The Trip has been concluded happily! :) It was a great adventurous trip! Thanks everyone who has contributed to its successes! May more adventures come along! Cheers!

Plans for Final few days before set-off

After FOOT camp,

Sunday 26 Jul

Rest from FOOT Camp


Monday 27 Jul

Day: Exchange for USD. If you want to exchange a bit of Dong(VND) also can. Douglas in charge.
Last minute items shopping

Night: Pack Bags


Tuesday 28 Jul

1210hrs Final Items into backpack.

1410hrs Depart Home (Trust me, you will delay)

1610hrs Check-in at Budget Terminal

1810hrs Take off!

Fly Away!

Dalat How to?

B. Dalat considerations

B1. To Dalat(Fly/ Bus?)

in case you guys didn't get me that clearly, i'm saying, ONE WAY BUS RIDE TO DALAT(from HCMC) IS 8 HOURS. 2 WAY IS 16 HOURS! Assuming we reach dalat on 4 Aug night from the air, we tour in the day on 5 Aug, we take a night bus from Dalat to Mui Ne, then 6 Aug is Mui Ne then night bus from Mui Ne to HCMC. 7 - 8 Aug HCMC.

Alternative is perhaps on 4 Aug night, we take bus from HCMC to Dalat. If not possible the 8 hour bus will be 5 Aug perhaps 9am - 5pm, then overnight at Dalat before playing at Dalat on 6 Aug & everything pushes back by 1 day.


On transport from HCMC to Dalat:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293922-i10679-k2834415-HCMC_to_Dalat-Dalat.html


doing a bit of maths, difference between dalat flight & cheapest HCMC flight is S$40 minus S$8(Bus we would have taken from HCMC to Dalat, US$6) = S$32. difference in time is 8 minus 2 hours(difference in flight time between dalat & HCMC & land transfers) = 6 hours.

There are 2 other options though,
1. fly from HCMC to Dalat
2. don't go to dalat and save on 8 hours, considering if you feel that you can't get enough of HCMC after you are there, ask jieyang perhaps.


B2. In Dalat (Things to do/note?)

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293922-Dalat-Vacations.html

Itineraries Hotels provide to Dalat:
http://hotels-in-vietnam.com/hotels/vietnam_tours/saigon_dalat.html


B3. Out of Dalat (Bus/ jeep/ bike?)

On overnight bus from Dalat to HCMC:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293923-i9984-k2727253-Overnight_bus_from_Dalat_to_HCMC-Halong_Bay.html

I found this motorbike & jeep tour company. apparently from forum it's quite nice a journey between dalat & HCMC. so perhaps we could change our modeof transport from Dalat to HCMC? I sent in a query as follows:

http://www.easyrider.vn/

"Hi!
I am interested in just a ride from Dalat to Mui Ne or Nha Trang. 4 of us would like to be on a jeep, while 2 others would like to try the bike even though we have not rode before! Could you tell me how you would ensure we are safe and what if it turn out that we really can't ride well?
My trip will be on 6 Aug from Dalat to Mui Ne. What will be the price for the above arrangement? Thank you very much for your help!"

Our Itinerary & Tasks!

A1. Itinerary

Night 1 1935hrs Arrival at Hanoi, stayover at Hanoi - night activities

Day 2 City Tour in Hanoi, look out for possible Day Tours from Hanoi e.g. Halong Bay
Night 2 2100hrs Train to Lao Cai

Day 3 Bus Transfer to Sapa
Mount Phansipan Climb

Day 4 Mount Phansipan

Day 5 Night Bus Transfer to Lao Cai?
Night 5 Sapa stayover (homestay?)

Day 6(SUNDAY) Sapa Tour, weekend market
Night 6 Train to Hanoi

Day 7 Hanoi City Tour Final Part

Day 8 Around Hanoi Day Tour/ City Tour
Night 8 Flight to Dalat

Day 9 Dalat Day Tour
Night 9 Night Bus to Mui Ne/ Stayover

Day 10 Mui Ne Beach Tour/ Reach Mui Ne
Night 10 Night Bus to HCMC/ Stayover

Day 11 Settle in HCMC/ Bus to HCMC
Night 11 Night Activities

Day 12 Day Tour around HCMC(e.g. Cu Cui Tunnel, 35km northwest)/ Final City Tour in HCMC

Day 13(SUNDAY) Check out 1100hrs, Reach Airport 1250hrs


Actually looking at how we pack our schedule, i think it is quite likely that when we miss one transport, we will push everything back by 1 day. So we should decide what we would give up should we have one less day to work with.


A2. Task List(Additions are bolded)
Internal Flight: Liping

Dalat tour, accommodations, Sapa Tours(with zQ), including train rides & bus transfers: Josh

Fansipan & Sapa(with Josh): zQ
Finance: zQ

Mui Ne tour and accommodation: Si Shan (Overall Itinerary consolidator)

Accommodations
Hanoi: Jieyang

HCMC: Douglas
(Douglas please tell us the currency exchange rates for Dong & USD which you can secure ASAP)

Sapa Train

Types of transportation in Vietnam:
http://www.vietnam-travelservices.com/home/NEWSdaily.asp?iCat=38

Train Services Prices & Schedules to Sapa
http://www.vietnam-travelservices.com/home/default.asp?iSta=25

Pictures of types of trains to Sapa
http://www.sapaluxurytravel.com/categories/Sapa+Train+Tickets/6/619/content/212

