Bus Services and Planes

Me and my partner spent 3 weeks last summer travelling from Ho Chi Minh up to Hanoi. We flew into the international airport and made our way up the country using bus services, and planes.

The bus services are surprisingly good. They are clean and somewhat comfortable, and offer buses with bed-like seats. This allows you to sleep while you’re on your 5+ hour journey. They stop several times to give you a toilet break and let you buy some refreshments. You can book onto these buses when you are in Vietnam, as there are tons of travel agencies available to help.

Vietnam is very long. When I say long, I mean there is a whopping 1621 km (according to Google maps) between the two major cities. To put it into perspective, that’s a 32 hour drive (and that’s in a car).

Because of this, we decided to fly twice throughout our journey, to save ourselves some time. We flew from Da Lat to Da Nang, and from Da Nang to Hanoi. Each flight time was about 1 hour, instead of a 15 hour bus journey!

Available Vietnam Travel Tips Articles on Green Eyed Traveller: 

• Do I Need a Visa for Vietnam?

Vietnam Visa Information

Depending on which country you are from, visas can vary in length, and price. You need to pay for an approval letter which states you have THE RIGHTS to a visa, which you can pick up at the airport in Vietnam, and pay for your stamping fee. You need to have the approval letter in order to fly to Vietnam, and you can get this online at Get a Vietnam Visa on Arrival at the Airport | Vietnam Visa.

• The Best Way to Travel through Vietnam

Travelling Through Vietnam

As mentioned above, Vietnam is huge in length meaning it can take a long time to get to the next place on your trip. Consider flying to avoid the lengthy 15 hour bus journeys, but take the buses as much as possible. Hiring a scooter is also a fantastic way to see the country!

• Hanoi Train Street: A Quick Guide

Visiting Hanoi Train Street

Hidden among the busy streets of Hanoi Old Quarter lies an exclusive street offering an incredibly surreal experience. Usually as you wonder around the streets of Hanoi, you’re dodging motorbikes, but on this particular street, you’ll find yourself trying to avoid something way bigger. Welcome to Hanoi Train Street.

• How to Choose the Best Halong Bay Cruise – Vietnam Travel Tips!

Choosing a Halong Bay Cruise

For some bizarre reason, when you look at the available cruises online, there are only about 3 which show up. Do not let this fool you into thinking you have limited options, because you don’t.

If there is one piece of advice I can give you about booking onto a cruise, it is to wait. Once you get to Vietnam there are SO many options, to suit all budgets. Most hotels and hostels around Hanoi and Cat Ba island offer tours around Halong Bay, both day trips and overnight cruises. If you wander down the street there are also tons of travel companies offering you the same deals. Each company is competing with the next meaning there is room for negotiation.Bonus!

• Hoi An Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Visiting Hoi An

Hoi An was probably our favourite stop in Vietnam and I am here to share a few insights into this beautiful town. I have written a Hoi An Travel Guide with everything you need to know to fully explore this town. Read on to find out more about the Hoi An Lantern Festival, the ever-so popular tailoring parlours, the best things to do in Hoi An, and where to stay!

• Driving the Hai Van Pass – A Scenic Route from Da Nang to Hue

The Hai Van Pass

The Hai Van Pass is a 165km windy, scenic route on the East Coast of Vietnam, connecting Da Nang city to Hue.

In the past, the Hai Van Pass was used as the main road between the two, but in 2005 they built a new highway. This scenic route is now a long, mountain road with barely any traffic. It is the perfect attraction for motorbike lovers.

Vietnam Travel Tips! 

• How to Spend 48 Hours in Mui Ne

Visiting Mui Ne

If you are short on time, it is a place that could be missed, but if you have all the time in the world and want to witness beautiful sunrises and walk up stream to some natural clay cliffs, then check out this post on how to spend 48 hours in Mui Ne!

• Things to Do in Cat Ba Island

Visiting Cat Ba Island

If you are in Hanoi, it is very easy to make your way over to Cat Ba Island. There are many bus companies who offer you a return service from Hanoi City. We paid around 300,000 VND ($18AUD) for a one way trip (as we were heading straight to Halong Bay from there).

Beyond Cat Ba town, are stunning beaches, limestone forests and vacant caves to explore. Cat Ba National Park is also a must do when you are in Cat Ba!

• 5 Things to Do in Hanoi

Hanoi City

Hanoi is the second largest city in Vietnam, behind Ho Chi Minh and has a lot to offer. Here are 5 things to do in Hanoi, which cover culture, history, an exhilarating experience and coffee. Lots of coffee.

Here are all the Vietnam Travel Tips that you need! Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need more information. We are more than happy to help!

If anyone has anything else to add or share, leave us a comment below! 🙂

The post Vietnam Travel Tips – A Quick Summary appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

When I booked my trip to Vietnam last year, I did tons of research. The visa situation is pretty unclear and I asked a few fellow travellers who had been before. UPDATE MARCH 2023 below.

The mix of answers was obviously unhelpful so I dug a little deeper and found information on a Vietnam Approval Letter. It turns out you need to have one of these to fly.

This is NOT a visa. It simply means you are eligible to buy a visa once you arrive.

UPDATE MARCH 2023:  Citizens from over 50 different countries can now buy a visa online BEFORE going to Vietnam. With this visa, you will *most likely* not be asked to present an exit flight. You do not need an approval letter if you apply directly for the visa online.

You can apply for your E-visa here: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt

On this website you will also find a list of the countries who are eligble for a Vietnam E-Visa.

I just landed back in Vietnam, and let me tell you I was stressed as I didn’t want to book an exit flight as I haven’t figured out my plan yet. I couldn’t find a concrete answer on whether you need an exit flight to enter Vietnam with the new rules regarding the E-visa. I did not book a flight out, and I was not asked to show any proof either.

I only had to present my printed E-visa document and my passport.

If you are not eligble for an E-visa or you wish to enter Vietnam on the free 15-day visa, keep reading.

If you wish to simply find the answer for this question, without reading about the costs, your specific countries requirements, and application process.. scroll down to the conclusion at the bottom! I do however recommend you give this article a quick read for tips on how to successfully get to Vietnam, and make it through their borders 😉 

Pre-buying Your Vietnam Visa Approval Letter

Firstly, what is an Vietnam Approval Letter? This letter shows that you have been granted THE RIGHTS to a Vietnamese Visa upon arrival at your chosen airport in Vietnam. This is not an actual Visa. Unfortunately you cannot buy a Visa for Vietnam online, and must pick it up and get it stamped when you arrive.

The Approval letter is a MUST HAVE if you want to enter the country. Your airline will not allow you to fly unless you have this letter with you (Exception: If you are staying less than the maximum free entry days – see below). There are a few online websites that offer the Vietnam Visa Approval Letter: https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/ or https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/ are a few options.

The letter costs $17 USD ($23.19 AUD/ £13.25) and takes about 2 working days to be processed.

To apply for this letter, you need:

• Fill out the entry permit form (this can differ depending on your residing country)
• 2 passport sized photos. One to be stuck in the top corner of your Approval Letter once it is approved and printed, and a spare loose one for “backup?”.
• A copy of your passport
• Have sufficient funds to pay the visa fee

Do I Need a Visa for Vietnam? – Getting Your Actual Visa

From buying the approval letter online, we were under the impression that we were all ready and set to go through the borders (obviously I now realise that isn’t the case). We arrived at the airport to see a lot of tourists filling in the exact paper work that we had already filled in online and printed. As we already had this done, we were unsure of what to do next. We filled in a small entry/exit form stating the dates we arrived and were expecting to leave.

