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From: "http://www.pmgeiser.ch, Peter M. Geiser" Newsgroups: rec.travel.asia,soc.culture.vietnamese,rec.answers,soc.answers,news.answers Followup-To: rec.travel.asia Subject: Vietnam - The Internet Travel Guide (FAQ) (part 1/5) Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU Summary: Travel guide to Vietnam. Expires: 31 Dec 2004 23:59:59 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 212.254.90.222 Message-ID: <3fed4d90_2@news.tiscalinet.ch> Date: 27 Dec 2003 10:14:56 +0100 X-Trace: news.tiscalinet.ch 1072516496 212.254.90.222 (27 Dec 2003 10:14:56 +0100) Organization: Customers of Tiscali DataComm AG - http://www.tiscali.ch/ Lines: 856 Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!npeer.de.kpn-eurorings.net!newsfeed.tiscali.ch!news.tiscalinet.ch!not-for-mail Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu rec.travel.asia:187775 soc.culture.vietnamese:692915 rec.answers:84416 soc.answers:18670 news.answers:263637 Archive-name: travel/vietnam-guide/part1 Url: http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam Posting-Frequency: quarterly VIETNAM - Peter M. Geiser's Hotel and Travel Guide Located in South East Asia, Vietnam starts to emerge as a major tourist attraction. Vietnam has two main cities, the political capital Hanoi and the economic capital Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon). Apart from these cities, Vietnam's countryside also offers many beautiful attractions. Places An Khe Buon Ma Thuot Cantho Cat Ba Island Central Highland Chau Doc Cholon Chua Huong Con Dao Cu Chi Cuc Phuong National Parc Dakto / Tanh Canh Dalat Danang Do Son Dong Ha Haiphong Halong Bay Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hoa Lu Hoi An Hue Kontum Lao Bao Long Xuyen Mekong Delta Myson Mytho Nha Trang Ninh Binh Phan Rang Phan Thiet Phong Nha Caves Phu Quoc Pleiku Quang Ngai Rach Gia Saigon Sapa Tay Ninh Vat Sat Tourist Parc Vinh Long Vinh Moc Vung Tau General Information Geography Map of Vietnam Climate People Events Visa Embassies Border Crossing Money Mail Telephone Internet Access Hotels Food Diving Health Transportation Flying Train Roads Bus Minibus Car Motorcycle Bicycles Cyclos Tours Travel Guides Boats ************************************************************************** VIETNAM - Peter M. Geiser's Hotel and Travel Guide Copyright (c) 1995 - 2004, Peter M. Geiser http://www.pmgeiser.ch http://www.pmgeiser.com http://www.mineralwaters.org http://www.dussy.ch ************************************************************************** AN KHE http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/ankhe.htm An Khe is a small town about half way from Qui Nhon to Pleiku on highway 19. There is not much to see here. There is a thriving brick manufacturing industry in the area. In 1965, An Khe was chosen as the site of the base camp for the US Army 1st Cavalry Division. The base was huge, and home to the 1st Cav's fleet of 450 helicopters. Today, there is not much evidence that the base ever existed. Sights An Khe Pass One of the most spectacular mountain passes in Vietnam is on this stretch of highway 19. It is five km east of An Khe. There is an incredible view from the top of the An Khe pass that is best seen at sunrise. GM-100 On a lonely stretch of Hwy 19, between 15 and 22 km west of An Khe, a French Army unit, Groupe Mobile 100 (GM-100) was wiped out in a Viet Minh ambush in 1954. Historian Bernard Fall describes the fatal battle in his book "Street Without Joy". There is a small stone memorial marking the site on the south side of the highway. Mang Yang Pass The other pass on the Qui Nhon to Pleiku stretch of highway 19 is Mang Yang, about 35 km west of An Khe. It does not present as spectacular a view as An Khe pass. Hotels There are a couple of small, family-run hotels in An Khe where you can get a room for less than USD 10. ************************************************************************** BUON MA THUOT http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/buonmathuot.htm There is not much to see in the town itself, but the surrounding area is beautiful, with many waterfalls and beautiful Lake Lak. Nearby, there are many ethnic minority villages. The "Elephant Village" Ban Don is also worth a visit. At 1 Doc Lap Street, there is a Hill Tribe Museum. Transportation Since new road has been opened, Buon Ma Thuot can now be reached in 8 hours driving from Ho Chi Minh City. Hotels The Thang Loi Hotel at Phan Chu Tring Street is freshly renovated and is now quite nice. ************************************************************************** CANTHO http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/cantho.htm Cantho, the political, economic, and cultural center of the region and capital of Hau Giang Province, is the only university city in the Delta. Cantho University was founded in 1966 and conducts valuable agricultural research that has contributed substantially to improving production and pest control. This is probably the nicest city in the Delta. Sights Cantho Market The rich variety and abundance of fruit, seafood and vegetables produced in the region