Vietnam Highlights and Tips
Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)
- Stayed at the Bong Sen Saigon Hotel: good location, ok amenities
- Visited the iconic Saigon post office and sent a postcard home, the Saigon Notre Dame, the very cool apartment cafes. The city is modern and big!
- We visited the tunnels and shot AK47s
- Many Buddhist have changed to Christianity
- Saigon River is called the Dragon River, as it looks like one from overhead.
- National War Remembrance Museum is very pro North Vietnam, anti-american and very difficult to visit.
- Fun Fact: Drinks are sold with carrying bags to keep the ice from melting quickly.
Mekong Delta
- Went on a great 4 island tour, huge coconut exporter, took a cool canoe ride and
stayed overnight in the jungle. Felt very much like the Vietnam you see in the movies - Went up to Hoi An near Da Nang. Big Expat city, great old town area and
shopping (silver and cloths), over 200-300 year old NESCO site, and fantastic
beaches. The Memories Show was OK (pricey). Fun bike tour and coconut boat rides - Fun Fact: A lot of unfinished major apartment and condo complexes. Much because of
the corruption in Vietnam.
Hue
- Capital until 1800’s
- Hue is the most popular last name in Vietnam. 40m people. In the past, one man many wives.
- The Citadel was impressive and one of the locations of the the offensive.
- Hotel was good location and fun night life
Hanoi
- Second capital for 1000 years.
- Very polluted, so limited cars in central city and only electric at certain times
- Visited the Hanoi Hilton, the famous prison for American soldiers.
Ninh Bim
- Old capital and very protected from China.
- Known as the inland Hanoi bay. What you think the interior of Vietnam should look like.
King Kong Skull Island was filmed there. - Largest cave in the world. Has tropical forest and clouds
- Thung Nhan flower park was a waste of time as there were too many people
- Hotel was too remote, not a good restaurant on site and would of been nice to
have a room with a view. - Note: I would not drive in Vietnam. No rules and scooters everywhere
- People in Vietnam were very nice! Very spiritual people and believe in curses.
Fun Fact of Buddhism:
When you die, you go to judgement for 40 days. Based on sins descend 18
levels of hell and more difficult to get out how deep you descend. Based
on judgement you reincarnate as a rich person or animal. Alternatively, you could
stay in hell forever. Therefore, good Karma is huge!
Ha Long Bay
- The bay is 500 million years old and is amazingly beautiful. We definitely recommend taking a 2-3 day cruise in this most popular tourist area.