Phu Quoc

Danang beach

THAILAND

Railay Beach, Krabi

Clear blue waters, small islands on the horizon and majestic cliffs surround the small beach, is surrounded by limestone cliffs and is absolutely stunning. Aside from rock climbing, swimming and snorkeling, there’s not much else to do here but admire the gorgeous scenery, so bring a book and prepare to relax. Though Railay Beach is still much quieter and less developed than most popular Thailand beaches, there is more development here every year, and during high season it can feel crowded.

Phra Nang Beach – Krabi

Part of the Railay Peninsula, this broad beach is flanked by two huge cliffs. It’s incredibly remote, you’ll have to take a longtail boat here from Ao Nang, but it’s a great option. Visitors can rent sea kayaks, explore caves, or even take rock climbing lessons.

How to get to Krabi : From Bangkok, you can catch a bus, train, or plane to Krabi.

Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi is an island you absolutely can’t miss, especially if you’re traveling alone. It has something for everyone, from water activities to a young crowd of partiers. Make sure to take a boat trip to Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Ley, where Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Beach was filmed. The bay is surrounded by cliffs on three sides, and has impossibly colorful underwater marine life. Try to visit early in the morning or after 17:00 to avoid the crowds.

How to get to Koh Phi Phi: There is no airport on Koh Phi Phi. The nearest airports are Krabi Airport and Phuket Airport. Ferries go to Koh Phi Phi from both Krabi and Phuket every day.

READ MORE: 3 DAYS IN HO CHI MINH CITY (SUGGESTED ITINERARY)

READ MORE: 5 IMPRESSIVE AND USEFUL SOUVENIRS TO BUY IN VIETNAM

1. SAPA

The 1st destination to visit in November is Sapa. Situated in the northwest of Vietnam, Sa Pa is a highland district of Lao Cai Province that has hidden beauty in the wonders of nature.

The natural landscape of Sa Pa travel is combined with the creativity of the people along with the terrain of the mountains, the green forest. That magical look is regarded as the picture that owns a harmonious arrangement to have many romantic scenes.

Especially, the street festival “Brilliant Sa Pa” will take place on November 1 in Sa Pa town, Lao Cai. When you join in the iconic festival, you will be able to admire the performing arts with the cultural nuance of the Mong, Dao, Tay, Giay people.

2. HANOI

Hanoi, Vietnam is one of the few cities in Vietnam showing the most characteristic weather all four seasons. Especially, our capital is listed in best places to visit Vietnam in November. Because in that month, Hanoi travel has the charming beauty of autumn and winter in Northern Vietnam.

In detail, the amazing landscape is on the streets full of yellow leaves, the perfume of milk flowers or two Dracontomelon duperreanum rows near the end of Tran Hung Dao Street. Furthermore, daisy flower in Hanoi blooms in a few short weeks of Novemeber. The fragile beauty of daisy in Tay Tuu is a goergous background of your check-in images?

And in this ideal weather, you should not be overlooked these following popular attractions: One Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, Temple of Literature and so on

3. HALONG BAY

In November, the weather is quite pleasant, so Halong tourism becomes the interesting choice of sightseers. This is a great opportunity for individuals who want to experience taste peaceful Ha Long Bay.

No longer is the peak season for Vietnamese tourists, traveling in November is the perfect time for international tourists. Because there are many sites for you to take an exploration such as Bai Tho mountain climbing, Thien Cung cave …

4. MOC CHAU

Moc Chau is one of best sites to visit Vietnam in November due to wildflower season at that time. Moreover, the tourism in November is also striking with beautiful scenery of yellow daisies and red poinsettia flowers. In particular, the heaven of daisy flowers in Ba Phach village has dozens of large fields full of colorful flowers. Situated on Highway 6, the village is 5 km far from the town.

Another place that you should not miss when coming to Moc Chau is visiting Moc Chau farm, where there are dairy companies and Moc Chau tea company. Visitors can admire the green tea hills, vast green fields, enjoy taking some photogenic pictures or sightsee the dairy farm, or buy fresh cow milk.

