Something came up to my mind, why not spend my pre-birthday vacation somewhere I haven't been to? Not the usual beach bumming down south or trekking
up north, but to a place where I would definitely enjoy my holiday.
Looking at the map, heading to western Philippines is way better, lot of things
to discover and great places to explore. Since I've visited Coron and
Puerto Princesa, I skipped these islands and decided to go far beyond the boarder, Vietnam!
My trip to Vietnam was planned early this year, waiting for a seat sale offer by low-cost carriers. I've got a round trip ticket from Cebu Pacific for Php2,8000++, good deal!
"Traveling alone is an absolute
freedom, it is an ability to do what you want."
"Vietnam, the easternmost country in the Indochina Peninsula,
blessed with a ravishing coastline, emerald-green mountain, breathtaking
national parks, dynamic cities, outstanding cultural interest and one of the
world's best cuisines, Lonely
Planet.
Citizens of the Philippines are allowed to stay
in Vietnam for upto 21 days due to bilateral visa exemption
agreement of both countries thus Filipinos need not to worry
in getting a visa before flying out for Vietnam. For other citizens, you
may contact the nearest Vietnamese diplomatic offices
or competent travel agencies for a written invitation which will
then issue the visa upon arrival.
Cebu Pacific has only one flight to Ho Chi Minh (HCM) or
Saigon that departs Manila at 22:50h everyday, so expect to
arrive late in the evening. Taking a bus is the cheapest way in
getting to the city but bus service is only available
until 18:00h, so opt to take a taxi instead. Taxi scams are common in Vietnam
so make sure to transact with a legitimate taxi companies. There's
a taxi queue right after getting out of the airport but make sure
to approach the staff of Mai Linh (in green neck tie) or Vinasun Taxi (in brown) as
they are reliable and honest.
My taxi fare from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, HCM to my
hotel, Suite Bagpackers Inn which is located in De Tham St. District
1 in the bagpackers area costs me Vnd150,000 or about Php300, cheaper
than expected.
 |
| de tham st, pham ngu lao district (bagpackers haven) |
There are reasonable accommodation for those on a budget and can hop to any
bagpackers inns around Pham Ngu Lao (PNL) area, district 1.
Since I used to stay in a dorm-type hostel for my holidays, sharing a
room with other bagpackers is not a big deal for me as
long as individual locker is available to keep my things secured. I booked my
accommodation via Agoda for
only Php196/night. However, make sure to inform the hostel about your late arrival
because most of the inns closes around 2am, and to avoid knocking their
door once you arrive. I also bought travel insurance for this trip that cost me about Php400 as incidents of robbery and theft are rampart, and also to cover my medical expenses in case I get ill or something happen to me.
For countryside tour in Ho Chi Minh, you may ask your hotel
receptionist to arrange it for you or you may proceed to any tour
agencies, widespread across PNL area. I took the service of Delta Tours Adventure,
located in De Tham St, nearly across where I billeted. Most of them offers a good and cheap tour
package however for the city tour, just put on your shoes and
walk around the city.
A trip to Đà Lạt which is located in Lâm Đồng Province, part of the Central
Highlands region is worth to visit. I was able to include this in my trip in
spite of my tight schedule. ...Exploring da Lat to be continued...
* below is my detailed itinerary and expenses - ho chi minh city countryside and da lat| Vietnam Expenses | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Activities | VND | USD | PHP | Remarks |
| 28-Nov-13 | Thursday | ||||
| 18:00 | Off to Terminal 3 (Cebu PacificAir) | 150.00 | LRT/MRT and Jeep from Pasay to T3 (Nichols-MRT) | ||
| 21:00 | Check-in | 550.00 | Terminal Fee | ||
| 22:50 | Departure from MNL | ||||
| 29-Nov-13 | Friday | ||||
| 00:20 | Arrival at Tan Son Nhat Intl Airport | ||||
| 01:00 | Taxi from TSN to Suite Bagpacker Inn c/o MaiLinh Group | 150000 | 310.80 | Option (Vinasun Taxi Group) | |
| 01:30 | Check-in at Suite Bagpackers Inn (228 De Tham St. , Dist 1, Pham Ngu Lao) | 588.00 | Booked thru Agoda @ Php196/day | ||
| 02:00 | Lights off | ||||
| 06:00 | Wake-up time, morning walk | ||||
