" The universe is so big. In free & easy travelling, you can't be everything everywhere all at once. You bound to win some & you lose some. That is LIFE "
One for the album - my travel buddies (my wife, Thompson Tham + wife & K F Wong) - thank you all for the wonderful time we spent together in this 20 days free & easy exciting trip (simple & no frills) to Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, SAPA, Lao Cai, Haiphong, Tam Coc) & Central Vietnam (Hue, Danang & Hoi An) ! No major hiccups in this Vietnam visit during the winter month of Feb 2023 (thanks to Vietnamese tourism, service & transport industry which are tourist-friendly & efficient) & our group was able to visit the major highlights as planned ! Another chapter of my travel to Vietnam accomplished & a happy outcome ! But I should mention that the biggest challenge was crossing the streets & main roads of major cities in Vietnam due to the sheer number of motor bikers zooming & zig zagging on the roads, day & night ! It really require some skills & courage for older folk like me to cross the streets !
My last visit to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Catba Island was in May 2007 (a lapse of 16 years) & in Jan 2014, I visited Ho Chi Minh, Hue, Danang & Hoi An - so a bit of a down the memory lane visit for me to greet & yell a Good Morning Vietnam one more time as soon as I land in Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, accompanying by my wife & 3 travel buddies ! For sure, time really flies !
Vietnam currently has 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To date, I had visited 5 of them. For this 20 day Vietnam trip, I had the opportunity of visiting (including re-visit) 1) Imperial Citadel of Thang Long 2) Complex of Hue Monuments 3) Hoi An Ancient Town & 4) Trang An Landscape Complex. Perhaps I should make another visit come early 2024 (if I am still fit & able) to visit My Son Sanctuary, Halong Bay (I skipped this trip), Dalat, Nha Trang & say hello to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) one more time !
- Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (visited Feb 2023)
- Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (yet to visit)
- Complex of Hue Monuments (visited Jan 2014 & Feb 2023)
- Halong Bay (visited May 2007)
- Hoi An Ancient Town (visited Jan 2014 & Feb 2023)
- My Son Sanctuary (yet to visit)
- Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (yet to visit)
- Trang An Landscape Complex (visited Feb 2023)
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| DHC Marina, Danang |
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| Mua Cave, Ninh Binh |
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Chua Ling Ung Temple
Ba Na Hills, Danang |
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Sun World Ba Na Hills Resort
Danang, Vietnam |
My travel itinerary: Kuala Lumpur > Hanoi > SAPA > Lao Cai > Hanoi > Haiphong > Tam Coc > Ninh Binh > Hue > Danang > Hoi An > Danang > Kuala Lumpur (Home Sweet Home)
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia >
Hanoi, Vietnam (approx 2,798km) |
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Hanoi > SAPA > Lao Cai >
Hanoi > Haiphong > Do Son Beach
> Haiphong > Tam Coc > Ninh Binh >
Hue > Danang > Hoi An > Danang
(approx 1,700km)
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A summary of total expenses incurred (20days): Rm3,498 (US$795) per pax
- Air Ticket (KL>Hanoi+Danang>KL): Rm730
- Travel Insurance: Rm112
- Hotel (17 nights): Rm642
- Food: Rm568
- Airport Bus (Hanoi): Rm10
- Express Bus (SAPA, Lao Cai, Haiphong & Danang): Rm201
- Taxi & Grab (Hue, Danang & Hoi An): Rm110
- Cable Car (Fansipan): Rm185
- Train (Lao Cai>Hanoi & Ninh Binh>Hue): Rm363
- Entrance fee: Rm129
- Sim Card: Rm49
- Day Tour (Ninh Binh & Ba Na Hills): Rm395
- Sundries: Rm4
Exchange rates: 10,000dong = Rm1.95; US$1 = Rm4.40An update of my travel activity in February 2023 provided by Google Map ! For this February Vietnam trip, amazing to note that I had chalked up 52km (17 hours) of intermittent walking in 9 major cities / towns in Northern & Central Vietnam !
