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sophdra
Squeeker
Joined: Jan 24, 2007
Posts: 13
Location: yangpu district
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
June 21, 2007 - 07:30 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Hanoi, Halong bay and Sapa |
I am planning to go to Vietnam for five to six days with a friend and we wanted to visit the inevitable Halong bay and Sapa. We thought of either renting a motorbike in Hanoi and ride to Sapa or rent a small boat in Halong Bay and visit the islands.
Has anyone every rented a motorbike to go from Hanoi to Sapa or a boat in Halong bay? Any good tips?
Thanks a lot for your help |
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MBK
Newbie
Joined: Apr 15, 2007
Posts: 7
Location: Yangpu
Status: Offline
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June 21, 2007 - 08:46 PM |
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Hanoi-->Sapa is a pretty far trek. The train takes all night to go from Hanoi-->Lao Cai, and then the bus is another 45min to get up the mountain to Sapa. Also you should know, the highways in VN are no joke, I saw no less than 3 dead motorcyclists in 5 months just around Hanoi.
When I went to Halong, we arranged a tour in Hanoi. All the boats there are run by tour companies and they have to have a license from the government to operate. We got a big house/tour boat for about $40 USD/person for 3 days 2 nights including food.
Hope this helps, enjoy your time there. |
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Animeisco
Lurker
Joined: Feb 11, 2007
Posts: 39
Status: Offline
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June 21, 2007 - 09:07 PM |
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I've been to Vietnam twice (I'm Vietnamese...) and MBK's not kidding. Traffic/Highways are absolutely insane in VN. Even worse than China. So for your own safety, don't rent a motorbike.
As for Halong Bay, it's fairly easy to arrange a group tour from Hanoi. Cheap and quite nice. Try Sinh Cafe in Hanoi, I think they're still popular...
By the way, you should visit Hoi An. Great little city.
Have fun there! |
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currychook
Rocker
Joined: Dec 21, 2005
Posts: 602
Location: Hong Kou, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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June 25, 2007 - 11:51 AM |
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Try ODC travel. Good company, and their operations are well-managed and fine relative to what you are paying for. They'll bus you to the tour boat in Halong Bay. |
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chiua
Seeker
Joined: Sep 20, 2004
Posts: 49
Status: Offline
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June 25, 2007 - 12:35 PM |
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Do you guys recommend going to Vietnam? I've heard Sapa is awesome, and Hanoi and HCMC were not super great. Any thoughts? |
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Juan_Tamad
Board Royalty
Joined: Jan 29, 2007
Posts: 6267
Location: Smoky Mountain
Status: Offline
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June 25, 2007 - 12:42 PM |
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I have been to both Hanoi and HCMC a couple of times and I do not see much to see in the city. I only had a day free each visit so its all the touristy places. I heard though that the beaches in Vietnam are great..which ones would you recommend? how far are they from HCMC or Hanoi?
I agree, a moto in Vietnam is not a safe transport alternative.
Traffic in Vietnam is defintely insane. Picture China 20 yeara ago, this time in motos, not bicyles...its crazy. |
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willowybuff
Newbie
Joined: Mar 25, 2007
Posts: 7
Status: Offline
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June 25, 2007 - 02:11 PM |
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Hanoi is fantastic, worth spending at least two or three days visiting. Really chilled out atmosphere (compared to Shanghai). Sapa is apparently over rated and full of peddlers. Halong bay is a of course a must. |
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horsemandk
StreetBeater
Joined: Mar 23, 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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June 28, 2007 - 09:29 AM |
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Remember to go to the old part of Hanoi while there!
Halong Bay is a must  |
_________________
Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer (not advised) are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software. |
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shanghaiceltic
Board Royalty
Joined: Sep 20, 2005
Posts: 7618
Location: Perth WA
Status: Offline
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June 28, 2007 - 09:57 AM |
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Don't use a motorbike. The Vietnamese are even crazier on the roads in the north than the Shanghai drivers.
I worked in Vietnam for a while and Hanoi and Halong Bay are worth the visit. It is a long time since I went there but you can bargain on the boat prices.
HCMC is OK but the bu doi (street kids; literally children of the dust) are experts at emptying the unwary foreign pocket. But they do smile when they do it.
Near to HCMC a trip to the tunnels at Cu Chi is worthwhile. Amazing that they had 17,000 soldiers in the tunnels at one point. |
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I have parrallel bars at home, one for gin and one for whiskey |
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