Food is better

This is much related to personal taste, as most of Northern people are not quite getting along with Saigon’s food flavors. What I like is a big range of food. Many choices for your eating, especially breakfast. It will be easy to stay a month but you don’t need to eat the same courses each day

Service is much better then elsewhere

No matter what service you use, small restaurant or 5 star service standard, you will feel comfortable and ‘be served’. That is hardly to get elsewhere in Vietnam, especially Hanoi.

Taxi is good

You will have reason to worry when you use Taxi in Hanoi, but in Saigon you will find more reliable taxi around. It is not only to reputable taxi operators like Mai Linh or Vinasun, I found others are also fine. They are helpful and honest on serving.

Things seem to be cheaper now

Depending on services you use, but lately I found cost of living in Saigon is cheaper than Hanoi.  Accommodation is 20% cheaper than Hanoi in the same standard. House renting is even lower at least about 40% which is great chance for anyone wish to stay in Saigon at the moment.

Weather is stable

It is sunny and hot year around in South of Vietnam including Saigon. I personally don’t like sun and heat but stable temperature and lower humidity would please most of people especially Northern where the weather is always hard to predict.

Posted: April 6th, 2012 - Under Catalogue: Destination, Travel.
Comments: none

People make mistakes, especially when you are in strange country. Here are some of very common ones that happened to lots of travelers. Let’s avoid them.

1, Multiple entry instead of Single entry visa

Most of people need a visa to Vietnam, and you must prepare it in advance, you just can not go directly to airport and get it like other countries (Laos or Cambodia for example). You need prepare a valid visa at Vietnam embassy or arrange an approval letter through travel agency in advance before landing to Vietnam airport. But many people forgot that once they exit Vietnam, their visa also becomes invalid, they have to issue the new visa if they don’t take the Multiple entry option. Please remember to arrange Multiple entry if you want to go back to country again in the period of time.

2, Booking a tour, hotel or ticket too late

Please note that the sooner you book the service, the better deal you will have. Especially in the peak season. Even low season in Vietnam now is also packed with local tourist. You can not get a good domestic airfare, good hotel price or nice cabin in Halong Bay if you book too close to departure date.

3, Always pack before getting on & off

Looking at the lost & found list at the airport, you will be surprised. Most common items are money, phone, ipod, ticket, glasses, and even passport. I strongly recommend you to pack your stuff in the night before, especially on the train in Vietnam (some of train arrive very early in the morning) or check out and get your passport back soonest from your hotel.

4, Put tons of time for airport transfers

Traffic in Vietnam is bad, highly recommend you to add lots of spare time on airport transfers to Hanoi or Saigon. Saigon airport is just 7km away from center but on rush hours may take more than an hour to get there. Always ask for traffic condition in advance before your airport transfers.

5, Bring handbags out at night

No matter what is inside your handbag, you could be a target by bad boys. Snatching is sadly increasing in big city of Vietnam. Nha Trang beach city is one of the worst places at night. Saigon is also named and you must be careful with your belongings. I recommend you just bring some cash when you going out, small camera that fit your pocket is also handy. If you carry a big camera, making sure that it needs to store in camera proper bag and don’t stay too late.

Have you ever faced those of mistakes? that will be fantastic if you could share your own experience or giving some advise to other travelers. Appreciate it!

Posted: March 24th, 2012 - Under Catalogue: Travel.
Comments: 2

I am not going to say much all about how you have to prepare for your Vietnam travel, just because there are plenty of resources out there to advise how to get a cheap flight, good hotels, transfer tips and so on. I am just trying to give some advices how to get along with culture which you have to face and deal with if you want to have a good time in Vietnam.

Smile

This is simplest thing you can do but what you get back is more than you ever expected. Vietnamese is friendly people and willing to get long with friendly people. They are shy people t00 and normally not open with people if you don’t give them a message. And your smile will be a good sign for them in contact.   Believe me, your friendly manner will also help on stay out of scam. Friendly tourist got none or less scam or problem in Vietnam.

Follow the locals

Vietnamese got a big proud of their nation, culture and family. If you somehow are able to catch up with their ways, then you will be much impressed. For example: speak a few simple words in Vietnamese, drink a cup of rice wine, driving a motorbike with them would bring yourself much closer to gain heart of people. My advise is: try to do what locals do at your ability.