We approached the immigration office where the visas were being processed and handed in our paperwork, and were told to pay 580,518 VND ($25 USD/ $34 AUD/ £19). This is the price for a Single Entry Visa. Multiple Visa Entries (you can go in and out as many times for either 1 or 3 months – depending on the visa you choose) costs 1,160, 000 VND ($50 USD/ $68AUD/ £39)

TIP! They do not accept credit card payments. It must be paid fully in cash and the only currencies accepted are their own VND or Amercian Dollars (USD).

T had to be escorted to the nearest ATM by a security guard to take out the correct money that we needed to pay for our visas. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SPARE CASH UPON ARRIVAL TO SAVE TIME.

The guys working at the office speak very little English so if you have any issues, it can be a difficult situation to resolve. We waited around 30 minutes in the waiting area for our visas to be accepted and stamped into our passports and then we were on our way.

In total, with our approval letter and Vietnam Visa Stamp, we paid $57AUD ($42 / £33). We thought that it was pretty expensive for a 3 week visit, but hey ho!

Do I Need a Visa for Vietnam If I Am Going for Less Than 15 Days?

Each country is limited to specific time-frames in which their citizens can stay in Vietnam. Below I have taken information from a government website, and put it in simpler terms.

On the government website it is stated that you do not need a visa if you are entering the country for less than 15 days with a passport from the following countries:

• United Kingdom
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Korea
• Japan
• Russia
• Scandinavian Nations (Denmark, Norway, Sweden & Finland)
• Brunei

If you are from an ASEAN member-country such as

• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Cambodia
• Laos

You do not need a visa if your visit is less than 30 days.

Other exceptions to Vietnam Visas include Philippine passport holders who do not need a visa if their travel is less than 21 days, and citizens of Myanmar less than 14.

However, please note that if you are planning to go for less than 15 days, you will need to show proof of departure.

Please note: Your passport must have at least 6 months of validity upon arrival.

Also, if this isn’t your first time into Vietnam, there must be at least 30 days between your last exit date and your current entry date, otherwise they will charge you for a visa!

All other citizens of the world are required to get a Vietnam Approval Letter, prior to arriving in the country, and collect their visa at the airport once they arrive. As mentioned before, the approval letter costs $17USD ($23.19 AUD/ £13.25) and the stamping fee is 580,518 VND ($25 USD/ $34 AUD/ £19) for a single entry, and 1,160,000 VND ($50 USD/ $68AUD/ £39).

TIP! Vietnam loves USD dollars so you are able to pay for many things in the country without paying to exchange your dollars. However, I recommend you get VND for spending money in restaurants, etc. or you’ll end up losing money with incorrect conversions.

In Conclusion – Do I Need a Visa for Vietnam?

If this all sounds a little confusing, trust me I get it. I spent hours researching for this, and was still surprised when I got to the airport and had to fork out half a million dong 😉

If you are visiting Vietnam from one of the countries mentioned above for less than 15 days you DO NOT REQUIRE A VISA OR APPROVAL LETTER. However, your passport must have more than 6 months left before it expires and you must not have been in Vietnam within the last 30 days before you (re)enter and you must have a return flight booked.

If you are visiting Vietnam from one of the countries mentioned above for more than the recommended-no-visa-required time, YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR AN APPROVAL LETTER PRIOR TO ARRIVING, AND PAY FOR YOUR VISA/STAMPING FEE ONCE YOU ARRIVE TO THE AIRPORT IN VIETNAM. You must print out your approval letter and take it with you when you travel as they will not accept a mobile version and you will be refused boarding.

If you are from a country that is not mentioned above, YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR AN APPROVAL LETTER PRIOR TO ARRIVING, AND PAY FOR YOUR VISA/STAMPING FEE ONCE YOU ARRIVE TO THE AIRPORT IN VIETNAM.

What happened to me on my most recent trip to Vietnam 2019

I would like to add that on my most recent trip to Vietnam, Qatar Airways nearly didn’t let me board my flight because I didn’t have a return ticket booked. You only need a return ticket if you are staying for less than 15 days and want the free entry visa. If you are paying for a visa upon arrival, you do not need a return ticket. Most people go with the flow and don’t plan more than a few days in advance so this is helpful. If someone is trying to refuse you entry to the plane, yet you have your approval letter and are applying for a visa once you arrive, make sure to stand your ground and get the airport staff to read the requirements!

If you’re heading to Vietnam, check out my blog post on The Best Way to Travel Through Vietnam or my Quick Guide to Visiting the Hanoi Train Street

The post Do I Need a Visa for Vietnam? – Requirements, Application & Costs appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

How to Choose the Best Halong Bay Cruise

For some bizarre reason, when you look at the available cruises online, there are only about 3 which show up. Do not let this fool you into thinking you have limited options, because you don’t.

Unfortunately for us, we were unaware of this and after researching online believed that we only had 2 choices: either a very busy and loud looking party boat, or an elderly looking cruise.

As a travelling couple, we love to meet new people, go out and enjoy ourselves but we do have limits. We definitely don’t want to end up on a boat playing sex games as it would put ourselves into a rather awkward situation.

After having failed massively at this one, we spoke to a few companies and other people around to find out:

1. Why the hell these cruises don’t advertise their services online
2. Where someone can find an appropriate cruise

Number 1 is still unanswered and quite frankly baffles me. We are well-travelled and were under the impression that these were our only options. Imagine people who are less experienced, they’ll all be booking onto the 2 tours that have websites, while everyone else loses out on business. I don’t get it?

Anyway, more importantly, let’s focus on number 2 as that’s why you’re here.

How to Choose the Best Halong Bay Cruise

TIP! Do not book your tour online in advance directly with the boat companies. You can use trusted websites such as Get Your Guide, or wait until you arrive to Hanoi.

Once you get to Vietnam there are many options, to suit all budgets. Most hotels and hostels around Hanoi and Cat Ba island offer tours around Halong Bay, both day trips and overnight cruises. If you wander down the street there are also tons of travel companies offering you the same deals. Each company is competing with the next meaning there is room for negotiation. Bonus!

We went with Flamingo Cruises as we opted for the ‘elderly’ tour. It was a luxurious cruise, with 5 course meals and the comfiest bed in the world! It turned out it was ridiculously overpriced however, but we didn’t realise just how much until we were in Vietnam itself.

Once you are there, it is way easier to compare prices, to speak to people, and figure out what it is that you want to see.

Do you want to sleep out on the water or are you okay with a day trip?

Although I hate to speak about it now (sore subject haha!) we paid around $200+ each for a night on a boat there, which is insane. We didn’t realise just how far $200 could get us in Vietnam, until we ate out one night for 87cent!!

We later found out we could have been on a similar cruise (probably one that would have suited us better too) for around $70. Speaking about this gets my blood boiling grrr!

My point is: SHOP AROUND. Do not book anything online, and bargain with travel companies once you are in Hanoi!

How to Choose the Best Halong Bay Cruise – Overnight Cruise or Day Trip?

