Can Vietnam’s Tourism Catch Up With Thailand’s?

[BADBRAD]

Thanks for starting this thread Lao Po, interesting indeed!

How shall I describe my Vietnam?? There is probably nothing better then taking a Saturday morning off and enjoying breakfast with a Cafe Sua Da .......

Cheers!

HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN TO MENTION THE COFFEE? The best in the world!

[PhilHarries]

Some have mentioned early closing times of 11pm. When I was in Ha Noi 18 months ago I asked the woman behind the bar in the Spotted Cow what time she closed? Late, she replied. How late is late? 2 or 3 in morning depends if we have customer.

Things may have changed though but there was an excellent club/bar called Seventeen with probably the best Philippino band I've ever seen.

Anyway, you think 11pm is early, you try it here in Quang Ngai. There are virtually no bars we westerners would call bars. One hotel has a bar plus two restaurants with bars. There is a French restaurant in town with what is closest to a bar. Other than that there are cafes that serve beer. All of these places generally shut down at 9:30pm although the French place will stay open a little longer if there is the demand.

Another thing you have to get used to is warm beer , and I mean tropical warm, or ice in it. If you can speak a bit of Vietnamese you can phone up and get half a case put in a bucket of iced water but don't depend on it. Also, because the young trendy Vietnamese like to pose with western or non Vietnamese products, many of the cafes only serve Tiger or pooftah pop (aka Heineken). OK unless like me you like to sample the local grog.

Talking of grog there is a reasonable rice liquor vodka Ha Noi but down at street level there is a wicked local firewater that tastes like a gentle blend of gasoline and industrial solvent. Best avoided unless you have a real hate campaign going against your liver.

There is, for me, one huge advantage with living out here in the real boonies. There are NO MacDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Starbucks etc etc. No doubt these eyesores are planning to infest every last corner but for now the area is clean.

A couple of hours away is Da Nang and Hoi Anh which provide a little more western style entertainment and I'll be up that way this weekend.

It's not Thailand and many of the Thai-o-philes wouldn't be able to hack it but if you have a sense of adventure and, most importantly, a sense of humour it is a great place to be.

[BADBRAD]

Some have mentioned early closing times of 11pm. When I was in Ha Noi 18 months ago I asked the woman behind the bar in the Spotted Cow what time she closed? Late, she replied. How late is late? 2 or 3 in morning depends if we have customer.

Things may have changed though but there was an excellent club/bar called Seventeen with probably the best Philippino band I've ever seen.

Thanks for the mention of Seventeen Phil! That is my favorite. If you ever make it back there drop my name "Brad" and you're sure to arouse the interest of all the staff. The lead singer of the Filipino band you spoke of is my girlfriend! The personal photo in my profile was taken in 17 about a year and a half ago. Sadly, that band, The Soundcheck Band, has moved on from Ha Noi. The police decided that after 2 years the bar wasn't allowed to employ foreign entertainers. This was at the same time that they shut down New Century, Solace, Apocalypse Now, and a variety of other night spots in the capital. It was also when the closing times changed. They are slowly starting to allow bars/clubs to stay open a little later now. My girlfriend is back in Manilla at the moment, but I will call her and tell her of your praises. Their drummer was really something huh?

Anyways, back on topic....

[stevenjm]

Will vietnam ever rival thailand? - no way.

issues:

vietnam is not an aviation hub like bkk

crime by locals against foreigners is a lot worse

vietnamese attitude towards foreigners. certainly not los.

nah trang in no way rivals phuket, water, corals, beaches no competition

illegal to take your legit viet gf to hotel or house.

visas.

plus side - worth a look and food is great.

[LaoPo]

What does Vietnam offer that Thailand doesn't?

War history, communism and people who are a little bit different, but don't smile too much. Don't think Thailand has too much to worry about.

Persoally I don't know anyone who has been to Vietnam twice, whilst at the same time don't know anyone who has only visited one time in Thailand.

Couldn't resist....OF COURSE you don't know anyone........ they left.

