gmoz

IMPORTANT
Just found out there is more than one voltage in Vietnam. So be careful
Have a look here
http://www.adoptvietnam.org/travel/electronicsplugs.htm

All my equipment is multi voltage so perhaps i didnt notice.

sf7307

We had no problem anywhere in Vietnam, Cambodia and Hong Kong with our electronics - one Blackberry, one iphone, one laptop, one camera charger. I guess we had outlet adapters, but definitely did not need voltage converters.

Bisbeee

It's all 220V, except for some shaver outlets in hotels, which are 110V. Your main issue will be what type of outlets they have where you're staying. Bring a set of plug adapters.

crellston

As an alternative to Halong Bay consider an overnight trip to the Mai Chau valley for an experience of rural Vietnam which is only a few hours drive from Hanoi. The scenery is beautiful and the people so welcoming and friendly. We id a homestay for a coupel of nights and had a great time. Easily arranged through one of the many operators in the Old Quarter either the on arrival or in advance. A few photos of our time there:

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...8042/tpod.html

Chapincita

Wow!
Have I said how much I appreciate all of you? Really! Just look at this… gmoz, you’ve gone above and beyond to research in answer to my question. Thank you so much! I don’t know where or how you found this information even containing pictures but I thank you. (I needed that).
And the power board idea...”Priceless” I just grabbed one and put it in my luggage closet where it will now reside and always be ready to go. This is useful even when going on a weekend trip to a familiar spot! I am sure I’ll be back to read some more brilliant suggestions. This is quickly becoming indispensable. If only I knew of this forum before I left for India last summer!

Chapincita

sf7307 and Bisbeee, Thanks for sharing your electronics experience. Just when I thought it was a silly question, I get three great answers! Guess the only bad question is the one not asked.
crellston, your pictures are adorable! Now I’ll have a good plan B if Halong Bay does not work out.

I was considering leaving my computer at home but now it feels like I must take my notebook in order to check in here regularly.

aprillilacs

I second the recommendation for Mai Chau. Our homestay in a Thai stilt house was one of the best experiences of our 24 days in Vietnam.

Chapincita

Hello Fodorites,
My itinerary is shaping up nicely!
Thanks to you, I have solidified my stops and most of the things to do. Have booked the first night at my first two destinations based on recommendations I read here. Now I have some fine-tuning questions coming up and here is the first.
I have an evening in Saigon without a plan.
On my last day in HCMC, I plan to Visit Cu Chi tunnels and Cao Dai Temple. This will fill the morning and afternoon. Then I have decided to take the overnight train to Danang in route to Hoi An. The train I want leaves at 11PM.
Any suggestions for how to pass the time until around 10:00 PM when I would like to arrive at the train station?

crellston

Go for a drink at one of the rooftop bars around the centre of town - Saigon Saigon at The Caravelle is my favourite - great views. or maybe Rex or Majestic. As you are there over the xmas period there is usually something going on outside the Opera House - last time we were there, there were performances of Swan Lake every night on a stage outside of the main entrance.

gmoz

A spare evening in saigon for me = bia hoi......... mmmm

sf7307

Drinks at the Rex' rooftop bar was so nice. The drinks were just ok, and the entertainment ranged from excellent to average bar mitzvah band, but it 's really pretty and the views are great, plus it was always in the back of our minds that that was where the journalists hung out during the "American war".

Bisbeee

Saigon Saigon (9th floor, not the hotel rooftop. 9th floor gives you a better view than the rooftop would). Rex doesn't have much view due to the plants around the exterior. You'll look down on it from the Caravelle.

Chapincita

crellston, A night at the opera sounds fabulous! And by popular vote I’ll have to take a drink or some at the Rex rooftop or any other place that provides a good view in honor of all of you. Thanks again!

dgunbug

Chapincita - We did not find anyone like Tong in Vietnam, but VN was so easy to travel around and being a single woman will not matter one ounce. The people are friendly and there are families and woman everywhere. In Hanoi, just spend time wandering the old town...it is a delight. You may want to contact the Hanoi Kids in advance - we had a great day with them. There are also the Saigon Kids, but if you remember from my report, they were a no show. Just be sure to get a contact phone number and call the night before to remind them to meet you.

By the way, I love the idea of overnight trip to the Mai Chau valley instead of Halong Bay.

Whatever you do, it will be a wonderful trip. Enjoy.

mohan

Chapincita, When I was researching for my trip to Vietnam a couple of years ago, I found travelfish most helpful.
http://www.travelfish.org/board/topic/vietnam
I didn't have a travel agent to do bookings for me. You really don't need one. I had a laptop and booked hotels and airfare at last minute thru the website directly. For references, Trip advisor is pretty good, of course there are fake reviews but they are obvious. I found the receptionists in the hotels very helpful and friendly. Most bend over backward to help. They really double as booking agents, that's in their job description I was told. And there is the reliable Sinh cafe, they do many tours inexpensively. Make sure you go to the real one. http://www.travelfish.org/board/post...fe-website----
Coming from Japan, you'll have an initial shock, simply because no place is as orderly and clean as Japan. The traffic situation is chaotic and takes some getting use to. The key is not to hesitate in the middle of the street.
There are many good restaurants in Vietnam, you can't go wrong with this one:
http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/gui...nt-detail.html
Hoi An is famous for clothes making. Initially I thought I wanted to have tons of clothes made, once I got there, I was sick of the sales pitch. They are everywhere, people chase after you to buy stuff. They are persistant and got on my nerve. I had some alteration done for me, forgot how much. Bargaining is the name of the game( I hate doing that). I spent lots of time in restaurant eating, good food nice ambiance wonderful french pastry for a fraction of what it's worth in Paris. From Hue to HoiAn by car service it's about US$50.
You will enjoy Vietnam.

Chapincita

Thank you dgunbug and mohan for your responses. I want to answer in more detail but have been spending some time reading from the links provided. New questions are forming in my mind as I read.
Thanks,
Chapincita

Chapincita

I am back!
My plans have been taking quite a nice shape the more I've read your posts and I have three important points undecided and would like your wise input.

I would like to attend a cooking class that takes you through the market shopping for the ingredients before the cooking lesson. Recommendations for any of my three stops?
HCMC, Hoi An or Hanoi.

I have identify the train I want to take from Saigon to Danang but don't know what the most efficient way to do it is. I want an overnight soft bert and feel concerned that if I don't book early they may be sold out.
• Do I book online?
• Book at railway station?
• Book through a tour agency?

And when traveling from Hoi An to Hanoi...
Plane?
Train?
I would prefer train for the smaller carbon print, but will it eat away at too much of my itinerary?
Thank you in advance,
Chapincita

sf7307

Have you seen this site? Everything you need to know about train travel (everywhere!)

http://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm#Northbound timetable

Chapincita

Thanks sf7307,
I am bookmarking and will be reviewing to make my final decisions.

dgunbug

I like to book my transportation ahead of time and used Tonkin travel as our booking agent for our train to sapa. They were quite reliable and delivered the tickets to our hotel without a problem.

We booked our own planes and flew from danang (approx 30 minutes from hoi an) to Hanoi.

Sorry, but can't speak on cooking school as I did not participate in one. I seem to recall another poster doing a cooking school in hoi an.