Halong Bay is located 3 hours East of Hanoi City, and just one hour from Cat Ba Island meaning it is easily accessible.

Honestly in my opinion, the overnight boat is not worth the money. Companies can charge more than triple the amount of a day tour for you to stay the night. By the time you get on board and arrive in the bay, you end up being on the boat less than 24 hours.

Despite your quick stay, you are still charged for a 2 day/1-night trip, when realistically that’s not what you’re getting.

Each tour company is the same, as all the boats depart from the harbour at the same time: 12 noon and return at 11am the following day. That’s an allocated 23 hours on the boat.

After running through the safety procedures and welcome chat, we departed the harbour around 1pm. We already lost an hour before we even set off, so we’re now down to 22 hours.

Each overnight tour includes a sail through the bay, a visit to the caves and an optional kayak tour. I believe the day trips offer the same, meaning you won’t miss out on anything if you don’t stay the night.

Personally, I believe the day trips are the better option.

If you think about it this way; you have 22 hours on the boat. For 7-8 of those hours you are sleeping, so you are now left with 14 hours. Around 3 hours are spent eating your 5-course meals on board (there is A LOT of food!), meaning you aren’t taking in the views of Halong Bay. In total, you are left with around 11 hours of actual travel/exploring time.

The day trips are between 6-8 hours, and are A THIRD of the price of an overnight cruise.

You do the maths… 🙂

The Best Way to Do a Day Trip to Halong Bay!

Okay, so I’ve managed to convince you to do a day trip instead of an overnight cruise, but what’s the best way to do it?

Hanoi is a 3-hour drive away, meaning you’d have a 6-hour round-trip. Eww.

Luckily for you, Cat Ba Island is just a 1-hour boat ride away. And a beautiful one may I add.

One suggestion is to head to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi City the day before and spend the night there. Several tour companies in Hanoi City offer a return bus service to Cat Ba and back for a good price. The buses are run by individual companies so they are clean, and comfortable.

There are plenty of tours on Cat Ba Island offering day trips to Halong Bay on a cruise that departs from the island itself. Once you are back, you could head back on the bus to Hanoi City which you previously organised.

This way, it is less rushed, you get to see Cat Ba Island, and you also save yourself tons of pennies!

Visiting Halong Bay

At the end of the day, our tour was ruined by the fact that we were with people we had nothing in common with. We were the youngest people on the boat, and although we tried extremely hard, we just couldn’t make it work.

Despite the company, the tour itself was great. We had 5 course lunch, dinner, breakfast and brunch the following day. Literally, there was endless amount of food.

We sailed through breathtaking landscapes, kayaked out on the water while the sun went down. We ventured through caves, visited a beach and woke up to participate in Tai Chi at sunrise on the deck. Visiting Halong Bay is a must do if you are in the north of Vietnam, you’d be silly to miss it!

If you are going to the North of Vietnam, then you should check out this blog post: 5 Things to Do in Hanoi

The post How to Choose the Best Halong Bay Cruise appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

Hidden among the busy streets of Hanoi Old Quarter lies an exclusive street offering an incredibly surreal experience. Usually as you wonder around the streets of Hanoi, you’re dodging motorbikes, but on this particular street, you’ll find yourself trying to avoid something way bigger. Welcome to Hanoi Train Street.

We first came across the Hanoi Train Street on the beloved #Instagram app when one of our close friends uploaded a picture to her feed. Before seeing this photo, we hadn’t even heard about this street. I messaged her to see what it was like, then began to do some research before our trip to Vietnam.

Visiting the Hanoi Train Street

The Hanoi Train Street is located in Hanoi Old Quarter, on a street that runs parallel to the popular Le Duan street. As you can see on the map below, there is a thin line, indicating the railway line.

The exact address is Ngõ 224 Lê Duẩn, Đống Đa, Hà Nội, Vietnam. If you look at the map, you’ll notice a spot called Tap Doan Cong Nghiep Than just below the red dot. Here is the easiest place to access the train track. This is the point where the Hanoi Train Street meets Le Duan.

As you approach the track, take a right and follow the track in that direction to reach the heart of the street.

Planning Your Trip to Hanoi Train Street

According to the locals of Hanoi City, the train only passes twice daily: one at 3.30pm and one at 7.30pm. [UPDATE November 2019: There are now multiple trains each day]

If you are planning to take pictures of the Hanoi Train Street, I recommend that you arrive around 3pm. Not only will this give you enough time to get a few shots, it will also allow you to see the local people going about their usual day. One of the best parts about this whole experience is seeing the locals hanging out their washing alongside the tracks, spray painting or fixing their scooters and children playing with not a care in the world.

Slowly, you begin to notice that things are changing. There is no warning of the oncoming train, other than its horn when it is approaching the nearby corner. When we lifted our heads up from the camera for a moment, we noticed that the lady and her washing had moved in doors, there were no more children on the lines, and the local man was locking up his bike in the garage next to us.

Not a single one of them were wearing a watch, leaving us completely amazed that their body clocks were so intact with the passing of the train. Moments after everyone vacated, we heard the train’s horn and quickly moved away from the track. A local man looked at us and told us to get back further, although there wasn’t anywhere else to go. We were slightly panicking but the adrenaline began to rush through our bodies.

Hanoi Train Track

The train shot passed us at full speed, sending vibrations through the ground and walls around us. Without exaggerating, there was less than a metre between us and the train. A total of 20-30 seconds passed and we saw the train disappearing into the distance. The locals began to emerge and carried on with their daily chores.

Incredible.

Be Careful On the Tracks

Everyone we spoke to told us the train passed only twice a day. The locals are the best people to ask, considering they are there everyday. However, when we went to the Hanoi Train Track, we witnessed the train pass twice within an hour.

Even though we believe we may have just gotten lucky, we were not prepared to see the train for a second time. We were on the tracks taking pictures and heard what we thought was a horn. Quickly we turned our heads to look at each other, exchanging expressions of confusion. Suddenly we saw the train heading our way so we quickly grabbed our stuff and jumped off the tracks.

Although the locals will most probably try to give you a heads up, try not to get too distracted when you are there. You never know, you might get to experience the train passing twice like we did. Bonus!

If you are looking for other things to do while you are in Hanoi, check out this blog post: 5 Things to Do in Hanoi

The post Hanoi Train Street – A Quick Guide appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple in Hanoi

Visiting the lake and temple in Hanoi is a great excuse to get away from the busy city for a while. Ngoc Son Temple is a beautiful pagoda sitting on a small island in the middle of the lake. Located on the outskirts of the Hanoi Old Quarter, it offers a sense of tranquility and some fresh air.

The pollution in Hanoi is quite aggressive, meaning the air is thick and it can prove difficult to breathe at times. Many people, tourists and locals alike wear masks to cover their faces as they stroll the streets of Hanoi. I am asthmatic so may have experienced it more harshly than many people would.

Visiting the lake is a very peaceful and quiet place, despite the masses of tourists, with plenty of trees and flowers for you to enjoy a picnic.

The Ngoc Son Temple opens at 08.00AM everyday and closes at 17.00PM. If you can, head to the lake as early as possible and you can witness the locals doing their morning Yoga and Tai Chi classes.