LaoPo

[totlanh]

Will vietnam ever rival thailand? - no way.

issues:

vietnam is not an aviation hub like bkk

crime by locals against foreigners is a lot worse

vietnamese attitude towards foreigners. certainly not los.

nah trang in no way rivals phuket, water, corals, beaches no competition

illegal to take your legit viet gf to hotel or house.

visas.

plus side - worth a look and food is great.

As someone who is married to a Vietnamee lady and has thus spent a lot of time in Vietnam i have to take issue with the points you have raised here.Firstly you claim that crime against foreigners is worse-EVIDENCE PLEASE.Nah Trang(actually Nha Trang)is but one of numerous beach resorts and certainly some of the beaches in Central Vietnam would rival any in Thailand.Finally you claim its illegal to take a Vietnam girl to a hotel,well my friend that is simply nonsence....

Personally,i think with regards to what Vietnam has achieved by way of infastructure for tourists in what you have to remeber is a very short period of time is nothing short of remarkable,and though i dont believe Vietnam will ever rival Thailand as a tourist destination i do believe it will continue to go from strenght to strenghth

[Manchester]

Will vietnam ever rival thailand? - no way.

issues:

vietnam is not an aviation hub like bkk

crime by locals against foreigners is a lot worse

vietnamese attitude towards foreigners. certainly not los.

nah trang in no way rivals phuket, water, corals, beaches no competition

illegal to take your legit viet gf to hotel or house.

visas.

plus side - worth a look and food is great.

Illegal to take GF back to hotel? Never happened when i lived there.

Hostile to foreigners? Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr maybe only to you pal. Not to me.

Not an aviation hub? Certainly true.......but thats changing.

I prefer Thailand myself but i would never discount living there. Vietnam is what you make it...........as is Thailand

[LaoPo]

Will vietnam ever rival thailand? - no way.

issues:

vietnam is not an aviation hub like bkk

crime by locals against foreigners is a lot worse

vietnamese attitude towards foreigners. certainly not los.

nah trang in no way rivals phuket, water, corals, beaches no competition

illegal to take your legit viet gf to hotel or house.

visas.

plus side - worth a look and food is great.

As someone who is married to a Vietnamee lady and has thus spent a lot of time in Vietnam i have to take issue with the points you have raised here.Firstly you claim that crime against foreigners is worse-EVIDENCE PLEASE.Nah Trang(actually Nha Trang)is but one of numerous beach resorts and certainly some of the beaches in Central Vietnam would rival any in Thailand.Finally you claim its illegal to take a Vietnam girl to a hotel,well my friend that is simply nonsence....

Personally,i think with regards to what Vietnam has achieved by way of infastructure for tourists in what you have to remeber is a very short period of time is nothing short of remarkable, and though i dont believe Vietnam will ever rival Thailand as a tourist destination i do believe it will continue to go from strenght to strenghth

I agree, but I see Vietnam as a bigger competitor to Thailand than many realize. And it's absolutely on my list, next trip.

Why?

Well, when I first came to Thailand 30 years ago (and many now-TV members ...) it was paradise.

On Phuket, Patong Beach was paradise....so was Koh Samui; the atmosphere was tranquil, relaxed and very very kind and sweet people, and everything was cheap, so cheap.

No more. I really miss the tranquility, easy going and empty beaches with those funny too-small beach chairs, made to Thai sizes

Thailand and it's tourist destinations have become a circus and one has to go further and further away to look for tranquility.

The mass package tourist, however, doesn't care; they want beach-sun & booze and (maybe) girls. The same kind of tourist still exists in Europe although Europe lacks the Thai way of bars+ladies.

I always smile when I hear people say: we went to France, Spain, Turkey OR Thailand for that matter...

They didn't ! They went to a hotel or resort and staid there for 14 days, in front of their hotel-with-pool with maybe 1 or 2 sightseeing trips; then they fly back home.

Although Thailand's tourism will probably still grow it doesn't favour so much more than countries like France, Spain etc. apart from the lower -local- costs, tropical settings and mentioned bar+ladies.

The question is if the mass tourist to Thailand is a repeat tourist. It's easier to fly to Spain than Thailand and people DO repeatedly fly to Mediterranean countries.

Tourists are curious people and they're 'in' for a new destination.

That might very well be Vietnam. Why not ? Thailand, as a hub, would benefit also.

