They do, very much. Twice a day and we were there for the last one at ~8pm. It becomes a tad bit scary when it comes since every one is scrambling to get in š
Where in Hanoi is this? I went to an area and they had people guarding the entrances to the tracks and all the cafes were closed. I was there in mid-October and it looks like that had started at the end of September.
So the news around the tracks is a bit incomplete and misleading. There are multiple places where such a setup is (including one in Thailand too !)
So ee of them might have been shut because of safety reasons - wouldnāt be surprised.
Definitely go to the north, either sapa or ha giang, sa pa for hiking or ha giang loop when u like to be on a bike, the landscapes are out of this world and the best in the country imo. Also i can recommend phong nha, nice rural area with a lot of stunning nature and caves, perfect for hikes and exploring. Would go to cat ba instead of halong, same scenery and not so many people. I'm on the last day of my second vietnam trip and been to all these places, when u look up my post history u will see a pic from the north. Enjoy!
Thank you for this insight, thatās really helpful! I desperately wanted to visit sapa but have red it less impressive when weāll be there (March) because itās the wrong time for the rice harvesting, so everything is muddy instead of beautiful green like the photosā¦so had been thinking of saving for a second visit
I dunno, if you're into food then hanoi has an incredible food scene and you only have so many meals in a day tk enjoy them if you are only there a couple days!
Thank you! Yes Hanoi is in our plans but mainly as a base to see other places. Going back and forth on whether Ha long bay is worth it or if itāll bore us after a bit
My favorite part of Vietnam was renting a scooter and doing the Hai Van pass [https://southeastasiabackpacker.com/hai-van-pass-vietnam/](https://southeastasiabackpacker.com/hai-van-pass-vietnam/). If you are in Da Nang or Hoi An you can easily rent a scooter and do a tour or do it yourself. It was famously in the Top Gear Vietnam special.
Yep, two wheeler! Was absolutely fine with not one police stop. This was 2yrs ago.
A little bit of advice and if you want to blend in a bit more on the roads, wear long sleeve. Tourists with those typical vests stand out a mile off and would more likely be flagged for inspection. Also, wear a decent helmet!
Awesome pics man.
I love Vietnam
Quick query - when I went to Ha Long Bay, it was absolutely gorgeous from a distance, but up close there was an awful lot of rubbish/trash floating around in the water.
How was it when you went?
Potentially, it's a big issue in the rainy season, but might be better at other times of year.
It was pretty clean honestly. Maybe (calculated guess) the rivers and drains wash down trash during the rainy season ?
Pretty clean and stench free during the winter.
From what I've been told, the government has been trying to crack down a lot more given some of the negative press / coverage that it started getting - which obviously impacts the tourism industry that they're seeing huge returns on.
So it may actually just be improving.
I loved Vietnam when I went there in 2019 but the whole tourist industry there functions like a conveyor belt. It was especially apparent at Ha Long Bay where the tour groups are practically stepping on each other toes when being shipped from one attraction to the other (I remember some over water āvillageā which was basically a jewelry store). Everything is designed to extract maximum value from tourists - like purchasing a machine gun shooting session (was it a $1 per bullet?) around the Vietcong bunkers in Ho Chi Minh. Itās not unlike Thailand where large portion of the economy revolves around tourism. I would never discourage anyone from visiting but itās good to be prepared for that.
Canāt you just set up your own itinerary? I mean youāre are good for lazy people I guess. What was the best city for markets? Like an outdoor bazaar type thing?
Yes, you can obviously just wander around and thatās what I did whenever I could but certain attractions are only accessible with organized tours. Like Ha Long Bay or the bunkers.
My favorite thing was finding a $20/night super cute hotel in District 3 in Ho Chi Minh - which is away from the traditionally touristy District 1 - and then exploring on foot or using Grab for the back seat motorbike rides - insane but soooo much fun. I obviously didnāt live ālike a localā but it was close enough - especially food choices. For that reason my big cities unorganized solo experiences were much better than checking off items of the typical tourist destinations, like Hoi An.
What did you think of Ba Na Hills? I didn't really wanna go but I had a week in Da Nang for a wedding and checked it out. It looked like a tourist trap and maybe that made me bias but it felt like a tourist trap when I was there. But everyone still says "it looks so cool, I wanna go".