Stay away from touristy places

Tourist places mostly not represented to culture of area or country. In Vietnam, if you just travel a little further from the city center, you will see big differences. Things could be cheaper, people are more friendly and I am sure hassle will be less. For example: instead staying in old quarter in Hanoi, just try to move to West Lake area hotel. Shopping in outskirt instead of city center. Eating on street for seat back on restaurant…ect. It will be different for sure.

Understanding

Please remind yourself that you are in a developing country. Things are different, system is different, something would work in your country may not work here, something is right in your place but it could be wrong here. Things could be opposite. Try to avoid ‘teaching manner’ and replace by ‘sharing manner’ because your reaction of ‘teaching manner’ could misunderstand to disrespect manner.

All travelers has a right to having a great time in Vietnam, and I believe that how much you give is much you gain. Travel enjoyment in Vietnam never be a great luxury things you are offered but the moments of you experience with people and local activities.

Hope this help.

Posted: February 29th, 2012 - Under Catalogue: Culture, Travel.
Comments: none

The Matt’s blog have made a big argument on Vietnamese community recently.  The discussion about his post not only attracted to people who work in hospitality industry but also millions of Vietnamese seasoned travelers. Some are objected his post and identified Matt as inexperienced tourist. Some are totally agreed with it and expressed that Vietnam Tourism should look seriously on their service.

I personally think this case is very personal point of view so I am not saying Matt has been right or wrong on his saying.  Every country has their own fan, people may love it or hate it. However, some of the issues he stated are sadly true based on my own experience after years on the road with travelers. Many thing need to be improve such as taxi scam, overcharge, street vendor hassling and so on. I also believe that small scam group is not represented to Vietnam. Vietnam is the country that you need to stay long enough to understand its people, style of life and its community.

One thing that concern me much which was a statistic stated that over 90% of visitor never return to Vietnam. It is surprising me as I witness many friends of mine repeatedly coming back, not once but few times and most of my customers feel extremely impress with country and people and urge to come back to discover the places they have not seen. Or Vietnam is always on their recommendation list. Of course, my company serve about 3,000 visitors per year only, it is too small number compare to 5 millions of total country visitor. However, I also traveled with thousands of people while doing tour guide for years and rarely seen anyone not enjoy Vietnam, some of the cases also made some people uncomfy about but I don’t think they hated Vietnam or recommend people stay away from it.

Am I being not updated? Vietnam has changed quicker than my catch? I am not too sure about it. Please kindly share your experience or opinion with a simple poll or comment below. Much appreciate it!

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Posted: February 22nd, 2012 - Under Catalogue: Travel.
Comments: none

Being a tour guide for years, I had a chance to meet and talk to thousand of travelers. And of course, a part of my work is answering people questions. It was part of the fun and educate myself as well. I am trying to gather some of the most curious questions about Vietnam I have heard of.

1, How much Vietnamese people earn per year in average ?

- In 2011, GDP in Vietnam was 119 billions USD, so in average Vietnamese people earn about 1,300 USD per year. This is one of the lowest number among the Asian countries.

2, Do Vietnamese people ‘hate’ Chinese?

- I have quite a few of friends look down to Chinese or no sympathy to Chinese. I don’t think they have any particular reasons on it but the wars between 2 countries made those feelings. Chinese often considered as wicked people by Vietnamese. I think this is a common thinking to countries that had a ‘history’ to each others.

3, Vietnamese having sex before marriage?

- They do, especially last 10 years when the storm of internet flow through Vietnam, young people feel more open and taking about sex is less sensitive than before. Older generation sometimes still find difficult to catch up with it and somewhere like countryside sex before marriage is still forbidden.

4, What Vietnamese people feel about American?

- Surprisingly, I never heard much about this on Vietnamese conversation, even on forum or other social network. It is surely people talk about Chinese than ever. I have asked this question to people including Vietnam war veteran and people feel normal about American.

5, When did Ho Chi Minh die?

Ho Chi Minh passed away in Hanoi course of illness on 2nd September 1969, before Vietnam War ended in 1975.

Posted: February 21st, 2012 - Under Catalogue: Culture.
Comments: none