{"id":3788,"date":"2014-03-11T10:44:08","date_gmt":"2014-03-11T01:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/?p=3788"},"modified":"2014-03-11T10:52:34","modified_gmt":"2014-03-11T01:52:34","slug":"travel-vietnam-a-quick-guide-for-the-smart-traveler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/2014\/03\/travel-vietnam-a-quick-guide-for-the-smart-traveler\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel:<\/b> Vietnam: a quick guide for the smart traveler"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/em>Looking for your next beach vacation? Vietnam consistently ranks as one of the top destinations, offering a cultural smorgasbord, complete with a distinct cuisine<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0sure to please any foodie\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s palette. And it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all possible at a budget backpacker\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s rate of less than 2500 yen\/ day.<\/p>\n

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I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll try not to bore you with the typical itinerary you can find on the thousands of travel websites, and just give you some off the beaten track tips and the how-to\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s of keeping under budget.<\/p>\n

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\"IMG_0135\"<\/a>The North: for a more cultural experience<\/b><\/p>\n

Sapa and Bac Ha (3 days, 4 nights)*<\/p>\n

Hanoi (4 days, 4 nights)<\/p>\n

Halong Bay (day trip)<\/p>\n

NinhBinh(day trip)<\/p>\n

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\"IMG_0507\"<\/a>The South: for a party and beach vacation<\/b><\/p>\n

Hue (day trip)<\/p>\n

Hoi An (5 days, 6 nights) **<\/p>\n

NhaTrang(skipped)<\/p>\n

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) (5 days, 5 nights)<\/p>\n

Mekong Delta (2 days, 1 night)<\/p>\n

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The North <\/b><\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t go to Sapa or Bac Ha if you aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t ready for the overnight train<\/a> (approximately 9 hours) there and back. Depending on your budget and luck, you may end up in the middle bunk sandwiched between a crying baby and its mother and a snorlax you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re afraid might be over the bunk\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s weight limit. On the hard-sleepers, there are six bunks in a room, and as the name suggests, beds are less padded. With three bunks on each side instead of the two found in soft sleeper compartments, less vertical room is afforded. The lowest bunk is the roomiest and often the most expensive, but worth the extra hundred yen or two to be able to sit fully up right. There is also the option of sleeper buses. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been advised to get a bottom chair off to the side and near the back of the bus by a few who have used them.<\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s highly recommended to go up to Sapa during the summer months when the cool temperatures allow you to escape the heat of the city and to view the vibrant green rice terraces. Since I went during the winter break, I only stayed one night before heading to Bac Ha, best known for the Bac Ha market (occurring every Sunday). It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the most accessible market of its kind to which many of the Vietnamese minority groups travel great distances on foot to reach. \"IMG_8493<\/a>I would recommend going to the live animal market where you can climb a set of stairs to view the oxen trades. Beat the rush of tourists by arriving around 7 am. Since I prioritized the market, I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t take the daily bus from Sapa (typically arriving at 9 am), but rather stayed in Bac Ha in order to stroll into the market early. Accommodation in Bac Ha is sparse, but you can find dinner, bed and breakfast for 1500\\ yen. Those on a tighter budget can negotiate for the meals to be removed; they offered to take off 500 \\for me. Another Sunday market, 12 km north of Bac Ha, is the Lung Phin market. Lung Phin is \"IMG_8758\"<\/a>definitely worth it if you want the off the beaten track experience. When I went, I was literally the only tourist in the market, and everyone was a lot more welcoming about getting photographed. This market is frequented by three different native tribes, so you will be able to see a more diverse selection of traditional garments.<\/p>\n

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and its second largest city. The chances are your hostel or hotel will be situated in the Old Quarter, but if it isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t, you should definitely make time to visit. It is where Hanoi becomes most alive, and has the most interesting street food. The French Quarter on the other hand, is quite bare of anything interesting, so I think it can be skipped.<\/p>\n

Pho is a soupy noodle meal that originated from Hanoi. It is one of the cheapest and most delicious meals you will ever eat in your life. Make the most of your time in Vietnam and eat an ample amount of it. \"IMG_0497\"<\/a>More expensive, but equally necessary for a complete life, is egg coffee. Please do not leave Hanoi without trying this heavenly beverage, or else I feel you will be deprived of tasting the best drink you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll have ever tasted. I still dream about it at night. Egg coffee is quite dense and sweet, so it is best enjoyed a whiles after a meal.<\/p>\n

Hanoi Kids<\/a> is a volunteer program that gets university students to tour you around. They only ask that you pay for your student\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s expenses on the day, such as museum admission and any food you eat together. You can customize the tour as much as you want, so you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re capable of setting the tour\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s price tag. They can take you to any of the big attractions, and will even show you where they serve the original egg coffee.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_9969\"<\/a>Halong Bay is the top scenic destination of Vietnam. This is where to take your postcard-perfect photographs. You can do Halong Bay for under 4000\\ if you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t care to stay overnight on a boat. However, this means you won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be able to go as far out, and might miss out on some of the spectacular views. If you are willing to make your own arrangements to and fro Hanoi to the port, go to the counter (our saleswoman had very good English) and hire a private boat. We were able to get a three person crew boat for six passengers for under 2000\\ each. Make sure to ask to see the boat before you sign the papers. This is how we were able to get a boat with a top deck at the bow of the ship. You may get the option of kayaking and stopping at some caves.You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need swim trunks to kayak, but you will need pocket change for the cave\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s admission fee. Another plus to having a private boat is you aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t squashed into single file line and ushered along at a snail\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pace in the caves. If you aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t going on an all-inclusive boat, make sure to buy snacks and liquor in the city before. This also applies to trips in Ninh Binh and the Mekong Delta, as the boat crew will no doubt try pushing their merchandise onto you at three or four times market price.<\/p>\n