Next time you talk to me, I might say something along the lines of "back in 'nam"... Well, I've just returned from an awesome two weeks in Vietnam :)
If anyone's planning on heading there, here's some experiences...
If you're starting in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and heading up to Hanoi, you might see something at the markets and think "ah, I'll just get it later in Hanoi". Don't. The markets at HCMC are more numerous, and stacks cheaper than Hanoi.
Spent at least four days in Hoi An. It's a beautiful place, the people are very friendly, and it's oh-so-cheap! 30c beers, $4 for four-course set menus! Some things to do in Hoi An:
- A cooking course. It'll cost you about $8 US, you can usually pick around three courses to prepare, and you get to eat your creations!
- Stay at the Lotus Hotel. 3-star hotel with 5-star service. They even had our keys ready and a tray of pineapple juice as we walked into the hotel, without even telling them who we were. They even threw a free Xmas feast with punch!
Nha Trang isn't all it's hyped up to be. It's really touristey. But maybe my experiences were tainted by the poor weather. Probably don't want to go in the December-January period...
Hanoi's a bit overrated. Everything seems really expensive if you've spent the last week-and-a-bit down south, and the people aren't particularly friendly.