Geriatric Worldwide Travellers Guide

Home Countries Photos 2006 to 2016 Accommodation
 Transport Enquiries or Comments

Fly to Hong Kong from Sydney and booked into our Favourite Hotel for 14 Nights:  
Harbour Plaza Resort City Ginza (Tin Shui Wai) In The Western New Territories. 
Around 40 minutes to an hour by Bus or Train from the Airport or Hong Kong / Kowloon CBD.

Then Flying from Hong Kong to Hanoi and Travelling South through to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for 30 days by Train, Bus, Mini Bus and Taxi.  
We booked into a Hotel in Hanoi and into one in Ho Chi Minh City.  
Also from Hanoi a Side Trip to Sapa in the Mountains for 2 nights and 3 days.  
All other bookings as we travel south.
Some great hotels we stayed at follow the link here.

Go to Information & Text

Tram to The Peak
The Big Buddha
The Big Buddha
Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge

Treasures Forbidden City Palace Museum Hong Kong
Treasures Forbidden City Palace Museum Hong Kong
Treasures Forbidden City Palace Museum Hong Kong
Treasures Forbidden City Palace Museum Hong Kong

Flower Market Hanoi
Flower Market Hanoi
Hang Dau Water Tower Hanoi
Uncle Ho's Mausoleum Hanoi

hồ hoàn kiếm lake Hanoi Vietnam
Damage from Typhoon Yagi Hanoi Vietnam
Local Villages Sapa Vietnam
 Local Villages Sapa Vietnam
Local Villages Sapa Vietnam

Cat Cat Village Sapa Vietnam

Cat Cat Village Sapa Vietnam
Uncle Ho's Birthplace Sen Village

Uncle Ho's Birthplace Sen Village

Uncle Ho's Birthplace Sen Village

Uncle Ho's Birthplace Sen Village

Uncle Ho's Birthplace Sen Village

Nien Vinh 1 of 3  Ancient City Gates
Deserted Beach Nien Vinh
Deserted Beach Nien Vinh
3rd February Memorial Hue Vietnam

3rd February Park Hue Vietnam
Part of The Citadel Palace Hue Vietnam
Tin Kiem Island Royal Tombs Hue Vietnam
In The Citadel Palace Hue Vietnam

Hoi An River at Night Vietnam
Japanese Bridge Hoi An Vietnam
Lantern Making Class with Lyn Hoi An Vietnam
Phuc Kien Assembly Hall Hoi An Vietnam
Uncle Ho & His Father Memorial Quy Nhon Vietnam
Beachside Dinner Four Seasons Quy Nhon Vietnam
Beach Volley Ball Quy Nhon Vietnam
Quy Nhon Vietnam

Nha Trang Vietnam
Nha Trang Vietnam
Phan Thiet Vietnam
Phan Thiet Vietnam

View from Saigon Sky Deck
Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
Mariamman Hindu Temple Saigon
Saigon River Ho Chi Minh City

Independence Palace Ho Chi MInh City
Saigon Opera House Ho Chi Minh City
Nha Rong Ho Chi Minh Museum Saigon
Dragon Wharf  Ho Chi Minh Museum Saigon

 Hong Kong to us is still a magical place even after five visits before.

  • Still some great places to see and also some places changed over the years.  The Peak is a great place to view the whole of Hong Kong and all the islands.  Travel up on the historic tram still fairly cheap and a great viewing point.  The lookout has changed and been extended over the years.  In past years we walked to the Mount Davis WW2 Battery.  This time the Jubilee Battery now on the grounds of the University of Chicago......  Both of these defense batteries were part of the last defense of Hong Kong during the Japanese invasion and we believe worth seeing. 
  • Again the Big Buddha on Lantau Island near the airport with the most scenic route being the cable car.  We had visited many years ago and it has changed considerably with shops and food stores etc. but still a great place to visit and some outstanding views again of Hong Kong the newHong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge etc.
  • We had promised ourselves back in 2016 that we would travel to Macao across the new Hong Kong Zhuhai Bridge and it is quite an experience.  Still I think one of if not the longest bridge over water in the world including artificial islands and tunnels.  Access to it by train or bus near the airport.
  •  Still some good shopping here with lots of day markets including Stanley and the Jade Market and lots of night markets.  Still a wealth of British colonial history and buildings and museums including the Forbidden City Palace Museum.  We still love the place despite the many changes happening with the influx and influence of Mainland China.
Now flying to Hanoi Vietnam

