Vietnam 10 May to 25 May 08

26 thoughts on “Vietnam 10 May to 25 May 08”

1. helo Cheng!
   apa macam 2 wks must take leave, & only give 2 wks notice ah??…susah leh..yr dates correct or not?..but this trip also sound very tempting & interesting!

   helo…nx time give amble notice hor…don like that leh…we all ‘chokang’ ppl tau!..hehe

2. Hi Oi Cheng

   Very tempting, will let you know by this weekends.

   Cheers,

3. Hi Oi Cheng,

   I am interested. Count me in. I am still “mountain tortoise (sua ku)”. Please advise how to go about getting ticket. What is currency conversion? Any visa, etc.
   Cheers!

4. Hello Oi Cheng,

   2 weeks notice, how to “free & easy”? May 2008 not possible leh, I thot you said you want to plan the trip, how come suddenly so fast? aiyo…..going to miss this interesting & fun trip lor. :(

   Ah Nee

5. Hi Jane,
   Go to http://www.tigerairways.com/home/index.php 2 book airtick to Hanoi. Normally the early u do the booking the cheapest the airfare will b. But pls note that no cancelation is allowed once the booking is cfmed. However, date can b changed wif sum admin chg applied.

   Cheers.. Dolly

6. Hi Cheng,
   Thanks for putting up the post for me.

   To Nor, Andrew, Jane and Ah nee – Sorry for the short notice.

   It is still not too late. 1)check if you are available. 2) apply leave 3) Buy ticket and you are ready to go.

   For info, Tiger one way to Ho CHi Minh on 10.5.08 is S$85. depart at 6am, arrives 7am.

   Jetstar one way promo now is S$105. However, it departs at 16.00pm and arrives 17.00pm.

   For those who can’t make it, not to worry. Let me be the guinea pig. If it is good, will arrange a second one for those interested.

   I think it shd be good as this trip was put up with the help of my viet friend.

   Regds
   Dee

7. Hi Jane,
   I can book the ticket for you if you confirm coming.

8. Hi Dee

   Long time not hear from you, how are you. I’m interest of the trip but I don’t know whether I can finish the work from my friend. Have to confirm after this week.

   Is the whole trip on the 16 seater coach? What about the weather, similar to Singapore?

9. Hi Dee, Cheng,

   Oh, I think your trip is going to be refreshing, 2 weeks. My heart says to join you; but my diary says wait until I retire.

   For those considering going to Vietnam, no visa is required. So, you can make a quick decision to join Dee and Cheng.

   Have fun. Terence Seah

10. Hi Cheng

    Wish I can join but dates are out. Perhaps a short one if there is.

    Joan

11. Hi Oi Cheng,

    I too would like to go but too short a notice leh.

    Time to bring my neighbour’s dog for his kai kai.

    SC

12. Andrew

    I shall help Dee answer your comment since she is at work.

    Work overtime even if you have to. This trip is worth going. Especially so since you have their local guide and driver and you get to see so many parts of Vietnam.

    The weather should be cooler than ours and yes, you move around in the 16-seater.

13. Nor, Ah Nee, Steven

    Sorry for short notice. Actually, they were going on a smaller bus but now given a bigger bus so can accomodate more people.

    Well, as Dee says, let her be the guinea pig and if it’s good, she can plan another next time. But good is subjective.

    This kind of trip is Terence cup of tea. It is like his Chiangmai trip, just drive on and stop where you please. This is what I mean by free and easy. No tour guide to give you time limit but of course we must be considerate of our fellow travellers.

    Personally, I hope to be able to go too, if I can settle some things. Dee is a good companion, friendly, patient, tolerant and adapting. I hate to miss this opportunity to travel with her.

    Joan, I am not sure if the trip you could cut short the trip and leave first. But then you will have to make your own way to the airport. I shall leave that to Dee to answer.

    Andrew Kuan, check your schedule and it would be good if you can bring Aileen along.

    Jane, I have given your email add to Dee and she will write to you. Do join her if you can.

    Terence, will look forward to the time you retire cos I know I can expect more of such travels and I know I am going to enjoy them, that is if I still have the health and $$$ too.

14. Dear Oi Cheng at #13

    Aileen has to do her budgeting at work. 2-wk is too long for her current role in May.

    Am keen, pending the outcome of my timing of appt as FD.

    Will let you know later. TY.

15. Hi Cheng,

    This trip seems very interesting especially free and easy and have the benefit of having a local guide who knows the pl very well. Very tempting but then have other commitment. Pls consider another trip if it is good, I am sure and can trust your taste. I will definitely want to join in as I have plan to go to Vietnam.

    Till then, bye.

16. Dee

    What is the latest date we have to give u reply??? I am very interested in this trip. I never travel this way b4 but cant decide whether to go or not.

