Philippines vs. Vietnam - 10 days/30y old - Pro/Cons?

[aldriglikvid]

Hi,

I'm 30 years old and my 'base' is Thailand, however I'm looking to do 10 days in a adjacent country. Two countries left that I haven't tried already are Vietnam and Philippines.

I'm 30 years old. I appreciate if there is some kind of night life, but at the same time is a city like Manila (on the surface) too big attract me. I also appreciate having the opportunity for longer walks.

Could you guys give me some pro/cons of each country? ? Would be so helpful.

According to my (albeit short) research the cost of hotel/guesthouse/airbnb is ~ 2 x in the Philippines vs. Vietnam if the same standard is compared.
Philippines seems to kill it when it comes to island scenery and I also enjoy they talk good English.

Vietnam seems to have great food and easy ("straight forward") to get around.

Just some random showering-thoughts. Please enlighten me! ?

[lionsincity]

food in vietnam is excellent

food in the philippines is some of the worst in the world.

 

town/cities in the PI can be real shitholes

 

the accent/national character in the PI I find annoying. 

[buick]

i would go with vietnam.  fly DMK to danang (DAD) nonstop on air asia (about 8,000thb).  the airport is right in danang city so you will be at hotel very quickly after landing.  there is decent nightlife along the han river, in between two of the major bridges.  a great place to walk.  you can rent a motorbike or take a taxi to the beaches nearby.

 

after a few days, you could head south to see hoi an.  typically a day trip for most.  or you could take the train to hue and spend a couple days there and then head back to danang.

 

i haven't found the language to be much of an issue in vietnam.  you won't have long conversations with most locals but you can get by w/o knowing vietnamese.

[patekatek]

A friend from the States and I were visiting the Philippines and stayed for a night in Manila..  We were followed by a guy with a knife who kept  shouting at us that he was going to cut us up if we didn't give him money.  We had a taxi stop to ask if we needed a ride and we hopped in just to get rid of the guy with the knife.  He told us that this type of thing happens all the time.  Especially in the Ermita area.  Other than unscrupulous tuk-tuk drivers from time to time, that was the only rather scary incident in the Phils.  As mentioned in other responses, the food sucks and the hotels are substandard and expensive.   Expect to be hounded mercilessly by people around any transport station like Batangas,  Leyete, Angeles, etc.

 

If you do end up going to Viet Nam, HCMC,  stop by Jake's BBQ.  Good friend owns this BBQ joint and is a great chef. (http://www.jakesamericanbbq.com/contact-us/) 

Tell him DJ from Thailand sent you.

[rosst]

I have been to both and live in the Philippines, for your requirement, go to Vietnam, awesome food and the Danang Hue and Hoi An comments are spot on. 

The accomodation in the Philippines is very expensive in comparing with Vietnam, I don't know why, most of the lower priced accommodation in the Philippines is crap compared to to similar prices in Thailand. 

[Aussieroaming]

I have worked in both country's and they have a totally diffrebt vibe. Each is excellent for different reasons. You really need to do both countrys.

[The manic]

Saigon is fun. Has girls. Hanoi is Cultured. Philippines I don't like. Food is better in Vietnam. I made this video in and around Hanoi and north Thailand. 

Great fun

[BritManToo]

4 hours ago, buick said:

i would go with vietnam.  fly DMK to danang (DAD) nonstop on air asia (about 8,000thb).  the airport is right in danang city so you will be at hotel very quickly after landing.  there is decent nightlife along the han river, in between two of the major bridges.  a great place to walk.  you can rent a motorbike or take a taxi to the beaches nearby.

7

Vietjet flights to Vietnam (Saigon) are around 2,000bht.

Fast boat to the beach from Saigon is about 300bht.

 

Viets and Flippers all speak English.

[thecyclist]

I like them both, pros and cons :Vietnam is significantly cheaper, especially hotels, although the pesos has slipped quite a bit so the difference isn't as glaring as it used to be. Vietnamese food is much better.

TThe PH still has more of that 3rd world (some call it shit hole) feel to it which I personally find attractive.

English is spoken widely, while English proficiency in Vietnam is even lower than in Thailand. 

If you are looking for anything like Pattaya style nightlife, Philippines is definitely better. 

[watcharacters]

5 hours ago, lionsincity said:

food in vietnam is excellent

food in the philippines is some of the worst in the world.

 

town/cities in the PI can be real shitholes

 

the accent/national character in the PI I find annoying. 