On the other hand, you can visit Phieng Luong peak. The top has a large area where visitors can participate in outdoor activities such as climbing, walking, horse riding. Also, Dragon Cave, Ban Ang pine forest and Dai Yem waterfall are also attractive destinations in Moc Chau.

5. HA GIANG

Referring to the most beautiful destination in November, we must remember Ha Giang. This place is very well-known for buckwheat flowers. Ha Giang tourism at this time you will be overwhelmed by the brand new coat due to the blossom season. At the end of November, there are gorgeous rice terraced fields on the mountain slopes of the Ha Giang rocky plateau. Also, Ha Giang is one of amazing non-touristy places in Vietnam to visit. Therefore, this is also the traditional and peaceful trip for you to discover Ha Giang.

Additionally, you can discover more attractive destinations in Ha Giang such as Lung Cu Flag Pole, Quan Ba double mountain, Dong Van stone plateau and so on.

6. CON DAO

“One of the 20 most mysterious islands in the world,” “Top 10 Most Romantic Islands in the World, and Top 10 Islands with the best hotel quality in the world” are great titles to talk about the wild beauty of Con Dao Island.

Calm waves, beautiful beaches along with the nice. sunny day in November are top reasons to travel to this famous island.

Con Dao Island will bring you a wonderful scenery including pristine wilderness of blue ocean and colorful coral reefs such as An Hai, Dam Trau, Loi Loi, Suoi Ot, Hon Ba …

7. HO CHI MINH CITY

November is the last month of the rainy season in Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, the weather with low rainfall and low humidity is more favorable than in the past few months. That time brings us a perfect trip to Ho Chi Minh City.

Cool weather at night is the perfect condition for visitors to immerse in the magnificent beauty of the city lights and enjoy the wonderful dinner on the peaceful Saigon River. In addition, guests can walk at Bach Dang Park to enjoy the fresh air.

8. HO TRAM

Ho Tram has a tropical monsoon climate, the weather is separated into two distinct seasons: the rainy season (from May to October), dry season (from November to April next year). Therefore, Ho Tram weather in November is quite pleasant, cool and stable. That helps us to fully discover the inner beauty of this island.

Ho Tram Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world voted by the American magazine. The sea here is pristine and clear, surrounded by beautiful wild scenery. Going along the coast, you will see green cotton-wood forests. Sitting on the seashore brings you fresh and calm feeling away from modern cities.

READ MORE:  DO NOT GO TO HO CHI MINH CITY

Traditional, beautiful, flowing Ao Dais are central to Vietnamese ceremonial life. Worn for weddings, festivals and formal occasions, the Ao Dai lends majesty and grace to any wearer. They make a breathtaking gift for anyone with exotic dress sense. However, be careful: Ao Dais are usually made to fit, so make sure you have a rough idea of the recipient’s size, and if in doubt, over-estimate: you can always get it brought in back home. A good option for travellers is to check out the Ao Dai Museum’s Si Hoang Show on Saigon’s walking street Nguyen Hue (Ho Chi Minh City). They also sell magnificent Ao Dais!

There is little more iconic and unmistakably Vietnamese than the Non La straw hat. The supporting star of every Vietnamese film of the last 50 years, it is instantly recognizable and, still today, ubiquitous throughout the nation. Our advice is to seek out a market stall selling only Non La, and haggle down to no more than VND 100,000 (maybe less if you have enough patience). Plain Non La are preferable to the gaudy painted variety in tourist traps, so head out to smaller, heartland markets and rummage around with the locals for authentic hats and best prices.

You can easily find Non La in markets in Vietnam.

With their ubiquity throughout Vietnam it’s easy to forget that these delicate, simple novelties are unique to the country. Hand-painted and infuriatingly easy to break, they demand extreme care in transit, but get them back in one piece and they will mystify kids with their graceful balance and gentle movement.

Where to buy it: Ben Thanh Market (Ho Chi Minh City). 

