vietnam tour, any suggestions

Posted by razeena (412 days ago)

We will be in Vietnam for around 20 days and will start and end our trip from Ho Chi Minh. We'd like to do south/ central Vietnam, in places which are good for kids (2 and 4 yo). can anyone suggest some cities/ resorts?
thanks

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ldldjr (406 days ago)

Can't address the "good for kids" criteria, but Hoi An is a nice coastal town about 30 minutes from Da Nang. Phu Quoc Island is quiet, peaceful. Do some internet research on Sapa - it is in the north, but a very nice town and the weather is significantly cooler because of the elevation. I have never been to Dalat, but many people recommend it.

(I am based in Vietnam)

Posted by isabelmacklin (404 days ago)

Well if you have not booked yet, Ho Chi Minh is definately NOT the place for kids! Hanoi is a bit more kid friendly. Hoi an is a very beautiful place and best of all for kids is Nha Trang with a beautiful beach, a couple of good restaurants and a water park right on the beach.
I took my 2 year old to Ho Chi Minh and just crossing the streets is a nightmare. If your kids are in strollers, forget about it! The sidewalks are packed with parked scooters and people use them to set up their tables to eat there!
I have been to Vietnam 4 times and my daughter is now 2 1/2 years old and very well travelled. Trust me.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ldldjr (404 days ago)

I really like Ha Noi (where I live), but your description of the traffic in HCMC is the same as the traffic in Ha Noi, except here in HN the streets are probably a bit narrower.

(I am based in Vietnam)

Posted by razeena (404 days ago)

Thanks for all your input...we will definitely minimise our stay in HCM (only 1 night) then head on to Nha Trang, Pan Thiet and Hue. Good? Also heard that Mekong Delta is good. That's near HCM, right?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ldldjr (404 days ago)

you can easily arrange boat trips in the delta - an hour or so from HCMC. Generally overnight - interesting, but you would want a tight rein on the kids, lest they go for an unanticipated dip.

(I am based in Vietnam)

Posted by razeena (401 days ago)

This is a question for Isabel - we're definitely going to do Nha Trang. Any beachside hotel that you can recommend?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by isabelmacklin (392 days ago)

Hello Razeena, unfortunately I am not a good source for hotel recommendation since I went there about 6 years ago and was on a tight budget staying in $10/night hotels! I must say though that $10 US gets you a pretty decent place to stay with private bathroom, A/C and satellite TV in Nha Trang! Have you ever checked out www.asiarooms.com ? It is a really good website for hotels in Asia for all different budgets.

***To the person saying traffic was the same in both HCMC and Hanoi type Vietnam pollution in Googles and a PDF document will come up by the Vietnam environment ministry and on page 4 it says that in Hanoi in 2002 there were 1.2 million motorcycles and in HCMC there were 2.5 million! The document is a bit out of date but I doubt that Hanoi did that much catching up in 5 years!!!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by DakLak (383 days ago)

Check out this post.

http://vietnam.asiaxpat.com/forums/travel/threads/104175.asp

(I am based in Vietnam)