Vietnam - Places To Visit Near Hoi An

[simple1]

Hi, anyone recently travelled in Vietnam. I'm travelling up the coast from HCMC to Hoi An, stopping off at Mui Ne and Nha Trang. seeking some suggestions for places within 2/4 hours from Hoi An to visit for up to six days as I've heard their are some great scenic locations not far from Hoi An. Thanks

[craigt3365]

I really liked Hue. Nice trip up the river seeing all the old palaces, etc. Dalat was pretty neat also, but a bit out of the way for you I think.

Let's try this over in the SE Asia forum. OK?

Topic Moved.

[tutsiwarrior]

north of Hue in Quang Binh, Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces there is some excellent scenery with big rivers and etc...but I'm not sure that tourist excursions are available as they are remote areas...I spent a lot of time around there on a previous job and was very impressed and I come from California that has some of the best scenery in the world...

worth some further investigation...

[simple1]

north of Hue in Quang Binh, Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces there is some excellent scenery with big rivers and etc...but I'm not sure that tourist excursions are available as they are remote areas...I spent a lot of time around there on a previous job and was very impressed and I come from California that has some of the best scenery in the world...

worth some further investigation...

Thanks for heads up. Just looked at Phong Nha Farm Stay near Dong Hoi. Looks like a scenic area - what's your opinion?

[tutsiwarrior]

north of Hue in Quang Binh, Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces there is some excellent scenery with big rivers and etc...but I'm not sure that tourist excursions are available as they are remote areas...I spent a lot of time around there on a previous job and was very impressed and I come from California that has some of the best scenery in the world...

worth some further investigation...

Thanks for heads up. Just looked at Phong Nha Farm Stay near Dong Hoi. Looks like a scenic area - what's your opinion?

anywhere near Dong Hoi north of town is nice; two large rivers (one thru the center of town but with mountains nearby) and a coast and cliff hugging road up to Ha Tinh province, spectacular rice farming country and scenery up that way...some folks put on tours of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the mountains near there and the rivers look really inviting if an organized tour boat was available...two good western style 3 star hotels available in Dong Hoi; the Sun Spa (they got individual chalets with AC and patio bathing pools on the beach, nice hotel menu with good wines) and the Saigon - Quang Binh where we had a leaving do for an associate with roast lamb!...they are serious about attracting western tourists there...and any local tour arrangements (rivers, mountains, etc) can be made at these hotels...

I never did go anywhere south of town so I can't advise in that regard...but if you want to see good scenery, authentic north central coast rural living (cone hats, flip flops and oxcarts) and rough and tumble try a 2+ hour drive (hire car) up the main highway between Dong Hoi and Ha Tinh City, there is the Ha Tinh BMC 3 star hotel when you arrive but the restaurant food is terrible and it is a challenge to feed yerself...load up on the breakfast in the morning (good pho bo noodles and eggs cooked to order and fresh bread) then head back to Dong Hoi...further north there is Vinh and Hanoi (8hr drive from Ha Tinh City)...

there are regional airports in Dong Hoi and Vinh City...but beware as they shut down at the hint of bad weather...the area is an avenue for typhoons racing in from the south China sea with regular devastation in the local villages...I saw one once from my 13th floor hotel room at the Ha Tinh BMC hotel and it was frightening...

bon voyage...

Edited March 28, 2012 by tutsiwarrior