MaverickM11 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15733 posts, RR: 48 Posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 1723 times:
Several friends and I are going to Hanoi for Thanksgiving week. Anyone been? Any things that we should see/do in and around Hanoi? We're excellent travellers...in fact we don't even have a place to stay and won't decide on one until we arrive in Hanoi, after nonreving halfway around the world. We're those people . We're all open to anything, short of eating a beating Cobra heart.
SQuared From Canada, joined May 2005, 384 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 1694 times:
Most people who go to Hanoi make the trip to Ha Long Bay. It's probably more touristy than many places in Vietnam, but it's still likely better than the tourist traps in other Southeast Asian countries.
I've heard interesting things about Sapa. It's certainly more exotic than Ha Long Bay (fewer tourists). But in November Sapa will be quite cold, as it is in the Highlands. I think most people use Sapa as a base camp to explore the surrounding hills and villages of the highland peoples.
Hanoi, itself has lots of historical places to visit. The Temple of Literature, The One Pillar Pagoda, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum seem to be the most popular.
Saigonhouston From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 390 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 1691 times:
Quoting SQuared (Reply 3): Most people who go to Hanoi make the trip to Ha Long Bay
Quoting SQuared (Reply 3): Hanoi, itself has lots of historical places to visit. The Temple of Literature, The One Pillar Pagoda, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum seem to be the most popular.
Although, I have never been in the North but from what I heard from family say that Ha Long bay is beautiful and Hanoi is much more security, historical and cleaner.
Unlike, Saigon (HCM) is a bursting city for business and wild night life.
SQuared From Canada, joined May 2005, 384 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 1682 times:
Quoting Saigonhouston (Reply 4): Hanoi is much more security, historical and cleaner.
Unlike, Saigon (HCM) is a bursting city for business and wild night life.
I agree with that assessment. Hanoi is the intellectual (along with, obviously, the political) capital of Vietnam. It is more staid, calm, and serene than its southern counterpart. It is far more conservative and much less touristy than Saigon. Saigon, on the other hand is brash, capitalist, liberal, and perhaps even a little bit gaudy, but it is considered far more "fun" than Hanoi.
One person once described Hanoi as Vietnam's Boston, while TPHCM is more like Vietnam's Miami. They are both fantastic cities, but they are also worlds apart.
SlamClick From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 10062 posts, RR: 71 Reply 9, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1650 times:
Use tap code on your wall and see if anyone answers.
Happiness is not seeing another trite Ste. Maarten photo all week long.
Saigonhouston From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 390 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 1631 times:
Quoting AsstChiefMark (Reply 6): Handle lots of dong. Play with your dong. Touch other people's dong.
Just make sure you don't wave your dong around in public. And for Christ's sake, wash your hands after handling all that dong
Sounds like someone has already experienced with all of the above in Vietnam.
SCCutler From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 5092 posts, RR: 28 Reply 13, posted (6 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 1624 times:
Quoting SlamClick (Reply 9): Use tap code on your wall and see if anyone answers.
Post of the decade. Thanks!
...three miles from BRONS, clear for the ILS one five approach...
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15733 posts, 
. We're all open to anything, short of eating a beating Cobra heart.
From Canada, joined Nov 2005, 1730 posts, 
From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 1641 posts, 
From Puerto Rico, joined Jul 2006, 671 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