is evident along Hai Ba Trung street and in the market's main building at the intersection of Hai Ba Trung and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia streets. Munirangsyaram Pagoda This typical of Khmer Hinayana Buddhist pagodas found in the region. The upstairs sanctuary contains a 5-foot (1 1/2-meter) representation of Sakyamuni sitting under a Bodhi tree. Built in 1946, the pagoda serves the Khmer community of Cantho which numbers about 2,000. Cantho is an excellent place to go on a boat trip in the Mekong Delta. There are 5 and 9 hour trips for USD 2 per hour for two persons and USD 3 for four persons. Ask to go to a floating market. It is also possible to go by bus for VND 4000. Hotels Reserve your hotel online at http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/cantho.htm. Eating There is a new riverside mall where you can sit down and have something to eat and a drink. ************************************************************************** CAT BA ISLAND http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/catba.htm Cat Ba island is a national park. It is covered by tropical forests and is home to a variety of animals. The ferry from Haiphong takes 3 hours and costs USD 5. It leaves several times a day, e.g. at 1 pm. If you take a tour, you should wear good footwear, since it may mean you'll have to hike for some time. Inquire when you book the tour. Hotels Anh Tuan Hotel, just 200 m up the road opposite the ferry landing. It has nice, clean double rooms for USD 6 to 8. Don't go to Cat Ba Hotel. It is government run and not a very good choice. Eating A good place to get fresh sea food is the Huu Dung restaurant in the road opposite the ferry landing. There are many Karaoke bars. Tours The owner of the Huu Dung restaurant offers tours on the island and in the bay. A 5 hour walking tour through the rainforest in the national park costs USD 10 to 12. A boat trip in the bay costs the same. Make sure that noone wants to get to Bay Chai; it is not worth the money. ************************************************************************** CENTRAL HIGHLAND http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/centralh.htm The central highland covers the southern part of the Truong Som Mountain Range. It's main features are the beautiful scenery and the many minority groups (montagnards) living in this area. The region has a temperate climate, where cold nights are not a rarity. Highway 19 is an important route into the Central Highlands, running from Qui Nhon on the coast up to Pleiku. Buses and vans run daily from Qui Nhon to Pleiku, Kontum and Buon Ma Thout. ************************************************************************** CHAU DOC http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/chaudoc.htm Chau Doc (population 80,000) is an important trading and marketing center for the surrounding countryside. Until the mid-18th century this region was part of Cambodia. There is still a large Khmer population and the largest Cham settlement in the Delta. The Chau Doc district is also the seat of the 1 - 1.5 million followers of the Hoa Hao religion, founded in 1939 at the village of Hoa Hao. Sights There are numerous interesting temples here, especially at Nui Sam and at Ba Chuc there is a temple and ossuary containing the remains of 2,500 Khmer Krom massacred by the Khmer Rouge in September 1978. Market A large market selling fresh produce and black market goods smuggled in from Thailand spreads from the riverfront down and along Le Cong Thanh Doc, Phu Thu, Bach Dang and Chi Lang streets. Nui Sam (Sam Mountain) Three miles (5 km) southwest of Chau Doc is a rocky hill is literally honeycombed with sanctuaries, tombs, and temples. Most visitors come only to see Tay An Pagoda, Lady Chua Xu Temple, and the Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau, but walk right up to the top of the hill where you can get a good view of the surrounding countryside. From here you can appreciate that this is some of the most productive land in Vietnam. Chau Phu Temple This temple was built in 1926 for locals to worship Thoai Ngoc Hau, the man responsible for building the nearby Chau Doc Canal which defines the border with Cambodia. Catholic Church The small Catholic church in Chau Doc was constructed in 1920. It's located on 459 Lien Tinh Lo 10, just near the FB Phu Hiep ferry terminal. Masses are held each day on 5 am and 5 pm as well as Sunday at 7 am and 4 pm. Chau Giang Mosque Take a ferry across the Hau River from the Chau Giang terminal in town to visit the mosque which serves the district's Cham Muslim community. Hoa Hao It was here, 12 miles (20 km) east of Chau Doc, that Huynh Phu So founded an influential indigenous religion that attempted to rid Buddhism of its pagodas and clergy. After WW II, the Hoa Hao community created an anti Marxist political party called Don Xa, which led to Huynh Phu So's assassination by the Viet Minh. After 1975, the Communists clamped down on the Hoa Hao and the sect lost much of its influence. Hotels Reserve your hotel online at http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/chaudoc.htm. ************************************************************************** CHOLON