Travel Highlights (Hanoi, SAPA, Lao Cai, Haiphong, Tam Coc, Hue, Danang & Hoi An):
1) Hanoi, Vietnam
Total expenses incurred (2 nights): Rm240 (US$55) per pax
- Hotel (2 nights): Rm87 (US$20, twin sharing) per pax
- Airport Bus (Hanoi): 50,000dong (Rm9.75)
- Food: 379,000dong (Rm74) per pax
- Entrance fee: 100,000dong (Rm19.50)
- Sim Card: 250,000dong (Rm49)
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| Temple of Literature, Hanoi |
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| Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi |
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| Presidential Palace, Hanoi |
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| One-Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi |
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| Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Hanoi |
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| Hanoi Night Market |
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| Hanoi City Centre |
2) SAPA, Vietnam
Total expenses incurred (3 nights): Rm558 (US$127) per pax
- Hotel (3 nights): Rm147 (twin sharing) per pax
- Bus (Hanoi > SAPA): Rm78
- Cable car (Fansipan): 950,000 dong (Rm185)
- Entrance fee (Cat Cat Village): 150,000 (Rm29.20)
- Bike: 60,000dong (Rm11.70)
- Taxi: 20,000dong (Rm3.90)
- Food: 517,500dong (Rm101) per pax
- Sundries: 10,000dong (Rm1.95)
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| Fansipan Legend |
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| Trinh Pagoda, Fansipan |
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| Stoned Church, SAPA |
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| SAPA Town |
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| SAPA Square |
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| Cat Cat Village, SAPA |
3) Lao Cai, Vietnam
Total expenses incurred (2 days): Rm108 (US$25) per pax
- Hotel (1 night): Rm25 (twin sharing) per pax
- Bus (SAPA > Lao Cai): 40,000 dong (Rm7.80)
- Grab (5 rides): 85,000 dong (Rm17) per pax
- Food: 298,000 dong (Rm58) per pax
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Lao Cai International Border Gate
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| Den Mau, Lao Cai |
4) Hanoi, Vietnam
5) Haiphong, Vietnam
Total expenses incurred (3 days): Rm171 per pax
- Hotel (2 nights):Rm78 per pax (twin sharing)
- Bus (Hanoi>Haiphong): 11,000 dong (Rm21)
- Food: 240,000dong (Rm46.80)
- Taxi: 40,000 dong (Rm7.80) per pax
- Bus: 90,000 dong (Rm17.50)
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General Le Chan Statute
Haiphong, Vietnam |
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| Le Chan Temple, Haiphong, Vietnam |
6) Tam Coc, Vietnam
Total expenses incurred (3 days): Rm381 (US$87) per pax
- Hotel (2 nights): Rm62 per pax (twin sharing)
- Bus (Haiphong > Tam Coc): 300,000 dong (Rm58)
- Package tour (Ninh Binh): 990,000dong (Rm193)
- Food: 318,000 dong (Rm62) per pax
- Taxi (4 seater): 30,000 (Rm6) per pax
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Tam Coc Boat Ride
Tam Coc-Bich Dong-Ninh Binh |
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Bai Dinh Pagoda
Tam Coc |
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Lying Dragon Top
Mua Cave, Tam Coc |
7) Hue, Vietnam
Total expenses incurred (3 days 2 nights): Rm429 (US$98) per pax
- Train ticket (Ninh Binh > Hue): Rm210
- Hotels (2 nights): Rm70
- Grab car (4 seater): 500,000dong@125,000 (Rm24) per pax
- Entrance fees: 150,000dong (Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh) + 200,000dong (Hue Imperial City = 350,000dong (Rm68.25)
- Food: 294,000dong (Rm57) per pax
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| Imperial Citadel, Hue,Vietnam |
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| Royal Antiquities Museum, Hue |
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| Emperor Khai Dinh Tomb, Hue |
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| Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue |
8) Danang, Vietnam
Total costs incurred (4 days 3 nights): Rm478 (US$108) per pax
- Hotel (3 nights): Rm80.60 per pax
- Bus (Hue > Danang): 170,000dong = Rm33.15 per pax
- Grab Car 4 Seater (Danang > Hoi An > Danang): Rm39 per pax
- Grab Car 7 Seater (Hotel > Danang Airport): Rm4 per pax
- Day Tour Package (Ba Na Hills): 1,038,000dong =Rm202
- Food: 598,000dong = R117 per pax
- Sundries: Rm2 per pax
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Golden Bridge, Ba Na Hills
Danang, Vietnam |
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Sun World French Village
Ba Na Hills, Danang
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| Dragon Bridge, Danang |
9) Hoi An, Vietnam
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| Hoi An Old Town, Vietnam |
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Experience the thrill of a lifetime with our Vietnam Tour Package! Dive into the vibrant markets of Ho Chi Minh City, cycle through the picturesque countryside of Hoi An, and unwind on the pristine beaches of Phu Quoc. Immerse yourself in the beauty and diversity of Vietnam, where every turn offers a new and exciting adventure.
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