| 07:00 | Breakfast (Banh Mi) | 15000 | 31.08 | Baguette sandwich (along De Tham) | |
| Ca Phe Suada and bottled water | 20000 | 41.44 | Ice Coffee | ||
08:30 | Depart HCM for Saigon Tour c/o Delta Adventure Tours (De Tham) | 183000 | 379.18 | Option (approach hotel recep.); Mr. Binh (guide) | |
| 10:30 | Snack in Tay Ninh (Bottled Water) | 10000 | 20.72 | ||
| 11:30 | Arrival at Great Cao Dai Holy See | Cao Dai religion (South Vietnam) | |||
| 12:30 | Depart Tay Ninh for Ben Dinh | ||||
| 13:00 | Lunch in Tay Ninh | 80000 | 165.76 | ||
| Fresh buko juice | 12000 | 24.86 | |||
| 14:30 | Arrival at Cu Chi Tunnel, Ben Dinh | 90000 | 190.00 | Entrance fee and service tax not included in the tour | |
| Winter melon juice | 10000 | 20.72 | |||
| 18:00 | Arrival in HCM | ||||
| Booked Ticket for Da Lat at Phuong Trang office (De Tham) for evening trip | 220000 | 455.84 | Sleepers bus for 7-8 hours travel to Da Lat | ||
| 19:00 | Dinner at Kim Café (De Tham) Chicken Mushroom plus Saigon Bia beer | 9000 | 186.48 | ||
| 20:00 | Night stroll around Pham Ngu Lao (good to try street food) | ||||
| Takoyaki ala Saigon | 15000 | 31.08 | |||
| Bottled water | 14000 | 29.01 | |||
| Putobungbong ala Saigon | 10000 | 20.72 | |||
| 23:25 | Depart HCM for Da Lat | ||||
| 30-Nov-13 | Saturday | ||||
| 07:00 | Arrival in Da Lat | ||||
| Booked Ticket for HCM at Phuong Trang office (Da Lat) for evening trip | 220000 | 455.84 | |||
| 07:15 | Taxi from Bus station to Da Lat Trip office | 10000 | 20.72 | ||
| Breakfast (Pho) | 35000 | 72.52 | |||
| Bottled water | 12000 | 24.86 | |||
| 08:30 | Depart Da Lat for Countryside Tour c/o Da Lat Trip (Tran Nhang Tong) | 310000 | 642.32 | ||
| Flower farm | |||||
| Coffee Plantation in Nam Ban (Buy fresh coffee bean) | |||||
| -Weasel Moka (Alamid) | 400000 | 828.80 | |||
| -Moka | 200000 | 414.40 | |||
| -Coffee tasting | 40000 | 82.88 | |||
| -Lotus Tea | 50000 | 103.60 | |||
| K'ho minority village; Silk factory and Cricket farm | |||||
| Elephant waterfall in Lam Dong Province | |||||
| Linh An Pagoda | |||||
| Happy Budha | |||||
| 13:00 | Back to Da Lat for lunch | 62000 | 128.46 | ||
| Bottled water | 10000 | 20.72 | |||
| -Da Lat old Train station | |||||
| -XQ Historical | |||||
| -Crazy house | 40000 | 82.88 | |||
| Tour guide tip | 150000 | 310.80 | |||
| 17:00 | Arrival in Da Lat Trip office (Drop-off point) | ||||
| 17:10 | Continue Da Lat city tour | ||||
| -Tuyen Lam Lake (Man-made lake) | |||||
| -Domaine de Marie convent | |||||
| -St Nicholas of Bari, Da Lat Cathedral | Advent mass | ||||
| 19:30 | Dinner at Da Lat market and stroll around (Pho and Saigon Beer) | 45000 | 93.24 | Evening market | |
| 21:00 | Taxi to Da Lat bus station for evening trip | 43000 | 89.10 | ||
| 22:15 | Depart Da Lat for HCM | ||||
| 30-Nov-13 | Sunday | ||||
| Arrival in HCM | |||||
| Lights off | |||||
| Wake-up time | |||||
09:00 | Breakfast (Ban Mhi) | 20000 | 41.44 | ||
| 09:30 | Start Saigon city "walk" tour | ||||
| -Reunification Palace (Entrance fee) | 30000 | 62.16 | |||
| -War Remants Museum (Entrance fee) | 15000 | 31.08 | |||
| Buko juice break | 10000 | 20.72 | |||
| -Saigon Central Post Office | |||||
| -Notre Dame Cathedral | |||||
| -Saigon Opera House | |||||
| -HCM City Mueseum | |||||
| -HCM City Hall | |||||
| 13:00 | Lunch (Pho) | 35000 | 72.52 | ||
| Sugar cane juice | 15000 | 31.08 | |||
| Bottled water | 10000 | 20.72 | |||
| 14:00 | Ben Thanh Market | ||||
| -Coffee drip | 100000 | 207.20 | 2 small @ VND30000 / 1 medium @ VND40000 | ||
| -Blue mountain coffee | 140000 | 290.08 | |||
| -Vinamit dried fruit | 210000 | 435.12 | 2 small @ VND55000 / 1 large @ VND100000 | ||
| -Key chain and magnet | 50000 | 103.60 | |||
| Saigon Square | |||||
| -North Face bag | 350000 | 725.20 | |||
| -Bull cap | 120000 | 248.64 | |||
| 17:00 | Back to hotel for rest | ||||
| 20:00 | Dinner | 35000 | 72.52 | ||
| -Mt. Dew | 15000 | 31.08 | |||
| 22:45 | Check-out (Pay additional stay for late check-out) | 5 | 218.80 | ||
| 23:00 | Taxi to Tan Son Nhat Airport | 150000 | 310.80 | ||
| -Duty free shopping | 7 | 306.32 | |||
| 2-Dec-13 | Monday | ||||
| 01:30 | Departure from SGN to MNL flight 5J571 | ||||
| 04:45 | Arrival at Terminal 3, Cebu Pacific | ||||
| 06:00 | Bus from Terminal 3 to MRT Pasay station | 20:00 | |||
| 08:00 | Home Sweet Home | ||||
| *END* | |||||
| *Total Expenses exclusive of Airfare | 9815.91 | ||||
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