Yvette asked:
So, this is my plan. Return flight to Saigon from Sydney. Fly to Hanoi when I get to Saigon. Train journey down through Vietnam after visiting Sapa and Halong bay. Then on to hoi an, Nha trang and saigon. My question is… with three weeks to spare, how much time should I spend in each place and can I take day trips to sapa and halong bay from hanoi. Thanks….. Miss perfectionist needs the perfect plan set before I leave.
So, this is my plan. Return flight to Saigon from Sydney. Fly to Hanoi when I get to Saigon. Train journey down through Vietnam after visiting Sapa and Halong bay. Then on to hoi an, Nha trang and saigon. My question is… with three weeks to spare, how much time should I spend in each place and can I take day trips to sapa and halong bay from hanoi. Thanks….. Miss perfectionist needs the perfect plan set before I leave.
Someone more knowledgeable than me wil fill you in about up north but i would allow at least a week, 2 days each place and Hanoi itself is very interesting with many things to see. Hoi -An is nice for 3 days and as i live in Nha Trang i have to say that is also nice. Nha Trang is where you want to spend your time relaxing and on the beach, it does not pretend to be anything but touristy but it does it well. I **** Saigon and there is very little to do, its ok to visit the tunnels and the war museam and as a starting point to visit the Mekong Delta but not much else.
best to fly straight to ha noi if you can.. sapa is an over night trip to and from ha noi.. nice to spend 2 night in sapa do some trekking outside the town. ha long bay is a nice day trip take a guided tour for convenience… then take a plane to da nang /hoi an 2-3 nights there, visit mai son[sp] then overnight train[plane is faster but i enjoy the train] to nha trang 4-5 nights there , take day trips outside city limits.. if you want ,you would have time for 2nights in hue which is just about 3-4hours north of da nang.. after nha trang plane to sai gon , dont bother with cuu chi but the me kong day trips are ok other than that 2-3 nights in sai gon is plenty..at least 4 nights nha trang, 2 nights sapa, 4 nights hue /dang[ just pass through da nang] /hoi an would be my recommendation a day for traveling between each place leaves you a week for ha noi and sai gon.. ALWAYS HAVE BACK UP PLANS AND “GO WITH THE FLOW”… you’ll be back so you dont have to do everything at once.. take your time enjoi.. get up and out on the street at 4:30 am at least once in every city.. bring your camera…trust me.