Hanoi Old Quarter

Hanoi Old Quarter is known as the cities main tourist attraction and for good reason. The old quarter is a lively place to be both during the day and on a night. When the sun is up, there are locals bustling around the streets on their scooters, bicycles, and many vendors selling local delicacies. There are pagodas, lakes, places to shop and a variety of restaurants. On a night, there are plenty of hidden bars down the numerous side streets which you can sit and enjoy cheap drinks in.

Within the Old Quarter lie many of Hanoi’s major attractions; Hoan Kiem Lake, the National Museum of Vietnamese History, Bach Ma Temple and the Hanoi Opera House.

Hanoi Train Street

The Hanoi Train Street is quite possibly the best thing to do in Hanoi. In fact, I enjoyed this experience so much that I have decided to write an entire blog post solely on the matter. Click here to read everything you need to know about Hanoi Train Street.

5 Things to Do in Hanoi

Hanoi Coffee Shops

If you are a fan of coffee, you’ll love your time in Hanoi city. The french introduced coffee to Vietnam in the late 19th century, but they have put their own twist on it and created something delicious. There are plenty of coffee shops in Hanoi that offer 100’s of different flavours, hot or iced for you to try.

TIP! Order a local ‘egg-coffee’. It is a Vietnamese delicacy which sounds bizarre, but tastes great. Beaten egg whites are poured over a shot of espresso, creating a sweet mousse-like cup of coffee. Egg coffee is a must try in Vietnam for all coffee lovers!

Coffee shops to visit:

The Note Coffee

This little cafe is the cutest place in Hanoi. Its name reflects its concept.

You buy a coffee and take a sticky note to write on and put it on their wall. It is a great way to leave a little part of yourself in the beautiful city of Hanoi! Check out their website to see some photos of how cool this place is! The Note Coffee

Trung Nguyen Legend Cafe

This coffee shop has amazing coffee. T actually went back 30 minutes later to get another one it was that good! Pay these guys a visit, they won’t disappoint!

Hoa Lo Prison, Hanoi

The Hoa Lo Prison, otherwise known as the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ is the prison which American Soldiers kept Vietnamese captive during the American War. The prison is open to the public with a small entrance fee of 20,000 VND ($1.18AUD).

Inside the prison are many images displaying the use of the prison. There are statues replicating Vietnamese prisoners, sitting in the positions in which they were kept for months.

The prison was built to hold 450 prisoners, but at one point there were over 2000 people living inside, including women and children. Many prisoners began to die with an outbreak of an infectious disease spreading among the prison.

The prison is a very dark, and eerie place but it shows the reality of what happened. It is worth paying a visit so you can truly understand the impact that the American War had on the country you are visiting!

To take advantage of Hanoi City you should consider staying here for a few days. 2/3 nights will do it! 🙂

The post 5 Things to Do in Hanoi appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

How to Get to Cat Ba Island

If you are in Hanoi, it is very easy to make your way over to Cat Ba Island. There are many bus companies who offer you a return service from Hanoi City. We paid around 300,000 VND ($18AUD) for a one way trip (as we were heading straight to Halong Bay from there). The journey takes around 3 hours, and there is 1 stop along the way in case you need the toilet, etc.

From Halong Bay, it takes 1 hour on the ferry to get to Cat Ba Island and vice versa. The ferry ride is simply stunning, and takes you through the most picturesque scenery.

Things to Do in Cat Ba Island

Once we arrived, we were slightly regretting the decision to visit the island. The town of Cat Ba itself is unattractive and has an eerie feel to it.

The area is very dirty, and quite tacky to be honest. It didn’t help that the accommodation on the island is expensive, so with our budget, we ended up  staying in what resembled an old hospital.

We went for a wander that afternoon to get out of our ‘hotel’ and were pleasantly surprised.

We found 3 beautifully hidden beaches along the shore line, which come with a historic tale.  After making our way down to the white sand, and found a few locals playing football on the beach. Of course we joined in for a little kick about, and our mood completely changed.

The next morning we set out to discover Cat Ba National Park and oh boy am I glad we did!

Cat Ba National Park

Getting away from the main town is the best thing you’ll do. Beyond the town, are stunning beaches, limestone forests and vacant caves to explore.

We hired a scooter from the town (a baby blue Vesta to be precise!). It took us around 40 minutes to arrive at Cat Ba National park entrance. There is a small parking fee of around 5000 VND ($0.30AUD), and an entrance fee of 40,000 VND pp ($2.36AUD). If you plan to visit the national park (and you definitely should!) then try to arrive as early as possible.

TIP! If you are not comfortable hiring your own scooter, there are tourist buses and taxis (motorbikes) that will take you to the park.

Walking up to the top of the park is a difficult one, especially with the high humidity levels in Vietnam. I have honestly never sweat so much at 10AM in my entire life. The heat was real, and there were many other tourists to confirm that. Every single person we saw was completely dripping with sweat haha. Many people were stopping on their way for a quick breather and to re-hydrate before powering on.

Things to do in Cat Ba island

The hike to the top of the mountains is around 1000ft. There are many steep parts throughout the hike, but it is definitely do-able. It is made 10x harder with the humidity. The air is hot, thick and it has an impact on your hiking ability but the feeling you get as you reach the top is in explainable.

You cannot help but feel extremely rewarded. You take a quick look at how wet your clothes are and appreciate what you have just achieved.

As we made it to the top I was absolutely speechless. There is an incredible 360° endless view of colourful green mountains. The hike up is worth completely worth it. Take a seat at the top for a moment and let your surroundings sink in. It is the best thing you’ll do.

Other Things to do in Cat Ba Island

Visit Gia Luan

As we were making our way to Gia Luan ferry port to take a boat over to Halong Bay, we passed a beautiful side of Cat Ba Island. We hadn’t seen this side before and we were wishing we hadn’t booked to leave so soon. There were lakes, limestone cliffs, small piers out into the water. The views were so picturesque.

TIP! If you have time, make an effort to drive to Gui Luan for the day to explore this side of the island.

Watch the Sunset in LePont Sunset Bar

This bar has the perfect panoramic views of the sunset and is a fantastic place to enjoy a few cocktails.

Take a Ferry to Halong Bay

If you have booked to return to Hanoi from Cat Ba Island, it doens’t make sense to get a ferry over to Halong. However, if you are planning to visit Halong Bay, then making your way straight from Cat Ba is very ideal.

Not only is it a short 1 hour ferry ride away, the journey is one of the most beautiful things we have seen. Between Cat Ba Island and Halong Bay are 100’s of small limestone islands and the ferry makes it way straight through the middle of them.

If you are heading to Halong Bay, my next blog post will be up soon with tips to visiting Halong Bay!

The post Things to Do in Cat Ba Island appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

How to Get to Hoi An

You can only access Hoi An by road, as there is no airport nor train station in the town. However, the good news is, it is only an hours drive from Da Nang’s airport. The airport has domestic links to many places throughout Vietnam and also has a number of International flights landing here daily. You can get a taxi from Da Nang airport which can be pre-booked for 250,000 VND. If you are staying in Da Nang city, then I recommend getting an Uber to Hoi An. It will cost you half the price!

TIP! Ubers are a very controversial topic in Asia and are not always ‘accepted’ among the locals. Most airports/hotels cannot arrange an Uber to pick you up, so you must arrange this yourself.