http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/cholon.htm Cholon (Chinatown) bustles with activity that is of interest in itself, but the finest pagodas in Saigon are also found here. Sights Cha Tam Church Built around the turn of the century, this is where President Ngo Dinh Diem was captured and assassinated with his brother in November 1963. Nghia An Hoi Quan Pagoda Visitors are greeted by a magnificent carved wooden boat hanging over the entrance and immediately to the left is an oversized representation of Quan Cong's horse and groom. At the main altar is Quan Cong flanked by General Chau Xuong and the mandarin Quan Binh in glass cases. Tam Son Hoi Quan Pagoda This pagoda, built in the 19th century by Fukien immigrants, is dedicated to Chua Thai Sanh, the Goddess of Fertility. The pagoda attracts visits from childless women. Quan Am Pagoda This is thought to be the oldest pagoda in the city. The complex contains a series of courtyards and altars dedicated to a range of deities and spirits. The roof of the main structure supports four sets of ornate figures and is fronted with old gold and lacquer panels of guardian spirits. The main altar displays a seated statue of A-Pho, the Holy Mother, in front of which is a white ceramic statue of Quan Am, the Goddess of Purity and Motherhood. Thien Hau Pagoda This early 19th century pagoda is dedicated to the worship of both Buddha and Thien Hau Thanh Mau - Goddess of the Sea and protector of sailors. The most interesting part of the pagoda is the roof, richly decorated with the high-relief frieze depicting episodes from the Legends of the Three Kingdoms. It is one of the most ornate in Vietnam and can best be seen from the open courtyard. Phung Son Pagoda Also known as Go Pagoda, it was built on the site of an earlier Cambodian structure at the beginning of the 19th century. There is a large seated gilded Buddha in the inner sanctuary surrounded by a variety of other figures from several Asian and Southeast Asian countries. Shopping Binh Tay Market Binh Tay, with a wonderful array of noises, smells and colors, is one of the most colorful and exciting markets in Saigon. ************************************************************************** CHUA HUONG http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/chuahuong.htm Chua Huong, the Perfume Pagoda, is located some 70 km southwest of Hanoi. The term 'temple' is a bit misleading, since it is a whole cluster of temples and shrines in the Huong Son (Perfume Mountain) area. ************************************************************************** Con Dao http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/condao.htm Con Dao is mainly famous for its prison built by the French to put away opponents of their colonialism. In 1954, the prison was taken over by the South Vietnamese Government. All in all, over 22'000 prisoners have stayed there over time. In the Revolutionary Museum, displays and explanations of the resistance against the French and the South Vietnamese government show the treatment of political prisoners. But the island was well known to the Europeans for quite some time before that. Between 1702 and 1705, the British East India Corporation maintained a fortified trading post on the island. The English gave up their attempt when they were murdered by their own Makassar soldiers. Con Dao consists of 14 islands, located, some 180 km south of Vung Tau. They form the southern most point of Vietnam. The largest island, Con Son, occupies an area of 20 km2. There are several nice beaches, like Dam Trau Hang Duong and Phi Yen, on the islands. The best time to visit the islands is during the relatively calm time between March and June. ************************************************************************** CU CHI http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/cuchi.htm About 22 miles (36 km) northwest of Ho Chi Minh City is a short section of the 124 miles (200 km) of tunnels that has been widened to allow tourists to share the underground experience. The Viet Minh began work on the tunnels in 1948 and used them for storage and shelter with sleeping quarters, hospitals and schools. Cu Chi was zealously Communist and the tunnels were used by the Viet Cong to launch the Tet Offensive in 1968. There is now a shooting range where you can try old rifles from the American war. Admission US$3. ************************************************************************** CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARC http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/cucphuong.htm (Lars) A high-altitude, mountain rainforest. Several trails for the hiker. Approx. 