Super nice, I like Hanoi more than HCM City but HCM is still nice.
Definitely get to the Hanoi Old Quarter if you can and absolutely seek out the propaganda poster reprinting shop if it's still there. Also if you like beer then get stuck into Bia Hoi while you're in the Old Quarter.
The War Remnants Museum is worth visiting in HCM City.
If you have the opportunity and you like hiking, head up north to the Sa Pa mountains and spend some time with the Hmong villages. It's very picturesque and the Hmong people are super lovely, even by the already-high standards that Viet people set.
I wish I spent more time in Ha Long Bay. The islands around Cat Hai are absolutely stunning if you like nature and physical activity (I kayaked around Cat Ba island and surrounds. So good!) but Ha Long Bay also has nightlife and fancier activities if you prefer drinking and cruises and stuff too.
I'd recommend doing your research about what's out there and it's handy to have a few conversational viet phrases under your belt when you go because it's not necessarily as catered to English-speaking tourists, depending on where you find yourself. There's a lot to see and do and Vietnam offers so much. Try to think about whether you want to do partying/history/culture/food/recreation/sightseeing/shopping/relaxing/adventuring and what sort of mix of these activities you want to do, then build your itinerary around that.
Oh also get ready for SE Asia and crossing the roads, if you aren't already prepared for it lmao. Maybe watch a few videos of people walking across large, busy streets in a place like Delhi or Jakarta on YT to get an understanding of how to do it because if you're not used to how to traverse a road on foot in Asia then you will want to go in prepared because it can be a culture shock for mayos.
At one point I was toying with the idea of moving there longer term. I like Vietnam more than Indonesia, Japan, and Hong Kong (never got to the mainland unfortunately) but that's a very subjective opinion.
Dang thanks for the detailed info! And the advice on road crossing lol. I know the roads are supposed to be chaotic but if you're suggesting I watch a video to get a feel..then I really should prepare. I've only been out of the US once so I really don't know what to expect at all.
I love doing all of the activities too, history, beer drinking, street food, kayaking sounds so lovely. Hopefully two weeks will be enough time!
So the name of the game, like the person below mentioned, is to be predictable.
The best way to do it, in my admittedly limited experience in East Asia, is to make eye contact with the oncoming traffic and ease your way into the flow of traffic at a slow, steady pace.
This is going to run counter to all of your native traffic sense habits so it can be daunting because your instincts will be screaming at you not to do this but you'll be fine, trust me.
Waiting for a break in traffic is often utterly impossible. Finding a crossing is likewise extremely impractical most of the time. Running across the road when you think you've got a break/half a break is going to lead to disaster.
Instead step out and walk slowly and steadily. Adjust your walking pace slightly to allow vehicles to pass either side of you where necessary (this is a bit more of an advanced technique but you're allowed to adjust your space to permit better traffic flow around you to avoid causing backups).
The oncoming traffic will weave to avoid you. Trust that they will and don't dart because otherwise you'll get collected by another oncoming vehicle who won't be expecting you to run under their wheels. If they cannot move around you and you're boxed in, they will slow or stop to avoid a collision.
And that's basically it. Just walk confidently and with purpose at a slow, predictable, consistent pace, the traffic will part around you and they'll basically do the rest.
Note that you should only cross busy roads like this where the traffic is slower. Don't do this on a narrow street or on a road with vehicles going at highway speeds. You'll probably see other people walking through busy roads this way before you go to cross - that's generally a good sign that it's safe enough to do it yourself.
If you're having difficultly with this on your first days there and you're going without a guide, you can follow closely beside someone else who is also crossing to use them as a lead. If you're really stuck then you could try approaching someone and asking them for help - I've never done this myself but I'm sure that most people will be obliging, especially older aunties who aren't manning a stall or shop (although ones manning a stall would probably still oblige you if you asked tbh). If you want to show your gratitude for the assist then you can always offer to buy them some fruit from a nearby stall but you might have to insist on it before they accept. Viets love fruit (how could you not when they have such amazing fruit?), especially aunties, and it's a cultural/customary thing to gift fruit to show respect and that sort of thing, so a lot of people might refuse a cash tip but if you communicate to them that you want buy them some fruit then they're probably going to be more inclined to accept the offer.
