Lounging ALL the way to Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh and Danang

[Flyfrequently]

With Melbourne typically being a tad chilly in winter, "where to?" was the question when DSC came out in March.

This year I had promised to be home for my significant birthday in June and also for Teen grandson's 18th in August and Missy's 16th in September.
It left July free (apologies to Surfer Flyfrequently and Missy's Mum - our July babies)

I wanted to go somewhere we hadn't been before. Some slow travel, see the sights, absorb some culture and relax with a few beach days at the end - Vietnam came to mind.

Now before you go " oh no, terrible time of the year, April would be better", after lots of reading and helpful hints on AFF, figured we would do it anyway.
What's a bit of rain and humidity eh?!

Ok - next decision - North, Central or South.
With just over 2 weeks, we settled on Ho Chi Minh then Danang.

Time to look at flights.
I am more a journey girl with none of this rushing between terminals to catch flights etc with only a few minutes above MCT to spare.

Rather than go through Singapore, I found flights via Hong Kong. I have always wanted to go back to HKG since a trip in '76, all I can get out of Mr Flyfrequently is 24 hours
But that's ok, and it is typhoon season - we might get delayed like his cousins did last year!

We leave in 4 days :
MEL-HKG on QF
24 hour layover
HKG-SGN Vietnam Airlines - one PNR
4 nights

SGN - DAD Vietnam Airlines
10 nights
DAD-SGN Vietnam Airlines
overnight stay

SGN -HKG (Cathay) - MEL QF - one PNR

Accommodation booked on the Accor ALL app.
With an early birthday lunch on Saturday for the Flyfrequently offspring, time to get packing.

 

[kpc]

I guess you are prepared for the heat and humidity

Post in thread 'Planning Vietnam, appreciate thoughts and experiences'

Jan 12, 2025

My first thought is that July is not the best time to visit Hanoi...it is very hot and humid, and rains a lot. I went to Hanoi in early August a few years back and the heat and humidity were stifling. We had to retreat to our airconditioned hotel room between 10am and 430-5pm!...we only ventured out in Hanoi early in the mornings and in the evenings!

Qf does not fly to Han...J* flies to Sgn from Syd/ Mel, and you can book a LCC like Viet Jet to Han and Dad etc.

• kpc

• 

I assume that as you are spending 10 nights at Dad, you will be travelling around the region....suggestions would be 2-3 nights in Hue, and 3-4 nights in Hoi An (also consider making some clothes here as they are the tailors of Vietnam....do on Day 1 to allow time for alterations if you are planning to!)

Maybe a day trip to https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attr...51-Reviews-Sun_World_Ba_Na_Hills-Da_Nang.html

A guided street food tour in Saigon is a must imo...

 

[JackMiles]

I'm going to Danang later this year (and love HK) so very much on board for this TR. Hope it all goes well, looking forward to reading all about your travels.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I guess you are prepared for the heat and humidity

Post in thread 'Planning Vietnam, appreciate thoughts and experiences'

Jan 12, 2025

My first thought is that July is not the best time to visit Hanoi...it is very hot and humid, and rains a lot. I went to Hanoi in early August a few years back and the heat and humidity were stifling. We had to retreat to our airconditioned hotel room between 10am and 430-5pm!...we only ventured out in Hanoi early in the mornings and in the evenings!

Qf does not fly to Han...J* flies to Sgn from Syd/ Mel, and you can book a LCC like Viet Jet to Han and Dad etc.

• kpc

• 

I assume that as you are spending 10 nights at Dad, you will be travelling around the region....suggestions would be 2-3 nights in Hue, and 3-4 nights in Hoi An (also consider making some clothes here as they are the tailors of Vietnam....do on Day 1 to allow time for alterations if you are planning to!)

Maybe a day trip to https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attr...51-Reviews-Sun_World_Ba_Na_Hills-Da_Nang.html

A guided street food tour in Saigon is a must imo...

Thanks @kpc I do remember your post especially re humidity!
Basing ourselves in Danang and will do day trips, appreciate the links also and the tip about the tailor, hence not going HLO!

 

[VPS]

Enjoy

 

[NSun]

That should be fun. I've seen a fair bit of Vietnam in the last 2 years, but not Da Nang so looking forward to hearing about that part of the country.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Not much done in the way of packing yesterday but have sorted the medication/first aid kit and had a pedicure - am not only a catastrophiser but a procrastinator too!

Not long after booking our flights I got working on accommodation.
For simplicity I have booked our hotels through ALL as Accor + Gold and thanks to @goldenhorn secured a great deal via Fora in HCMC.

We usually do one stay via Qantas Hotels to trigger the $500 pp spend for our TI then take out our pre-existing.
Q hotels were considerably more $, so for this trip, I booked our internal flights SGN-DAD-SGN on my Westpac Platinum Mastercard.
Like I said, am a journey girl - fully flexible J flight for 90 minutes

Now at T48, eVisa done
Hotels all emailed with our ETA etc
Hard copy folder itinerary etc
Medications
Email to family re flights, itinerary, "important" phone numbers

Hotels booked
Novotel Hong Kong Citygate - overnight
Saigon Ibis Airport overnight (as we get in late)
Sofitel Saigon Plaza 3 nights
Grand Mercure Danang 3 nights
Pullman Danang Beach 7 nights
Saigon Ibis Airport 1 night - like to give myself a buffer should, you know, if a typhoon happens....

 

[JackMiles]

Like I said, am a journey girl - fully flexible J flight for 90 minutes

On my last trip to Vietnam I too flew J domestically on a couple of short trips. The cost is low enough to justify it, IMO, and it does make a lot of difference - perhaps more so at the airport, where check-in and security are a breeze, than the flight itself.