Vietnamese coffee with its unique smell and taste is the ultimate gift for anyone who likes a morning brew. Quintessentially local in flavour but with a universal richness that any coffee lover will enjoy, it can be ground to suit any coffee maker in most shops. However, for an authentic experience, why not buy a Vietnamese coffee filter to go with it, that simple three-part aluminium ensemble that sits on your morning cup of ca phe sua (coffee with condensed milk)? Slightly more expensive stainless-steel gift sets are widely available and provide a functional gift for even the most discerning coffee snob. Trung Nguyen Legend, Phuc Long (coffee and tea), Highlands Coffee and Shin Coffee are the classics for coffee souvenirs.

Ceramic products have long been a typical souvenir of Vietnam. The idyllic life of Vietnamese people is exquisitely portrayed as painted illustrations on these porcelain cups. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. There is no doubt these handcrafted items and their production have turned into a tourist attraction for foreigners who are enchanted by Vietnamese culture.

However, transporting these fragile goods can get extremely tricky so we suggest you save your ceramic purchasing to your last day.

Where to buy it: Ben Thanh Market (Ho Chi Minh City). If you do it well, you can pick up a few good bargains which are less than one third of the initial asking price. 

READ MORE: 4 PERFECT DAYS IN HO CHI MINH CITY (SUGGESTED ITINERARY)

Buying things in the market

Ben Thanh Market is one of the most exciting places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a chance to truly get stuck in with the locals and test your bargaining skills.

Some Tips To “Survive” In Ben Thanh Market

Do not leave money or valuables in your hotel/hostel

Always keep laptop, camera, cash and so on…on your person. Better safe than sorry.

Do not carry any valuables in an opened pocket

Suddenly, an unknown person approached and bumped into you and you think that is a very normal thing because the street is very crowded and bustling until…you realize your belongings took wing.

Let’s smile

Until now, I do not have many opportunities to travel to broaden my horizons but I know for a fact that you would always find numerous big smiles on the welcoming locals’ faces. Let’s smile because not only make this life more beautiful, but also bring you to become closer to others.

Socializing with the locals

 If you head towards Bui Vien Walking Street on the weekend, you would see that Vietnamese people sit on one side and foreign tourists would on the other side. One street but has two different worlds. If you want to find out why the majority of women in Vietnam desire to have a fair skin, how to say “cheers” in this country and leave Vietnam with a head full of memorable experiences…so let’s join with us, it would be “wicked” awesome.

Be careful when traveling by taxi

Taxi scam is quite popular in Vietnam and such a real concern for many tourists. Some taxi drivers could rip you off and charge you at a very high price. They might choose a longer path or go around to maximize the price on the meter.

In this case, you should be careful when you get into a taxi. Only choose reliable taxi brands such as Mai Linh, Vinasun. If possible, let’s take some pictures of the taxi’s plate or the meter and confirm to the driver about the shortest path to your destination (We highly suggest you to use Google Map). Last but not least, make sure you have arrived at the right destination before paying and getting off the car. Nowaday, Grab (like Uber) is very popular, you can use it also.

READ MORE: BEST BANH MI IN SAIGON – 3 PLACES YOU MUST TRY!