Vietnam Railways Official Website (which doesn't facilitate booking apparently)
http://www.vr.com.vn/English/index.html




zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:23 AM):
i landing at airport at 7.35pm
you think it's possible to catch the 9pm/10pm train to sapa the same nite?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:24 AM):
yes
but u have to book ticket first

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:24 AM):
how to?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:25 AM):
because ticket to sapa always sold out

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:25 AM):
oh! good luckily you tell me

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:25 AM):
but actually i never do it before

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:26 AM):
my friend or my parent did it for me

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:27 AM):
how do i book it in advance?
hm ... if i reach the train station at 8.30pm, probably no more tickets?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:27 AM):
hmm
yes
even u go before 2-3 days

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:28 AM):
like i and my friends
we had to go by bus to sapa because no ticket by train

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:32 AM):
if i take bus to sapa, where do i take?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:32 AM):
the bus will go at 7:30 oclock so u can't do it

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:33 AM):
oh ... but the next night, if no train tickets, i have to take bus there?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:34 AM):
hmm
yes
may be
i think u should book ticket first

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:44 AM):
let's say if i book after i reach hanoi, i have to go to the train station?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:44 AM):
yes
but i think there no more ticket if u do like that

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:44 AM):
ok ... i see

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:44 AM):
and u should book ticket 2 way

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:45 AM):
if really no ticket and need to take bus, will it be near the train station?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:47 AM):
not too near but not too far
u can go by taxi
vietbus
this bus will take u to sapa

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:47 AM):
7.30pm only every night?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:48 AM):
i dont know but i go at 7:30
i didn't book ticket so i dont know
i will ask my friend

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:48 AM):
hahaha it's ok

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:49 AM):
she knew it
7:30 or 8h
when u go to Viet Nam , call me
then i will help u if u need

Other places to visit in Sapa Area?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:05 AM):
when u climb to the Ham Rong mountain

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:05 AM):
Ham Rong?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:05 AM):
u will see all views in sapa
yes
very very nice

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:06 AM):
and u can see the Fansipan from there
and many cloud

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:06 AM):
i see!!

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:06 AM):
then enjoy the air in there
very nice

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:06 AM):
is it far from sapa? how long does it take? how high?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:06 AM):
no
not far
it's in sapa
in the center

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:07 AM):
dont worry it's lower than Fansipan much

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:07 AM):
i dunno whether i have enough days to go for it
how long does it take?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:09 AM):
r u and ur friend strong?
do u often climb?

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:09 AM):
we do climb once every few months

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:10 AM):
for me it takes may be 3-4 hours but we did many things like take picture and wear traditional clothes ...

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:11 AM):
and i took much time to rest during climbing
i think u just need 2 hours to climb

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:11 AM):
i see hahaha
do we need a guide?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:12 AM):
nope
just ask some people u meet on street


zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:13 AM):
thanks for the recommendation!
what other nicest places in sapa?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:13 AM):
some ethnic group

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:13 AM):
visit their houses?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:14 AM):
no they can speak english well
so u can ask them

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:15 AM):
i think for 1 days may be u just visit only Hàm Rồng mountain and Cát Cát village
or u can visit 2 places in the morning
then afternoon u can go to Thác Bạc or bản Lao Chải
write all places

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:16 AM):
oh i really want to go with u gúy
guys

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:16 AM):
hahah!
aaaahhhhh!
what are the other places you said?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:16 AM):
ok

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:17 AM):
Hàm Rồng moutain, Cát Cát village, Thác Bạc(silver waterfall), and Lao Chải village
no u can't go to Lao Chải village
it's too far i think

Important Updates from the horse's mouth!

apparently the weekend market in sapa has scaled down and is not that great anymore ...


zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (11:55 PM):
heard got a weekend market

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (11:55 PM):
nothing special
it move to another place
so now in sapa nothing's special

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (11:56 PM):
move to another place? where?
so now sapa no more weekend market at all?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (11:56 PM):
yes it has but ...no more traditional games like before
i dont know

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (11:57 PM):
u like it?

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (11:57 PM):
my frens think that the market should be interesting?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (11:57 PM):
before ..yes
now it's just normal

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (11:58 PM):
but things there cheaper than hanoi & HCMC?

...

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (11:59 PM):
in sapa?

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (11:59 PM):
hahah ... if you upload on facebook i will be able to see
yeah in sapa cheaper?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (11:59 PM):
yes i will
actually sapa doesn't have anything to buy
what will u want to buy?

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:00 AM):
hahah ... maybe "branded" jacket, bags etc? hahah

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:00 AM):
no
nothing there
lol
just fruit
if u want to buy
it's good and cheap

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:00 AM):
hahahahah

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:00 AM):
)

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:01 AM):
only fruits and vegetable?! haha

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:01 AM):
and flower also
lol

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:01 AM):
hahhah really a food market ... hahah

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:01 AM):
it has clothes and bags...
but it's bad
i think
i dont like it

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:02 AM):
i dont know if u like or not

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:02 AM):
why bad? haha

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:02 AM):
because it has strange style
i can't explain

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:03 AM):
i dont know how to explain

zQ: do YOU know anyone who might have a hall s/he doesn't want? thank you! said (12:03 AM):
hahaah ... not like those branded ones lah? hahah ... not for young people? hahah ... like traditional kinds?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:03 AM):
yes

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (12:04 AM):
absolutely