    Let me know the latest date to confirm.

    karen

17. Hi Dee,

    Many thanks your msg #7. I confirm going. Please book air-ticket for me and I shall reimburse you. Please send your bank account # to my email for me to do so. (I feel more comfortable to depart and arrive with a member of the group.)
    Many thanks once again.

18. wow!..Jane u make me jealous!..so fast can decide oredi..:)

    OC…u go first this time, pls ask Dee to organise another trip..give more time lah..then we can arrange our schedule..boleh?
    Although im gonna miss this trip…..I will anxiously wait for next & wish u all a happy holidays!..sob!sob! :(

    Terence @9 u wanna wait till retire?..sudah tua lah!..haha
    U organise the Chiangmai mountain camping for 1 yr..make us wait so long till got grey hairs!…then OC plan this trip 2 wks!..apa macam?..u both can hold hands & jalan2 together & plan properly next time ok.hehehe..don be angry ah :)

19. Yes, I know it’s a trip worth going,

    Work overtime? ha ha, already every day. otherwise, why should I gave my comment on 3:xx am. Poor me. But I’ll try my best to finish my work in hand and don’t accept any new work from my friend. and hopefully, can confirm the trip next week.

    Thanks for your information. Wow, two week trip with you and Dee, wonderful!

20. Hi to all,
    Thanks for the interest. If you wish to join, please let me know by Friday 6pm (2.5.08)The earlier, the better.

    Hi Andrew,
    Long time no see. Hope u can come. At present, it is hot like SIN.

    It is best we all book the same flight and go together. The guide and driver will pick us up from the airport.

    Airlines, we have a few choices, Jetstar, Tiger or lionair. Lionair 2 ways is S$169. They have good departure time at 10.20am.

    I am working on the detailed itineary. Once ready, will pass to Oi Cheng to post.

    Transport -10 passengers, 1 guide, 1 driver and 4 seats for luggages. let’s travel as light as possible.

    Dee

21. Hi Oi Cheng at #13

    Have to meet several people in May, so the 2-week schedule looks not likely.

    Thanks,

22. Hi Dee, Oi Cheng

    I confirm going here.

    Dee, thanks for your phone number, will call you next week for the details. Furthermore, can you book the ticket for me.

23. Sounds like an exciting trip.The Tiger Airways budget at $240 is a real bargain.In case if u cant get seats let me know.I have an alternate of 16 to go $230 per person plus $137 tax for 15 persons with a free ticket for the 16th person but liable for tax.All in it would cost with taxes $352.65 per person with taxes for the airfare segment only with the minimum requirement of 16 to go.just to let u know I have a Vietnam travel office and can help book your hotels if u have specific dates in mind…
    eg u could get a budget hotel like Saigon Royal (in Ho Chih Minh City )from $59 (nett to u ) from S$59 for a twin room( TWNB) or double room ( DBLB ). In Hanoi u could get the Saigon or Sunny at S$96 and Thien Thai at S$94 for similar accomodation. In Hue the rates are S$74 at the Festival hotel.In Halong the best deal is at $59 for the Halopng Bay hotel.In Danang it is S$74 for the Bamboo Green Central or Saigon Tourane.In Dalat it is S$59 for the Vietsopetro and S$92 in Hoi An for the Hoian Trails Resort.In Nha Trang it is S$107 for the White Sand beach Resort or the Yasaka Saigon.In Sapa it is S$59 for the Chau Long Sapa(old wing)In Hai Phong it is S$131 for the Tray Hotel.In Vungtau it is S$92 for the Dic Star.In Phan Thiet it is S$96 for Little Mui Ne Cottages.In Phu Quoc it is S$69 for the Mango Bay Resort.U dont have to buy from me but it is certainly an option for comparison.Anyway I hope u will find this useful as a benchmark for comparison.Personally I don’t know much about these places but it would be intersting to explore your options with this information to consider as possible places to visit.FREE TRAVEL TIP recommend u photostat yr passport and leave 1 cpy with yr ofc , 1 cpy at home with family members and 2 copiies with u…1 cpy leave in hotel room and 1
    more u carry with u but leave it separate from passport.When travelling in such a country where the local language is different…always keep a copy of the hotel card address(in Vietnamese and English ) so that the taxi driver who nods his head with a “YES” reply will not accidentally(actually planned in advance ) send u back to the wrong hotel.Last tip…do not show your whole wad of cash at the moneychanger but plan ahead what u want to change and put it separately( a lot of watchful eyes at these locations )n invest in a hidden cash pouch to lessen your loss if accosted by a unfriendly stranger.Hope u find these information
    useful.Have a fun – filled and safe trip.Feel free to call me if u need any help even though no revenue involved.

24. Hi PatrickK,

    Plse note no advertising on this site.

    Terence Seah

25. Returned from the 16 days Vietnam trip and would like to share for those interest.

    After the trip, I found that Vietnam is the cleanest developing country I’ve ever seen and its people are very friendly.

