As a first time visitor and only being able to see one city, which would you choose? Ho Ch Minh City or Hanoi? What, if any shots do you need? What is the time period for obtaining a visa? Thank you in advance. Vicky

Hanoi is considered to be the mre interesting city, having retained some of its old character.

Vaccines: read all about it at www.cdc.gov/travel. None are required, but routine and travelers vaccines are recommended (diptheria tetnaus, measles/mumps/rubella, Hep A, and typhoid)

Visas: must be arranged in advance. I got my from the consulate in San Francisco by mail, and my passport was back to me in less tha a week.

My vote goes to Hanoi too. Nice atmosphere, plenty to see and do, great food and good coffee. Get up very early in the morning and take a stroll around peaceful Hoan Khien Lake, see the famous water puppets, wander through the Ancient Quarter, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum/ precinct and the Temple of Literature. If time permits you might like to consider a day trip to a nearby Hill Tribes area or a trip to Ha Long Bay (you'll need to overnight for that).

Hanoi. Don't miss a visit to Highland Coffee right by the lake on top of a hotel, close to ANZ bank and next door to an icecream shop-opposite side of lake to water puppets.The coffee and food is great and the view is one of the best of Hanoi. Saigon grew on us after our second visit. Traffic is murderous in Hanoi-just keep walking slowly and hope they don't hit you!

Thank you all for your responses. It looks like we will be in Hanoi. Any other side trips that you can suggest?

If you have time, be sure to take a train up to the Sapa Mountains and go on a trek through the tribal villages. You can get an overnight sleeper train from Hanoi. It's a magical place!! We stayed there for 2 nights - I wish I could remember the name of the place we stayed at, it was about 20 dollars per room per night. There was an on-site cafe in a shack and they served the best banana pancakes in the world!! I have been to Vietnam twice and can't wait to go back.. There's a great place to eat called 'No Noodles', in Hanoi, if/when you get fed up of Pho..

The most common side trips from Hanoi are to Sapa, Halong Bay (both are overnight trips) or a day trip to the Perfume Pagoda. Whether you take any side trips will depend on how much time you have. For instance, if you have 5 days total in Hanoi, it would make little sense to take a minimum of two full days away to see Halong Bay, or four days to see Sapa.