Hi, we will be traveling with our 2 kids (3 and 5 yr old) to VN(start w/ Hanoi, then Hue, hoian, nhatrang, HCMC..). Can't decide whether to go in Oct or Nov. Please help w/ feedback for these 2 months. The kids can get sick easily w/ the temp difference between hot & cold so we would like to avoid rain, high humidity and heat as much as possible. Everyone says Nov is more comfy, however this year the APEC mtg is in November. Has anyone experience Hanoi at APEC time? is it crazy, crowded and more expensive ? Is the weather difference worth it? The timeframe will be either 10/9 to 10/30 or 11/6 to 11/27.
Also, do you recommend Halong Junk tour for the kids? Will be it too uncomfortable and unsafe on board and in cabin? Thanks.

Take a look at www.weatherbase.com and check each city you are interested in visiting. The problem is that the weather in VN varies so much from one location to another.

Last time there was an APEC confoerence in Hanoi it was very difficult to get lodging. Try to plan to be there when the conference isn't going on.

Hi Kathie,
Thanks for the reply. I actually have lodging in Hanoi already for November at DeSyloia. I am just wondering whether the city will be crowded, more expensive (taxi,shopping... since bargaining seems to be the norm in VN). Have you been there at Apec time? From previous post, If I am not mistaken, you stayed at Desyloia. Any feedback for their standard superior room? They will put 2 double beds in there for us. Thanks.

I've not been in Hanoi during APEC, but have heard reports from others. I even read of someone who had confirmed hotel reservations that were cancelled by the hotel due to APEC (I don't think it was the DeSyloia).

Yes, I stayed at the DeSyloia. I loved the hotel (They upgraded us to a huge suite) and especially appreciated the helpfulness of the staff. There is an excellent restaurant in the hotel. Breakfast was included in our room rate, and we ate one lunch and one dinner in the restaurant, ording VN food from their a la carte menu - very tasty!

Taxis are metered. The bell staff will hail taxis for you and give you info on which taxis to use.

MomJC,

I just took my children -- now ages 18 and 16 -- on a Halong Bay overnight junk tour this summer. I distinctly remember when they turned 5 and 3 because we seemed to "turn a corner" then in terms of what we could do away from home. They became so much more portable than they had been at younger ages.

The answers to certain questions would make it easier to advise you. Does "we" include an attentive parent or other adult who can pay constant attention to a child? You need at least a 1:1 ratio of adults to children to think of this, in my opinion.

Second, what are your children's temperaments and activity levels? One of mine was a contemplative child who would have minded instruction and stayed put during long meals while the other would have been in non-stop motion and constant peril. At age 16, he could jump off the boat to swim, kayak solo, and scamper up slippering hills like a mountain goat -- to be on the boat with him at age 3 would have been sorely trying for all because he would have thought himself ready to do all the exciting things that he saw others doing. I shudder to think of it.

Whatever your children's temperaments, you aren't likely to be interested in the boat (Lagoon Explorer II) and the time frame (overnight) that we took. The rhythm of the life on the boat involved long leisurely meals, kayaking, swimming, and exploring caves for which one needed a sure footing.

Perhaps one of the larger, luxurious boats would accomodate a family. Perhaps a daytrip would suffice. Sorry not to be more helpful -- all I can do is to confirm that some of the boats are unsuitable for young children and for the mental health of their parents. Perhaps diligent research will turn up an attractive and suitable option though.

hi
Hanoi at APEC time, finding a luxury room is more difficult. De syloia is good hotel, if they confirmed your booking, everything is ok. It'll not be crowded and expensive except finding a luxury room. You can bargain when you shopping, and taxi firm has a predetermaned price, receptionist in hotel know about taxi, they call for you.
The Winter begin from November, but not cold in Hanoi. this time ,the weather in Centre(Hue, Danang, sometime rainy), HCMC is better than October
Your family can rent a private boat or choose the duluxe boat for cruising Halong bay, as Huong hai Junk, dragon's pearl Junk, Bai Tho junk.
I think the important is you have to the suitable time to keep the health for your babies.
have a good time!

Thanks very much for your answers. My kids do listen to instructions well and they love being on a boat. There are just me and my husband so we definitely have to watch the kids at all time. Thanks for the heads up.
Do you think that I can wait till we get to Hanoi on 11/6 to book the junk tour to go to Halong on 11/10 (2 days/1night). Is it possible that they will not have space on these junk tours? Looks like the majority recommends Handspan, right? Is the Hanoi price better than their internet price of 96.00 ? thanks.

I'd wait unitl Hanoi to book the Halong Tour. Read the reviews here carefully, as apparently the most important matter is which boat you are on. (and I'll bet any company can book you on any boat...)

We booked at Handspan's offices in the Tamarind Cafe. The prices were definitely the same as those listed on the website.

We paid $125 per person (for the smaller boat, not the Dragon Pearl) plus a $40 single supplement so that my son would have his own room. (Cabins on our boat had double beds.) The per person cost for an overnight on the Dragon Pearl, the larger boat, was $97. I just checked the website and see those prices confirmed through 2006.

I don't know how they price day-sails.

