Planning Weeklong Holiday To Northern Vietnam

[Mekong Bob]

Like to spend 5-6 days in Northern Vietnam in April, visiting Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hill Tribe areas, and Hue. Hope to link up with a larger group of 10 or so visitors, share buses and guides. Any TV Forum folks had recent positive experiences they can share and recommend? Might consider flying to Vientiane for a couple of days before continuing on to Hanoi. Appreciate your comments.

[SamSipEt]

Just back from Vietnam and used the visa on arrival system. Quite painless. Apply on line, pay 29 USD, get sent an email that you print out and hand over on arrival along with another 35 USD. Only took a few minutes but if they are busy I suspect you could be stuck for an hour, Don't forget one passport sized photo as well.

[onthedarkside]

Just back from Vietnam and used the visa on arrival system. Quite painless. Apply on line, pay 29 USD, get sent an email that you print out and hand over on arrival along with another 35 USD. Only took a few minutes but if they are busy I suspect you could be stuck for an hour, Don't forget one passport sized photo as well.

Yes, it is quite painless, and yes it took over an hour at Saigon airport busy time.

[Mekong Bob]

Just back from Vietnam and used the visa on arrival system. Quite painless. Apply on line, pay 29 USD, get sent an email that you print out and hand over on arrival along with another 35 USD. Only took a few minutes but if they are busy I suspect you could be stuck for an hour, Don't forget one passport sized photo as well.

$64 for visa to Vietnam?

[simple1]

OP: Suggest you allocate a few more days to visit all the locations you mentioned. If you're thinking of going to Sapa to visit the hill tribe area you can get an overnight sleeper train from Hanoi, Say two days in Sapa then overnight train return to Hanoi. Do not go by bus.

You could do a day trip to Halong Bay, long day, or overnight. Fly Hanoi to Hue and return, not much in Hue other than visit some ruins and old temples, say one day. Again do not go by bus, in any case to far from Hanoi to travel by road in your timeline. Probably better to fly to Danang and taxi to Hoi An, say two nights; lovely at nighttime. Hoi An is one of the few Vietnamese towns that did not get destroyed during the American War so still has the old Chinese Vietnamese houses, good beach nearby as well

[hellodolly]

OP: Suggest you allocate a few more days to visit all the locations you mentioned. If you're thinking of going to Sapa to visit the hill tribe area you can get an overnight sleeper train from Hanoi, Say two days in Sapa then overnight train return to Hanoi. Do not go by bus.

You could do a day trip to Halong Bay, long day, or overnight. Fly Hanoi to Hue and return, not much in Hue other than visit some ruins and old temples, say one day. Again do not go by bus, in any case to far from Hanoi to travel by road in your timeline. Probably better to fly to Danang and taxi to Hoi An, say two nights; lovely at nighttime. Hoi An is one of the few Vietnamese towns that did not get destroyed during the American War so still has the old Chinese Vietnamese houses, good beach nearby as well

I agree with you more time. That i9s unless he is just doing a scouting terip to seek out places to come back to for a longer stay. That is a good plan also.

Reminds me of my very first visit to Thailand one month. Went home and realized I really hadn't seen any thing.

[LawrenceChee]

The old quarters in Hanoi street during the cold season like now, overnight junk boat ride in Halong bay are great ways to spend a week there;

Not sure if you enjoy physical sports, if you it pays to stay 3D2N at least on the Halong Bay trips and take the kayak trips to Cat Ba island etc as its beautiful

if you have more time, then take the night sleeper train to Sapa and spend at least 2 days there for the hike around the trails

Enjoy...I like Hanoi better than HCM..it's more cultural and the people although look stern warms up after a while and the real Vietnam charms appears

[Mekong Bob]

Just back from Vietnam and used the visa on arrival system. Quite painless. Apply on line, pay 29 USD, get sent an email that you print out and hand over on arrival along with another 35 USD. Only took a few minutes but if they are busy I suspect you could be stuck for an hour, Don't forget one passport sized photo as well.

Any recommendations for best bargains on flights from Chiang Mai to Hanoi? I am finding that Lao Airlines is the most direct (Chiang Mai to Louang Phabang to Hanoi) flight to Hanoi, but not the least expensive. The current round-trip fare is about US$600. Ouch! On my way to the Lao Airlines office today to verify. Looks like I can fly to Bangkok and then connect to Vietnam Airlines, Qatar Airlines, etc. for a round-trip fare that is closer to US$500.

If I decide to go Lao Airlines to Hanoi via Louang Phabang, does anyone know if in-transit passengers must pay for a Laos visa upon arrival in Louang Phabang? I hope that would not be the case!

After visit to Lao Airlines office, I will report my findings on this thread. Thanks for your comments.