1. Do not buy the first thing you see. The market is full of people selling fairly similar things, so you should go around some spots before finally deciding on what you want. If you find a place that particularly catches your attention – jot down its address. The market is not the ‘biggest market’ but it’s fairly easy to get lost here – which is probably not a bad thing as you’ll most likely end up finding another bargain elsewhere but try to keep an eye out for marker to help you negotiate back to where you need to be.
2. Do not pre-determine a fixed price in your head before you start to bargain. Your price will typically end up either being too high or too low. After checking out a few places, you’ll get a sense of what their starting prices are. You can typically go lower than that starting price and pay between 1/3 or 1/4 of the starting price. I’m sure you can go even lower than this but by this point, I figure I’m only saving myself pennies (which would mean more to them than it would to me) so I just let it go.
3. Smile, laugh and be friendly. People always respond to positivity here and it will create pleasant and enjoyable experiences for both of you. It’s only a market afterward and there’s no need to take things so seriously especially if you’re just visiting as a tourist.
4. Think about your luggage restrictions. It’s so easy to get carried away with items that you ‘just had to have’ only to get back to your hotel and find out that it doesn’t even fit into your luggage or is too heavy to take with you. You’ll just end up disappointing yourself when you have to leave it at the hotel/hostel/airport.
5. Be prepared to walk away from a deal. This actually gives you more power and in most cases, will get you called back by the seller with an acceptance of your ‘lowest offer price’. Don’t be afraid to walk away – if you get too attached to the item, you lose the power whereas you could just walk a few stalls down and find the exact same item at a much cheaper price. Only walk away when you know that you’re happy with the price you’ve asked for as when they call you back, it’s typically to accept that price.
6. Ask questions. Even if they can’t answer them (perhaps out of not knowing the answer of out of language barriers), the sellers can recruit help from other people to answer your questions. In any case, this keeps the conversation flowing and helps create a better rapport which can help you get the prices you want to pay.
7. When you initially tell the first price – be prepared to look slight shocked. Haggling is sometimes like a game or some kind of dance so this surprised look you will wear is all part of it. Subliminally, it sets the tone and let the sellers know their price is not reasonable for you. You don’t even need to think about what price it is – it’s always going to be higher that what you should pay so practice your ‘surprised look’ at home before you venture out bargain hunting!

• Cu Chi Tunnels is an underground defense system in Cu Chi District, 70 km North West of Ho Chi Minh City. This system was excavated by the Viet Minh and the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam during the Indochina War and the Vietnam War.
• The tunnel system includes an infirmary, several rooms, kitchen, storage room, office and so on. The tunnel system is about 250 km and has ventilation systems at the bushes. Cu Chi Tunnels are built on land known as “Steel land” which is located at the end of the Ho Chi Minh trail.
• The Viet Cong set up numerous traps around the tunnel to avoid being found by American troops above ground. They actually caused 11% of all deaths related to the Vietnam War. To get around this, the American began using German Shepherd dogs to sniff out these traps, however the Viet Cong were smart enough to prevent being sniffed out by these dogs too. Not only began using American soap, but also planted uniforms of captured American soldiers by these traps. The dogs thought these were friendly areas and many ended up getting killed or maimed by the traps that their handlers refused to continue using them.

• Having many choices such as motorbike, car, bus or speedboat.
• You can book a tour. Most tours will take approximately 1.5 hours to reach the tunnels at Ben Dinh. Try avoid big bus tours because it is unlikely that those tours make stops on the way to the Cu Chi Tunnels. You will be surrounded by 50 people and this will kill the vibe.
• Our company – Saigon Adventure offers both car and motorbike tour to Cu Chi Tunnels and you can book through our website.
• By boat is a fastest way to go there with amazing experiences through the Saigon river and enjoy lunch on the boat after exploring the tunnel. But it’s a luxury tour which is around 88$ for each person.
• By Taxi is really a waste, you don’t get anything else out of it. Just comfort.

• Both Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc have the same operating hours but have different entrance fees.
• Opening hours: 8 AM to 5 PM every day, including Sunday.
• Entrance ticket:

This is the guide written by Peter, one of the local tourguides of Saigon Adventure team. By reading this carefully, we hope you may find a way to enjoy everything of our country, from the history of more than two thoudsand years to its beauty of a new dawn in the 21th century, from the country that you may only heard about through the word “war” to its origin values. The peak season to travel to Vietnam is widely considered to be September to April, but there’s not necessarily a bad time to fly to Vietnam. Let’s us begin!

*** Note: this is a guideline that shows how to travel in Viet Nam from the North, starting in Hà Nội, our capital, to the South, finishing in Hồ Chí Minh City (Sài Gòn), our biggest city. 

3 Week Vietnam Itinerary from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

Week 1: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Quang Binh

Week 2: Hue, Danang, Hoian, Nha Trang

Week 3: Nha Trang, Dalat, Saigon

1. Hanoi (3 days / 3 nights)

*** What to do:

Wander around the Old Quarter and see the 36 different marketplaces with specific kind of trade goods, see and take in the crazy motorbikes, loud street vendors and the shops selling all manner of interesting things. Spend some of your time to vist Hoàn Kiếm Lake, located in the middle of the city and the Ngọc Sơn Temple, located in the middle of the lake.

