Vietnam- arriving by cruise ship need guide
Sep 30th, 2012, 05:02 AM
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Vietnam- arriving by cruise ship need guide
Looking for private guide for halong / Hanoi , Hue & Saigon to meet us at port & give us a great feel for Vietnamese life & to see the sights. Any suggestions????
Sep 30th, 2012, 08:19 AM
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You don't need a guide in any of those places, easy to do on your own, just get a good guidebook.
How much time do you have in each place? Will you being spending a night on a boat in Halong Bay? Note that it is a long boring drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay, and if you don't have time to spend a night on a junk, I don't recommend going.
If you really feel the need for a guide, I'd contact one of the well-recommended travel agencies in VN - Tonkin Travel or Vietnamstay (Aurora Travel) - and tell them what you want/need.
How much time do you have in each place? Will you being spending a night on a boat in Halong Bay? Note that it is a long boring drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay, and if you don't have time to spend a night on a junk, I don't recommend going.
If you really feel the need for a guide, I'd contact one of the well-recommended travel agencies in VN - Tonkin Travel or Vietnamstay (Aurora Travel) - and tell them what you want/need.
Sep 30th, 2012, 09:15 AM
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Examine the Asia Ports of Call board at cruisecritic:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70
Also check out the Roll Call there for your particular cruise.
The problem with cruises to Vietnam is that the ports are 2-4 hours (each way) away from the cities you want to visit. It's much better to visit by land, and easy.
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70
Also check out the Roll Call there for your particular cruise.
The problem with cruises to Vietnam is that the ports are 2-4 hours (each way) away from the cities you want to visit. It's much better to visit by land, and easy.
Sep 30th, 2012, 09:43 AM
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No, you certainly don't want to drive yourself, but a car and driver is very affordable. Any of the travel agencies can arrange a car and driver for you. (Note than a driver is not a guide. If you want a guide you'll need to ask for a car and driver plus a guide.)
An overnight in Hanoi? Spend all of your time in Hanoi. Don't waste what precious time you have there driving to/from Halong Bay.
Do you have an overnight at DaNang so you can visit Hue? It's a long drive.
BTW, I agree with someotherguy. A cruise is a terrible way to try to visit SE Asia. Travel in these countries is easy to arrange and very affordable. A cruise will just give you enough time to be frustrated with the traffic, not enough time to get a flavor for these amazing places.
An overnight in Hanoi? Spend all of your time in Hanoi. Don't waste what precious time you have there driving to/from Halong Bay.
Do you have an overnight at DaNang so you can visit Hue? It's a long drive.
BTW, I agree with someotherguy. A cruise is a terrible way to try to visit SE Asia. Travel in these countries is easy to arrange and very affordable. A cruise will just give you enough time to be frustrated with the traffic, not enough time to get a flavor for these amazing places.
Sep 30th, 2012, 01:21 PM
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Kathie - I believe the cruise boats come in close to Halong bay, therefore to get to Hanoi one must take that long and boring drive. I would check with the cruise company to find out if there is an option to do Halong bay or if they already see the karst scenery when coming into the harbor. I'm not sure if an evening and day on Halong bay is feasible. While I prefer the time in Hanoi, it might not be a bad idea to visit the bay to see the beautiful scenery and fishing villages, provided returning to Hanoi is an option in the future. In that case I'd do Hanoi at a later date, spending 4-5 days there and pairing it up with sapa which is fabulous as well. I agree that cruising is not the best way to tour Asia.
While I agree with what kathie said about not needing a guide, with such limited time you may prefer to have a guide to get you quickly from one tourist site to the next while providing a bit of history and insight. We rarely see a need for a guide, but then again, we spent months researching our destinations. I doubt that the op or many who chose a cruise, spend the time that we do in researching destinations.
While I agree with what kathie said about not needing a guide, with such limited time you may prefer to have a guide to get you quickly from one tourist site to the next while providing a bit of history and insight. We rarely see a need for a guide, but then again, we spent months researching our destinations. I doubt that the op or many who chose a cruise, spend the time that we do in researching destinations.
Oct 1st, 2012, 02:59 AM
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Bocette,
I just posted a response and then the whole site disappeared!! What cruise ship are you arriving on? Some of the smaller ones can get right in to the ports. Here is a link regarding private day cruises in Halong Bay on Cruise critic. Follow the discussion, it may help you.
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...php?t=1676490I
If you are on a small ship you can get right in Saignon, just do your own thing there. Just beware... the cyclo drivers are renowned for ripping you off.
I agree the drive to Hanoi is woeful, either go to Hanoi and spend the night there or don't bother, it is just too far for the day (1/2 day)
HOpe this helps a little bit.
I just posted a response and then the whole site disappeared!! What cruise ship are you arriving on? Some of the smaller ones can get right in to the ports. Here is a link regarding private day cruises in Halong Bay on Cruise critic. Follow the discussion, it may help you.
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...php?t=1676490I
If you are on a small ship you can get right in Saignon, just do your own thing there. Just beware... the cyclo drivers are renowned for ripping you off.
I agree the drive to Hanoi is woeful, either go to Hanoi and spend the night there or don't bother, it is just too far for the day (1/2 day)
HOpe this helps a little bit.
Oct 2nd, 2012, 07:09 PM
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Well I wish I had gotten all this advice before I booked the cruise. And yes normally I research my trips for months in advance. Unfortunately my trip to eastern Europe for this Thursday had to cancel due to obligations at work. Booked this on the rebound to get our big once a year vacationing before the end of the year. We are going to overnight inHanoi & probably Ho Chi Minh City.