    Stretching along the eastern coast of the Indo-Chinese peninsula on the South China Sea, Vietnam’s shape is like a long thin pole (the Central part) carrying two rice baskets – one in the north (around Hanoi) and the other in the south (around Ho Chi Mingh City). It has a lot of farming and paddy fields in its inland – it is really a “country of farming and fishing” (????).

    In Vietnam, you cannot expect the scene of metropolis (except District 1 of Ho Chi Mingh city) or the vast, huge scene found in China. But you still can get many different sightseeing along the trip which are worth to see.

    Our trip concentrated on west and part of the central. We started from Ho Chi Mingh City –> Phan Thiet –> Nha Trang –> Hoi An –> Hue, then back to Dalat –> Mekong Delta (My Tho, Can Tho and Cu Chi Tunnel) –> Ho Chi Mingh City

    Ho Chi Mingh City
    It is the biggest city in Vietnam. Its District 1 is already in the form of a metropolis. Many French-style buildings (theatre, cathedral, post office etc.) and a lot of pagodas are found in the city. To me, it has not much to be seen.

    One thing worth to mention is the traffic which is anarchic – the vehicles do not wait for a lull in the traffic but launch themselves straight into the flows and you’ll find the vehicles come from everywhere when you crossing the road. You cannot avoid the vehicles but just let them to avoid you. There is not much traffic lights in the streets and the vehicles never stop for the pedestrian crossing. Motorbikes are the common transport in Vietnam, you can always found a stunning number of them running on the roads. It is really an adventure every time when you want to cross the road.

    Phan Thiet and Mui Ne nearby
    They are beach resorts. They have long beaches, but I don’t think they are nice and attractive. You can see the sand dunes in Mui Ne. You can ask the kids over there to help you slide down the dune, and give them not more than S$0.50 afterward

    Nha Trang
    A beach resort, with outer islands. You can try the mud bath there. You can also take a boat trips to the outer islands to see the corels (not nice) and enjoy the water sports (swimming, diving, snorkeling etc)

    Hoi An
    This is a quaint place filled with impressive heritage. It is declared a World Heritage Site. The traditional temples, shrines, Chinese communal houses adn a few private houses are open to the public with a ticket. To visit them all, you have to buy a few tickets.
    MySon is a World Heritage Site you sure have to visit. It is an important Cham (an earlier tribe in South of Vietnam) center and probably the burial place of Cham king. On the 68 monuments built at MySon, fewer than 20 are remain standing.

    You can also visit the Marble Mountains near by – five extraordinary hills rise from the coastal plain. They are actually limestone with marble out crops and each is dedicated to one of the five elements – water, fire, earth, gold and wood. The main sighs are on the Water Mountain with grottoes and cave pagodas.

    Hue
    The heart of Hue is the Citadel, the Imperial City which comprising three enclosures:
    1) The Outer Fortification – four walls with thickness of 23 to 30 ft
    2) The Imperial Enclosure where offical function took place
    3) The Forbidden Purple City, the exclusive world of the imperial family (most of this part was destroyed by the North Vietnamese troops during the war.

    At night, you can take boat cruise on the Perfume River and listen to the Vietnam musics and songs.

    Dalat
    This Central Highlands hill resort is a hilly plateau of elevation of 1475 m above the sea level. I was previously used as a therapeutic retreat for the Europeans suffer from the debilitating effects of the lowland’s topical climate. It is a place full of flowers of different types and lakes

    My Tho (Makong Delta)
    The narrow canals around My Tho are crossed by tiny wooden and bamboo bridge, you can take a boat trip to Dragon Island and Phoenix Island

    Can Tho
    The biggest port on the Mekong River. the memorable sight is the lively and colourful Floating Market held at the junction of seven canals (as the market is opened in the morning, so must stay one night in Can Tho). The market are bustling confusions of boats, goods venders, customers and tourists. From the boats the market traders attach samples of their goods to bamboo poles to attract customer.

    Cu Chi Tunnels
    This tunnel were begun in the forties as part of the struggle against the French and renovated and extended in the sixty when the war with the USA. Although the Americans eventually discovered the existence of the tunnels, they could never ultimately destroy them.

    For those who like to do the self free and easy travelling, it is quite easy in Vietnam – plan you routing, book a hotel at the starting point, from there, join the local tours or open bus to the other distinations. The staffs of the hotel over there are very helpful and friendly, they can provide you a lot of information for the trip. Of course, you have to spend more time. The only problem I found is the language, most of the Vietnamese cannot speak English.

26. Dee ,Oi cheng and Kenneth Tan
    can all of you drop me an email as I am thinking of planning a trip to HCMC/Dalat on 10-16NOV 08 to co-incide with the Kate flower festival in city near Dalat called An Phuoc in Ninhthuan province.

    Need some advice if you did pass through Dalat a few months ago.

    Attn Kenneth …need your advice on food in HCMC

    Regards,

    Patrick khoo at email address insiders111@yahoo.com.sg or hp tel 93833883

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