Vietnam Island Like Thong Nai Pan Noi On Koh Phangan

[KonaLA]

Hi All! Spent a few months in LOS, of which a good 5 weeks were on Thong Nai Pan Noi on Koh Phangan. Heading over to Vietnam next week for a short holiday (only 10 days). Flying into HCMC and want to get to a beach asap. Realizing the hidden gems are not easily found, am hoping will get some great suggestions. Going with my girlfriend, so looking for something a little nicer than what I'd normally get. A bungalow on the beach - few bars and restaurants would be ideal. Basically looking for an undeveloped area that has a nice place and we can learn about the Vietnam culture. Also, we'll be spending about 1.5 days in HCMC...suggestions always appreciated. While I'm begging for advice, might as well ask if about Seoul...we have a full day layover there. Thanks!

[girlx]

i never saw anyplace like thong nai pan in vietnam, or in any other countries for that matter. but check out hoi an, and the nearby cua dai beach. this was my favorite area of vietnam.

[PhilHarries]

You might be thinking of Phu Cuoc (sp?) island, right down south over just off the Cambodian border.

Anyway, Cua Dai beach at Hoi An (25km south of Da Nang).

[PhilHarries]

Remember rule #1 Phil, read the entire OP before adding a <deleted>' reply.

Just read your bit about a onr day layover in Seoul. Well I'm at the tail end of a six month stint here in the Soul of Asia (more like the 'R'sole) so can give you a bit of advice.

A day is plenty long enough unless you are heavily into going around countless rebuilt palaces that all look the same. Of these I'd recommend either Gyeongbokgung (nearest subway Gwanghwamung) which has the added Folk Museum or Changdeokgung/Changyeonggung with the Jongmyo shrine (nearest subway Jongo Sam-ga). The palaces are quite impressive but are all extensively rebuilt as they just about all have the same history [built 1421, extended 1472, further extended 1501, destroyed during the Japanese occupation 1523-1545, rebuilt 1576, extended 1601, destroyed during the Japanese.............etc etc].

The nearest subways are both on line 5 which passes through Seoul station, there are cloer ones that require a change.

If you are not into going round old buildings you might like to wander around Namdaemun market (Subway station Hoehyeon, line 4 out of Seoul station) for shopping but you are unlikely to find any bargains.

If the weather is good and clear you mat prefer a trip up the Seoul Tower but you'll need a taxi to get there as there's no convenient close by subway. Also th area around Seoul Plaza, including Deoksugung palace [built 1395, extended...blah blah], is quite good for shops and restaurants. However the Sunghyemun (South Gate) is under restoration having been destroyed by fire [no not the Japanese this time]. A lot of things in Seoul like shops, restaurants are difficult to find as they are in underground malls.

A little surprisingly English is not widely spoken in many parts of Seoul but most taxis have a "Free ranslation" service which means they have a mobile phone they call up a center, you tell the center where you want to go and they translate back to the driver. The subway is the best way to get around town and cheap, any journey in the city center is around 900 KRW (40 KRW = 1 THB, if I remember correctly). Get a 'T' Money card valid on the subway, city buses and most taxis and that saves you buying tickets and it can be topped up at loads of places.

If you want somewhere a little more cosmopolitan go to Itaewon, line 6, and there are plenty of restaurants, bars, shops etc and English is well spoken there as ther is a US Army base close by although you hardly ever see the servicemen.

Well that's a rough guide for now, if I think of any more I'll come back. Don't know when exactly you will be hitting Seoul but we are just approaching the blossom time when all the trees are in flower, very pretty and a good place to view it all is Yeouido Park, line 5 get out at either Yeouinaro or Yeouido station.

[KonaLA]

Appreciate the more than helpful suggestions!! Thanks

[PattayaParent]

And at Yeouido you can go up the 66 Tower, the tallest building in Seoul.

Or visit the aquarium in the base of it.

Or take a cruise along the river.

[PhilHarries]

Good call PP, I'd forgotten those, and I live in Yeouido, except it is tower 63. I'm not being pedantic, well yes I am, but I don't want him wandering the streets looking for those extra three floors.

I just remembered that for Changdeokgung palace you have to join a guided tour which is okay but you may have to wait a couple of hours to catch the English language one. Alternatively do as I did and join any tour, mine was Korean, and just read the signs and brochure. But of course you can't go round at your own speed and they do shepherd you around so there's little chance for sneaking off, just like being back at school.

[PattayaParent]

I always thought the Koreans should have shown a bit more imagination and built it 69 storeys high!

It's been a while since I lived in Seoul so I've forgotten some places but there's that 'canal' that's been renovated that gets packed out at weekends, somewhere near City Hall if I remember right? And there's lots of good bars around there.

[MyFriend You]

Hi All! Spent a few months in LOS, of which a good 5 weeks were on Thong Nai Pan Noi on Koh Phangan. Heading over to Vietnam next week for a short holiday (only 10 days). Flying into HCMC and want to get to a beach asap. Realizing the hidden gems are not easily found, am hoping will get some great suggestions. Going with my girlfriend, so looking for something a little nicer than what I'd normally get. A bungalow on the beach - few bars and restaurants would be ideal. Basically looking for an undeveloped area that has a nice place and we can learn about the Vietnam culture. Also, we'll be spending about 1.5 days in HCMC...suggestions always appreciated. While I'm begging for advice, might as well ask if about Seoul...we have a full day layover there. Thanks!

When you get to HCMC, head down to Pham Ngu Lao/Dui Denh (back packer area) there are plenty of reputable tourist shops - I spend a lot of time in Vietnam and find Nha Trang more suitable to me likings..........Phu Quoc is remote, run by the Navy and Germans, I didn't see anything I would remotely call a 'guy's place' even the 'family friendly' places are rip offs - very damngerous taxi, moto rides from the airport, sometimes they stop half way and re-negotiate the fares, even leave you on the road, ripe for picking by accomplice robbers - Phu Quoc as a long way to go before I recommend it to anyone. Mui Ne beach is fine, lots of adventurew stuff to do, kite surfing, wind surfing, boogie boarding, 4 wheeling the sand dunes etc et etc - but for being modern and built up, Nha Trang is the ticket...........my opinion.............enjoy Vietnam - I have two houses there now, one in the Delta, and one in Nha Trang. Its like Pattaya 20 years ago.

[WorldwideALOHA]

Phu Quoc in Vietnam is quite nice. It is getting developed, but it's no Samui yet. There are long drives on open roads along the beach and beautiful sunsets. Nothing to really see in the water as the fishermen have stripped the reefs just about bare.

There is a nice new resort on the Eastern side called Gecko Jacks. I met the owner a few years back when they were building it. Quiet location and nice construction. The other place that I liked was Starfish? bungalows. Gecko's place is at www.geckojacks.com

Aloha