I just read an ad somewhere that Vietnam is looking desperately for Korean tourguides and tranlators...

Don't forget about the Asian tourists.

LaoPo

[wileycoyote]

Good reply LaoPo

Personally ,I haven't been to Vietnam,but would like to go

Wiley Coyote

[stevenjm]

You guys have to be kidding or working for viet tourism.

Everything I said is true, have spent plenty of time there. You have obviously never taken viet woman to hotel - reception will refuse you before you even get her into the lobby and its ILLEGAL (was earlier this year and always has been)

No way do viet beaches rival thailands, you have obviously not been to many places in Thai if your saying that.

Evidence of more crime - personal experience, have seen more moto bike snatch and grabs there than anywhere in asia, yet to witness one in Thai. Go for a walk at night down on the beach near the club or get your gf to walk strreet with handbag in hand and see how long you both remain smiling in your viet has less crime than thai world.

BTW the expat population in nha trang hate me also for bluntly pointing this out to them(the nobs anyway) so not surprised people are trying to make it look good.

I am not bagging it, its cool to visit but it does not rival thailand and never will

[totlanh]

You guys have to be kidding or working for viet tourism.

Everything I said is true, have spent plenty of time there. You have obviously never taken viet woman to hotel - reception will refuse you before you even get her into the lobby and its ILLEGAL (was earlier this year and always has been)

Mate no harm to you but you are TALKING SHIT.I have stayed many times with my wife in a Vietnam hotel and before we were married and NOT ONCE was it a problem.Maybe the hotel just dos,nt like the look of you

[B-BOY]

Vietnam is next to China rising star of Asia - PERIOD!

Just look at facts, tourism is just one of many industries experiencing fast growth. Yes, we all love Thailand, but tourism there used to be a different experience then what it is nowadays.

The THAI brand is slowly expiring and is becoming simply outdated. Marketing has gone from bad to worse and old Amazing Thailand story just doesnt work anymore. TAT has still not yet figured what and how to change.

That's opinion of lot of Expats living all over South East Asia and especially with lots of Western European travelers which are now looking forward making next step, wanting to discover Thailand neighbours.

Of course, Scandinavian families will always continue enjoy Kata and Karon during their winter and thats fine for them, as its a great place to take family. Middle class Russians, Khazaks etc will continue enjoy Pattaya and those rich ones will book again their suite at Le Meridien in Phuket, no changes for them.

Hanoi however, is a mear 90 minutes flight and HCMC just a short hour and 5 minutes away from aviation hub Bangkok, therefore very easy and quick to reach and people will notice that they really arrive in a different world.

For this simple reason, more and more Western Europeans, Americans and OZ's will descend on Vietnam and might even combine this destination with Cambodia and might use Bangkok only for a shopping stop or for one night in Bangkok.

Future will tell.

Cheers!

Edited September 13, 2007 by B-BOY

[stevenjm]

You guys have to be kidding or working for viet tourism.

Everything I said is true, have spent plenty of time there. You have obviously never taken viet woman to hotel - reception will refuse you before you even get her into the lobby and its ILLEGAL (was earlier this year and always has been)

Mate no harm to you but you are TALKING SHIT.I have stayed many times with my wife in a Vietnam hotel and before we were married and NOT ONCE was it a problem.Maybe the hotel just dos,nt like the look of you

No I am not! do not know how you managed that. My experiences and everybody I talk to has same experience as me.

from here (just as "evidence" and to back up my experiences) http://pitayasuwan.greenstay.org/vietnam/Perspective.htm

"It is illegal for two people to spend the night together if they are not married. It is illegal for a Vietnamese person to spend the night in the same room as a foreigner. It is illegal for a foreigner to spend the night somewhere without the police knowing his or her whereabouts. Often, this law is not enforced, but by breaking it, we put the landlord (hotel owner, or school director) and the Vietnamese person into a very vulnerable position, which may result in them having to pay a fine, or provide some other service, to avoid going to prison."

anyway I am not going to argue with you, The OP wanted info and thats mine.

P.S do not take my word for it, go ask your probably more informed than you wife.

Edited September 14, 2007 by stevenjm