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

Maps-Hunting Day!

I spent the whole of yesterday hunting for & photocopying maps from National Library and now I have maps of Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City from 4 sources, one of which are relief maps from lonely planet!

I even color-coded Hanoi maps with Blue, Ho Chi Minh Maps with Red and overall vietnam maps with Orange! hahah ... show you all when I see you all. we should have enough maps to share around! :)

Let's put a schedule!

Just to remind ourselves,

We're departing on 28 Jul '09 at 1810hrs, Budget Terminal and
arriving back in Singapore Terminal 1 on 9 Aug, 1815hrs. :)

So it is quite a rush from now on.

Given that FOOT period is out and the Sunday and Monday after FOOT for personal preparations, we have only up till 19 Jul for our preparations.

A week before FOOT, I expect only the trek comm to be able to be involved in the preparations as FOOT people will be busy with preparing for the camp.



So let's see if we can try and follow this:

15-21 Jun : Intensive Accquiring of information resources and contacts e.g. contacts of locals and rental companies?

22-28 Jun : Confirmation of where we want to go and the group "aim" of the trip

29 Jun - 5 Jul : Confirmation of budgetting and transportation plans details
[zQ has Tahan Trip from 30 Jun - 5 Jul]

6 - 12 Jul : Confirmation of collective items to be brought & final details

13 - 19 Jul : (FOOT comm prepares for FOOT Camp)

20 - 25 Jul : (FOOT Camp)

26 - 27 Jul : Personal Preparations

28 Jul - 9 Aug : FOOT treks Vietnam!

Chat with Geine!

Geine is a vietnamese friend I got to know on www.Localyte.com. :

Segment 1:


love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:08 AM):
i was in sapa
it's not very nice
why don't u choose Nha Trang
it's a beautiful place

zQ: Quit excusing, Mambo/Butter Fac this Wed. Butter Fac Free Flow says (3:08 AM):
hahahah how come?
zQ: Quit excusing, Mambo/Butter Fac this Wed. Butter Fac Free Flow says (3:09 AM):
how come not very nice?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:09 AM):
oh because

zQ: Quit excusing, Mambo/Butter Fac this Wed. Butter Fac Free Flow says (3:09 AM):
we may go Nha Trang when we are in HCM. maybe try some sea sports

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:09 AM):
the view is nice
love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:10 AM):
but in the evening, it's boring
there's nothing to do

zQ: Quit excusing, Mambo/Butter Fac this Wed. Butter Fac Free Flow says (3:10 AM):
icic

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:10 AM):
there are many bar
but the music is low
love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:11 AM):
well i dont like but may be u guys like
heh

zQ: Quit excusing, Mambo/Butter Fac this Wed. Butter Fac Free Flow says (3:11 AM):
hahahah ... u like high music too?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:11 AM):
because i'm younger than urs
)
yes

zQ: Quit excusing, Mambo/Butter Fac this Wed. Butter Fac Free Flow says (3:11 AM):
hahahaha
so there are bars & disco/club at sapa?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:11 AM):
yes

zQ: Quit excusing, Mambo/Butter Fac this Wed. Butter Fac Free Flow says (3:12 AM):
!! huh? hahaha .. i thought it's a natural countryside place at sapa?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:12 AM):
yes
beautiful
beautiful place

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:13 AM):
well i really want to go with u guys
so interesting
except go to Fansipan
)

Segment 2:

zQ: Quit excusing, Mambo/Butter Fac this Wed. Butter Fac Free Flow says (3:19 AM):
so do u know of any natural places which are nice and not many tourists go?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:19 AM):
hmm

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:20 AM):
may be u should go to Cat Ba

zQ: Quit excusing, Mambo/Butter Fac this Wed. Butter Fac Free Flow says (3:20 AM):
hahah ... where's that?

love_canna89@yahoo.com says (3:21 AM):
it's a beach
but it has a forest
or u should go to Cuc Phuong forest
Cat Ba is in nord in Viet Nam

:))

haha.i usually dun post a title.

anw, i just drop by to say hellO!hahaha.
hehs!

BIG Picture & Transports

Blog Admin: I have corrected the blog time from GMT -8hrs to GMT +8hrs. Yup ... So dun be confused. hahah

I welcome readers who could be of help to give some contribution as well! :) Thanks!