See the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum complex with Ba Đình Square. No need to be told, you know for sure what you’re about to see inside, don’t ever try taking photos inside and above all, be wary of strange opening times and closures at certain times of year. This is a great insight into his life and ideology.

The Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu Quốc Tử Giám), which is nearby, will be a perfect place for visting because of its meaning, the first university of Việt Nam. Trấn Quốc Pagoda would be nice to finish your final day in Hà Nội. This pagoda is of cultural importance as it was originally built in the 6th century, but still holds an important message for the future as “Trấn Quốc” means “stabilizing the nation”.

Also, don’t miss the West Lake (Hồ Tây) near to the pagoda, on your walk around the lake, try to see Phủ Tây Hồ, in which worshiping Goddess Liễu Hạnh, the Lady of the “Four Immortals”. There are extra excursions in the riverside of the Red River (Sông Hồng), Bút Tháp Pagoda, Dâu Pagoda, Hỏa Lò Prison, … and try to remember this, once you are in big city, the driver is not going to stop and wait for you, be brave and beat them on the road!

*** Local delicacies: Phở (famous beef noodle soup which is on top of every bucketlist when you visit Hà Nội), Bánh Cuốn (steamed rice rolls), Cà Phê Trứng (egg york coffee), Bún Chả (pork kebab noodle) and there is also vegan restaurants if you’re not interested in meat.

2. Halong Bay (2 days / 1 nights)

*** What to do:  Sea and sight.

Visit the famous caves, there are Đầu Gỗ cave, Sửng Sốt (Suprise) cave, Thiên Cung (Heaven) cave, Tiên Ông cave, Mê Cung (Labirynth) cave, Kim Quy (Golden Turtle) cave, Luồn cave, Trống (Male) cave, Trinh Nữ (Virgin) cave and Nam Thiên Sơn cave.

Go for the Bãi Cháy Beach or Bái Tử Long Bay to avoid the crowded area. Don’t forget your sun cream and a hat, unless you really want your skin gets burned red like every traffic light in rush hour. If you have more time to spend, you can look for Cát Bà island with lots of activities like trekking, kayaking, climbing, national park and so on.

*** Local delicacies: Local seafoods, but as usual, you should know the exact price before order anything, some of the price mainly will follow the season or the rareness of the food.

3. Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park (2 days / 2 nights)

*** What to do:

Spend a day visit Phong Nha Kẻ Bàng national park, the most beautiful cave here are Động Thiên Đường (Paradise Cave), this is the biggest cave in the park and Hang Tối-Sông Chày (Dark Cave and Chày River) a small branch of river which lead you into a very dark cave inside the moutain.

Usually the popular choice is to take a trekking adventure to explore more about the history and natural beauties of the province, but if you may find it expensive, spend a day at Nhật Lệ beach is enough. You may find lots of places that offer bike rental, if you are adventurous, you can ride around the city to its acctraction and the park without problems. But remember check the map first and the fuel on the way, don’t lost in the jungle out there!

*** Local delicacies: Bún Cá Lóc (snakehead fish noodle soup).

4. Hue (2 days / 2 nights)

*** What to do:

Explore Hue city including the Imperial Palace and ancient citadel, see the Ngọ Môn (Noon Gate). Take a short cruise down if you can negotiate a decent price with the ticket sellers down by the riverside of Hương River.

Travelling to Hội An or Đà Nẵng via the Hải Vân Pass is a must do on a 3 weeks Vietnam itinerary, on the way you’ll visit waterfalls and fresh water springs, but the most exciting part is driving through the famous pass; a 20km stretch of spectacular coastal road and panoramic scenery. The Hai Van Pass is historically significant to the Vietnam war as it was taken over by the Americans and at its highest point the bullet-damaged bunkers and patrol towers still stand today.

*** Local delicacies: Bún Bò (the Vietnamese famous “royal recipe” beef noodle soup of the middle land) and Cơm Hến (tiny little clams rice).

