Vietnam trip

[Dustdevil 1,164]

56 minutes ago, madmen said:

Doing a tour of Thailand is 1000 times more fun especially for singles. Vietnam is OK for couples but boring as for singles... couldn't Wait to get back to LOS!

Not boring if you have a gf there or manage to make acquaintance with one. They're incredibly beautiful.

[Nakmuay887 1,079]

It is an amazing country with such a unique culture and tough, proud people. Enjoy your holiday!

[phkauf 1,396]

I have been to VN over 20 times and can't really think of a bad experience (other than taxi nonsense). As others said, use GRAB or Vinasun or Mai Linh taxis only - even my local friends do the same.

As an American, you can apply for a visa online - https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt .  The other links are not government companies some good, some not. 

Food tastes vary, but in my opinion the food is as good if not better than Thai. Socialism has produced a great thing in Vietnam since a beer costs the same as a coke - now that's equality!

Try to see some of the countryside, amazing mountains and beaches. 

The locals are super nice and very willing to engage in conversation, if only to practice English. I have been on the receiving end of quite a few drinks from people I have met. Since the language has been romanized, it's easy to find things unlike in Thailand where you need to learn the alphabet.

 

[BritManToo 45,168]

8 minutes ago, Dustdevil said:

Not boring if you have a gf there or manage to make acquaintance with one. They're incredibly beautiful.

I never had any problems finding a Viet gf ..... for an hour.

[Letseng 826]

On 12/28/2019 at 8:12 AM, Hans007 said:

Food in Vietnam " mediocre'...mmmmm i thought it was vokking good!!! Secobd the fact that english is badly spoken...but that also goes for Thailand imho.

 

Waiting for visa took 1.5 hrs at airport....i had letter of recomendation on forhand...with pics. I have been waiting longer sometimes at bkk airport...haha.

 

Hans.

I worked in VN for some years. Loved the food. But I lived in the sticks and cooking was VN not for tourists.

[JRUSA 123]

Reception, my gf met me out front with a dozen roses. I have been coming to Vietnam since 2007, never had any of the issues you stated. In the past never spent more than 30 minutes waiting for my visa. Now with online application even easier.

i go out alone sometimes and never felt I was ripped off, yes English is rare but usually someone speaks enough. 
 

on a side note my wife books tours, hotel, airfare, pick up and return to airport. She can also be a guide and accompany you or your group, contact me here and I’ll let her know. She’s on Line,WhatsApp, WeChat, zeloi think it is. Probably others to.

[Andycoops 591]

Fantastic!

[madmen 9,972]

55 minutes ago, Dustdevil said:

Not boring if you have a gf there or manage to make acquaintance with one. They're incredibly beautiful.

like I said its for couples only. I don't NEED a GF just a vast choice for a night and LOS is unbeatable

[Kaoboi Bebobp 1,777]

1 hour ago, alex8912 said:

Use grab taxi. My cab ride 2 weeks ago from District 1 to airport was 75,000 dong. You overpaid. Bus is 20,000 I took it from airport to District one. I preferred door to door service in a/c taxi of course. 

 

I said from the airport, not from D1. Different fares due to traffic and time. But I agree about the fare to the airport. In a Grab taxi from my hotel near Bitexco Tower to Pasteur, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Nguyen Van Troi is 86,000 to 96,000 to the airport from 8 am. From the airport I don't bother with Grab and take a lineup taxi. The airport roads are always very chaotic and D1-bound streets very busy. It's always the same route to Ho Tung Mau, same early afternoon time and roughly the same fare. Taxi from the airport door to hotel door is as I said.

[Mansell 1,782]

was there in May with family....only time somebody tried to rip us off was the taxi to hotel in Danang. I wasn’t sure we were at right hotel so I went inside and the receptionist told me what I should be paying the taxi. Went outside and just gave him what she said, he shut up and take the money bye bye. Took a tour with family and we were charged to much for youngest boy but had no idea. The tour guide told me and said we would be reimbursed at the hotel....which is what happened. Had no trouble with English in Danang, Hue, or anywhere. We ate Indian and Mexican food which was really good, and the price for four was way cheaper than Thailand. Hotels were great with the best buffet breakfast I’ve had anywhere. Great country, and lovely people. Enjoy your trip. 

[thenewgoo 374]

Just arrived back from my first trip to Vietnam today. I have a headache from the cars and motorbikes beeping their way along the roads. Everybody will rip you off if they can - it makes Thailand look civilised. Stick to the 7/11 style mini-marts - I paid 4 different prices for the same pack of cigarettes. I will say however, people adhere to road rules - our taxi stuck to 60 kph even on the wide open road and I barely noticed a motorbike rider without a helmet on. I wish they would take a few zeros off their dong - sometimes difficult to get your head around. Friendliness on par with Thailand, maybe a little less friendly if anything. Good luck crossing roads - remember to look left first!

[Ej2562 19]

I felt that there is still much animosity towards Americans(USA).

I visited HCMC last year. Did not have any problems with rip offs.

Food at the Street food market is fantastic. Stayed there 3 days. US citizens are required  to get a visa to enter Vietnam.  Most European countries are not required to get a visa to visit there. So the government changed it's thinking about the US fighting there.

[Pravda 4,573]

On 12/28/2019 at 8:56 AM, samuttodd said:

OK, We have elected to do an exploratory run into Viet territory.    I will provide a complete written report with updates when we have been placed in theatre. 

Please don't 

[Destiny1990 7,400]

Hey Wow nice the positivity is finally back.

Where in Thailand is this place exactly so i visit it myself !

oh my goodness this upbeat vibe its its about Vietnam sorry my bad.

Edited December 29, 2019 by Destiny1990

[SiSePuede419 1,741]

"I wish they would take a few zeros off their dong"

 

That's what she said.

 

The V.C. got a little uppity, so I called in an airstrike on Charley.  Calmed them down pretty quick.

Edited December 29, 2019 by SiSePuede419