70 km northwest of Ninh Binh. Hostel-style accomodation available. Didn't look too clean but I would have stayed one or two nights, if only I would have known about it. Also better looking huts, but I don't know any prices or where to rent them. Can be reached from Ninh Binh or on daytours from Hanoi. ************************************************************************** DAKTO / TANH CANH http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/dakto.htm About 40 km north of Kontum, this is a small town with not too much to see. At the top of the road there is a large war monument, and remains of war material can still be seen. There are many interesting minorities villages between Kontum and Dakto. Since they are often difficult to find, you will need a local guide. (Mark Richardson) However in Dakto at the top of the main street is a large war monument on the opposite side of the road there is a short lane leading to the delapidated remains of an American Huey helicopter, a Russian made T 54 tank which has a local legend amonst the communists which is completely false. It is supposed to have gone in the wrong direction and stumbled upon 8 american tanks, destroyed 7 of them then was destroyed by the eighth. I never knew the T54 was such a remarkable piece of hardware. And it did all this at a time when there were actually no American tanks in the area!!!! The nearest thing I have found to such an event is the destruction of a number of south Vietnamese tanks, which were not in operation at the time, by wire controlled anti tank missiles. But of course the official version must be true as they have even written a song about it which starts something like "Five brothers/comrades in a tank like five fingers in a glove" This history was recited to me by a drunken Cadre (tautology) in Kontum. Looks more like anti-tank mine destruction. At this site there is also an anti aircraft gun/tank and a small building containing a few old photos and weapons usually locked but if there is someone in the area a few friendly gestures can gain you access but its probably not worth the effort and no photos allowed. Turning left in front of the monument you can follow this road to the site of Charlie base and Eagle airport though only the runway remains. Caution should not be taken too lightly as on one trip I answered the call of nature by the side of the runway only to notice a wet unexploded bomb in the weeds just in front of my feet. Hamburger hill is to the left and is just a small hummock on the mountain ridge. At the right time of year and in the right light the area appears to be just a crater pocked land scape. Dont go off the roads/tracks in this area. Just because there are peasants working the land doesnt mean that it is safe. There are many incidents with live ordnance. Dont become another statistic. (Mark Richardson) On continuing north from the old runway one will come across a large bend in the river. A few km further on the left one can see the roof of a communal house amongst the trees. Park your transport here. Take the track to the river and cross the impressive bamboo bridge to this village. In 1996 this bridge was in considerably better condition than 2 years prevoiusly (when I felt a bit like Indy Jones, bits were missing). My wife says that this is a xedang village and I'm not going to argue. Here you can see the day to day life maybe a game of volleyball one of the few western influences to take hold here in this remote area and if you are very lucky as I was on my last visit get invited to aparty where vast quantities of Jar wine were being consumed. One word of warning: they have quite a strict code of customs when it comes to alcohol. If you drink you must drink a full measure which can be as much as half a pint without stopping! The measure is denoted by a peice of bamboo dipping into the jar. Be careful once you start drinking they will try to keep you there, the more intoxicated you become the happier they are and the greater the "respect" you are showing them. Always usefull to have cigarettes to pass round at these occasions. If worried about the food they offer you just take a piece of pork fat to nibble on, though usually they wont insist you eat as they can be a little embarrassed by the poverty of there diet. However I can strongly reccomend rat, also grasshoppers! (Mark Richardson) Please note that when you go into any montagnard village if the people dont approach you within a few minutes dont try and approach them. There may be a very good reason for there apparent shyness. Having said this if you enter a Bahnar village and the people welcome you, as most of the time they will, until such a time that tourism becomes intrusive you can always try the following sentence: "Inh oa et xic" pronounced 'In wa et seek'. I want to drink jar wine. Someone will be able to speak English or French to a certain degree and the story telling will begin. In the Dakto area there are some natuaral hot springs but I havent visited them. Travel was always more difficult for me. Dakto is Bahnar for Hot Water. (Mark Richardson) On the road to komplong there is a local beauty spot known as km 23 but it seems further from the town than this. To find it you will need a friendly local as you turn right up a very small track which is not indicated. It was here that I surprised a montagnard in only a loincloth out hunting with a crossbow. A few km further up the main road one can turn right go through some fairly dense growth and through an isolated village to a small waterfall (again impossible to find without