KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

annielovesboogeydog wrote:Heard Kim-Trump meeting later this year has its eyes set on Hanoi?

Lol. Unfortunately the ability to sign deals depends on the people meeting. The place they meet at has little bearing on the meeting.

Damsels Boutique Hotel in Hanoi Vietnam looks quite decent......















Photo Credits: https://www.theluxebrigade.com/damsels- ... ique-hotel

Vietnam is a beautiful country with friendly people and great food. My favorite places are Hoi An and Halong bay.

Angelsdontexist wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 02, 2019 11:13 pm

Damsels Boutique Hotel in Hanoi Vietnam looks quite decent......















Photo Credits: https://www.theluxebrigade.com/damsels- ... ique-hotel

Looks very expensive too. I came across this Hotel while searching for some cheap hotels to stay in Vietnam but it is expensive compared to other hotels. It sure is a good place to stay.

Any travel agency to recommend for a short trip to Vietnam or Cambodia? Thank you.

starlight1968sg wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 16, 2019 11:53 am

Any travel agency to recommend for a short trip to Vietnam or Cambodia? Thank you.

The usual suspects lor.

Unless you are looking for local tours, but the question would then be, where in VN and KH? Some places are more well-developed for tourism than others.

starlight1968sg wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 16, 2019 11:53 am

Any travel agency to recommend for a short trip to Vietnam or Cambodia? Thank you.

I only do F&E for these countries. Book LCC and hire a private driver at hotel concierge to take me to those farflung places like AKW, Killing Fields, Tuol Sleng, Cu Chi, etc.

Did you know Klook also sells half or full day packages to some attractions, but in the early years (90s and 00s), there was no Klook or the like so we had to resort to pte hire.

Private hire is good because I don't need any tour guiding service. I bought some history books from Cambodia and Vietnam bookshops to read leisurely at my hotel poolside. Our pte driver was at our beck and call at each attraction. He also recommended some famous colonial restaurants, handicraft factories, markets, latest malls, bakeries and Chinatown to us.

Tks for replying.
For these countries, maybe it is better to join guided tours?

Star,
My family went F&E in HCM & Hanoi except for 2 days with guide fr a close frd whose retired parents brot us to seafood & countryside fresh air. We visited quite a few orphanages, cu chi, killing fields, etc just engaging some local guides which are plenty to choose fr near where we stayed in the city. Shopping & food is a breeze.

I’ve not gone to Cambodia on my own tho. Was on guided tour but they always bring us to places where the locals fleece us. I’m good at resisting but not many Sporeans coz all very “kind” hearted buying photocopied pics of Cambodia history, culture, etc posting US$10-20 w/o batting an eye. Most feel it’s OK to donate to their poor life until I pointed out how some of these kids hv mothers following (with thick gold necklaces)!

Hope holidays planning, Star!

starlight1968sg wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 16, 2019 5:41 pm

Tks for replying.
For these countries, maybe it is better to join guided tours?

You should be able to do F&E / combine with local tours if you are visiting the main cities / points of interests, such as:
Vietnam - HCM, Hanoi, Sa Pa, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang
Cambodia - Phnom Penh, Siem Reap
You can read up all you can before the trip if you want to skip a local guide, but a good local guide can provide some additional context to what you are seeing.

If you decide to step off the beaten path, you will definitely need to be guided.