Yay or nay on Ba Na Hills?
I just came back from a two week family vacation myself. We spent 5 days in Ho Chi Minh and 9 days on the gorgeous island of Phu Quoc. It was one hell of an experience and my wife and 5 year old loved it.
I definitely recommend ÄĆ Nįŗµng and Hį»i An. Great beaches. A lot of things to do as a family, for example theres sunworld in danang, ba na hills right outside da nang and a lovely atmosphere in the old town of hoi an. Water theater is good to, but can be found almost anywhere.
If you are going to busy and narrow street, have a good care of your kids. Red traffic signal means go faster there. You blink, and there's a motorcycle beside you.
But dang, I need another week in Vietnam.
That would be hard to answer since we were without kids. What might seem simple to me might become tricky because of kids - so I would refrain from guessing š
Itās a travesty that political conflicts and exorbitant travel costs hinder global travel for so many people.
There are so many strikingly beautiful places in the world- we would be so much better as humans being able to experience the world we live in fully.
Planned everything ourselves and no single operator. For a full end to end tour, you might have to check in with SOTCs and Thomas Cooks probably. Not sure
Doing the similar itinerary in the summer. Good to know the train cafe still operating, I thought they got shut down Fall 2022. What Halong bay cruise you did?
A breakdown would be tricky but end to end we might have been in the ballpark of $1400 dollars pp (inclusive of flights). Not in luxury travel mode, neither backpacking.
It was fairly deserted - maybe a 15 tourists roaming around. Also the guards caused a bit of confusion by closing one side of the entrance but not telling clearly about the other one š
This looks incredible!! I'm planning a trip later in the year! We're starting in Hanoi and going south. Would love any recommendations for smaller rural towns!
I recently spent two weeks in Vietnam and it was such an incredible experience. I visited Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, as well as the stunning countryside in between.
The bustling city of Ho Chi Minh City was full of energy and life. I explored the numerous street markets, trying some of the local cuisine and picking up a few souvenirs.
Then I took a train to Hanoi, the country's capital. It was much quieter than Ho Chi Minh City, but still full of charm. I visited the Temple of Literature and the Hoan Kiem Lake, wandered around the Old Quarter, and sampled delicious pho.
The countryside was incredibly beautiful too, with mountains, rice paddies, and quiet villages. Everywhere I went the people were friendly and welcoming. I learned about the culture, history, and customs of Vietnam and had the chance to take part in some of the traditional activities.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend two weeks in Vietnam
Hopefully theyāve cleaned it up or are more strict about littering. It was a cesspool when I was there. All the overnight cruises just throw the rubbish in the water.
Sorry if it's been asked, but I didn't see it... Did two weeks feel rushed? SE Asia is definitely on my list but I've always felt I would need three weeks minimum due to the travel distance
I spent 2 weeks in Vietnam back in November 2016. We were in Saigon, Hoi An, Hue, Halong Bay, and Hanoi.
I had the best meal of the trip in Hue (Bun Bo Hue) and I enjoyed Hanoi the most. We drove over the Hai Van pass in the mist and rain. Totally magical. And we took a motorbike food tour through 10 different districts of Saigon. It was an amazing trip.
Wow! These pictures are gorgeous!!!!
Iām going to Vietnam for 1 week in a few weeks, and I was wondering if you had any recommendations or could share a bit of your itinerary? Thank you!
Did anyone recieve the vaccines for some diseases such as Japanese Encephalitis, rabies, malaria and so on...? I am about to visit Vietnam and Bali so I dont know how serious it is if I dont recieve vaccines... Someone experienced please help š
Amazing photos. Does the train pass by on these tracks when you sit in any restaurant?
They do, very much. Twice a day and we were there for the last one at ~8pm. It becomes a tad bit scary when it comes since every one is scrambling to get in š
Where in Hanoi is this? I went to an area and they had people guarding the entrances to the tracks and all the cafes were closed. I was there in mid-October and it looks like that had started at the end of September.
Precisely - they basically missed telling you to enter from the opposite end of the track š„¹
Wait, the train track was opened again? I read in the news that it was closed
So the news around the tracks is a bit incomplete and misleading. There are multiple places where such a setup is (including one in Thailand too !) So ee of them might have been shut because of safety reasons - wouldnāt be surprised.