We took an Uber and arrived at our hotel, Estuary Villa, which was on the outskirts of the main town. We were staying by the river that runs through Hoi An and were only a 5-minute bike ride from the beach. The hotel provided us with free bikes to use, to get around more freely and a free shuttle bus to/from town on a night.

Discovering the Beauty of Hoi An – Hoi An Travel Guide

When we arrived in Hoi An, we were amazed by the relaxing vibe it possessed. We had previously been in the busy city of Ho Chi Minh, stayed in the deserted town of Mui Ne, and back to another busy city, Da Nang. All of which were incredible places, but there was something different about Hoi An.

Hoi An was the first place that we felt such a loving, welcoming feeling. As we wandered through the streets, there were many people sitting outside in the cafes enjoying a few rays. The beach was also a nice treat as there aren’t too many available to the public throughout the country.

Our first night we made our way to town in the shuttle bus alongside a handful of lovely people who were staying in our hotel.  We arrived to see a busy town, full of colour and life.

There were lanterns everywhere, lighting up the streets. People wandered down each one completely mesmerised. The colours were endless, and everybody was stopping to take pictures. In the middle of the town runs the river. Many locals sit by the water selling floating candles to the passing tourists. They light them up and send them on their way, lighting up the entire place.

Try Local Food at the Street Markets

There is a big street market across the other side of the river, where locals are selling their handmade gifts, and homemade dishes. It is a perfect place to try a selection of Vietnamese cuisines as the choices are countless. Typically, that specific day I was craving, and had, a blooming banana pancake didn’t I. And some rice, of course, let’s not forget the rice! 😊

Hoi An Street Markets are definitely the best place to try samples of the local foods. It is easily the cheapest place to eat in Hoi An, and the food is cooked by their very own local families.

You may have heard of Hoi An before as it is ‘known’ for 2 main things: the Hoi An Lantern Festival, and the local tailoring shops.

Hoi An Lantern Festival

First of all, what is it? Hoi An already consists of hundreds, if not thousands of lanterns on a daily basis, so what makes this festival so special?

The Hoi An Lantern Festival is an event held on a monthly basis to celebrate the full moon. As many of you will know, the full moon plays a sacred role in the Buddhist calendar, as Buddah himself was born on a day of the full moon. The traditional beliefs that the full moon is a time to reflect on life decisions, relax and meditate, and most of all, worship their ancestors, is still honoured by hundreds of people throughout Asia to date.

The lanterns are a symbol of good luck, which locals have placed throughout the entire town, giving Hoi An its name: the town of Lanterns.

The festival is celebrated by lighting up the lanterns, and allowing them to float down the Thu Bon River, which runs through the centre of town. At 8pm all lights are turned off, leaving the lanterns to be the only source of light within the centre. Effectively, the lanterns light up the entire town, creating a magical glow and a lovely atmosphere. To accompany this, there is usually music being performed, games being played, and plenty of street food to go around.

TIP! The Hoi An Lantern Festival is held on the 14^th day of each lunar month.

If you can plan your trip around these dates I would highly recommend doing so. The Hoi An Lantern Festival is a great experience that shouldn’t be missed!

Tailor Made Clothes in Hoi An

I am not kidding when I say you can get absolutely ANYTHING made, and usually within 24-72 hours. When I say anything I mean dresses, to suits, to bikinis, accessories and even a pair of shoes.

These shops have become increasingly popular among tourists, as buying a tailor-made suit costs a third of the price compared to in our home countries. If you plan on getting something made (and you’re not a guy – it’s way easier for guys!) then have a plan before you get there. Make sure you have an idea about the design, colour, hem, etc. so you can beat the crowd and be prepared. If you are struggling, the ladies in the shops offer the best advice, so you are in good hands.

As it is becoming more popular, the locals are seeing an opportunity for an increase in price. Make sure to bring your bargaining head along with you, to keep things how you want them! Things vary in price but for example: we paid 1,356,645 VND ($80AUD) for a 3-piece suit and a silk tie!

TIP! There are hundreds of these parlours so make sure you shop around before you commit to buying anything. Chances are you can get the exact same thing down the street for $20AUD cheaper. It may not sound like a lot to you now, but $20AUD goes a long way in Vietnam! That can buy you 6 meals!

Best things to do in Hoi An

Visit Hoi An at Night

If I haven’t made it clear already then, I’m doing a terrible job. The town is full of life, positive energy and a fantastic atmosphere. It is a must-do when in Hoi An

Hire a Bike

There are available bike tours which sound like a lot of fun. They are a great way to meet new people and explore the town in more depth. We hired bikes on our own which was still a good laugh. Everything is within a good distance so nothing is too far away

**Here’s a very attractive photo of myself from the day I hired a bike. The weather was beautiful, and all of a sudden it began to absolutely p*ss it down! It lasted a total of 10 seconds, but I was drenched to the bone! Oh, who doesn’t enjoy the tropical weather ;)**

Spend a Day at the Beach

The beaches in Hoi An are one of few that you will see throughout Vietnam. It is not a country known for its beaches, so when you find one – take advantage! There are many to choose from, so take a pick and enjoy your day 🙂

Indulge in Local Vietnamese Foods at the Hoi An Street Market

There is no better place for variety, and budget friendly foods.

Visit the Japanese Bridge

This bridge dates back to the 1500’s but has since has some reconstruction. It is not a huge tourist attraction, but it is a nice little place to visit for a quick stop.

Day Trip to My Son

The My Son Sanctuary is known as a UNESCO world heritage site and is around an hours’ drive from Hoi An on scooter. It is probably quicker if you get a taxi. This site has been massively affected over the years as the result of several wars. Unfortunately, the most recent war with the Americans has destroyed it even more. There are still plenty of ruins to rummage through and many have even been re-built. I would only recommend visiting My Son if you are interested in its history. There is an entrance fee of 150,000 VND, and a parking fee to park up on site.

Where to stay in Hoi An – Hoi An Travel Guide

There are tons of places to stay in Hoi An that suit all budget-levels. If you prefer to be by the beach, then I recommend staying on the outskirts of town. Most of the hostels/hotels offer transport into the town centre so you can visit as you please. Taxis are also cheap making the journey in and out affordable if these services aren’t available. If you’d like to be in the centre to have time to fully explore Hoi An, then there are also plenty of options here too. The centre is only 10-15 minutes to the beach, so either one works perfectly!

For a night in a hostel/budget hotel, prices range from 160,000 VND to 290,000 ($9-17AUD). If you fancy something more ‘fancy’, the prices will naturally be higher.

TIP! If you are in a couple, or are a couple of friends, it always works out better to stay in a hotel. The price is evidently split in two for the room, meaning you get the luxuries a hotel can give, but for the price of a hostel bed.

We stayed in the Estuary Villa Hotel on the outskirts of the main town. We were on a bit more of a budget than usual, as we were funding a whole 3months of travel. Luckily, you can find 3-4* hotels including breakfast for around $15AUD a night in Vietnam! We came across this place online and liked the look of it.

Hoi An Travel Guide

As we arrived we were greeted by the most welcoming staff. We were upgraded for free as there were spare rooms available. The hotel has its own pool and breakfast was also included. There was a free bike hire, so we could get to the nearest beach more easily.

We paid $56AUD for 2 nights, between the 2 of us. It worked out at $14AUD a night each. For this price we received a private double room with an ensuite bathroom, free breakfast, WIFI, access to an outdoor swimming pool, free bike rentals and a free shuttle bus to town on an evening.