5. Danang – Hoian (4 days / 4 nights depend on where you stay in both towns)

*** What to do:

It’s great for wandering round and enjoying the many cafes and bars on offer. Don’t forget to see Chùa Cầu (Japanese Covered Bridge) in the ancient town, Cửa Đại seagate on Thu Bồn River, visit Cam Kim Village, join a cooking class and enjoy An Bàng peaceful beach during the time here, you won’t be dissapointed by those.

*** Local delicacies: Cao Lầu and Mì Quảng is the 2 famous noodles here, the first one is dry noodle while the other is noodle soup, enjoy these two and you will feel the “heaven on earth”.

6. Nha Trang (2 days / 2 nights)

*** What to do: Surrounded on all three sides by mountain ranges, Nha Trang offers the picturesque vista of primary forest, water fall and high mountain peak floating in soft could.

Located 60km far from the city center, with the height of 1578m, Hòn Bà Peak is regarded as “the second Đalat of Việt Nam”. Ones will need to drive about 25km of mountain pass and bendy slopes until reaching this area. Being overheated by the temperature of sunlight and ocean? The pure air and cool temperature here will definitely ease your feelings. Scientists estimate that there are more than 40 rare floras and 60 endangered species living in Hòn Bà Mountain. If you are tired of beaches, Hòn Bà may be a great place to visit. Other tourism destinations for your consideration in Nha Trang: Long Sơn Pagoda or Tháp Bà.

*** Local delicacies: Bún Chả Cá (chopped fish noodle soup), Bún Sứa (jellyfish noodle) and seafood.

7. Dalat – Flower City (2 days / 2 nights)

*** What to do:

There are many places for travellers interested in architecture to visit, such as Dalat Railway Station, designed by French architects Moncet and Reveron, or Hằng Nga guest house, “Crazy House” which is also an interesting place to stay.

The climate in Dalat is often called ‘Eternal Spring’ for its pleasantly warm temperatures during the day and quite cool at night, down to perhaps 10oC. Due to its favorable weather, Dalat is a supplier of temperate produce for all over Vietnam, for example, cabbage and cauliflower. Also, it has a nickname ‘City of Flowers’. Apart from architectural places of interest, Dalat also has lots of beautiful sites such as Xuan Huong Lake – center of town, Hồ Than Thở – Lake of Sorrow (Lake of Sighs) – 5km, Thung Lũng Tình Yêu – Valley of Love, Lang Biang Mountain – has a 1900m peak, ideal for a 3-hour hike, Thác Prenn –  Prenn Waterfalls – 10km outside the town.

*** Local delicacies: specialties such as strawberry jam, dried fruits, avocado and Bánh Tráng Nướng (Vietnamese super thin pizza), Bánh Mì Xíu Mại (bread and meatball).

8. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (4 days / 3 nights)

*** What to do:

Welcome to our home, when you visit this busy city, for city internal activities, you should never miss the Notre-Dame Catheral Basilica and the Central Post Office of French Quarter, The famous War Remnants Museum, The Jade Emperor Pagoga, one of the biggest and oldest Chinatown in the world of district 5 (Cho Lon) with its 300 years old Thien Hau Temple (Temple of the Sea Goddess), the Temple of Caodaism (Vietnamese unique religion), the Monuments of the Burning Monk, the Old Aparments (~60 years old military compound of Vietnam War) and the Flower Market.

You love shopping? Welcome to Ben Thanh Market. Care about external activities, from near to far, the Cu Chi Tunnels which is a must-go place when you stop here will take more than half a day for it. Then far away to the south west, the Mekong Delta will be suitable if you’re looking for authentic and really local experiences.

*** Local delicacies: Bánh Mì (like Vietnamese Subway, even much better), Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Pancake), Cơm Tấm (Broken Rice), and Cà Phê Phin (Saigonese style local filter coffee) Sài Gòn is a place that gather all the customs and culturals from other parts of Việt Nam, so that would be the reason why you can try all kinds of food here.

9. The journey may finish here with the final night to board the flight from Tân Sơn Nhất airport to go back home.

READ MORE: 4 PERFECT DAYS IN HO CHI MINH CITY (SUGGESTED ITINERARY)

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