Hello all

I would really appreciate it if someone could review our Vietnam itinerary and let me have some feedback.

A bit about us:

We are a couple with an 11 year old daughter. We've never been to Asia before so this is a first. We have about 17 nights and have decided to spend it in Vietnam, and have decided not to add on Angkor Wat in Cambodia but to focus on Vietnam only.

We've been working with a travel agent and between us the itinerary is as set out below. It seems to hit all the highlights and also give us a bit of down time (in Hoi An) but we are worried that it still seems very full on. We do love travelling and seeing the highlights when it comes to historical buildings but we are afraid that if we are seeing very similar sights day after day we might suffer from ruin fatigue. We are conscious that travelling with an 11 year old also means she may have limited interest. This is also our annual holiday so ideally we do want the holiday to be relaxing, and are worried that maybe we have too many changes of venue; on the other hand we know this is likely to be the only time we ever visit Vietnam so we don't want to miss anything unmissable.

We live in Ireland so swimming pools and beaches are a bit of a novelty for us and we like them to feature heavily enough in our holidays.

The itinerary looks like this:
Day 1: Arrive Ho Chi Min City in the early evening. Overnight in HCM
Day 2: Visit Cu Chi tunnels and Ho Chi Min city sightseeing. Overnight in HCM
Day 3: Drive to Mekong Delta to see floating markets etc. Board boat in Cai Be for overnight cruise. Overnight on boat
Day 4: Wake up on boat, visit more floating markets, ending up at Ninieu Pier in late morning and drive back to HCM city (4 hr drive). Overnight back in hotel in HCM. QUERY: This bit seems a bit long and we are not sure if we really need the overnight on the boat. We do want to see some floating markets but can / should we just do that in a day-long tour from HCM rather than the overnight boat?
Day 5: Free in HCM city until afternoon flight to Hue. Overnight in Hue.
Day 6: Bike to Phu Mong village and visit Imperial Citidel. Overnight in Hue
Day 7: visit Tu Duc Mausoleum. Overnight in Hue
Day 8: The itinerary suggests taking a train from Hue to Danang and onwards by car to Hoi An, but we think we need to drive all the way rather than train to hit the Hai Van Pass. Overnight in Hoi An. Hoi An is where we have the major down time / beach time.
Day 9: Bike ride to Tra Que village, work with local villagers digging and harvesting followed by a foot massage and some cooking (we are not sure about this "interaction with the locals" as we imagine it would a bit forced / awkward, so might ditch this bit). Tour Hoi An in afternoon. Overnight Hoi An
Day 10: Free day Hoi An. Overnight Hoi An
Day 11: Free day Hoi An. Overnight Hoi An
Day 12: Free day Hoi An. Overnight Hoi An
Day 13: Drive to Danang and fly to Hanoi. Overnight Hanoi
Day 14: Sightseeing in Hanoi. Overnight Hanoi
Day 15: Transfer to Halong Bay. Exploring the option of doing this by seaplane to avoid the long journey but it seems very pricey. Overnight on boat in Ha Long Bay.
Day 16: Ha Long Bay cruise finishes. Transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight Hanoi
Day 17: Free day Hanoi. Overnight Hanoi
Day 18: Fly home (boo hoo)

Actually as I type this I think maybe it is not so bad after all! Would love any thoughts on it.

Thanks a million

Jane

It is a packed itinerary, but it has "good bones."

I'd work on making some cuts in activities. For instance, I'd cut the Cu Chi tunnels, as they are reconstructions for the benefit of tourists.

I also agree with you that the overnight on the boat in the delta is unnecessary.

I would also ditch the activities on day 9. This might allow you to move a day to Hanoi. Hanoi has a lot to see/do, and you have very little time in the city.

What time of year are you doing this trip? Did I miss it?

Hi littlejane,

As Kathie says, the Itinerary has "good bones" but it wears me out just reading it!

A few thoughts.

1. All the main sights of Saigon are in District 1 and can be covered in a very full day but better spread over two with maybe even a visit to Cholon ( Chinatown) and its markets. I wouldn’t bother with Cu Chi, a complete tourist trap. It’s a long way from Ireland to Vietnam. Don’t forget the jet lag!

2. Cai Be is not the greatest market in the delta and I would bother with a night on a boat. Either, drive to Cantho, stay in hotel and visit Cai Rang floating market first thing ( 5.30 am) by hiring a small boat or, stay in a Homestay nearby, go from there and maybe take a cycle ride in the countryside when you return.

3. 2 full days in Hue. A boat trip on the perfume river, the pagoda and the Citadel. Don’t miss my favourite restaurant nearby Lac Thien! You could fit in 2 or 3 Tombs ( more fun than they sound) in a bike ride plus a couple of villages. Depending on when you are going it could be either very hot or very wet. A car may be a better option.