This hotel was a lovely little spot to stay and we couldn’t recommend it enough. It was very small, with only around 20 rooms, but we could not have been made to feel more welcome.

If you are planning to visit Vietnam and are worried about how to get around, check out our next blog post: The Best Way to Travel Through Vietnam

The post Hoi An Travel Guide – Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

Mui Ne is a lot quieter than most of the other places we visited in Vietnam. We stayed on the main strip, but up towards the Fairy Streams (the “clay cliffs”). I suspect we were on the edge of the town, as there were only a few restaurants and shops nearby. Mui Ne is typically known as a traditional fishing village but it is slowly becoming more popular among tourists.

In Mui Ne, the main attractions are the Fairy Streams, the White Sand Dunes, the Red Sand Dunes, and of course the beach. The beach is a long, beautiful stretch of sand with very few people in sight. It is great for a wander, and it’s a lovely spot to watch the sunset. When we were there it rained the majority of the time however, so unfortunately we couldn’t take advantage of everything it had to offer.

Visiting the Fairy Streams in Mui Ne

Visiting the Fairy Streams was a unique experience and we decided to go without a tour guide. It is very easy to access by yourself so I would highly recommend you avoid the tourist trap and visit it at your own pace. If it is possible, go early morning or late afternoon to avoid the groups of tourists.

The fairy streams are definitely a cool thing to do while you are in Mui Ne. You have to walk up-stream to get to the natural clay cliffs. It takes around 15 minutes walking through the water to arrive at the main spot. There is a restaurant which sells refreshments and a few snacks if you get hungry on your trip.

The clay cliffs are quite surreal. They are very slippy if you try to climb up them, and in some spots you even begin to sink. The colours are incredible and it is not something you see everyday.

TIP! Just be careful if you decide to go for sunset. It gets dark QUICK and there are no lights on your way back.

Of course T and I managed to mess this up, as we do. But you learn from experiences, and then pass on your tips to others to prevent it from happening to them. We are good Samaritans hey! Lets just say it was a good phone we had our Iphone torches.

Sunrise at the White Sand Dunes in Mui Ne

Who doesn’t love a good sunrise!?

Of course the 4am alarm never goes down too well, but it’s nearly always worth it! Watching the sunrise over the White Sand Dunes in Mui Ne is a must do while you are there. You need to book a tour so that somebody can take you up there as it’s quite a journey.

The tour packages usually include the White Sand Dunes, the Red Sand Dunes, the Fairy Streams and a stop in a Fishing Village.

Now this totally depends on what suits you. You can choose to buy a package and be taken to all 4 spots, or you can choose a few and do the rest yourself [or not at all]. We had already visited the streams on our own accord, and wanted to skip the red dunes. We had heard many people say they were no where near as good as the white ones, and not to bother. Whether you want to give it a shot or not, that’s totally up to you!

So, what we ended up doing is negotiating a price with the driver to make him pick us up, take us to the White Dunes and bring us back to our hotel once the sun was up. I think we paid half of the expected price.

We were picked up at 4am sharp in a Jeep. The driver couldn’t speak a word of English so we made no conversation the entire trip. The journey was around 40 minutes, in the pitch black.

WATCH OUT, SCAM ALERT!

Once we arrived, we had to sit down for half an hour before heading out on to the dunes. We didn’t really understand what we were waiting for but now I can tell you from experience. It is a tactical move by the locals. What they do is make you wait until the sun is about 10-15 minutes from coming up. To get to the top of the dunes it takes about 10-15 minutes walking. Ironically, the locals are waiting at the bottom of the dunes with Buggies and Quad bikes, insisting you take one to the top, at an extra charge. You have already paid money to visit the dunes, so this is a slight con. The price is also ridiculous, considering you could easily walk it.

Luckily, we had read previous reviews about avoiding the locals, and simply walking up the dunes yourself, because quite frankly, we weren’t made to feel like it was even an option. We walked straight passed them, and a few of them began to shout ‘you won’t make it in time’, ‘you need a quad’ etc etc. After giving them a little smile, and telling them we’d manage, we carried on walking. We made it up the dunes in a about 7 minutes, and found own our little spot away from the crowds.

Although you don’t feel like you have a choice, don’t be pressured into paying more if you don’t feel it is necessary. Just walk 🙂

The Sunrise is beautiful from the Dunes and it shouldn’t be missed!

Visit the Local Markets

The owner of our hotel was lovely and she let us borrow her scooter so we could go to the markets. It took us around 10 minutes to drive to them from our accommodation. As we arrived, we parked up and headed inside a huge hall where the markets are held. Markets for me are always a fantastic experience, as you get to truly witness the everyday lives of the local people. You learn to appreciate the hard work and effort that goes into their daily routines. The markets in Mui Ne are another example of a great place to visit. There is a wide variety of food available and an incredibly cheap price. It is a great way to sample a few products and not break the bank.

As I said before, Mui Ne is a town that could most probably be missed but if you do happen to be in the area, there are definitely things to do to keep you occupied.

How to Spend 48 hours in Mui Ne

On your first day visit the Fairy streams then get an early night ready for your 4am wake up! Once you have experienced an incredible sunrise the following morning, spend the rest of the day exploring the local markets and lounging on the beach. It is a great little town for getting some down time, so take advantage 🙂

If you have been to Mui Ne and did something that we didn’t, please let us know in the comments! 🙂

The post How to Spend 48 Hours in Mui Ne appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

When we were there, we started in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and made our way up to Hanoi. We had 3 weeks to complete the whole of Vietnam, so we had to come up with a pretty good plan to get around in time.

For those of you who don’t know, Vietnam is very long. When I say long, I mean there is a whopping 1621km (according to Google maps) between the two major cities. To put it into perspective, that’s a 32 hour drive (and that’s in a car).

Hiring Cars Is Not a Popular Choice in Asia

In most Asian countries, hiring a car is not a popular thing to do among tourists. If you have ever been to an Asian country, you’ll understand why. Their driving (and traffic) is beyond chaotic, but somehow they all seem to understand the mayhem and make it work? However, driving as a tourist is a completely different story.

One day we hired a scooter and came to a roundabout. There were, without exaggeration, around 60 other scooters waiting to get onto the roundabout at the same time, alongside a few cars. The locals didn’t stop and began driving into the roundabout with oncoming traffic heading their way. Some people even started driving their scooters up the pavements to avoid the queues. I couldn’t believe it. I held on so tight to T at the back and couldn’t wait to get off.

Now, although it sounds bizarre, I believe we were actually better off on the scooter than we would have been in a car. The scooters are able to squeeze down the side of many vehicles and can also go down a lot of backstreets, avoiding busy traffic. If you were driving a car, you would have to try and dodge the copious amounts of crazy drivers, and that would prove pretty impossible.

I will say though, if you plan to hire a scooter, you MUST be a confident driver. And if you’re not, at least have a practice on the quieter roads until you get the hang of it.

Scooters – Hiring a Scooter in Vietnam

So, hiring a scooter is a really cool thing to do in Vietnam. They are very easy to get access too, and are extremely cheap to rent. There is a rental shop on almost every corner. It usually works out to be around $10 AUD max for the day, including petrol. They are great for day trips as you can explore as much as you like, with all the freedom in the world. The only downside is the pain in your bum after a whole day on one of these things!