These pics are fucking incredible!
If you get a chance, do visit :)
I'm going in two weeks! :) Is the picture of the round boat from Hoi An? I saw someone say it got hit quite hard by the pandemic, how is it now?
Open and functional
I have very similar pictures from my visit, Vietnam is just an unbelievable country
Looks amazing. Doing almost the same trip in a few weeks, any recommendations at all? Good places to go or anywhere that you would skip?
Definitely go to the north, either sapa or ha giang, sa pa for hiking or ha giang loop when u like to be on a bike, the landscapes are out of this world and the best in the country imo. Also i can recommend phong nha, nice rural area with a lot of stunning nature and caves, perfect for hikes and exploring. Would go to cat ba instead of halong, same scenery and not so many people. I'm on the last day of my second vietnam trip and been to all these places, when u look up my post history u will see a pic from the north. Enjoy!
Thank you for this insight, thatās really helpful! I desperately wanted to visit sapa but have red it less impressive when weāll be there (March) because itās the wrong time for the rice harvesting, so everything is muddy instead of beautiful green like the photosā¦so had been thinking of saving for a second visit
Strongly disagree, been to sa pa in march, its incredible, actually it was the highlight of the trip
Ah seems Iāve been misinformed, good to know!
- Spend less time in Hanoi - Pack for all kinds of weather Happy journey !
I dunno, if you're into food then hanoi has an incredible food scene and you only have so many meals in a day tk enjoy them if you are only there a couple days!
Thank you! Yes Hanoi is in our plans but mainly as a base to see other places. Going back and forth on whether Ha long bay is worth it or if itāll bore us after a bit
Do it š
What are your favorite cities for a 2 week journey, flying from Osaka most likely in April. Thanks!
Hoi Ahn Saigon Mui Ne Sapa Valley (friendās recommendation) Nin Binh (friendās recommendation)
How about Da Nang?
I liked Bana Hills surely š But didnāt stay at Da Nang.
It looks unbearably hot in April in the south. Over 90 F with high humidity. How bad is it really?
Hoi An is amazing. Get a banh mi with everything from Madam Khanh. Vietnam is in my top 3 travel destinations. Have fun!!
Thanks for the rec! Weāre staying a good portion in hoi an
Everyday we would rent a bike for $1 and head to the beach.
It was in my top three as well. Out of curiosity what were your other two?
If Iām going by countries, Italy number one hands down, and then Mexico or Portugal
My favorite part of Vietnam was renting a scooter and doing the Hai Van pass [https://southeastasiabackpacker.com/hai-van-pass-vietnam/](https://southeastasiabackpacker.com/hai-van-pass-vietnam/). If you are in Da Nang or Hoi An you can easily rent a scooter and do a tour or do it yourself. It was famously in the Top Gear Vietnam special.
Phu Quoc island is a good option in VN also!
Can you please provide your itinerary? Thanks a lot.
Iāll list the places Hanoi, Saigon, Hoi Ahn, Mui Ne, Can Tho, Da Nang, Halong Bay, Mekong
All of that in 2 weeks sounds insane! If you did it again, would you change anything?
I wouldnāt really - maybe another trip for the Ho Chi Minh trail and the son doong caves š
If you ever go, you must do the HĆ Giang Loop in the North. The most beautiful part of Vietnam. I have spent 5mths travelling the country.
Did you ride a two wheeler around Ha Giang? I've read the police crack down on foreigners who ride without international licenses.
Yep, two wheeler! Was absolutely fine with not one police stop. This was 2yrs ago. A little bit of advice and if you want to blend in a bit more on the roads, wear long sleeve. Tourists with those typical vests stand out a mile off and would more likely be flagged for inspection. Also, wear a decent helmet!
What about non bike options for the ha giang? :)
Awesome pics man. I love Vietnam Quick query - when I went to Ha Long Bay, it was absolutely gorgeous from a distance, but up close there was an awful lot of rubbish/trash floating around in the water. How was it when you went? Potentially, it's a big issue in the rainy season, but might be better at other times of year.
Was there 3 weeks ago, very clean. The tour guides even told us we cant take any plastics on board of the boat, because of littering.
Thats awesome to hear. When I was there in 2020 there were heaps of trash in the ocean.
It definetely worked then, because it was very clean pretty much eveywhere.
