondering if anyone knows of hotels with heated pools or with indoor pools..(Metropole's site says their pool is not heated. Or will the weather be so cool/misty that swimming outdoors is not an option?)

Hoi Ann..3 nights. Is flying the best way to get here from Hanoi? Shall I include Hue in my plan?

I have been to Bangkok (and Chiang Mai and the southern beaches) several times but not since the 80s. Never been to Hanoi (just Saigon), nor to Laos.

Should I think about including Vientane? Anyplace else? I always plan trips thinking that I will be back someday so no need to cover every inch of ground.

Planning for about 3 weeks but can add a few days...I will be travelling alone which worked out very well on my recent Asia trip (China).

Considering using one of the agents recommended on this site..pros and cons of using a travel agent?? (I almost always plan my trips myself but might like the help with within-Asia flights, guides in a few places, extras that I might not find alone...)

Any and all advice sought! Thanks once again to everyone who was so helpful in answering questions about my recent trip.....

ekscrunchy

To answer one of my own questions: The Sofitel Hanoi (not the Metropole) has a heated indoor swimming pool. It is said to be a 10 minute drive from the old quarter. Any opinions on this hotel (I know it is huge and ugly) and its location?

connette

I say yes, include Hue. One of our favorite places in Vietnam. The sights both inside and a few miles outside of the city are very special. But, please do not take days away from Hoi An to do it. We spent 4 nights in Hoi An and really could have used one more.

thursdaysd

I would also suggest including Hue, although you're likely to get rained on. But I certainly wouldn't spend four nights in Hoi An, which has become a real tourist trap. The buildings are attractive,and My Son is worth seeing, but if it's a choice of one or the other I'd go for Hue.

cruisinred

If the weather won't be warm enough to swim outside, I'd still stay at the Metropole rather than the other Sofitel, due to the location adjacent to the old quarter.

I was underwhelmed by the afternoon I spent in Vientiane...maybe I needed more time there to see its charms, but I loved LP.

For beach time in Vietnam, you could consider someplace like Nha Trang and the Evason Hideaway there....which we LOVED (but a bit $$$).

ekscrunchy

Thanks for all the quick answers! I will work Hue in to the plans. How far is Hue from Hoi An and what are the transportation options between the two. (Sorry to ask what may seem like such obvious questions..I have not received my guidebooks yet!!)

Just to clarify: I am not looking for a beach, just want to do lap swimming in a pool if possible.

Is the location of the non-Metrople Sofitel really bad, considering that taxis will be inexpensive? I realize that the Metropole itself is a much nicer and more character-laden property, but the pool is important to me....

Elainee

Since the Metropole pool is not heated I would be extremely surprised if any of the hotels had a heated pool. Hanoi is not that rich yet. We were at Metropole last Christmas and it was far too cool to swim if the pool was not heated.

ekscrunchy

Thanks, Elainee. I thought as much. The Sofitel has an indoor pool (as well as outdoor) so that may be my destination if I want to swim in Hanoi in January. Any opinion on the location?

Elainee

We passed it coming in from airport. Seemed to me to be far from historical area, but just my opinion. New section of Metropole is very nice and well priced. Hotel is really nice.

Kathie

I'm a do-it-yourself type, so I encourage you to make your own hotel reservations. If you need flights within SE Asia, Eddie at the Am Ex ofice in Bangkok ([email protected]) can arrange the flights and will have your tickets waiting for you at your Bangkok hotel. As far as guides are concerned (or drivers), I always wait until I'm in a place to decide if I need one. Personally, I didn't use a guide in LP or in Hanoi. I also find that travel agents are anxious for you to use guides and any other services they can think of. Friends I've known who used agents were told they just wouldn't be able to get around without a guide. You are well-traveled enough to know that isn't true, but you get my point. I find I have more interactions with the locals on my own than I do with a guide. If I decide I need a guide, it's always easy to find one, in my experience.