 

town/cities in the PI can be/  are real shitholes.

 

I like the PI a lot  but truth be truth.

 

The food??   Special taste buds required ( or perhaps no taste buds at all) in the PI.

 

 

Vietnam is the cat's meow.   Go for it..

 

But I'd allow for a future trip to the PI in your bucket list, for sure.

 

[watcharacters]

23 minutes ago, thecyclist said:

I like them both, pros and cons :Vietnam is significantly cheaper, especially hotels, although the pesos has slipped quite a bit so the difference isn't as glaring as it used to be. Vietnamese food is much better.

TThe PH still has more of that 3rd world (some call it shit hole) feel to it which I personally find attractive.

English is spoken widely, while English proficiency in Vietnam is even lower than in Thailand. 

If you are looking for anything like Pattaya style nightlife, Philippines is definitely better. 

 

 

I still don't quite get it why hotels are generally much more expensive in the PI as opposed to most of SEA.    

 

I'd say the PI hotels generally speaking offer less for the money.

 

Internet included in price seems to remain a future amenity for Manila hotels at least.

 

 

I'm not sure based on my limited experience if I can agree with you about "English proficiency in Vietnam is even lower than in Thailand."   

 

Off hand I'd say I had little to  no problems at all with using English in either North or South Vietnam.

 

[Antiparovian]

What does "doing" a Country mean ?

[watcharacters]

1 hour ago, The manic said:

Saigon is fun. Has girls. Hanoi is Cultured. Philippines I don't like. Food is better in Vietnam. I made this video in and around Hanoi and north Thailand. 

Great fun

 

 

I've replied directly to the OP so I hope I'll be allowed this brief OT.

 

You mentioned being off your motorbike tour while I believe you were in Hanoi.

 

Did you find a motorbike tour in Hanoi?    I came up empty in my search three years ago.

 

I took two all day ones in Saigon and will never forget the fantastic  experiences.

 

I need to get back to Hanoi.     What a great city.

[jingjai9]

I lived and worked in Danang for one year. Although that was was 10 years ago, the comments made here about Danang, Vietnam are accurate. I have never been to the Philippines, but I can easily recommend VN. Just remember, it is against the law in VN for a foreigner to bring a VN lady to his room over night.  I loved the women. Biggest problem - The merchants and those in the service industry more often than not charge foreigners double for many goods and services. Also they are not as open to bargaining prices as Thais.  Also, in Danang the nightlife is over by midnight. I hope that has changed.

[The manic]

18 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

 

 

I've replied directly to the OP so I hope I'll be allowed this brief OT.

 

You mentioned being off your motorbike tour while I believe you were in Hanoi.

 

Did you find a motorbike tour in Hanoi?    I came up empty in my search three years ago.

 

I took two all day ones in Saigon and will never forget the fantastic  experiences.

 

I need to get back to Hanoi.     What a great city.

I did a motor bike food tour in Saigon. I did a food on foot tour in Hanoi. I rarely drive an MC. I'm sure there are MC tours in and around Hanoi. In Saigon I organised my own MC tour to all the major rooftop bars. The driver, an apprentice to the to the firm drank water.

[watcharacters]

1 minute ago, The manic said:

I did a motor bike food tour in Saigon. I did a food on foot tour in Hanoi. I rarely drive an MC. I'm sure there are MC tours in and around Hanoi. In Saigon I organised my own MC tour to all the major rooftop bars. The driver, an apprentice to the to the firm drank water.

 

 

Thanks for the reply.    You and I  may have gone on similar/same tours in Saigon.    I looked but will try a different approach in Hanoi next time

 

You video was very good.   I enjoyed it.

 

 

Thanks for the  posting .

 

[The manic]

9 minutes ago, jingjai9 said:

I lived and worked in Danang for one year. Although that was was 10 years ago, the comments made here about Danang, Vietnam are accurate. I have never been to the Philippines, but I can easily recommend VN. Just remember, it is against the law in VN for a foreigner to bring a VN lady to his room over night.  I loved the women. Biggest problem - The merchants and those in the service industry more often than not charge foreigners double for many goods and services. Also they are not as open to bargaining prices as Thais.  Also, in Danang the nightlife is over by midnight. I hope that has changed.

Hanoi nightlife finishes by 10/11. As it does in Chang Mai. But Saigon is freer than Thailand. People smoke dope openly, take NO2 etc and plenty girls and music, massage and a couple of coyote bars.  

