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Hanoi, Vietnam
Bahn Mi 25, Salt mate coffee, stick note café
Hoan Kiem Lake -Ngoc Son Temple & Turtle Tower, St Josephs, good for runners early
Cathedral
Old Quarter
French Quarter - Hoa Lo Prison,
Ba Dinh & Western Hanoi - Imperial Citadel, Pho Huyen
West Lake & Truc Bach Lake - Temple of Literature, where to go when city becomes overwhelming
Train street
Food tours
Thrifting
Note café
- Hoan Kiem Lake (Hồ Hoàn Kiếm)
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (Lăng Chủ Tịch Hồ Chí Minh)
- Bánh Mì 25 - Hàng Cá
- The Note Coffee
- The Railway Cafe
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Hà Giang, Vietnam
Bus from Sa Pa takes 6 hours - mountainous and scenic journey, £8-15
Maybe spend longer hiking around Ha Giang
Less touristy than Sa Pa
Nho Que River
Ba Be National Park - Pac Ngoi village, Mr Linhs homestay
Dau Dang waterfall
An Ma Temple
Puong Cave
Ao Tien
Mamas Tour or Bong which is smaller (4 days 3 nights)
NoMadders
QT Bikes
Ban Gioc waterfall
Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda
NE - Cao Bang Tour
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Hanoi, Vietnam
Ha Giang to Hanoi bus takes 6 hours, £10-15
DEFINITE
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Cao Bang, Vietnam
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Ninh Bình, Vietnam
Accommodation - Aravina, Banana Hostel, Banana Bungalow, Trang An Ecolodge, Garden Resort,
Ninh Binh is basically Tam Coc - unclear if rice paddies worth visiting in Nov
Boat tour
Phong Nha Tuan Garden House, Silent Lake
Van Long Nature Reserve
Brick Coffee Shop
Mua Cave hike
Boat tour
Thung Nham Bird Park
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Lăng Cô, Vietnam
Phong Nha Ke Bang
Accommodation - Ho Khanh Homestay
Central Backpackers - swimming pool
Pepper House Homestay
Phong Nha Eco Mountain Farmstay
Nguyen Shack Eco Resort
Phong Nha River House
Jungle Boss homesyat
Sy's Homestay
Ha Phuong homestay
Mai Nga Hotel
Things to do
Trips to the Tu Lan, Phong Nha and Paradise caves are possible on a shoestring budge. Dark Cave you can go indepedently
Rainy season until mid November
Tree House Café Pizza
Dark Cave
Botanic Garden
Mooc Spring
Blue Diamon Camp
Bach Ma National Park via Hai Van Pass train
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Hội An, Vietnam
Food
Cao Lau Khong Gian Xahn pho
Phi Banh Mi
Banh Mi Phuong - anthony bourdain
Com Ga Ba Buoi
Mai Fish
Rosie's Café
Tok - fancy fusion surronded by paddies
MUA - fancy
Am Vegeterian & Hideaway
Baby Mustard restaurant
Upscale beach vibe: Shore Club, The Deck House, Soul Kitchen, Bungalow Beach Bar, Tamarinde Tree Restaurant, Luna d'Autunno, An Bang Beach Village Indian, Veranda Food, Hidden Beach, Barefoot Beach Club, Sound of Silence, Eight Days a Week
Activities
Lantern making
Old Town at night
An Bang Bang beach
Tra Que Village
Cloth Market for cheapest tailors - Sewing Bee is no frills option for copies & simple garments
TaTa Tailors - upscale option
Mr Xe - midrange - shirts/ business suits
Bao An Tailor
The Tailory
Note: Full Moon festival on the 14th of the lunar calendar (16th Nov??)
Watch sunset: Roving Chillhouse, Hoi An Kayak Sunset tour, TOK restaurant
Distilerie d'Indochine - Sampan Rhum is 15k from Old Town
My Son Hindu Ruins
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Cát Bà Island, Vietnam
50 minute ferry from Tuan Chau Pier, £1
Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay are quieter alternatives
Day tour boat through Buffalo
Can go via Hai Phong
Accommodation - Buffalo Hostel, Lunas House Hostel, Woodstock Jungle Camp
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Hanoi, Vietnam
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Thành phố Đà Lạt, Vietnam
Accommodation
Mamas Homestay
Da Lat Family Hostel
Leuleu hostel
If staying in Hoi An:
AN Retreat Hoi An
AnnaBo Tam Thanh Beach House
Snap Stay Hostel
Activities
Cong Vien Yersin park
Ho Xuan Huong lake
Dalat Railway station
Crazy House
Bao Dai Summer Palace
Dambri Falls between Dalat and Ho Chi Minh
Canyoning - Hello Dalat, Phat Tire, Highland Sport Travel
Food
Banh Can
Banh Mi Xiu Mai
Banh Trang Nuong
Fog Bar
Tiem Mi Tau Cao
Le Chalet Dalat
Train to Trai Mat
Fox's Den
District 1
Co Bong coffee
Cat Tien - Park Hotel, Green Bamboo Lodge Resort, best Nov - April but avoid weekends
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
History Museum
d Nguyen Hue - le Grand Canal
Ben Thanh Market
Fine Arts Museum
War Remanants Musem
Anan Saigon rooftop bar - v fancy
Opera House
Tao Dan Park Studio Saigon
Cycle around island of Thanh Da
Dong Khoi (downtown) - only area to explore on foot
Nguyen Van Binh Book Street, CentraL Post Office
Vitexco Financial tower view
Notre Dame Cathedral
Hos Tuc
Food Alley at 76 Hai Ba Trung
Pasteur Street tap room
Rogue Saigon
Hop On Hop Off bus
Summer Experiemnt Bar