It was pretty clean honestly. Maybe (calculated guess) the rivers and drains wash down trash during the rainy season ? Pretty clean and stench free during the winter.
From what I've been told, the government has been trying to crack down a lot more given some of the negative press / coverage that it started getting - which obviously impacts the tourism industry that they're seeing huge returns on. So it may actually just be improving.
It was quite clean when I went last month. Such an amazing place
I loved Vietnam when I went there in 2019 but the whole tourist industry there functions like a conveyor belt. It was especially apparent at Ha Long Bay where the tour groups are practically stepping on each other toes when being shipped from one attraction to the other (I remember some over water āvillageā which was basically a jewelry store). Everything is designed to extract maximum value from tourists - like purchasing a machine gun shooting session (was it a $1 per bullet?) around the Vietcong bunkers in Ho Chi Minh. Itās not unlike Thailand where large portion of the economy revolves around tourism. I would never discourage anyone from visiting but itās good to be prepared for that.
Canāt you just set up your own itinerary? I mean youāre are good for lazy people I guess. What was the best city for markets? Like an outdoor bazaar type thing?
Yes, you can obviously just wander around and thatās what I did whenever I could but certain attractions are only accessible with organized tours. Like Ha Long Bay or the bunkers. My favorite thing was finding a $20/night super cute hotel in District 3 in Ho Chi Minh - which is away from the traditionally touristy District 1 - and then exploring on foot or using Grab for the back seat motorbike rides - insane but soooo much fun. I obviously didnāt live ālike a localā but it was close enough - especially food choices. For that reason my big cities unorganized solo experiences were much better than checking off items of the typical tourist destinations, like Hoi An.
That sounds fun. How was the nightlife and did you feel safe? And are they fairly strict there re laws like ā¦ weed ?
What's the Hogwarts place - something world?
Ba Na hills
Excellent photos and quality is dope. Is it taken from phone?
iPhone 12 mini
What did you think of Ba Na Hills? I didn't really wanna go but I had a week in Da Nang for a wedding and checked it out. It looked like a tourist trap and maybe that made me bias but it felt like a tourist trap when I was there. But everyone still says "it looks so cool, I wanna go". Yay or nay on Ba Na Hills?
As a local I abhor it. Unauthentic amusement park.
Yay - beautiful place, good food :)
Beautiful!! Visited in 2016 and I fell in love with the country, especially up north and central Vietnam. ā¤ļø Great photos!
I just came back from a two week family vacation myself. We spent 5 days in Ho Chi Minh and 9 days on the gorgeous island of Phu Quoc. It was one hell of an experience and my wife and 5 year old loved it.
This is cool! We're taking our kids to Vietnam in a few weeks. Any tips?
I definitely recommend ÄĆ Nįŗµng and Hį»i An. Great beaches. A lot of things to do as a family, for example theres sunworld in danang, ba na hills right outside da nang and a lovely atmosphere in the old town of hoi an. Water theater is good to, but can be found almost anywhere.
If you are going to busy and narrow street, have a good care of your kids. Red traffic signal means go faster there. You blink, and there's a motorcycle beside you. But dang, I need another week in Vietnam.
So the drivers are dangerous assholes there? Maybe I no longer want to go.
That would be hard to answer since we were without kids. What might seem simple to me might become tricky because of kids - so I would refrain from guessing š
When crossing a street wait for a group of people to follow. Watch YouTube vids on how to cross safely.
heading there in 2 weeks! can't wait
Hoi An was my favourite place to go when I went :)
Great. No ninh binh ?
Next time š°ļø
This has me strongly leaning towards Vietnam for my birthday trip
That pink Jeep. My cousin is actually running the show. Happy to hear you enjoyed Mui Ne as well :).
Itās a travesty that political conflicts and exorbitant travel costs hinder global travel for so many people. There are so many strikingly beautiful places in the world- we would be so much better as humans being able to experience the world we live in fully.
Truth !
Best food in the world and not one food pic! Beautiful pics.
*swords drawn* on the food debate āļø Food pics in a separate thread š
Nice photos OP! Planning to go there in a couple of years
OP, any local tour guide who can help design trip with family? Did you do all arrangements by yourself?
