Vietnam

[Bornadog]

Re: Vietnam

Hi BAD, if you're looking for a reliable and medium to high end hotel chain in the north down to Hoi An, I can recommend the La Siesta chain. They do everything well, and do tend to go that extra mile. I stayed in the Hoi An resort, while many colleagues have used their hotels and tours and have been more than satisfied.

It's been a funny old time in Vietnam. It took me longer to adjust to living there than I thought it would, and I probably haven't gone to enough effort to make the most of my downtime other than visiting Hoi An for a weekend and exploring Hanoi on the weekends.

I plan to get to Sa Pa sooner rather than later (just waiting for the weather to turn) and be a bit more proactive after mid-January by when I'll have longer stints there without coming home.

The food is excellent, but I'm definitely not as enamoured with pho as everyone else seems to be.

Thanks Jee, I am looking at hotels, I haven't booked anything yet. My plan is to start in Hanoi - then Halong Bay, Hoi An and finish up in Ho chi for the flight home. I only have a few nights in each location, about 9 all up. I will check out the hotel chain you recommended.

Love to see more, but we have limited time available. My daughters friend says Ha Long Bay is now over commercialised.

[jeemak]

Re: Vietnam

Thanks Jee, I am looking at hotels, I haven't booked anything yet. My plan is to start in Hanoi - then Halong Bay, Hoi An and finish up in Ho chi for the flight home. I only have a few nights in each location, about 9 all up. I will check out the hotel chain you recommended.

Love to see more, but we have limited time available. My daughters friend says Ha Long Bay is now over commercialised.

Yes, that's the same as the feedback I've received, and with it the environment is apparently deteriorating (water in particular) which is a real shame.

The old town of Hoi An is probably the same...…..

[Happy Days]

Re: Vietnam

I ended up getting crazy sick in Hanoi so maybe be careful with the street food that you eat, but had the best time walking around the bigger cities and just sort of soaking it in.

I liked Hoi An but can see what you mean jee - think it might have been the company I was with more than the place. Still a few good places to eat and drink, and the beach is surprisingly nice. There's a restaurant like 20 minutes from the old town that only does goat and has pictures of goats all over the walls that's well worth trying.

[Bornadog]

Re: Vietnam

Hi BAD, if you're looking for a reliable and medium to high end hotel chain in the north down to Hoi An, I can recommend the La Siesta chain. They do everything well, and do tend to go that extra mile. I stayed in the Hoi An resort, while many colleagues have used their hotels and tours and have been more than satisfied..

Thank you for the recommendation Jeemak, I am writing this from Hoi An La Siesta. Can't believe the value for money. We are here for three nights and the rooms cost $322 for the three nights. Bit cheaper than what we paid for the Metropol in Hanoi.

Our room is huge and the place is clean and very nice. Arrived after 7pm checked in and went straight down to the old town to eat. couldn't believe the number of people down there, wall to wall.

Hope you have settled in and enjoying expat life.

[jeemak]

Re: Vietnam

Thank you for the recommendation Jeemak, I am writing this from Hoi An La Siesta. Can't believe the value for money. We are here for three nights and the rooms cost $322 for the three nights. Bit cheaper than what we paid for the Metropol in Hanoi.

Our room is huge and the place is clean and very nice. Arrived after 7pm checked in and went straight down to the old town to eat. couldn't believe the number of people down there, wall to wall.

Hope you have settled in and enjoying expat life.

Thanks for saying hi when you were in Hanoi, must have missed the PM hahaha.

Glad you took the recommendation up man, and seem to be having a great time.

Hoi An unfortunately seems to be one of those towns that is beautiful in history and architecture, but over-cooked with crowds and tourist paraphernalia you can get everywhere else.

If you're planning on going to My Son, do the very early tour.

La Siesta is a great chain of hotels and restaurants/resorts, sometimes they seem a bit over the top with help but they seem to train or attract staff really well. Enjoy mate.

As for expat life and consulting it was tough at first after ten years at the beast of a logistics company I was with (think Red from Shawshank struggling with the outside world), but I've adapted to the culture change and things are going well at work thank you.

But, I think noodles in broth and every variant of such is overrated.. Bun cha is the shit, however. Stay safe.