Reunification Palace & Around (District 3) - cool neighbourhood
Tao Dan Park
Good district to base yourself in
Mariamman Hindu Temple
Bui Vien walking street
War Remnants Museum
Ben Thanh Market
Ban Co Market
Saigon Street Eats tour
Café apartment block
Rooftop bars
Cholon - chinatown, Thu Don Market, Jade Emporer Pagpda, The
Phuoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda
Thienb Hau Pagoda
Binh Tay Market
Quan Am Pagoda
Mi Keo Kungfu Khai Ky
Ha Cao Keiu Ky
Da Kao - low buildings & tree lined streets North of centre - sights are spread out, hard to walk - Nhieu LocThji Nghe Canal on northern border has 8k footpath
Jade Emperor Pagoda
History Museum
Restaurant Esta
Van Kiep street food
Pho Chao - pho-tine
Quan Thuy soft shell crabs deep fried
Du Du Xanh veggie
District 2 - expat enclave
Thao Dien ward
Relaxing day to break up trip - some restaurants have pool & hotels do day passes
Saigon Outcast - climbing & skatepark
L'Herbanyste pool
Snap Café
Ralf's Gelato
Madame Lam
Laang Restaurant
Kitchen by the River
Outside the cityGio UNESCO biosphere reserve - Vam Sat Eco Park for flying foxes & birdwatching tower
Cu Chi Tunnels - Ben Duoc site
Nui Ba Den mountain - cable car
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Mekong River, Laos
best explored independently on motorbike or bicycle
Oc Om Boc festival long boat races + visiting Tra Su in winter
Ben Tre: market, TAKA coffee An Hoi, Ben Tre Cathedral, Privincial Museum, , Mago Crusies - get Minh Tam bus from district 5
My Tho temples, Vinh Trand Pagoda, Hu Tien 44, Hu Tieu Chay Cay BoDe, Ong Met Pagoda in Tra Vinh
Cai Be Floating Market, Tien River Park, An Bionh Island
Vinh Long - Quan Nem Nuong, Thoc Cafe, Pho Trung Vuong, Mep U Kitchen, Long HO Canal
Accommodation
My Tho - Bich Ngoan Hotel, Thanh Tra, Vila Basih Long - Phuoc Hung 2 Hotel, Minh Khue Hotel, Saigon Hotel
An Binh - Ngoc Sang Homestay, Phuong Thao Homestay, Ba Linh Homestay
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Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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Bangkok, Thailand
Accomodation
Royal Thatien Village
Bangkok Saran Poshtel
Here Hostel
Khao San Social Capsule
NapPark
Samsen Sam Place
Hostel Ury, Norn Yaowarat, Luk
Warm Window, Silom, S1, Everyday, HQ
Sleepbox, Siamaze hostel, Be My Guest
Activities
Ko Ratanakosin & Thonburi - travel by boat
Wat Phra Kaew (arrive at opening, Emerald Buddha, Grand Palace, ferry to Wat Arun, Wat Pho buddha, Golden Mount, maybe National Museum
Food - Wang Land market
Banglamphu - low key neighbourhood, backpackers stay here. Food - Karim Roti Mataba, Mango, Krua Apsorn
Chatuchak weekend market at weekends, Jim Thompson house, Thanon Phadungdao, Lost in Thaislation
Chinatown food - Khun Ya Cusine, Thanon Phadungdao, Jek Pui, Wat Mangkon Kamalawat
Skywalk
Lumphini Park
Tha Kha markets, Amphawa, Thonburis canals, Bang Kachao island, Absolute you yoga, Health Land spa,
Sukhumvit - expats, Benjakitti park, Kaek Kao Kua, Vistro, Casette coffee, Ink & Lion, Luka, Recordoffee, Rise coffee, Rung Raeng pork noodles, Wattana Panich
MOCA gallery, Chang Chui market
Bang Kachao island, ABC Amazing Bangkok cyclist tours, Grasshopper active cycling tours, VElo Thailand
Tong Tem Toh, Huan Muan Jai, Khao Soi Faham, Khao Soi Pa Pai, Khao So-I
Tuk Tuk Club hire
SUP CNX paddle board
Chiang Mai kayaking centre (50B) - meetup fb group
Sunday night market, Jing Jai farmers market, San Pa Tong Buffalo farmers market, Kad Na Mor market for students, Chang Phuak Gate night food market, Chang Mai gate food market, Coconut market
Zabb E Lee Thai cooking school (1000B)
River View Bar, Sai Ping Bar & Restaurant
Umbrella marking centre, indigo dying
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Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bus Sukhothai to Chang Mai, 6 hours, £8
Zavb e Lee Thai cooking school, Misty Mae Kampong, Libra Guesthouse
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Bangkok, Thailand
Bus Mae Hong Son to Bangkok, 15 hours, £15-30 (poss skip)
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Ao Nang, Thailand
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Kaeng Krachan, Thailand
Bird watching
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Ko Phayam, Thailand
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Ko Yao Noi, Thailand
Easy to get to from Phuket and KRabi, 4000 people, 12k long
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Ko Lanta, Thailand
Nine beaches, sprinkling of restaurants and bars, dense forest with caves, bars open past midnight
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Ko Lipe, Thailand
Keriritas Yoga
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Ko Tarutao, Thailand
Beautiful, undiscovered and secluded, good beaches and hiking, less walkable
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Bangkok, Thailand