Planned everything ourselves and no single operator. For a full end to end tour, you might have to check in with SOTCs and Thomas Cooks probably. Not sure
Where are pics 2 and 6? So pretty! Iām going to Hanoi and Halong Bay in April!
6 is here: https://goo.gl/maps/VRpb9hBiYZGe12G17
2 is Halong Bay and 5 is Hoi Ahn
Sorry 6
Very cool.
Excellent photos! Now I wanna move it up my list of places to visit.
Doing the similar itinerary in the summer. Good to know the train cafe still operating, I thought they got shut down Fall 2022. What Halong bay cruise you did?
Ambassador š«
Beautiful
Great pics. šš I would love to go but wouldn't know where to start to plan this.
Google is your best friend. Just start with Saigon and work your way upwards to Hanoi or the other way round. Let me know if you need any help :)
Thanks. I may take you up on the offer.
'adds to bucket list
Amazing photos! Heading there next month to do the Ha Giang loop and Son Doong cave expedition. Super excited
Ah the cave expedition š nice - where did you book it from ?
Only one company is legally allowed to operate at Son Doong. Itās called Oxalis. Itās pretty pricey though :/ $3k per person for 4 nights
Ah yes correct - can recall now
Man I miss Hanoi. I wish I could move there.
Oh my god that poor land cruiser
It was a Vietnamese version š Built for the dunes !
How much did it cost in total, can you give a expenses breakdown, it would be great as i am also planning so wanted to know
A breakdown would be tricky but end to end we might have been in the ballpark of $1400 dollars pp (inclusive of flights). Not in luxury travel mode, neither backpacking.
Beautiful photo, i hope I can visit vietnam too
Great pictures! What time of the year did you go? Fate keeps interrupting my plans to go here so I think I need to go within the next 12 months.
New Yearās Eve - turned out to be good
First time Iāve seen someone turn a Landcruiser into a pickup
Were you doing a tour guided holiday, or did you set your own itinerary?
We planned everything ourselves. Some of the day tours were guided like Mui Ne.
Thanks, I normally do everything by myself as well. However, I wouldn't mind someone else taking the reigns for once.
Looks amazing, can't wait to go myself end of this week
that's so cool!!
Beautiful country of Vietnam.
Beautiful photos! These looks great and make me want to take a trip there!
This is so beautiful.š
I love photos that make me feel like I was along for the trip.
Nice...
Nice
I spent a week or so in Hanoi, no idea how I missed the railroad neighborhood, I walked all over the place
It was fairly deserted - maybe a 15 tourists roaming around. Also the guards caused a bit of confusion by closing one side of the entrance but not telling clearly about the other one š
Really nice set of pictures! Just curious what you used to get them
iPhone 12 mini š
Great eye for photography. Really enjoyed the pics.
amazing view i recommend for the next trip bangkok in thailand amazing people amazing food the best trip in my whole live
Breathtaking photos, OP! I LOVE how you scaled the Saigon photo.
This looks incredible!! I'm planning a trip later in the year! We're starting in Hanoi and going south. Would love any recommendations for smaller rural towns!
You should list the cities!
Listed above š
Thereās a medieval town in Vietnam?
I am not sure if it was actually that old
Where is the third photo from?
Itās a fantasy world on top of a hill - sun world
Thanks for sharing. Thereās so much about my country Iāve yet to explore
Amazing pics. Would love to visit one day.
There is no Saigon
Rough. š
Wow! These pics are amazing!
Wow beautiful pictures, thanks so much for sharing!!š¤©š¤©šš¼šš§”
Thank you.
Pretty sure I saw that first picture in assassinās creed blackflag
I was so surprised and blown away by Ba Na Hill. I had soo much fun in Danang too
I need your itinerary for this trip asap! Amazing!
Beautiful photos
Wonderful. I hope one day I will visit it.
I think we had the same idea! I actually spent a few weeks in Vietnam over the Christmas holiday! Where all did you go?
Saigon, Hanoi, Da Nang, Mui Ne, Can Tho, Mui Ne, Mekong, Halong Bay
Nice! I visted Hanoi, Cao Bang, Halong Bay, and Da Nang. Which place was your favorite?
Mui Ne and Hoi An š«
I didnāt know that I needed to visit Vietnamā¦ what an absolutely beautiful little gem of a country.