a local). ************************************************************************** DALAT http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/dalat.htm Dalat is a hill station in the central highlands. The altitude of 1475 m warrants rather cold nights. It was founded in 1897 by Alexander Yersin, who first discovered the plague bacillus. Once called the 'Paris of the East', it has now become a favourite honeymoon spot. All the tourist attractions are 'Asian style', meaning that they correspond more to the taste of local people. Sights The famed 'Valley of Love' looks nice, but with all the souvenir shops, the 'Walt Disney' boats and the 'cowboys' it is hard to glimps the beauty of the landscape. To me the landscape looked nice, but not as beautiful than the north of Vietnam. Entrance to the 'Valley of Love' is VND 8000 with insurance; for a quiet stroll just pass the shops and walk 500 meters. The summer palace of the last emperor, Bao Dai, is open to visitors. The 25-room villa was built in 1933. Admission is VND 10'000. Entrance to the Cam Li falls is VND 3000 and probably not worth it. Admission to the Crazy House is VND 3000. The one thing I liked best (the only one, actually) was the old monk Vien Thuc at the Lam Ty Ni Pagoda. He is always smiling, friendly and eager to show and explain things. He has painted in his life already 84000 pictures (this was in October 1994, now this figure probably has increased by a couple of thousend). He sells them in various sizes, some of them postcard size. Once you choose to buy one, he looks at it and then exclaims: "Oh, this one is beautiful. I'm going to name it for you." He has to think only seconds to come up with a name like: "Looking at this picture all sorrow dissolves into emptiness." All his pictures (and the names) are Zen. He also likes to show his guest books. Note: A recent report tells of much higher prices, some USD 10 for even a small drawing, and that he is no longer nice if the tourists are not willing to pay his prices. (Michael) The development around Guang Trung resevoir is worth a look. It is baren now, but when the trees grow a bit it should be quite lovely. A new 'meditation center' with guest house overlooks the lake. The government clearly intends this to be a vacation destination. (Michael) Visiting the ethnic villages (Lat and Chill) around Dalat was a bit depressing. The people have lost their semi-nomadic lifestyle and now live in what seems to be enforced poverty. They will soon be integrated into ordinary Vietnamese life. I did not attempt to visit any of the ethnic villages further away from Dalat. (John) A motorcycle taxi with driver can be hired for $5 to shuttle you to all the sights around Dalat. Many of the sights are pretty lame by western standards. I rented a motorcycle $6/day and drove myself without any problems. The mountainous roads make for fun riding. (John) I also saw about ten weddings in the less than 48 hours I was there. (Michael) Dalat is a great place to run; cool and dry with plenty of good trails. I suggest a run out to Su Nu Pagoda at meal time (contrary to the advice in LP) so you can listen to the nuns sing. A run around the lake is also nice as is the run out to Thien Vuong Pagoda and beyond. Although LP warns about getting too far out into the boonies, I had no trouble. I did run into several men in uniform (they could have been off-duty doormen for all I know) but I was universally greeted with smiles and thumbs up, wherever I ran. It is now possible to rent a mountain bike for VND 15000 (Feb 96.) A motorcycle with driver are for rent at USD 6 per day. Make sure that it is for the day, that you are the one deciding where to go, and pay the only when you are back at the hotel. The bus from the city to the airport takes about 30 minutes and costs USD 3. Motorbikes with 90 cc cost USD 5 for a full day. Golf Dalat's Pine Lake Golf Course was the first to open, or rather re-open, in Vietnam after the war. Its 18 hole course was opened at the 24 February 1994, but a 9 hole course was already founded in the 1920s, being the first golf club in Southeast Asia. Hotels Restaurants Beware of Shanghai restaurant and its neighbor! The food is ok, but they try to cheat the customers. The napkins served everybody without asking cost and if they don't have the correct change they short change you without so much blinking. I had to ask twice for my change, before they finally said that they didn't have change (Lucky enough I still had some small notes). Some prices they charged were not what was written on the menu, so we had to re-check the bill again. My guess is that because Dalat is such a touristy area they try to rip off people and Vietnamese (the majority of the tourists) do not care or expect things like that. The new Tranh Tranh just around the corner at 4 Tang Bat Ho (21836) is reportedly much better. The food is nice and at a reasonable rate. It fills up every evening with ex-pats and travellers. There is seating upstairs. A place I liked much more was Thanh Thuy restaurant just next to the lake. (Anna, Feb 96) Upstairs in the new market building are many food stalls selling good