Two other practical matters useful to know:

One is the land transport segment as managed by Handspan/Tropical Sails. It takes about 3 1/2 hours to drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay, actual time depending on hotel pickups as well as traffic. There are no restrooms on the bus. Halfway through the trip, they stop for a restroom break accompanied by some mandatory shopping time. (They lock the bus for a good 20 minutes to encourage you to browse or at least purchase refreshments.) We made the exact some stop on the return journey.

A second practical matter: the fee includes meals but no drinks. You do get quite thirsty.

Beacsue we traveled in low season and had a generous window of time in Hanoi, it was easy for me to wait and book on-site. We sat and leafed through binders with descriptions and pictures -- asked lots of questions -- conferred and decided what was best for us. Sorry I don't know how much more crowded things are in November.

Good luck.

We did a 2 night Halong Bay trip in 2004 on the Dragon Pearl. It was a beautiful boat.

Please be sure when applying for your Visa not to get a D Class Visa. Restrictions may be placed on holders of category D visas during the period 15 October to 30 November 2006.

Thanks very much for the info. I have just been informed by Handspan that tour on the date we want is not available. We have to go on that day since we don't have hotel reservation. Can you suggest another reputable junk tour company. I heard Dragon Pearl has 18 rooms, I am not sure that I would like to be on a boat that big. Huong Hai only has 7 rooms. It seems that a lot of people on this board prefers DragonPearl. What makes Huong Hai, a less favorite compared to DragonPearl. How does BaiTho compare? can you shed some insights .
Please help-What is D visa? I was going to get the Visa on arrival by going through the tour company, is this the same type of Visa. Thanks so much.

D visas are issued in some places and they restrict the entrance of D visas during APEC. Tell the tour company that is selling you the pre-arranged visa that you do not want a D visa. Also, make sure you have a complete print out showing approval of your visa, as you will not be allowed on the place without it. Vietnam has no visa on arrival.

MomJC,
I don't know the boats named in your message so let me speak in terms of the few companies with which I became acquainted.

When we were making our VN arrangements, colleagues of my husband who had lived in Hanoi for many years recommended Buffalo Tours as being reliable and used to dealing with westerners. They have a website.

The short list of companies that numerous people recommended to me included Buffalo, Handspan, and Exotissimo.

I was warned that some of the tourist cafes that offer Halong Bay tours at what seem to be competitive prices don't offer a high enough level of service. I can't comment on that advice because we didn't experiment. You certainly see MANY tourist cafes and ticket booths promoting Halong Bay tours. With your two little ones in tow, there is an extra duty of care though.

We did use Exotissimo for two day tours. They are more expensive than other options. On Halong Bay, they operate the Emeraude, a large paddle steamer. On the one hand, that would provide a high level of service to people traveling with children but I sense that you prefer a smaller boat (as did we). I don't know if they operate junks as well -- you might check with them for options or recommendations.

There is still the option of staying in a hotel in Halong Bay and taking a day sail, of course. That's what my husband did as part of a work trip. It sounds as though you wish for the overnight experience but this could be a back-up plan.

I hope that these comments will help trigger some other responses from Fodorites more familiar with northern VN than I.

As to visas, we used an agency because we had a very tight time frame for when our passports were available for visa processing due to a flukish seasonal concentration of travel to Europe and UK. That was comparatively quite expensive but easy.

I did not know there were complaints on Huong Hai? That is the one we sailed on. We were very happy on it. The walls are thin - but I think that is the norm. The food was AMAZING.

We felt it was just right size-wise, however we only had 8 passengers and 2 guides total. The bathrooms/showers (all in one room) are a bit funky -but it was just one shower for an overnight cruise. They let the guides go for free if there is extra space on board. Our driver stayed on land in some kind of boarding house where all the drivers sleep.

We off loaded and went on small boats thru some caves and into small coves. Also went on an island that you climbed to the top of for the sunset, as well as walked thru two other cave/pagodas. I do not think they offered kayaks without paying more. I saw a couple on the boat, but no one used them.

MomJC, some small junks can be reserved for private tours. I don't know if that interests you, but if so here's a website:
http://www.halongtours.com/anhduong_...Halong_bay.htm

Hi, for the Huong Hai junk, I did not mean that there was complaint about it, but just that the majority of people says that it is the nicest of the junk. I am leaning toward a smaller boat like Huong Hai. You mention that there is transfer involved to a smaller boat to go to the cave, do you think that this will be safe enough for my kids. I will of course hold them w/ me. Just curious, do they give out safety vest? probably not, yes? Some folks have told me that the cave may not be suitable for kids since it is very humid and hard to breathe in there. This is from someone who visits Hanoi in July, the worst time of year. Should my kids skip the cave? Does one get motion sickness on the boat? It's a bay so probably not,right, just want to confirm. thanks.

In my previous reply, I mean that the majority says DragonPearl is the nicest of the junks. Typo.

For the island and the caves we just walked off the boat. For the cove we did get in a small boat - but not that small. All was very safe and I don't think you would need to worry at all. You can check it out and if they don't want to do any getting off - it would not be a problem. One couple did not get off for the cove. I think they were just sleeping.

They did have life jackets - but no one wore them. We had no rain or storms, but there was virtually no movement felt at all. We did not notice any breathing problems by anyone. It is the heavy incense smell that you always have in temples, etc. though.

You can image: Dragon's pearl Junk is the most luxury junk.
Huong Hai Junk is less than it a little, and Next Bai Tho Junk