We are traveling to Vietnam on a cruise. The shore excursions seem very pricey to me. Does anyone have any feedback about doing them on our own? We are traveling with a group of 6 adults. We begin in Singapore and end in Hong Kong. The cities we will visit are,
Ho Chi Minh City,Nha Trang, Chan May, Ha Long Bay, Haiphong.
Thanks all.
E

How much time do you have in each city? HCMC is a very walk-able city, with a lot of interesting architecture and museums with a few block radius. Assuming it's just a day or so, I'd get a guidebook, read up on the sights, decide what you want to see and do it on your own.

Can't think of what there is to see in the other cities, aside from Ha Long Bay itself.

Ho Chi Minh City: Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Former Presidential Palace, War Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels. ( hire a car from a travel agency or take a taxi)
Nha Trang: beautiful islands ( Mun Island, Tam Island...),Yang Bai fall. ( buy a daily group cruise tour which only costs you approx USD 10/person. This price included boat, guide, transfer to Port, lunch) << just ask your receptionists at the hotel you stay.

Ha Long Bay: daily group cruise tour. ( Bhaya cruise, pinta cruise, Huong Hai Junk... google or email them directly to ask about daily group cruise tour)

Hai Phong: Cat Ba Island.

Best regards,
( source from Vietnam Travel Depot)

We are on a Cruise and would like to see the ports. We will only have one day in each one.
Thanks.E

"would like to see the ports" - really? Port areas tend to be gritty, industrial, and boring. Have you looked at a guide book? Why did you book this cruise and not one to somewhere else?

good_life has given a reasonable summary, although Nha Trang also has a beach, but if you're visiting Vietnam you should certainly spend some time in Hanoi.

Thank you for your reply.

Anyone still checking this thread? We too are on a cruise this March, 2011. We are disappointed to discover that Haiphong is so far away from Hanoi. Trying to find a private driver/guide to take us to and from Hanoi in one day.
Does anyone have any suggestions whom I can email to arrange this?
Any help would be most appreciated.

Mekong delta is worth seeing. check it out :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nhanfoto/

Phu Quoc island :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nhanfoto/5403189930/

Hope you have a nice trip.

thursday - I don't think the poster was referring to the actual dock areas , but rather to "the cities (ports) in which the ship docks...."

sf - where's your sense of humor? And this is a old thread, ragout would do better to start a new one with a more informative title.

I actually have one....but I thought you were serious