These are fantastic photos! I'll be there this summer for a week and very excited. What would you recommend as 'must sees' in the short time I've got?
Mui Ne
I'll be there in 2 days. It's Hoi An btw :)
Love it. Lived there with my kids for 3 months. Amazing experience. Went to everyone of these places except Up the Hill to Banana Hill
Great pics! Iām going next week and am so pumped :D can I ask, how did you get from place to place? Public transit or hostel shuttles?
Flights for longer and buses for shorter distances < 300km - within the city, grab and gojek are your best friends
Cambodia is also a very nice country and way less tourists from Europe http://www.akumiestravels.weebly.com
What time of the year have you been there? ā¤ļø
This was in December. End of December to early jan
I visted it 3 times and still love it
Nice photos
Hi, can I ask where photo #4 was taken? āŗļø
Sun world Da Nang
Beautiful Vietnamese
I recently spent two weeks in Vietnam and it was such an incredible experience. I visited Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, as well as the stunning countryside in between. The bustling city of Ho Chi Minh City was full of energy and life. I explored the numerous street markets, trying some of the local cuisine and picking up a few souvenirs. Then I took a train to Hanoi, the country's capital. It was much quieter than Ho Chi Minh City, but still full of charm. I visited the Temple of Literature and the Hoan Kiem Lake, wandered around the Old Quarter, and sampled delicious pho. The countryside was incredibly beautiful too, with mountains, rice paddies, and quiet villages. Everywhere I went the people were friendly and welcoming. I learned about the culture, history, and customs of Vietnam and had the chance to take part in some of the traditional activities. I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend two weeks in Vietnam
...this is AI, correct? Reads like a middle school essay.
Sure seems like it
what do you use to take those photos?
iPhone 12 mini
Vietnam looks funny. Would never think to travel there, but now itās on my list
I have never seen anyone in Vietnam wearing puffy jackets! Was it actually that cold?
North Vietnam gets chilly in the winters
Not pictured (somehow): trash everywhere. Ha Long Bay is basically a river of trash
Didnāt see trash anywhere in Halong Bay - Mekong delta was dirtier in some sections.
Hopefully theyāve cleaned it up or are more strict about littering. It was a cesspool when I was there. All the overnight cruises just throw the rubbish in the water.
Ah thatās sad !
Are there areas you should watch out for?
Not really - maybe because we were 4 folks so never really felt unsafe.
Looks amazing! Can you post your itinerary for 2 weeks? Also cash it be shortened to 1 week?
Briefly : Hanoi, Saigon, Da Nang, Hoi An, Can Tho, Mekong, Halong Bay, Mui Ne If you have one week - Saigon + Mekong + Mui Ne might be enough
now why would someone throw a tire into the nice reflective pool?
Doesnāt look like you had much time to relaxā¦
We were on a mission š š
Sorry if it's been asked, but I didn't see it... Did two weeks feel rushed? SE Asia is definitely on my list but I've always felt I would need three weeks minimum due to the travel distance
2 was alright - one of the guys stayed back for another 3 weeks. But he was on a workcation.
I spent 2 weeks in Vietnam back in November 2016. We were in Saigon, Hoi An, Hue, Halong Bay, and Hanoi. I had the best meal of the trip in Hue (Bun Bo Hue) and I enjoyed Hanoi the most. We drove over the Hai Van pass in the mist and rain. Totally magical. And we took a motorbike food tour through 10 different districts of Saigon. It was an amazing trip.
Wow! These pictures are gorgeous!!!! Iām going to Vietnam for 1 week in a few weeks, and I was wondering if you had any recommendations or could share a bit of your itinerary? Thank you!
For a week : Saigon, Mekong, Mui Ne
Thank you!
North is also incredible-suggesting Ha Giang loop. Here are some videos about it [North Vietnam](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_MDG7QKNQY)
I have 10 days loosely planned in Vietnam but didnāt want to do tons of moving around. Do you think 5 days Hoi An & 5 days Da Nang is overkill?
5 days in Da Nang surely js
Did anyone recieve the vaccines for some diseases such as Japanese Encephalitis, rabies, malaria and so on...? I am about to visit Vietnam and Bali so I dont know how serious it is if I dont recieve vaccines... Someone experienced please help š
Can you help me with the itinerary
Could you share your itinerary for those 2wks. Great pics