Vietnam/Laos

[leela]

Given a bit over three weeks in November, would you explore as much of (just) Vietnam as you could, or stick to the north and add northern Laos?

I'd be flying in and out of Hanoi. Presumably the 'just' Vietnam option would have me at the wrong end of the country by the end, and I'd need to add in an extra flight.

If you've been to either country, what were your best bits?

[elliedee]

I've not been to Laos, but I have been to Vietnam. I would say definitely see more than just northern Vietnam - the north, south, and central areas of the country feel very different so worth seeing. Internal flights were cheap and very good. I loved the mountains in the north (we were based in Sa Pa) and but as far as cities went, I much preferred Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. I was only there ten days so it was a bit of a whirl, but with three weeks you could probably see a lot of Vietnam and also have a few days in Laos? A friend's sister lives in Laos and she says it's very different from Vietnam so might be good to see the contrast. The food is also quite different I believe.

[shilgia]

Agree with what elliedee said. North and South Vietnam are very different, and there's plenty to see in the country for three weeks. You could add a piece of Laos, but in your position I'd be inclined not to. Not because Laos isn't interesting, but because it will cut down on the time you'll have to get to know Vietnam. Maybe Laos can be a next trip, combined with another country or two in the region? (Laos is much smaller, with less to see, so you won't need three whole weeks there if you come back.)

[tzarine]

love luang prabang in lao
it's magical & a ride on the mekong on a private boat is lovely. do see it if you can before the chinese totally destroy it
our innkeeper drove us by all the hotel developments. rather depressing. part of the chinese belt & road plan.

agree w elliedee about vn being very different - saigon & hanoi.
i loved ninh binh in the country. we stayed @ this lovely inn

here's a piece i wrote on our trip on the reunification express for konch, Letter from Hanoi.i loved the ride & the food esp che
static1.squarespace.com/static/5a258a1e0abd04962c1cae34/t/5ab2e176352f534840ee74e4/1521672566707/letter+from+Hanoi+11.pdf.

[leela]

Thanks so much for the link to your piece, tzarine. I really enjoyed it.

[tzarine]

so glad, leela

thanks

[wombatrois]

November can be typhoon time in VN, so maybe keep your options open. We didn't make it to Hanoi when we went - spent too long in other places going up from Saigon, and then met a typhoon and colder weather the further north we went, so decided to go back to tropical climes. I also became very sick. This was a long time ago, but just about every year there is a typhoon in November.

We have been to Laos a few times and actually prefer it to VN. It's a tough call - you only have 3 weeks. We generally spend 4 weeks in one country when we travel, so I would hardly ever recommend two countries in 3 weeks. And southern Laos is our favourite part, so not where you're intending to go!

This is probably no help to you at all!

[leela]

Vietnam is hard to work out, climate wise. It seems to have three very different climates, what with being such a long, thin country. Hanoi should be fine, the middle of the country questionable, and the south good. But going south is the least convenient option.
Also I'm joining a friend on a longer trip, so to some extent it will depend where he's already been when I get there, and where he needs to be headed to when I leave.

[Oweena]

Been to Laos (2008), haven't made it (yet) to Vietnam. Three friends have separately visited Vietnam over the past 10 months and all came back raving about it.

I really liked Luang Prabang, so much that I extended my stay there by 4 days. I also enjoyed the 3 days I spent in Vientiane, but that may be due to the people I was there with at the time. If traveling by mini bus like I did, then one night is all you need in Vang Vieng.

[wombatrois]

We really love Vientiane, but we are city people, we love most cities :-)

[tzarine]

yes, ventiane is lovely & overlooked.
we ended up @ a local festival & rode the tiny ferris wheel

[Phar Lap]

Have been to both Viet Nam and Laos on different trips and spent three weeks in each country but wished I had more.

Flew into Sai Gon, down to Mekong Delta back to Sai Gon, then flew to Da Lat (Central Highlands) where you go to escape the heat, motorbike trip to Nha Trang. From there travelled on overnight trains to Hoi An, Hue, and Ha Noi.

I also did a Ha Long Bay cruise which was wonderful and a tour to Sapa where we did trekking to some local villages. It poured buckets all day! Next day had better weather and the market is fascinating. Lots of beautiful traditional costumes.

I had two jackets made in Hoi An from a tailor recommended to me. They did a fabulous job. Wonderful food, friendly people loved it.

Laos deserves time, there are no trains, time slows down and moves slowly. The people are lovely and sunny, and the buses never run on time. You get used to this very quickly. I caught the over night train to Thailand and I was assaulted with loud noise as the train pulled into Bangkok - I hadn't realised just how big a difference there was between the two nations. I much preferred Laos. I have a blog but can't link from the phone.