4. The train from Hue to Danang is fun and has great views but if you want to see the Hai Van Pass you will need to drive. Personally I would go for the tra8n as Hai Van is a bit overrated. Don’t miss the Marble Mountains en route to Hoi An. Allow a couple of hours.

5. Check carefully which hotel you have in Hoi An. The beaches are ok but many are suffering badly from erosion. There are some very nice hotels in the town with pools. Agree that the cycle rides can be a bit contrived but it is easy to get a bike and DIY. My son is worth a half day visit but go early to avoid crowds and heat.

6. Halong is a long way by bus or car. 4-5 hours each way. I confess I am not a fan and, with the time you have, I would just spend more time in Hanoi.


There are some photos and more detail of our various trips to the country on our blog @ https://accidentalnomads.com/category/vietnam/ which may help put some of this into context.

Hope this helps a little.

Floating markets in Can Tho are better than Cai be floating market and you should do a 2D1N tour for the floating markets instead of a long day tour (The best time for floating market is in the early morning). You can fly from Can Tho aiport to Hoian (Do not need to get back HCMC), bus/ car Hoian to Hue and train/ flight Hue to Hanoi.

Thanks so much for the feedback everyone - really practical and helpful, and I'm really glad I asked as I was afraid we were trying to pack in too much and it seems we are.

I should have said our trip is in June.

The hotel we planned for Hoi An is Palm Gardens Resort - a friend stayed there last year and was very happy with it. So far that's the only hotel we have chosen.

Crellston, I had already seen your blog when we started planning this a few months ago and found it really helpful then; I must revisit it now. Thanks so much for the feedback on Hue and the restaurant recommendation. I had been wondering should we cut out Hue but it certainly doesn't sound like it.

We have read reviews a number of people who said the trip to Halong Bay wore them out, but I think for us it will be a must see (we grew up on James Bond movies). If we can get the seaplane transfer for one leg of the journey it might make it more bearable. Plus if we cut out the boat trip on the Mekong Delta as seems to be a consenus, it would be nice to have the Halong Bay boat trip.

Any other thoughts much appreciated.

Thanks

Jane

James Bond Island is in Phang Nha Bay in Thailand, not Vietnam. Not suggesting you cut out the delta, far from it. I would spend time there over Ha Long any day!

WHAT? I HAVE TO GO TO THAILAND NOW?

Just messing... they look pretty much the same... please don't shoot

Thanks! Just to clarify, I don't think we should cut out the Delta either, but it sounds as if the overnight boat trip might not be the best way of visiting it.

All the best

Jane

I didn't visit the floating markets in the delta, but I did see the floating villages, and they were not all picturesque, being very functional.

I would not want so much time in and around Hoi An, which was already overrun with tourists a decade ago. I would prefer to spend the time in atmospheric Hue or in Hanoi.

crellston - isn't there an alternative boat trip near Halong Bay now?

Bai Tu Long is the alternative but I think it takes just as long to get there.

No need to go to Thailand. I will have a word with Daniel Craig and see if he can get the next Bond movie set there

Thursdaysd make a very valid point re Hoi An. We were there in June and it was very, very busy, mostly with mainland Chinese staying up the coast in the big hotel complexes towards Danang. Avoid trying to see the town in the morning or evening when the hordes come in their buses! Late morning to early afternoon is much quieter,albeit very, very hot!

Yes, you are correct Crellston. As long to reach the departure point for Bai Tu Long Bay. All the boats leave from the same port area, whether for Ha Long or Bai Tu Long. It is essentially just another part , but a slightly longer boat ride, in the same body of water as Ha Long Bay.
The bus ride from the hotel (they will pick you up) was 4 hours in a "luxe" mini van, excluding a thirty minute r and r /pit stop at the inevitable shopping warehouse, which has some interesting stuff and artisans (I didnt buy there).
I thought the overnight boat cruise was worth every minute (and every penny) of the journey there. Unless it has changed in two yrs, the only company that sails to Bai Tu Long is Indochina Junk. Check their website. There were families of all ages and generations on the cruise i took and the kids (assorted ages, including a ten yr old0 were having a great time!!
You have two FULL days of sightseeing in Hanoi. Maybe add one additional day and subtract from somewhere else? But you can see a lot there in two full days.

What is connection between James Bond and Ha Long? Did James do a film there?

sorry--i just saw the connection to Mr Bond...in Thailand!

Thanks all. you've been really helpful. I think we will cut out a lot of the planned day trips and just spend more time enjoying the different places we are staying in, and fit in the activities like renting bikes, cooking lessons etc when we are there.

All the best

jane