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[mikesaidyes]

So I'm jaunting down from Korea for one week in the South.

I'm thinking Phu Quoc, Can Tho and Saigon. Two nights in each. Is that a fair balance? Any suggestions?

I arrive on 7/29 at Midnight and I really think I'm just gonna crash at the airport for like four hours and take the EARLY flight to Phu Quoc.

7/30: Arrive in Phu Quoc, stay at Amigos
8/1: Fly to Can Tho around lunchtime, stay at Hung's Homestay
8/3: Early bus to Saigon
8/3-8/4: Saigon, go to airport at 10 PM for Midnight flight to Seoul


As far as sightseeing, sure I'll go to the big spots, but I much prefer just to walk around, wander, stuff face and (at night) party it up.

Any restaurant/bar reccommendations? Or hotels? As of now, I'm actually coming alone. I know no Vietnamese, but, of course, I'll learn baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasic phrases.

Thanks everyone!

[toiyeuthitmeo]

Can Tho is nice for a boat ride. Just deal with the old ladies on the river near the market and Uncle Ho statue. The speed boats are a rip off. The simpler boats with the hand-steered propellers where the women stand in the back are much better value and allow you to take in more. Nightlife in Can Tho is not very western at all. Early doors all around. There are a handful of bust-your-ears-out VN discos. Alone, it could be challenging to have a good time. I was with a handful of other western friends and it was fun, but we were definitely a bit of an oddity. Quite touristy on the river and no shortage of cafes. When I was there the popular club for tourists called Wildhorse had been shut down after a murder. Check if it's open.

My Tho is an alternative to Can Tho. Also a city the boasts a lovely river setting, and far less touristy than Can Tho, and is just across the bridge from Ben Tre, a lovely coconut growing province that is very nice to cruise round in on a motorbike.

If I only had one week, I would not try to cover all the ground that you are. I'd probably stick to fun in the sun in Phu Quoc. But that's a matter of personal taste I guess. I hate being rushed on a short holiday. Taking a bus in VN, even Can Tho to SG (3-6 hours, depending on many conditions) is a massive pain in the ass and a tax of your precious holiday time.

[Dekadan]

toiyeuthitmeo gives good advice. I never went to Phu Quoc, but I heard good things. For my personal opinion, 2 days on a beach isn't long enough, I'd prefer closer to 5. Relaxation doesn't fully kick in till the 2nd day and never kicks in if you have to leave that day!

I went to Can Tho a couple of times. toiyeuthitmeo hits the nail on the head: things close early. It's not great for partying. That said, you can use that. The best time to go to the floating markets is really early. You can get a sunrise trip (6 am) that will get you out there before the tourist rush. Good for you for doing the homestay. I had a blast at mine. We even had karaoke going that night, plus the food was delicious.

2 days is nearly ideal for Sai Gon. There's not a lot to do as a tourist except eat and drink. Pham Ngu Lao street and Bui Vien are part of the backpacker district. It stays open late and is pretty lively, but watch out for scams/pickpockets. A lot of hotels in the area, but you'll be paying more for less due to it being a tourist destination.
Good restaurants in Sai Gon:
Address: 6c Tu Xuong in District 1 (can't remember the name right now! Something Vietnamese...) is a nice Vietnamese restaurant. The bake rice in a clay pot, break the pot and throw the rice across the room to another waiter. If you break out your camera and show them that you intend to take a video, they're more likely to do tricks: somersaults, spinning the rice around, things like that

Ty Coz, 178/4 Pasteur in District 1. A French restaurant, owned by two French men. They come out and explain the menu to you in an excellent thick French accent. If you can, get a rooftop table (provided it isn't raining!) as it's very close to the Notre Dame Cathedral. Great atmosphere. Oh... it's down a short alley, and located in a building and at the top of the stairs.

Good luck!

[DNK]

Take a boat tour (as suggested, hire a personal driver for $13 or so for 5 hours). You'll see the markets, the canals, probably go out of the boat for a bit on a farm or something, and be quite tired of sitting in a boat listening to the motor drown everything out by the end. It would be relaxing indeed were it not for those motors...

Anyway, do that, try the Banh Xeo, enjoy the sweet egginess of it all, and then, I don't know... no, I really don't - what else is there to do in Can Tho?

Better option is to stay an extra day in Phu Quoc and an extra day in HCM. I haven't been to PQ either, but it's supposed to be great. Actually, stay 2 more days there and 0 more in HCM. Or just skip HCM and spend all the time in PQ. Can't go wrong with that.

If you insist on seeing HCM for any period of time, get a driver for a few hours and just drive around, taking in the city properly. travelfish.com has a bunch of restaurants that have been ranked and reviewed. Check that out. www.eat.vn/en has delivery options. Buy some laquerware. Buy a bamboo hat and pink plastic sunglasses and wear them during the day. Don't forget a surgical mask for the pollution!

[tonyjones01]

If you're going alone and like to party, I think two days in Phu Quoc would be enough. The beaches are nice but it's extreamly quiet with little nightlife. It's considered a honeymoon spot for lovers.

It is, however, the perfect place for someone tired of the city and wanting some peace and quiet. Depending on where you stay, you could go all day without speaking with someone. The locals will pretty much leave you alone and they don't seem overly impressed with foreigners. Thats not to say they're not nice, they just seem more relaxed.

For anyone thinking about going, I'd do it now. It's changed immensely over the past few years and it won't be long until it's another Nha Trang.

Just my two cents