Hi all, been  so busy; arrived back in Mt Gambier late Nov. from Winter on Sunshine Coast; finally got back into our house early Nov. Hubby says cheap air fares lets go to Vietnam for December!! So hurriedly moved back into house; then packed bag for OS. Flew Air Asia (excellent) to Kuala Lumpur next morning to Hanoi; onite train to Hue (ancient capital) then visited Hoi An. Did bus trip to DMZ area on old border; very interesting; on average 7-8 persons mainly children still being killed or maimed by unexploded bombs-very sad!!!!! Third generations still getting cancer from agent orange - UGH!! Vietnamese very industrious but still very poor on average; did see latest Bentleys driving around Hanoi though*!!. Love to go back and see more only did the north. 29th Dec. Had Xmas day in Kuala Lumpur. Returned home on 29th Dec. Then flew to Perth for stepsons wedding on beach at Dunsbourough-nice weekend. Now doing huge garden makeover for easier maintenance for when we head north (Alice etc) for winter. Notice posts re Mudgee weekend. Spent four months there early 2008 at Mudgee Valley Caravan on Gulgong end of town; nice people run that ; anyhow have great time at get together. If going past around that time will check you all out. Cheers for now.
Colleen
ps sorry about the lenghty post but thought you might be interested in where I had been.!!

sure am sounds like a great trip, thats the kind of thing we intend doing at a later date, we cant retire so we will just take bigger trips

Dave it was so cheap; average hotel accommodation was $20 (rooms with ensuite)  some even included breakfast;,average meal under $5, and we had pots  of beer for 25 cents!!!! Between towns we used local buses (as did other travellers like us) . It was a good wake up call to appreciate how lucky we are to live in a democracy and how spoilt we are with material things. The average Vietnamese just wouldn't comprehend us "Nomad" tripping around in our vans!!!!

yep that may make the list, I had heard of the pots of beer being dirt cheap but never thought that cheap we are just starting our overseas jaunts as we become more "affluent", I have a list of several countries that we will visit we spent our earlier years working and touring this great country and have seen some of the most fantastic spots, we still travel but not as much as we used to, we have planned Canada for june this year for two weeks but that is far from cheap I have just picked up another high paying job and am daydreaming of our next trip after Canada, we did new Zealand for two weeks last year so we try to get around, I would love to see big ben, and Scotland and the grand canyon before I get the call so many places so little time and limited money

Hi RobCol,
It sounds as if has not got any dearer there since I had my payed holiday there in 69.
Can of was only 15cents.

tiger5 wrote:

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Hi RobCol,
It sounds as if has not got any dearer there since I had my payed holiday there in 69.
Can of was only 15cents.

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Back in 68 and again in 70 everything was 15cents  $1.45 for  40 ozs of rum and three cans of Coke another 45 Cents. normally only need 2 cans at most  while having our one day a month off  the last can was kept for the next morning as acan of pull through to get you out of the coma  and back on the flight line

Only ever made it to the DMZ, very nice  country up North.  They say the train trip from the old Saigon to Hanoi is one that should not be missed but travel First class not cattle car

Back in our day there was a saying, that from my part of the world  didn't ring all that true but  was  commonly found engraved on lighters carried by the yanks .

"If I owned a farm in Vietnam and a home in Hell I'd sell the farm and go home"

Would do it all again and enjoy the experience s on offer   

 

I was yakking to the dragon at 3 am this morning and she reckons France next year is the go, so sounds like Vietnam may have to wait a while and I better find another well paid job

Hi Colleen, sounds like you had a great time. Would be interested to know more as Vietnam is on our "must do" list and actually I was thinking about going this year some time, if we get it at the right price. Did you book your travel and accomodation through an agent or do it yourself? Cheers Ellen

Hi Ellen; we did it all ourselves.  Found the cheap air fares first; Melb to Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia then onto Hanoi.  Researched the Lonely Planet first, then picked a hotel out when we got there. Everywhere else did the same, only picked one that we didnt like. Without a set schedule we were able to change our minds and choose where we wanted to go, depending on weather etc. Would suggest going a bit earlier than December though, most of Europe were also travelling (some with children)on school holidays. And some places were a bit humid.
Cheers Colleen

RobCol wrote:

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Hi Ellen; we did it all ourselves.  Found the cheap air fares first; Melb to Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia then onto Hanoi.  Researched the Lonely Planet first, then picked a hotel out when we got there. Everywhere else did the same, only picked one that we didnt like. Without a set schedule we were able to change our minds and choose where we wanted to go, depending on weather etc. Would suggest going a bit earlier than December though, most of Europe were also travelling (some with children)on school holidays. And some places were a bit humid.
Cheers Colleen

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The way you did it is the only way to travel.  Tours are great but you never get to see the bigger picture  and local colour.  Try that train trip  you won't be disappointed  gauging from others who have done the whole thing South to North.  Lovely people and great tucker .  If you get the chance and can get to the central highlands  around Da lat you will find it much cooler  and there is plenty to see

 

Thanks guys that sounds great. Normally that is what we do when travelling I prefer that and bieng able to have the flexibility. Was planning a trip to USA but travle agent rang this am and that has fallen through. So maybe Vietnam this year after all!! Cheers Ellen

I went to Vietnam once, too much camping and wandering around in the Jungle for me.... ROTFL at my son who went there on cycling tour.... wanted to know how did I fit in the tunnels at Cu Chi...

Well hi there Basil! G'day, nice to see you're back ....... and your front.