If you are planning to drive the Hai Van Pass (PLEASE tell me you are!) then this is a fab way to go about it. It depends on how or where you are planning to go and end up to how you can do it. In total, the Hai Van Pass is 165km long, connecting the city of Da Nang, to the city of Hue. These are coastal cities on the East side of the Country, almost half way up. Most tourists decide to use this passageway to get from one to the other. If you want to know more about driving the Hai Van Pass on a scooter, please read our next blog post; Driving the Hai Van Pass – A Scenic Route from Da Nang to Hue

How to Stay Safe Whilst Driving the Scooters

Before you set off with your rental scooter, make sure the breaks and the lights work.

This may sound obvious but one time we didn’t check the lights as we picked the scooter up at 8am. On our way back it got to dusk so we decided it would be sensible to put the lights on, and they didn’t work. We were about a 40 minute drive away from the rental shop, and the sunset was due within the next 30 minutes. The journey home was through dark, mountain roads, with 0 street lighting. We were literally rushing against time as there was no way we could drive that road in the dark. Simply by trying to beat the sunset, we were putting ourselves at risk. It was a very scary experience and something that could have easily being avoided!

Also, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get a helmet when you rent a scooter. The driving is Vietnam can be very dangerous at times, and you’re travel insurance will not cover any accidents if you didn’t have the correct gear on. Forget about the hat hair or how terrible you look in a helmet – just go out and rock it.

TIP! scooters are only allowed in the right-hand and middle lanes. Do not use the outside left lane to take-over as you will be heavily fined! (and shouted at by a lot of angry locals!)

BONUS TIP! There is also a ‘rumour’ that tourists aren’t allowed to drive more than 40kmh on the scooters. In all honesty, I think it is just a scam to get some money off the tourists.

Now, I cannot back this up with concrete evidence, other than speaking to a few people who were actually fined for driving over this limit. We were told on a number of occasions by different sources, that there is no defined penalty, and the police actually just take all the money that you have on you at the time. There are 2 ways you can go about this…

Don’t take too much money with you on the day trips just in case you are pulled

or

Hide the money in places that they simply cannot check [ehem]

+ You could also try driving at 40kmh?? But then again, you’d probably need to lengthen your stay… 😉

Bus Transfers – Should You Travel Through Vietnam Via Bus?

Definitely the cheapest, but most certainly not the most convenient, way to get around in Vietnam. The bus transfers are completely fine to use in Vietnam. In fact, they are actually quite comfortable – for short distance trips. Trying to describe what the inside of one of these things looks like is pretty difficult though. There are around 40 “bed-like” seats, in a bunk-bed style within the bus. So just imagine, a bottom bunk and a top bunk, in rows of three, from the start of the bus to the end. The seats are small, but luckily for me it was the perfect fit. T, on the other hand had to sit with his knees bent the whole way.

The bus transfers connect most of the places in Vietnam, making it very easy to get from one place to another. Most of the hostels/hotels can organise these for you or you can visit a local office. The distances vary between each place, but more often that not, you are looking at 6+ hour journeys. The buses also include your luggage within the price. This is great if you have a few extra kilos, as you are not going to be charged extra for it (winning!).

The buses are very cheap to use and will never cost you more than $15-20AUD per trip.

What is the Best Way to Travel Through Vietnam? – Downsides to Bus Transfers in Vietnam

Okay, so I know not everybody has the bladder the size of a pea, but if you do, the bus transfers can be awful. I am TERRIBLE when it comes to needing a wee, so 24 hours prior to getting the bus I had to purposely dehydrate myself so I wouldn’t need the toilet. T didn’t bother to prepare (standard) and within an hour of getting on the bus he was already needing to pee. He spent the next hour and a half complaining about needing to go and actually considered doing it in his water bottle. The buses do not have toilets on them – although I think this is probably a good thing considering the standard of bathrooms in Asia!

There can be a few issues with the language barriers, as many local Vietnamese barely speak a word of English. We had no idea when we were supposed to get off the bus and we had no idea if they knew either. The drivers’ assistant comes round at the beginning and asks you for your hotel/hostel name – make sure you have it. If you don’t, they won’t advise you when you’re supposed to get off, because they have no idea where you’re going. Write down the name and address on your phone or in a notebook and have it handy when you get on the bus.

We told them the name but still were unsure what was going on. Luckily for us, we bought a local SIM card the day we arrived, so we were able to turn 3G on to track where we were going. We actually got up a couple of minutes before arriving to our hotel to let them know we were nearly there. Don’t worry too much though, you can get by with sign language and google translator.

Duration of Each Journey

The duration of each journey can also be daunting. The tour companies tell you a rough estimate of how long your journey will be, but it’s always longer. We had a 5-6 hour bus ride from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne, with only 1 stop.

Bare in mind that some of the journeys can be up to 15 hours long. It will save you so much money using this option, but if you have some spare pennies, I would highly consider getting a flight. We flew from Da Nang to Hanoi, avoiding the stretch in the middle because we were short on time. It was a quick 1 hour flight and we spent the rest of the day exploring Hanoi City.

Some of our friends however took the 15 hour bus journey and said it was one of the worst things they had done. The seats become very uncomfortable after a couple of hours and the bus only stopped 2-3 times. It depends how much time and money you have.

If you are not on a schedule, you could break it up with a few shorter bus rides and see a few extra places on the way.

Bus Transfers in Vietnam – Should You Use Them or Not?

Of course you should. They are definitely the cheapest and somewhat easiest ways to travel through Vietnam. Our bus journey from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne only cost us $8 AUD and around $10 AUD from Mui Ne to Dalat. That is insanely cheap! If you have the time, and patience – then travelling through Vietnam can be one of the cheapest trips you’ll do.

You should 100% use the bus transfers for the smaller distance trips. Anything from 5 to 8 hours is bearable. Anything above that, I would consider looking at other available options.

See here for bus transfer options in Vietnam.

Flights – Local Flights in Vietnam

If you are short on time, and don’t fancy taking that horrendously long, uncomfortable bus journey, then you should consider getting a flight. There are local air companies that connect the major cities in Vietnam. Jetstar also offer a number of flights.

In between Da Lat and Da Nang, there isn’t too much to see. We had the choice of a 15 hour straight bus journey, or a 1.20h flight. We chose to fly.

Flight prices can be quite expensive, especially when you compare it to that of the buses.

We don’t regret flying as it saved us a total of 2 days of travel. We needed every single day considered we only had the 3 weeks.

Uber

Like in most places in Asia, this is a controversial topic. In the major cities, such as a Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, Uber is completely accepted. In the smaller towns however, not so much. Consider taking an Uber if you are travelling from one city to the next that only has a short distance between them. We used one from Da Nang to Hoi An because the bus deals weren’t that great.

It took around 1 hour and only cost us about $15-20. It was way easier for us. We were picked up from our hotel and dropped off at the door of our next one. After we split the cost, it worked out cheaper for us than taking the bus.

What Is the Best Way to Travel Through Vietnam?

As I mentioned before, it really does depend on how much time, and money you have.

