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Vietnam Anonymous
I'm going to Vietnam this July, any cool places to visit or tips to share ?
>> Anonymous
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BRING THEM BACK ALIVE SON, WE DON'T LEAVE OUR PEOPLE IN THERE!
>> Anonymous
I went for 2 weeks late last year - it wasn't a vacatin, I was actually looking after orphans, but I still spent about a week exploring Vietnam -, recognised the picture instantly.

Halong Bay, pictured, is as amazing as it is beautiful, and if you're going with even a small group it isn't going to cost you much to spend the night on a reasonably luxurious Junk. Halong Bay was a standout part of my trip, I just wish I took more photos.
On our Junk we had the oppurtunity to go swimming and fishing, as well as enjoy a number of trips on smaller sightseeing boats into coves in the middle of some of the islands. Also we stopped and were able to explore several of the islands.
Although, the whole place is crawling with tourists which really ruined it for me.

What I found most to be the most memorable parts of my trip were the truly immersive ones. Sure the tours are good fun, but I'd say to anyone going to Vietnam that you'd get a lot more out of the trip by just experiencing the country for what it is, the culture and the people, instead of being an ugly tourist and just following the same path every other tourist does.

I guess I saw it all on a wholly different level, as I spent most of my time living with a Family and working at an orphanage. But I felt something really special in Saigon. I stayed in a part of town where there were no tourists, I was about as out of place as I could get. After a few days of waking up, walking down the road and trying not to get killed by bikes, getting my morning iced coffee and visiting one of the stores - if you could call them that, more or less a hole in the wall with chairs out front - on the way back for some Pho, I felt like I was really experiencing something. It's a great feeling.

Sorry if this isn't worded very well, I'm actually reasonably tired.
>> Anonymous
Other than that I'd recomend Spending some time in Hanoi, it's a beautiful place with a lot to offer if you know where to look, except the markets there are pale in comparison to the saigon markets. Oh and there are a number of excellent art galleries in hanoi where you can buy some really nice paintings for sweet fuck all.
>> Anonymous
>>23904
>>23903
thanks alot, I'm going to spend a month there and hope that I can experience as much as one can. Should I make a list of where to go or just be there and travel around ?
>> Anonymous
child prostitutes, lots of them. Have fun.
>> Anonymous
>>23891


>>Saigon

imperialist war criminal aggresor the city is called Ho Chi Minh City
>> Anonymous
>>23952
it really doesn't matter how you call it, Vietnam isn't as bad as China.
>> Anonymous
>>23935
Cambodia, THE SEQUEL!
>> Anonymous
>>23978
and China isn't as bad as you think

...regardless, locals usually call the city Saigon because Ho Chi Minh City is fucking long.
>> Anonymous
>>23992
Locals refuse to call it Ho Chi Minh city.
The southern part of Vietnam where Saigon is located has a very subtle military presence, pale in comparison to the North where you can't turn a corner without spotting a dozen MPs and twice as many communist flags.

Although the North have a strong adoration for Ho Chi Minh, this isn't present in the South, which is why locals never call it Ho Chi Minh city.
>> Anonymous
>>23927
A month is plenty of time, I'm sure you'll get a lot out of it.

Just make a short list of things you are really itnerested in seeing, and spend the rest of the time exploring and enjoying the culture. Some of the ebst fun I had was wandering around behind the mainstreets eating strange meals in tiny houses.
>> Anonymous
>>24057
What kind of food did you eat?
>> Anonymous
>>24057
Is it safe to eat random food ? I mean stomachache and some possible food poisoning.
>> Anonymous
>>24181
i ate all sorts of street food in hanoi -- even the random already-cut-up fruit in dodgy plastic bags. I had no problems. your mileage may vary of course.

I second going to Ha Long Bay. I went in March 2k7, and it was fantastic -- but foggy as fuck! Such is the bay in March. If you're going in spring or summer, it'll be absolutely beautiful! YOU MUST GO. ANON DEMANDS IT.
>> Anonymous
>>23978

China are better than you American imperialist pig!
>> Anonymous
>>24240
*sigh*
>> Anonymous
I hated china. Stayed there for a week and didn't talk to anybody, couldnt talk to anybody. had difficulty getting anywhere and had problems with food.
>> Anonymous
dont ask for ice.
>> Anonymous
>>24181
Yes. Heck, i was eating fried potatoes some lady in the gutter sold me. Was fucking delicious mind you.

The only things you should avoid are:
Salads - most are okay but moist salad is a definite no
Water - refuse tap water, everywhere will offer it to you, NEVER DRINK IT, it will fuck your holiday right up.
Ice - same thing.

It's safe to eat random shit though, that's how I survived really. Fuck, at one stage I was eating spiders and snake and had no idea until our translator explained.
>> Anonymous
>>24240
lol GTFO
>> Anonymous
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>>24278
How about this ?
>> Anonymous
>>24407
ask /ck/
>> Anonymous
>>24407
balut?

mmmm
>> Anonymous
>>24256
one week in china is not worth a fart in the sea, I takes atleast a month to actually be able to get around and do shit

the food shouldn't really be a problem so long as you stay away from salads.chinese cooking is more or less based on the principle that all food should be cooked, recooked, chopped up and then cooked some more so that nothing is left alive in there.
>> Anonymous
vietnam is the 'worst' country in indochina. go to laos - youll have more fun
>> Anonymous
>>24882
laos is the most bombed country in the world, stay away
>> Anonymous
>>24932
yes - laos is the most bombed country in the world. nixen is president, and pink floyd have just released the dark side of the moon. oh, and there's a war in vietnam, so dont go there either
>> Anonymous
>>24932
no sir, in fact Laos is quite touristy