cheap food, including three vegetarian food stalls (com chay). A nice bar opened on October 2, 1994 is Saigon Nite at 45 Truong Cong. It offers a big variety of drinks (with original alcoholic ingredients imported from the west) which all cost around 25000 VND. There is a pool table in the back room. ************************************************************************** DANANG http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/danang.htm Sights DaNang has an excellent Cham museum, housing many beautiful stone carvings of ancient origin (Khmer and Cham). Entrance is VND 20000. Near the train station is a nice Cao Dai temple. DaNang is a good place to start a day trip to My Son. These Cham ruins are definitively worth a visit. A taxi to bring you there, wait for your return and bring you back costs around USD 25, while a motorcycle is about USD 6. The entrance fee, including crossing of the bridge and a minibus to the ruins, is now USD 5. Diving There is a diving center at China Beach at the Furama Resort Hotel. It is open between March and October. Hotels Reserve your hotel online at http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/danang.htm. Restaurants In Danang there is only one travelling cafe, the Lien cafe. It is just opposite the Marble Mountain hotel in the north of the town. They rent a taxi with driver to go to My Son for USD 25, minibusses to Nha Trang are USD 15 and motorcycle are USD 4 (50 cc) and 5 (70 cc) per day. The people are very friendly and can offer many good advice. The food is cheap and good. Climate Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High C 24 26 28 31 33 34 34 34 32 29 27 25 F 76 79 83 87 91 94 94 93 89 84 81 77 Low C 19 19 21 23 24 26 25 25 24 23 22 19 F 66 67 70 74 76 78 77 77 75 73 71 67 Rain mm 112 38 23 28 64 76 84 117 373 584 368 224 inches 4.4 1.5 0.9 1.1 2.5 3.0 3.3 4.6 14.7 23.0 14.5 8.8 ************************************************************************** DO SON http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/doson.htm Do Son is said to be the most beautiful beach (actually there are three beaches!) in the northern part of Vietnam. There is a casino. Hotels There are some villas at one of the three beaches for USD 20. ************************************************************************** DONG HA http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/dongha.htm Hotels Nha Tro, Hai Ly: I'm not quite sure about the name, but this is a small mini hotel on the right side of a little side street just off the main road, opposite the bus terminal. It has pleasant rooms with a double bed and private shower and toilette for USD 6. People are friendly and can organise a tour to the DMZ (on motorcycle for some USD 10 to 20.) Try the Phung Hoang mini hotel at 63 Le Duan (Hwy 1). It is run by a nice family, and the food is excellent. The rooms are USD 10 or less. Don't use the Quang Tri tourist department. They chage too much and don't deliver. Guides There is a tour guide named Jimmy Hoa who is reported to be fair and well-informed. He served as a Sgt. in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) during the war and worked as an interpreter for the US 3rd Marine Division for three years. He will organise tours to the sites around Dong Ha. ************************************************************************** HAIPHONG http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/haiphong.htm Hotels Reserve your hotel online at http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/haiphong.htm. ************************************************************************** HALONG BAY http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/halong.htm The Halong Bay is one of the Unesco Wold Heritage Sites. This beautiful bay covers an area of 1500 km2 in the northern part of Vietnam's East Sea. The name Ha Long means 'where the dragon decends into the sea'. This wonderful landscape with its 3'000 islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin resembles very much the famous mountains of Guilin, China. Make sure you make a boat trip (rent a boat or take part of an organised tour, see tous). It is recommende to go by one of the tourist tours, since it will save you both time and money! Chartering your own boat for a whole day will cost about USD 40. (John) It is very convenient and a good value to take a organized tour, and it doesn't cost that much more than it would cost to go on your own. The 2-day organized tours usually include transportation there and back (5 hours each way), two 3-4 hour boat rides, two lunches, one dinner, one breakfast, and overnight accommodation. Mine cost $22. Three day tours are also available which include a day at Cat Ba Island national park. Hotels Reserve your hotel online at http://www.pmgeiser.ch/vietnam/places/halong.htm. ************************************************************************** VIETNAM - Peter M. Geiser's Hotel and Travel Guide Copyright (c) 1995 - 2004, Peter M. Geiser http://www.pmgeiser.ch http://www.pmgeiser.com http://www.mineralwaters.org http://www.dussy.ch **************************************************************************