BIG Pix

Let's start with a big picture of vietnam. I din choose a simpler map coz some relevant places are ommited from those. Click on the image & I know you cant see the word. It's meant to give you a feel of the locations of places. From top left to right red circle it is Sapa Area and Mt Phanxipan, Hanoi, Halong Bay near the coast.



Then in the central area, the northern (upper) one is Hue city, where the tombs of the past emperors. the southern (lower) one is Nha Trang, a favourite sea sports location in the country, where my suggested wind surfing is held.



At the southern most (lowest) part of the map, the top 2 circles are Ho Chi Minh City & Mui Ne, Mui Ne having a nice sun dune site according to Jie yang. The lower circle is the rough area of where the famous Cu Cui tunnel(Vietnam War) is, where I can't pinpoint. At some parts of the tunnel, we have to get on all fours. Hardcore adventure indeed.



For the original very big & clear map, see:

http://www.asianatravelmate.com/images/maps/vietnam-map.jpg

Journeys!

To give a sense of the scale of the map, according to Jie Yang, from the top left circle (Sapa) to the circle to its right (Hanoi), it takes about 7hrs on a damn slow train which probably go forward 1 step, go stun 2 steps. hahaha ...

More accurately, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh(left circle of the 2nd lowest row), along the seaside, it takes somewhat a day, like 20+ hours with stopovers.

http://www.orientalcompass.com/blog/2007/02/27/two-new-bus-services-from-ho-chi-minh-city-to-siem-reap-and-hanoi/

http://www.travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm?thread=21601

On train, it's slower according to Jie Yang, but cheaper, and is the usual way of travelling by the locals. On plane it's just 2 hours. hahaha ...

So other than these long journeys, usually from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, it takes like 2 to few hours of bus to respective nearby attractions. But self-explorations I'm not sure liao ... haha ...

Ok I think it may be much clearer if Jie Yang could brief you guys verbally & discuss his experience as there were really many places he went, along the 20 hour bus journey. And he could show you guys the hard copy brochures, guidebook, price list, timetable etc that he collected. I should be quite free to meet this week from Tue - Thur in the evenings if you guys want. :) cya!

Venture on the net!

Here's one website that have some information about vietnam:

1)HANOI

http://www.vietnam.com/travel/1/Hanoi

Since vietnam was once colonized by the French, i think it would be a bit interesting if we can take a look at some of their history stuffs if you guys don't mind! =)

In fact everything described under" Things to see in Hanoi" looks so interesting to me~! If we have the time i dun mind visiting all those places they mentioned there, especially 'The Old Quarter', 'French colonial architecture', 'Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum'.


2)Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

http://www.vietnam.com/travel/2/Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Saigon

Just looking at the first picture is so mesmerising! i love the colours of the structures! haha, ok, enough of getting personal. Anyway, scroll to the bottom of the weblink, don't you guys think the last picture, which is the place Mui Ne tempting to explore into? Provided it'll be a good weather if we wants to visit :)

Everything that i see on the website i wishes to visit, including 3) Halong Bay! but can anyone tell me if need to have internal flight to all these places? hehe.

Language they speak:
As mentioned from the website,

"Since the Vietnamese language has six different tones, it is difficult for most foreigners to speak, despite the fact that the Roman alphabet is used in modern Vietnamese. The same word can have six different meanings depending on the tone used to pronounce it. In the cities and larger towns, English is becoming popular and is now spoken by many younger people while some of the older generation still speak fluent French. Russian and Chinese are also spoken by some people."

An advice from my sister, think we should prepare paper and pens. haha! in case they don't understand a single thing, we can fall back on drawing it to them.

I'm so into searching all the stuffs now! Hope to see you guys comments soon :)

Started a blog!

Hey ppl,

This is a good way to have a slow start, for all of u to just drop your ideas & feelings for the adventure along the way so that we can progress the planning as and when each of us have time! :)

yay yay! let's start by putting down our most ideal wishes that we want to get out of the trip so that we know what one another want and can understand why we're doing what we are and acommodate to one another and finally work towards a nice trip for all of us! :)

so for me, it's to find all the adventure and culture which we can't find in Singapore! be it wild road rides and sea sports or trekking the depths of nature, anything that adds to our experiences and broaden our horizon will be what I'm looking for! :)

will send you guys the budget & rough initial timeline to u guys when i have time & attention to get down to them! :) anyone at all can volunteer to take over those coordination and post those here if u r interested! :) com'on! it's OUR trip!

have a fruitful holiday for now!