Going to Vietnam!!!

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RedBull

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#50492 25-Nov-2009 09:09

Heeeyy (:

Im going to vietnam next yr! woooo!
anyone been there? any travel tips?

Thanks Luc x

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#276076 25-Nov-2009 09:33

Its an awesome place, take lots of US$1 notes for tips. Try the Weasel Coffee, its amazing. People are very nice, avoid the rickshaw guys who offer to take you on rides, they are rip off artists, but one of the few we came across. Stuff is cheap like food and grog. Where are you going?

tonyhughes

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#276078 25-Nov-2009 09:37

Take own food*
Take own water*
Take one of those little personal fans.
Go feral now, to acclimatise to heat/humidity, and feeling like crap.
Get friendly with a taxi driver, overpay him to look after you during your stay.
Don't get attached to any children, many orphans looking for adoption by westerners, give them an inch, they will take a mile.

* Alternatively, take LOTS of loo paper, and make sure you have access to a bidet.

Enjoy your trip!

sarg

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#276127 25-Nov-2009 11:10

great place to visit: clothing tailored is cheap in Hoi An. If travelling between cities, Fly its cheap fast and much safer than being on their roads.

that would be an ecumenical matter

vexxxboy

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#276161 25-Nov-2009 12:08

you need to watch the top gear episode where they ride scooters through Vietnam, educational and hilarious

Common sense is not as common as you think.

geekiegeek

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#276162 25-Nov-2009 12:08

tonyhughes: Take own food*
Take own water*
Take one of those little personal fans.
Go feral now, to acclimatise to heat/humidity, and feeling like crap.
Get friendly with a taxi driver, overpay him to look after you during your stay.
Don't get attached to any children, many orphans looking for adoption by westerners, give them an inch, they will take a mile.

* Alternatively, take LOTS of loo paper, and make sure you have access to a bidet.

Enjoy your trip!

The food is fine - just be carefull to make sure things are cooked. I was there last year and like the rest of the places in south east asia I have been to I ate like the locals. The only people with me who got sick were the ones avoiding the local food and eating western style food.

Also the bottled water is fine - just check the seal isnt broken.

I also agree with sarg - hoi an is great for clothes - they will make whatever you want from a magazine picture and it only takes a day or so. We hired a motor bike in Hoi an too which was great for getting around as there isnt much traffic (compared to the bigger cities anyway).

The old viet cong tunnels in ho chi min city (Saigon) are well worth a visit along with the museams and Hanoi is just crazy.

have fun.

boby55

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#276164 25-Nov-2009 12:17

When I went their last year, I made a rule of only eating anything I watched being cooked so I knew it was ok.

Bottled water is fine.

I also agree with sarg - hoi is a awesome place, I had a full suite made very cheaply and the next morning it was delivered to my hotel room

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kiwitrc

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#276176 25-Nov-2009 13:12

Re food and drink, we have been there twice, both times we ate all over the place, even at the markets in Ho Chi Minh City and didnt have a problem. I dont drink water anyway so cant comment, but the beer is good (Saigon and 333) and as I said the coffee is excellent.

Do the Cu Chi tunnels if you are in HCMC, you can fire AK47's and M60 machine guns there, and if you are that way inclined shoot a cow with an RPG, although not at the tunnels (I didnt before the hate mail starts).

bigal_nz

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#277149 28-Nov-2009 07:21

You will eat dog.

RyanMelissa

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#278112 1-Dec-2009 00:36

Which part of vietnam?
Free & Easy or with tour?

Do bring US$ for tips (if you are with a tour),
communication is a problem in some parts of Vietnam so you
might want to bring a calculator along if you plan to do shopping!

MUST try their vietnam's coffee, yummy... *wink

Cheers, Melissa.

mckenndk

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#278121 1-Dec-2009 02:07

I am currently in Hanoi and I am leaving on the Night Sleeper train for Hue.

Things to avoid
All of the motor bike (scotter) people wanting to take you around you will agree to one price and they will forget that when you get to you desternation and want more.
Un cooked food
People wanting money.

Things to do
Coffee with condenced milk
Visit Ho Chi Mein
Stay in a Hotel over a hostel (they are usually just as cheap as hostel's especially in Hue and Hoi an $20US a night for two people)
play badminton in the street if you have the time.
bring a gas mask.
Walk slowly accross the streets the scotters will avoide you, no sudden jumps or running etc, best to let the cars go first though

kiwitrc

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#278148 1-Dec-2009 08:21

RyanMelissa: Which part of vietnam?
Free & Easy or with tour?

Do bring US$ for tips (if you are with a tour),
communication is a problem in some parts of Vietnam so you
might want to bring a calculator along if you plan to do shopping!

MUST try their vietnam's coffee, yummy... *wink

Cheers, Melissa.

You can get Vietnamese Coffee in NZ www.weaselcoffee.co.nz

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RyanMelissa

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#278364 1-Dec-2009 16:11

kiwitrc:
RyanMelissa: Which part of vietnam?
Free & Easy or with tour?

Do bring US$ for tips (if you are with a tour),
communication is a problem in some parts of Vietnam so you
might want to bring a calculator along if you plan to do shopping!

MUST try their vietnam's coffee, yummy... *wink

Cheers, Melissa.

You can get Vietnamese Coffee in NZ www.weaselcoffee.co.nz

Wow thats interesting...
A NZ website specially on Vietnam Coffee...

vinnieg

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#279321 4-Dec-2009 14:14

bigal_nz: You will eat dog.

Just make sure it's not pink in the middle and pretend it's chicken, it'll still taste nice :)

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

geekiegeek

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#279327 4-Dec-2009 14:39

kiwitrc: Re food and drink, we have been there twice, both times we ate all over the place, even at the markets in Ho Chi Minh City and didnt have a problem. I dont drink water anyway so cant comment, but the beer is good (Saigon and 333) and as I said the coffee is excellent.

Do the Cu Chi tunnels if you are in HCMC, you can fire AK47's and M60 machine guns there, and if you are that way inclined shoot a cow with an RPG, although not at the tunnels (I didnt before the hate mail starts).

I fired the M60 with no ear protection (no such thing as health and safety in Nam). It was awesome but soooo loud.

kiwitrc

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#279328 4-Dec-2009 14:43

geekiegeek:
kiwitrc: Re food and drink, we have been there twice, both times we ate all over the place, even at the markets in Ho Chi Minh City and didnt have a problem. I dont drink water anyway so cant comment, but the beer is good (Saigon and 333) and as I said the coffee is excellent.

Do the Cu Chi tunnels if you are in HCMC, you can fire AK47's and M60 machine guns there, and if you are that way inclined shoot a cow with an RPG, although not at the tunnels (I didnt before the hate mail starts).

I fired the M60 with no ear protection (no such thing as health and safety in Nam). It was awesome but soooo loud.

I took ear plugs as I figured as much, but lost one in the excitement to shoot, was only half deaf. The guys running it must be fully stone cold deaf by now.

Speaking of OSH, I love the way they can just dig a hole in the footpath and not worry about lighting or barriers. I asked a guy at the hotel about it and he said, "you fall in hole, you stupid". They are getting smarter by the day over there

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