If you had 15 days to split between HK, Saigon & Nha Trang,

[snow ninja]

If you had 15 days to split between HK, Saigon & Nha Trang..

how would you split it up in that order?:confused:

4 days HK, 4 days saigon, 7 days nha trang?

is what i'm thinking but i don't know.

i want to stay for a few months but i cant be off work that long:mad:

[CBC guy]

I don't know anytyhing about Vietnam, but here's a few things to do in HK

4 days in HK is plenty. (Unless you have an irresistable urge to buy everything in sight AND have a huge hole burning in your pocket. Or, alternatively, you have to see a lot of relatives, in which case a lot of them will pay for 90% of your meals. (and make the bannanas feel bad)

Ok, here's a few "must-do" things in HK, if there are any really.
1) Go up Victoria Peak and check out the view. If you're lucky it will really be worth it. Take the tram at least once. Take the Star Ferry (if its still there LOL) or at least a boat around the harbor.


2) try to time your arrival so that there will be some sort of fireworks over Victoria Harbor. They are spectacular and beat anything VAN has to offer. However, they don't have this every day, so do check first.

3) If you like shopping A LOT, HK is the place for you. The prices range from economical (way cheaper than Vancouver for sure) to outrageous. Almost everything you can imagine is on offer in HK.

4) Eat, eat, eat until you burst. Skip McDs. Try the cha chaan tengs, dim sum places, and the "congee/noodle/fried rice" places (jook/mein/faan in cantonese), in my experience they give good, filling meals for a reasonable price. Or, try the Indian food in Chungking Mansions, Tsim Sha Tsui. If you head around there, you won't have to find them. They'll find you. Do try the bakeries out, they're not bad value. (I understand you live in Vancouver, so you probably have already tried a lot of the food I mentioned.)

Stanley market (near Repulse Bay) is kinda fun... at least for a while)

Since you only have 4 days in HK I don't recommend going to Disneyland, (for a "true" HK theme park, go to Ocean Park instead) or going to Shenzhen, across the border into China. But I would add Shenzhen to the list if you were going there longer. (To say that you've seen "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" in action)

You can go to see the big Buddha on Lantau Island if you have time, but I doubt it.

Depending on your interests, you can burn some time in several excellent air-conditioned museums depicting HK's history and culture, or you can burn time (and lots of cash) partying and shopping in places like Causeway Bay or Lan Kwai Fong. (Be careful in LKF though)

Do you know where you'll stay in HK? I'll be going there in February for Chinese New Year.

Once last note: Do not, I repeat, do NOT try to purchase high-end items in TsimShaTsui. Those guys rip off tourists hard, and I mean hard. Just don;'t do it.

[snow ninja]

thanks man, here's my flight itinerary..i'm quite excited and cant wait but it's nearly 3 mos away ;(

it's basically 5 days in HK

Not sure where i'm staying but i heard Causeway Bay was pretty happening. Any suggestions of good cheap accomodation? I heard there was a few in the $60-80 range per night. Dont' like paying much just to lay your head for 6-8 hours sleep.

9 days in Vietnam to visit Saigon and frolic around the beach in Nha Trang eating seafood. And i heard it's under $10 a night for accomodation there.

and then back to HK for a day and then go home.

So like 16 days total

Flight Itinerary
Outbound Flight - O8 901
Departure: Vancouver (YVR)
Tue 27 Nov 2007 16:30
Arrival: Hong Kong (HKG)
Wed 28 Nov 2007 22:15
Connecting Add-on Flight (Operated by Hong Kong Airlines) - HX 527
Departure: Hong Kong (HKG)
Mon 03 Dec 2007 09:00
Arrival: Ho Chi Minh (SGN)
Mon 03 Dec 2007 10:30
Connecting Add-on Flight (Operated by Hong Kong Airlines) - HX 528
Departure: Ho Chi Minh (SGN)
Wed 12 Dec 2007 11:15
Arrival: Hong Kong (HKG)
Wed 12 Dec 2007 14:45
Return Flight - O8 900
Departure: Hong Kong (HKG)
Thu 13 Dec 2007 18:15
Arrival: Vancouver (YVR)
Thu 13 Dec 2007 13:30

[snow ninja]

my plan is to go with just my wallet and some basic things like toothbrush, razor etc. with a big gym/hockey type bag.

when i get to HK i want to buy alot of new clothes and shoes, electronics maybe even some new luggage and stuff that bag full.