In my opinion, from previous experience the best way to travel through Vietnam is:

• Using the Bus Transfers for trips up to 8 hours. Use them to get from one city to the next (e.g. Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne, Mui Ne to Da Lat, Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, etc.)
• Hire scooters for the day trips. Some people drive the whole country on scooters but it isn’t practical if you have luggage with you.
• Uber from the airport to the cities (and any shorter journeys you take)
• A flight to avoid the 15 hour bus journeys

The post The Best Way to Travel Through Vietnam appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

We had spoken to a couple of friends and they had mentioned driving along the Hai Van Pass to us. In my mind, I had pictured an extremely busy highway and I was terrified at the thought of it. Little did I know, it was the exact opposite of what I was expecting.

Luckily for us, T loves his motorbikes, scooters, etc. so driving along this road was one of his ‘Top 5’, meaning we had to do it.

The Hai Van Pass and Its History

The Hai Van Pass is a 165km windy, scenic route on the East Coast of Vietnam, connecting Da Nang city to Hue.

In the past, the Hai Van Pass was used as the main road between the two, but in 2005 they built a new highway. This scenic route is now a long, mountain road with barely any traffic. It is the perfect attraction for motorbike lovers.

This pass was used as a strategic military post in the past, during times of war and you can still visit the ruins to date. There are many bullet holes still present in the walls of these old buildings, and it is a popular destination among tourists. It is free to park up and enter, just avoid parking where all the locals stand selling their produce.

TIP! The Locals have started a new trend that says you can park at their shop, if you buy something from it – genius! Drive a little further past the shops and park up on the roadside. Unless of course you’re thirsty, then you’ve got yourself a good deal with the locals! Priority parking right outside, and that can of coke that you wanted anyway 😉

The Hai Van Pass was also known as a political and geographical boundary between the ancient kingdoms, many who fought for ownership of the pass. Now, it is used by over-sized trucks and two-wheeled vehicles, that aren’t allowed to use the new highway, to get between the big cities.

Driving the Hai Van Pass

There are a number of ways to do this. If you are in Da Nang (or Hue) and are travelling up (or down) the country, then the Hai Van Pass can be a great way to get from one to the other.

Obviously, you’re thinking… What am I supposed to do with my luggage if I’m driving a scooter 165km?

There’s no way you want to take this on your back with you. The scooters/bikes are uncomfortable enough without you then having 15+kg on your back the entire time. Luckily, the locals came up with a great little service that solves this problem.

You are able to do two things that make this experience way more pleasant:

1. You can actually pay someone to take your luggage for you. This usually means putting it on a bus full of people already heading to your final destination, meaning it isn’t expensive either. Or, the company where you hire your scooter may offer this service to you as part of a package.
2. Hire a scooter/motorbike at one end and leave it at the other

How annoying would it be to have to go all the way back to collect your belongings, or simply return the bike? Luckily, you don’t have to.

Ask around once you are there and make sure you get the best deal 🙂

Another Way to Drive the Hai Van Pass

If you aren’t a confident driver, and are not travelling with anyone who is, don’t let this put you off. The Hai Van Pass is seriously stunning and is a ‘must-do’ while you are in Vietnam. There are tour companies who drive tourists in a jeep along the scenic route, picking you up at one end and dropping you off at the other. This means you don’t have to miss out, and can still witness the beauty of this historical place.

TIP! Wait until you are in Vietnam to book a tour. Booking online will be more expensive, as most locals are open to negotiations! Don’t worry about not getting onto a tour, there are 100’s of companies offering these services.

How to Get to the Hai Van Pass

The two closest cities to the Hai Van Pass are Hue, and Da Nang.

Starting in Da Nang

From Da Nang, it takes approximately one hour to reach the start of the scenic drive.

Head towards Durong Nguyen Tat Thanh road, which runs along the beach front. Follow this road all the way until it ends. It brings you to what looks like a dead end, but continue around the corner on your left and you’ll reach a new junction. On the left hand side of the road is a petrol station. If you need to re-fuel then I suggest you do so here. This is one of two petrol stations before starting the Hai Van Pass.

Take a right at the junction onto QL1A road (Nguyen Lurong Bang) and drive across the river Song Cu De. Continue straight up Nguyen Van Cu. From here it is a direct road to the start of the Hai Van! 🙂

The roads are fairy simple to drive, with only one busy highway on the way.

TIP! Scooters are only allowed in the right-hand and middle lanes. Do not use the outside left lane to take-over as you will be heavily fined! (and shouted at by a lot of angry locals!)

Starting in Hue

From Hue take the QL49 road heading East. You will reach a junction called Thon Vinh Ve, with the county Government office to your right.

At this junction, take a left keeping on the QL49. Continue straight until you notice a Middle School on your left hand side (Trurong THCS Phi Thurong). After reaching this school, take the following right. Stay on this road until you reach Nguyen Sinh Cung road, where you again need to turn right. Follow this road, along the Song Pho Loi river all the way up to the starting point of the Hai Van Pass.

TIP! If you get lost at any point, look for roads QL49 and QL49B.

Spend a Day on the Road

T and I were staying in Da Nang, and were flying from there up to Hanoi to explore the north of Vietnam. We didn’t have enough time to take the buses up to Hanoi as we only had 3 weeks in total. This meant that we had no reason to go up to Hue just to come all the way back down.

What we decided to do, was drive from Da Nang, along the Hai Van Pass for approximately an hour. We stopped in a fishing village to have lunch and then drove back to Da Nang.

We spent a total of 2 hours driving along this incredible spot. Along the way, we saw beaches, a couple getting married, and found a waterfall on the side of the road that we decided to climb up. Although we didn’t complete it one end to the other, we definitely made the most of our experience.

Again, if you are not a confident driver, there are tour companies that offer half-day trips from Da Nang, picking you up from your hotel and dropping you back again. You do not have to drive from one end to the other to witness this amazing road. Driving on only half of it it satisfying enough. Plus, most of the attractions are towards Da Nang anyway!

All of the above options are within a great price range and won’t exceed your budget. The cheapest way is to do what we did, and hire a scooter for the day, returning it to the same shop. We spent a total of $8 AUD each to hire the scooter and fuel it with the petrol we needed. If you decide to go with a tour company it will be more expensive but you can definitely get one for a fair price 🙂

Why You Should Drive the Hai Van Pass

The Hai Van Pass is a scenic route winding through the mountainside on the East Coast of Vietnam. The direct translation means ‘Ocean Cloud Pass’ and during the wet season you can see why. Thick fog covers the pass entirely.

Driving along the pass you feel such excitement and adrenaline. The windy roads can be at times dangerous, but mostly exhilarating. You are free to drive, without much traffic to stop you in your way. You begin to climb into the mountains, and you can feel the air becoming colder – more moist. The road is the perfect representation of a gigantic formula 1 track. It is so fun to drive and an all-round great experience.

Along the way, there are stunning beaches, incredible mountain tops, waterfalls and small fishing villages. There is something about driving through this place that is so wonderful.

I would highly recommend you drive along this incredible stretch of road. Whether you hire a scooter, a motorbike or take a jeep tour, make sure you do it.

If you need any more inspiration, check out this fantastic video clip from back in 2009, when Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May took on the Hai Van Pass in a famous Top Gear series! 🙂 They describe the Hai Van Pass as a ‘deserted ribbon of perfection – one of the best coastal roads in the world’

The post Driving the Hai Van Pass – A scenic Route from Da Nang to Hue appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.