[The manic]

10 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

 

 

Thanks for the reply.    You and I  may have gone on similar/same tours in Saigon.    I looked but will try a different approach in Hanoi next time

 

You video was very good.   I enjoyed it.

 

 

Thanks for the  posting .

 

The Hanoi food on foot was better than the Saigon MC food tour. If I return to Saigon I would go the mod bar called Vespas. They do tours and are v accommodating.  In Hanoi I would check out on line threads and local tour groups based in Hanoi.

[aldriglikvid]

Wow, I'm so humble and thankful for all your responses. 

 

I vill visit Vietnam based on your feedback but Philippnes is absoluteley on a future to-do list. 

 

I think I need to do HCMC because one of my purposes is making a visa for Thailand. But, the Danang trip mentioned previously do sound intriguing. 

Again - thanks. The forum does excel at times. 

[The manic]

16 minutes ago, aldriglikvid said:

Wow, I'm so humble and thankful for all your responses. 

 

I vill visit Vietnam based on your feedback but Philippnes is absoluteley on a future to-do list. 

 

I think I need to do HCMC because one of my purposes is making a visa for Thailand. But, the Danang trip mentioned previously do sound intriguing. 

Again - thanks. The forum does excel at times. 

One last point. Vietnam is much safer than the Philippines. 

[BritManToo]

16 hours ago, Antiparovian said:

What does "doing" a Country mean ?

Flag planting.

[BritManToo]

15 hours ago, jingjai9 said:

Just remember, it is against the law in VN for a foreigner to bring a VN lady to his room over night.

The hotels and the girls didn't seem worried (I thought that law was in Laos?).

In the lobby of one hotel in HCMC was a large sign saying, "Overnight visitors of guests must leave ID at the front desk"

(one of my pals sent me a photo of it and said, "Just like Pattaya")

[Johnnyngai]

21 hours ago, jingjai9 said:

I lived and worked in Danang for one year. Although that was was 10 years ago, the comments made here about Danang, Vietnam are accurate. I have never been to the Philippines, but I can easily recommend VN. Just remember, it is against the law in VN for a foreigner to bring a VN lady to his room over night.  I loved the women. Biggest problem - The merchants and those in the service industry more often than not charge foreigners double for many goods and services. Also they are not as open to bargaining prices as Thais.  Also, in Danang the nightlife is over by midnight. I hope that has changed.

The Thais overcharge me 20 or 30%;  the Viet in HCMC overcharge me 200 or 300%.   

The Viet think that I have no other choice of vacation spots.

[jingjai9]

Dear Britman too,

The law in VN and Laos about overnight guests is the same. It is selectively enforced. Man brings woman to room, police come to room, police knock on door, police see girl, demand to see passport. The police take the passport and the unfortunate foreigner has to buy it back or go to the station. As far as I know the law is on the books. Rented a small house in VN and this was an issue with the owner of the house. He was afraid if he did not say something to me, the neighbors would report it. This was 2006. 

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, jingjai9 said:

Dear Britman too,

The law in VN and Laos about overnight guests is the same. It is selectively enforced. Man brings woman to room, police come to room, police knock on door, police see girl, demand to see passport. The police take the passport and the unfortunate foreigner has to buy it back or go to the station. As far as I know the law is on the books. Rented a small house in VN and this was an issue with the owner of the house. He was afraid if he did not say something to me, the neighbors would report it. This was 2006. 

Times change, it's 2018 now.

[jingjai9]

I hope you are right. HCMC is much different from a smaller city like DaNang or Hoi An.  I do believe what you said. My point was that the laws are there and when you least expect it, the law is enforced. I also heard the police and girls have been known to work together to set up foreigners sometimes. The cop shakes the guy in the room with the girl down for money and he gives the girl a piece of the action.

[bkk6060]

The food put down about PI is so stupid there are so many western food places around who cares.

Manila do not go there for more then a day or 2.

The hotels( a real hotel not a crap hostel) in PI are cheaper (outside Manila) don't know what others are talking about.

I think the girls are much prettier in PI and just about all speak English.

The exchange rate now for PI is very good.

I think the PI people are more low key then VN who seem desperate.

 

I personally like PI much more then VN.

I think VN are not attractive but I love the PI ladies.

Of course, I live in Pattaya so the girl scene in PI fits to my liking much much more.

 

But, try both if you can you only live once.

 

 

 

 

 

[aldriglikvid]

I appreciate you casting some light on PI as well, thanks! ?