Tbh I think it's important to show generosity as a (comparatively) wealthy tourist, especially if a local helps you out. It's not expensive to buy something like a dragonfruit or two or a small bunch of longans as a token of your gratitude but it means a lot and it shows that you aren't just there to exploit the hospitality and kindness of the locals. Most Viets will help you without any expectation of reward but it's nice to be a gracious guest.
Two weeks is a lot of time, I think you'll do fine. You will either be able to cover most of the country if you don't dawdle or you'll be able to hit up a few great locations to bask in what experiences they offer you.
Also check out hostels in the busier/touristy districts. You'll be able to book tours and day trips from a lot of them, the staff will be more fluent in English and most will be very friendly and obliging (even if you aren't a customer), and you will probably run into other tourists who are very likely to speak some English to get good tips and advice from them as more experienced tourists in Vietnam. Most tourists in hostels will be super friendly because they're there to have a good time and enjoy themselves so don't be afraid to be outgoing and friendly by striking up conversation.
A lot of backpackers will be travelling on a shoestring so they'll tend to be inclined to hit you up for a beer or some smokes. If you're going without a strict itinerary to instead wander and discover things at your own pace, it's a nice thing to offer to buy a beer or similar for tourists who are generous with sharing their time and their advice with you. Obviously if you're travelling on a shoestring too then this doesn't apply as much but if you have a few bucks to throw around then it's a sort of non-mandatory unwritten rule that if a backpacker is going to play amateur tour guide for you for a chunk of time then you should offer to give something back in return.
Just checked and the propaganda poster shop in the Hanoi Old Quarter is still going.
It's aptly named "Old Propaganda Posters" and it's easy to find it on Google maps. Even if you don't buy anything it's still a fabulous shop to browse but be prepared because you're probably going to walk out with a dozen posters and some heartbreak at leaving behind a few dozen others that you loved almost as much. Well, if you're anything like me anyway lol.
Oh yeah I am prepared for the heartbreak lol. I did a bit of searching and from the shop images there were already a few I saw so I'm sure once I am inside it'll be impossible to leave without a stack. Thank you so much for sharing with me!
Super nice, I like Hanoi more than HCM City but HCM is still nice.
Definitely get to the Hanoi Old Quarter if you can and absolutely seek out the propaganda poster reprinting shop if it's still there. Also if you like beer then get stuck into Bia Hoi while you're in the Old Quarter.
The War Remnants Museum is worth visiting in HCM City.
If you have the opportunity and you like hiking, head up north to the Sa Pa mountains and spend some time with the Hmong villages. It's very picturesque and the Hmong people are super lovely, even by the already-high standards that Viet people set.
I wish I spent more time in Ha Long Bay. The islands around Cat Hai are absolutely stunning if you like nature and physical activity (I kayaked around Cat Ba island and surrounds. So good!) but Ha Long Bay also has nightlife and fancier activities if you prefer drinking and cruises and stuff too.
I'd recommend doing your research about what's out there and it's handy to have a few conversational viet phrases under your belt when you go because it's not necessarily as catered to English-speaking tourists, depending on where you find yourself. There's a lot to see and do and Vietnam offers so much. Try to think about whether you want to do partying/history/culture/food/recreation/sightseeing/shopping/relaxing/adventuring and what sort of mix of these activities you want to do, then build your itinerary around that.
Oh also get ready for SE Asia and crossing the roads, if you aren't already prepared for it lmao. Maybe watch a few videos of people walking across large, busy streets in a place like Delhi or Jakarta on YT to get an understanding of how to do it because if you're not used to how to traverse a road on foot in Asia then you will want to go in prepared because it can be a culture shock for mayos.
At one point I was toying with the idea of moving there longer term. I like Vietnam more than Indonesia, Japan, and Hong Kong (never got to the mainland unfortunately) but that's a very subjective opinion.
In my experience its a beautiful "they can't run us all over" solidarity
Dang thanks for the detailed info! And the advice on road crossing lol. I know the roads are supposed to be chaotic but if you're suggesting I watch a video to get a feel..then I really should prepare. I've only been out of the US once so I really don't know what to expect at all.
I love doing all of the activities too, history, beer drinking, street food, kayaking sounds so lovely. Hopefully two weeks will be enough time!
There are sooooo many motorbikes. Don't try to predict their movements-- instead, just move predictably so that they can avoid you.
