Google maps showing HCMC floor warnings since last 7days so I went myself to check. Just normal water overflow and Saigon River at 9ft mark (under waterfront bridge).
I am assuming this happens every year?
Hey everyone!
I've been reading a Guide du Routard guide to Vietnam and am starting to put together my itinerary. I'll arrive in Hanoi on 11 November and have around 25 days, potentially 28 if I extend my trip.
I'm travelling solo and would love some advice on my route, especially regarding the weather and how to finish the trip.
My current plan:
Hanoi — 3 days: Explore the city, food, culture, etc.
Ha Giang Loop — 3–4 days: I'd like to do this relatively early in the trip, hopefully with good weather.
Lan Ha Bay / Ha Long Bay — 2 days, 1 night: I'd prefer a quieter alternative to the busiest cruise routes.
Ninh Binh — 2 days: For the limestone landscapes, boat trips and countryside.
Sapa — possibly skip it: I've read that November is past the rice harvest season, and since I'll already be doing Ha Giang, I'm wondering whether it's worth the detour.
Hue and Hoi An — undecided: I'd love to visit both, but I'm concerned about November's rainy season and the risk of flooding.
My biggest question is how to finish the trip.
I'd love to spend 5–6 days on a beautiful beach, ideally somewhere with turquoise water, opportunities to swim and relax, and a good backpacker/social atmosphere as a solo traveller.
I'm considering two options:
Stay in Vietnam: Visit Ho Chi Minh City for a couple of days, then fly to Phu Quoc for the beach before flying back to Paris.
Fly to southern Thailand: I've read that the Thai islands have a better backpacker scene for solo travellers. Would it be worth flying to Thailand for the last 5–6 days, or would that be too much travelling for this trip?
My main questions:
Would you skip Sapa in November, especially if you're already visiting Ha Giang?
Are Hue and Hoi An worth visiting in November despite the rain and potential flooding? Would you decide based on the forecast?
For a 5–6-day beach finale, would you choose Phu Quoc or the Thai islands? If Thailand, which islands would be best in late November for weather, beautiful beaches and meeting other solo travellers?
Does my overall itinerary make sense geographically and time-wise? Would you change the order or cut anything?
What should I book in advance, particularly for the Ha Giang Loop, Lan Ha Bay cruise and accommodation? Is it better to leave some parts flexible because of the weather?
I'd really appreciate any advice, especially from people who travelled in Vietnam or southern Thailand in November. Thanks! :)
So, many grab drivers at the airport show me their phone with grab. how does this work? like can I book them directly? and are they safe?
We are planning on backpacking Thailand, laos and vietnam. We are probalby flying to phuket and home from hanoi, our planned length of the trip is about ish 2 months, february 1st to 1st of april. Our budget is about 50 $ a day. How much time at each place would you recommend and which means of transport would you take between each place, for example flight Bangkok -> chang mai or slow boat from chang mai to luang praubang. If there is any must sees you would recommend or anything we should skip please tell us about them. Please help us out!
Hello, I would like som help with my route im planning, nothing is set in stone and i am more than happy about any critique possible. The plan is ~2 months and ~50 $ a day. (The plan is to fly from ho chin minh to hoi an/da nang and to do a day tour or stay in the phong nah ke bang national park for some days, dong hoi is sort of connection point between hue and phong nah(that part is somewhat cloudy and uncertain but we would like some help on how to tackle the hon soong dong caves.) If you think we should remove any destinations or switch then out for some other please say so. The last time a posted help for an itinierary everyone told me i had to many locations so please help me get rid of some if it is excessive.
Hey everyone !
I'm planning a trip to Southeast Asia in March 2027 and would love some advice from people who've been there ! I’m from France and it’s my first solo backpacking trip :)
I'm looking to put together a rough main route while keeping enough flexibility to improvise along the way.
🇻🇳Vietnam : Definitely want to visit, especially the North!
🇱🇦Laos : Very interested in the nature and hiking.
🇰🇭Cambodia : Maybe, if it's worth adding. The temples are teasing me…
💰Budget : Around €4000 including flights (slightly flexible).
**🗓**️ Duration : Up to 3 months, not decided yet.
I mainly want to meet people, explore at my own pace and discover famous places but also beyond the usual tourist spots. Is it better to focus only on Vietnam ? From north to south ? Is North Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia - South Vietnam a good plan ?
Any route suggestions, hidden gems, must-do experiences or tips you wish you'd known before going ? I’m lost
Thanks ! 🙏
Hello there! I'll be in Sapa in a few days. What's the weather like? I've been looking at public posts and it's kinda vague with some saying it's mostly clear but some also say there's zero visibility at Fansipan. Contemplating booking activities if there's a chance I wouldn't enjoy the sights I'll pay for.
Also keen on making local friends! 😊
Hi everyone - I'm spending a little over two weeks in Vietnam for my birthday at the end of October (first time in Asia!). I'm coming from loud and exhausting NYC after a very difficult year and a half and landing in Ho Chi Minh 10/30. I desperately need a quaint seaside experience at a resort with daily massages and walking distance from the beach. I want to forget about city life for a bit.
In my research so far, I found the lovely looking Phan Thiet and a nice resort. However, I did see a good amount of people on here recommend Vung Tau. So my question is, are there any other places that I am missing that aren't too far from Ho Chi Minh that fit what I'm looking for? Any lesser known towns with way less people, particularly Americans?
Hello!
I am planning a month long trip to VietNam in Dec. I am landing in Ho Chi Minh, and plan on spending some time in cities, some time living/working on farms, and hoping to do some wild backpacking or a lot of trekking.
I am seeing a lot of information recommending staying with tour guides and not doing any solo wild backpacking. I am also having a hard time finding trekking/hiking maps. Does anybody have any recommendations on hikes to do? And do you think that jungle backpacking is a bad idea? Is there not trails designed for that?
btw I have done a lot of backpacking in the US so more temperate weather and well marked trails but you still need to bring all your own equipment. I am curious about tropical backpacking but don't want to be in over my head. Any recommendations or advice helps. Thank you.