Is there anywhere safe to lock up your luggage at HK airport? becuase i don't think i can carry much weight to Vietnam. And if i take it to vietnam, i'll just have to take it back to HK before heading home.

anyways, i do plan on shopping till i drop mainly for sportswear and casual wear. Not so much into the whole luxury goods/brands clothing.

[Pookie_gal]

There's not much stuff to do in Saigon - I would probs spend 4 days like you said. You should def try and go to the Cu Chi tunnels - quite a sobering experience but worthwhile. That will take up half a day already. Bars aren't too happening in Saigon...I went to the Caravelle's rooftop bar but wasn't impressed - they had some karaoke singers on the stage! You get a decent view though.

I liked Nha Trang...different vibe to the hustle and bustle of the city. Very relaxing. :smile:

[CBC guy]

my plan is to go with just my wallet and some basic things like toothbrush, razor etc. with a big gym/hockey type bag.

when i get to HK i want to buy alot of new clothes and shoes, electronics maybe even some new luggage and stuff that bag full.

Is there anywhere safe to lock up your luggage at HK airport? becuase i don't think i can carry much weight to Vietnam. And if i take it to vietnam, i'll just have to take it back to HK before heading home.

anyways, i do plan on shopping till i drop mainly for sportswear and casual wear. Not so much into the whole luxury goods/brands clothing.


Causeway Bay is pretty happening and has been for the last few years. Try to steer away from the tourist crowds and head into the backstreets for better deals.

I *think* the HK airport has safes where you can secure your luggage for a fee. Not 100% sure though.

Remember, do Not (do NOT EVER EVER) buy electronics in Tsim Sha Tsui district.

There are a few cheaper places to stay, conditions will be somewhat spartan though. Check out: CHungking Mansions (has a seedy reputation, check the rooms first.) Mirador Mansions, (both in TST). 90% of the cheap places are on the Kowloon side so you might have to go there to stay. There's the most expensive YMCA in the world on Salisbury road and the more affordable YWCA further up Nathan Road near Waterloo Road in Yaumatei. Accomodations are hard to find, fill quickly and are not cheap. In any trip to HK accomodation is usually a problem, unless you can somehow stay with friends or relatives. Here try this website for an idea of what you have to pay per night.

http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/hong-kong/causeway-bay/

[snow ninja]

^hey thanks for all the info, i did just email that wangfat hostel that AABCGirl suggested. It looked alright. I'm not too fussy about decor as long as it's clean and fairly modern.

Hopefully they have availability on my travel dates.

And i surfed over to the ocean park website and that park sure looks wild and the pandas are there too so it's a must see for me.

Is it HK$185 admission or CAD USD $185. Sounds expensive for the latter but i wouldn't be surprised. Can you tell me a bit more about the park? I know it has rides and such but it would be nice to have a more personal take.

[CBC guy]

LOL dude it says clearly on the website that its $185 HKD, not USD. I would flip if someone told me it cost $185 USD to get into Ocean Park. Its good, but not THAT good. The Park is located on the Southern Part of HK Island. On the website there are plenty of buses heading through Ocean Park. If you don't understand Chinese/Cantonese that's fine because almost all (80-90% of buses) have LCDs at the front which tell you the next station. Ocean Park is pretty obvious, almost impossible to miss.

Alternatively, take the MTR down to Admiralty Station (Gaam Jooong in Cantonese) and take Citybus # 629 which will take you straight to Ocean Park. Ocean Park will be the terminus so you can relax and enjoy the view. Clamber up to the top deck for the view, its worth it.

As for the park itself, its a amusement park/aquariam/zoo of sorts. A pretty good place overall. Try not to eat in the Park though as its more expensive. Eat before/after you go back near wherever you're staying. (TST and CWB are good haunts for food) Try to go on a weekday, weekends will be kinda full. (Even with Disneyland and all, Ocean Park fills up mainly with locals who prefer it to Disneyland, where the lineups just aren't worth it IMO)

[snow ninja]

cool, i cant wait.

yah, i didn't really think it was that much for admision but i thot it may have included rides and such.