Vietnam: Rough Plan

OK, made rough plans for my Vietnam adventure. Still in the midst of researching the finer details (e.g. if I should take the train or the bus from city to city, and how long I’d stay in each) but for now, this is what my IDEAL trip would look like.

6^th Oct
Hanoi
Explore city on rental motorbike of cyclo
Catch water puppet show

7^th Oct
Go on 2D / 1N local tour to Halong Bay; stay the night on a boat

8^th Oct
Back to Hanoi
Make way up to Sapa
Take 2D / 1N local tour trekking up into the highlands
Homestay with tribal community

9^th Oct
More trekking?
Check out handicraft
If I like the place might extend stay

10^th Oct
Travel to Hué (looks damn far man)
Stay a night

11^th Oct
Travel to Hoi An
Stay a night

12^th Oct
Travel to Danang(might skip this)

12^th Oct
Travel to Cu Chi to check out the tunnels.

13^th Oct
Back to Hanoi

14^th Oct
Fly back to Singapore

Alternatively:

Extend stay and travel to Ho Chi Minh after Cu Chi. Stay a night, then cross over to Phnom Penh via Mekong Delta (heard the 2D / 1N tour is pretty good). Catch flight straight to KL from Phnom Penh.

What a Small World Indeed!

Was browsing through Hospitality Club, trying to get in touch with members in Shanghai so that I'll at least know a few people there and will actually NOT have to stay home on weekends that first month of so (I'm being optimistic here), when I received a friendly e-mail from someone in Germany (never met the guy) saying that if I was ever in Germany again, that I could drop him a line and he'd take me around. (You'll understand why once you figure out what the Hospitality Club is all about). We got to chatting and it turns out he lived in Sabah when he was little (same tiny town I was born in), and that our dads worked in the same plantations!! Well not really the same plantations but same area. Both our dads were in cocoa and they might actually know one another! How freaky is that! Been chatting with him for over an hour and so far he doesn't seem to be a weirdo, so wahey! I've made another friend! I love the Hospitality Club!

Pre-Vietnam

This whole Vietnam business came about by pure accident. I'd won travel vouchers for a tour package at my company DnD last month and gave them to parents to use as they pleased. (I suggested Vietnam). They were quite happy until they realised that it was a huge hassle since the flight departs from Singapore (they're in KL). So I was left with the vouchers. Then it hit me... why don't I go instead!? DUH! I still find it hard to believe that despite all my eagerness to travel I have yet to set foot in any country North of Malaysia. So managed to entice a compadre to split $500 worth of travel vouchers and backpack (I know it seems a little odd - travel vouchers and backpacking, but I have a plan) through the country that brought us the oh-so exquisite 'ao dai' and 'Pho'. We plan to fly on the 7th of October which really doesn't leave us much time to prepare. And considering the fact that I don't have a backpack, and neither do I have trekking shoes, 2 weeks suddenly seems really really short.

Mu initial plan was to just buy a 3D / 2N free-and-easy package (hence utilising my vouchers) but the more I thought about it and the more I read I knew I'd regret not staying longer. L. will have to be back in Singapore by Tues, and C & F want to stay for a max of 1 week. Still not enough for me. Am thus contemplating on carrying on as far South as I can (dare) on my own. Just worried that I wouldn't be prepared enough. BUT IT'S SO EXCITING!

Stumbled upon a Vietnam based tour company that sets up short guided tours around Vietnam, guaranteeing visits to non-touristy sites and adventure trips like trekking and kayaking and homestays with the highland tribes. My god they look so fun! I want to do them all!!! I'm really looking forward to going up to Sapa and doing the whole homestay bit and putting up on a boat as we cruise Halong Bay, not to mention all the kayaking that I can do. Also, am challenged to renting a scooter and ride around Hanoi. I'm so up for it man! sigh... I can't wait!!!

Good Morning Vietnaaaaaaaam!!!!

And that's exactly what I'll be saying on the 8th of October 2006 - for at least a week! I can't wait! Not really decided which parts to visit yet, but will definitely start in the North, entering via Hanoi and, time and mulah permitting, work my way down to Central Vietnam. Did I say I couldn't wait?! *grin*