I love your plan for 6 nights in LP - La Residence Phou Vao (used to be the Pansea) was really lovely. We found ourselves a driver for one day, but otherwise walked, took tuk-tuks, and took a boat to the Pak Ou caves.

In Hanoi, you want to be somewhere relatively close to the Lake, Old town, etc. We stayed at the DeSyloia, which we liked a lot, but it does not have a pool. The Metropole is ideally located.

connette

Hoi An is touristy where they are making clothes for tourists, etc. - but it you just get alittle ways out of that area - you most likely will not see another tourist. We rented bikes and hired boats and found it magical. Also loved visiting all of the merchant homes and hearing the history of their families. Other than at our hotel, we rarely saw another tourist. It has been 1 1/2 years since we were there - unless it has changed dramatically. I hope not. Just like Luang Prabang. They call it foreigner street - where all of the tourists are. Who else is going to be there shopping? Get away from the shoppers and you will find a locals atmosphere.

ekscrunchy

Thanks to both of you. Kathie, I have been reading your posts for a long time and have gleaned much helpful information from them. You always have sensible ideas. One question: If I cannot work Bangkok in for whatever reason, will I be able to have my tickets handled by an agent, for example, in Hanoi? (This pertains to Laos tickets, as I have been reading about the problems with booking on Lao Airlines...)

I just heard back a few hours after writing to the Hilton Hanoi Opera; they say their outdoor pool is heated in January. The place gets pretty good reviews on TA..the location appears to be a big improvement over the Sofitel...

Kathie

Yes, the location of teh Hanoi Hilton is good. From the outside, it looks grim, but MrWnfl gave it a good review.

If you need to, Eddie can send you the tickets in the US. You could use an agent in Hanoi. I expect someone here (other than the various travels agents in VN who tout their services on the board) could suggest an agent.

I'm glad my posts have been helpful to you.

Elainee

We used Vietnamstay (aka Aurora Travel) for our Vietnam plans. They were excellent. Emailed us when our New Years Eve week hotel destroyed by typhoon right before we left the US. They found us other accomodations high season last minute. They have office in Hanoi. I did not go to the office to get our hotel vouchers and airline tickets since I was very sick from food I ate in Hong Kong. But my family had no problem finding the office. I was concerned about picking up vouchers and tickets in Hanoi but no problem. We paid in Hanoi with cc.

thursdaysd

Hue to Hoi An - you could take the train to Danang and a taxi on to Hoi An, but it's close enough to drive. I did it on one of the backpacker minibuses, but I wouldn't really recommend that. If you take the train, I'd recommend stopping in Danang to visit the museum - gilkergu.club.fr/champa/museecham/museecham.htm. I spent a night there, and enjoyed it because there were so few tourists.

vedette

Hanoi Hilton???!! Isn't that what John McCain and other POWs called their prison? I cannot believe that Hilton Hotels is actually using that name. Couldn't they at least call it Hilton Hanoi?

KimJapan

They call it the Hilton Hanoi Opera.

ekscrunchy

Thanks so much. So, fly to Hue and then go overland either by train or car to Hoi An. (Sorry to ask these type of questions, as the books have not come yet..)
This is beginning to seem easier and easier with all of your help.

Stay overnight in Hue? One night? Does anyone have a good hotel to recommend in both Hue and Hoi An?

glorialf

I would definitely go to Hue and either skip Hoi An or spend no more than one day there -- it's a created for tourists town and nothing of the real Vietnam.

I would drive from Hue to Hoi An. The sights you will see on the drive and the experiences you may have could end up being the highlight of your trip. Hire a driver.

Nha Trang is another possibility. And if you really want to get off the beaten path you could go into the Central Highlands (not Dalat).

thursdaysd

You could also consider the night train from Hanoi to Hue, although to reserve a whole compartment as you did in China I think you'd need to buy four berths. See seat61.com for current schedules and prices.