So the name of the game, like the person below mentioned, is to be predictable.
The best way to do it, in my admittedly limited experience in East Asia, is to make eye contact with the oncoming traffic and ease your way into the flow of traffic at a slow, steady pace.
This is going to run counter to all of your native traffic sense habits so it can be daunting because your instincts will be screaming at you not to do this but you'll be fine, trust me.
Waiting for a break in traffic is often utterly impossible. Finding a crossing is likewise extremely impractical most of the time. Running across the road when you think you've got a break/half a break is going to lead to disaster.
Instead step out and walk slowly and steadily. Adjust your walking pace slightly to allow vehicles to pass either side of you where necessary (this is a bit more of an advanced technique but you're allowed to adjust your space to permit better traffic flow around you to avoid causing backups).
The oncoming traffic will weave to avoid you. Trust that they will and don't dart because otherwise you'll get collected by another oncoming vehicle who won't be expecting you to run under their wheels. If they cannot move around you and you're boxed in, they will slow or stop to avoid a collision.
And that's basically it. Just walk confidently and with purpose at a slow, predictable, consistent pace, the traffic will part around you and they'll basically do the rest.
Note that you should only cross busy roads like this where the traffic is slower. Don't do this on a narrow street or on a road with vehicles going at highway speeds. You'll probably see other people walking through busy roads this way before you go to cross - that's generally a good sign that it's safe enough to do it yourself.
If you're having difficultly with this on your first days there and you're going without a guide, you can follow closely beside someone else who is also crossing to use them as a lead. If you're really stuck then you could try approaching someone and asking them for help - I've never done this myself but I'm sure that most people will be obliging, especially older aunties who aren't manning a stall or shop (although ones manning a stall would probably still oblige you if you asked tbh). If you want to show your gratitude for the assist then you can always offer to buy them some fruit from a nearby stall but you might have to insist on it before they accept. Viets love fruit (how could you not when they have such amazing fruit?), especially aunties, and it's a cultural/customary thing to gift fruit to show respect and that sort of thing, so a lot of people might refuse a cash tip but if you communicate to them that you want buy them some fruit then they're probably going to be more inclined to accept the offer.
Tbh I think it's important to show generosity as a (comparatively) wealthy tourist, especially if a local helps you out. It's not expensive to buy something like a dragonfruit or two or a small bunch of longans as a token of your gratitude but it means a lot and it shows that you aren't just there to exploit the hospitality and kindness of the locals. Most Viets will help you without any expectation of reward but it's nice to be a gracious guest.
Two weeks is a lot of time, I think you'll do fine. You will either be able to cover most of the country if you don't dawdle or you'll be able to hit up a few great locations to bask in what experiences they offer you.
Also check out hostels in the busier/touristy districts. You'll be able to book tours and day trips from a lot of them, the staff will be more fluent in English and most will be very friendly and obliging (even if you aren't a customer), and you will probably run into other tourists who are very likely to speak some English to get good tips and advice from them as more experienced tourists in Vietnam. Most tourists in hostels will be super friendly because they're there to have a good time and enjoy themselves so don't be afraid to be outgoing and friendly by striking up conversation.
A lot of backpackers will be travelling on a shoestring so they'll tend to be inclined to hit you up for a beer or some smokes. If you're going without a strict itinerary to instead wander and discover things at your own pace, it's a nice thing to offer to buy a beer or similar for tourists who are generous with sharing their time and their advice with you. Obviously if you're travelling on a shoestring too then this doesn't apply as much but if you have a few bucks to throw around then it's a sort of non-mandatory unwritten rule that if a backpacker is going to play amateur tour guide for you for a chunk of time then you should offer to give something back in return.
Just checked and the propaganda poster shop in the Hanoi Old Quarter is still going.
It's aptly named "Old Propaganda Posters" and it's easy to find it on Google maps. Even if you don't buy anything it's still a fabulous shop to browse but be prepared because you're probably going to walk out with a dozen posters and some heartbreak at leaving behind a few dozen others that you loved almost as much. Well, if you're anything like me anyway lol.
Oh yeah I am prepared for the heartbreak lol. I did a bit of searching and from the shop images there were already a few I saw so I'm sure once I am inside it'll be impossible to leave without a stack. Thank you so much for sharing with me!