  • Our second trip to Hanoi after a failed trip in 2023 with a tour company who advertise a lot.  To us an abject failure as virtually no time in Hanoi and other important places.  This time three nights in Hanoi in the old part of the city.  Very hot so limited time outside.  We walked the streets and because of the French occupation there are a lot of French colonial government plus many other large and small residential structures to be seen.  Some of the larger ones abandoned and others changed Vietnam government, educational and military buildings.
  • The various lakes in and around Hanoi are well worth a visit and when you get too hot taxis and grab cars are fairly cheap for transport.  Uncle Ho's Mausoleum is worth a visit but must be between 6.30am and 10.30am and you must be fully clothed, ask at your hotel.  Unfortunately we didn't check the time.  The flower markets in the streets are a picture and well worth the walk.
  • If you're feeling a little weary from the heat Hop on and Hop off bus we thing goes from the hồ hoàn kiếm lake.  This will take you around most of the historic and interesting sites for a very reasonable price and you can get on and off the bus and just use their schedule to get on and off.
  • We spent a total of five nights in Hanoi with a break in between organised by the hotel to travel to Sapa in the mountains for three days and two nights.
On to Sapa by Minibus picked up at the hotel

  • Well worth the trip.  Seemed a good comparison price organising through the hotel against doing it online.  A very pleasant drive with good company in the mini bus with great mountain views.  Maybe question the hotel you stay at in Sapa as this one was a little ordinary.  The trip includes a couple of walking trips through the villages close by.
  • Cat Cat Village was the most outstanding with some wonderful views of the mountains and lots of shopping opportunities along the way with all the villagers.  Very hot on the first day and also very hilly. Plenty of time with slow walks and some shade here and there.
  • The second day unfortunately raining and Typhoon Yagi coming in, but still some fantastic views of the villages and the mountains again.  Absolutely drenched but a good day had by all.
  • The third day was originally planned to leave the hotel and visit an outdoor market up in the hills at Bắc Hà and then visit one of the highest  points in Vietnam but unfortunately heavy rain again.  We lasted out for about an hour or so and had lunch.  A very good street market with most stalls undercover but with the torrential rain not so good.  Unfortunately at this stage the rest of the tour was cancelled and being that apart from us and another lady going on to Hanoi everyone else were going back to Sapa.  The tour guide dumped us on the side of the road at a filthy restaurant and told us the bus was organised for us 2 hours earlier than planned.  He lied.  We were there for about 3 hours.
  • Fortunately the hotel manager in Hanoi (Skylark Hotel) was very upset about the ordinary hotel in Sapa and by the treatment of the tour guide and gave us a substantial refund on the trip.  Just some passing advice all the intercity and large tour buses are sleeper or semi-sleeper buses day or night.  You can't sit up and watch the view as you are lying or half lying.  Okay for some not us.  Get a mini bus or taxi they are fairly cheap.  
  • Arrived back in Hanoi to see all the damage caused by Typhoon Yagi.  As you can see from the above photo it was quite devastating.  We were very fortunate as we also missed out on some serious landslides in the mountains and around Sapa where we had just visited.  Apart from the weather a very enjoyable few days around Hanoi and Sapa.
Leaving Hanoi by train to Nien Vinh
  • Unfortunately not a lot to see and do here as we had planned only 2 nights and got here fairly late at night.  The hotel had a very good young driver and we drove out to Uncle Ho's home village:  Sen Village as in the photographs above.  All of the village has been lovingly restored and is considered to be a sacred place to contemplate his life.  A lovely and very peaceful opportunity to spend a few hours walking around this very special place.  Definitely a hi lite that we hadn't planned but with some research and help from the hotel staff we found the village. 
On a Train again to Dong Hoi

  • Again not a lot to see here.  The only thing of real interest walking around seemed to be one of the Ancient City Gates.  We spent a few hours out at the beaches there and had some lunch of fairly decent prawns and beer.  Seemed to be mostly deserted and very quiet and some very unfinished hotel buildings.
On a Train again to Hue

  • The ancient royal capital of Vietnam.  The Nguyen Dynasty lasted for 143 years and was the last ruling dynasty of Vietnam as is shown by the Citadel the enormous fortified castle and surrounds.  We also visited the Tin Kiem Island Royal Tombs and lake created from a small stream for the royal family.  Lots of history to see both from old Vietnam to some of the buildings and memorials from the French occupation and after. There is a memorial park on the river commemorating 3rd. of February being the foundation of the Vietnam Communist Party and Vietnam's eventual independence.  Also, for those who are interested there are some museums from the Vietnam / American War.  With the intense heat we again chose to have a tour on the jump on jump off bus which helps to see more of the sites worth going to. 
On a Mini Bus to Hoi An

  • Great to travel on a mini bus with a small group of people of different ages from different parts of the world.  A really nice drive looking at the countryside and sitting in the front two seats.  When we arrived at Hoi An not too sure how to get to the hotel so one of the bus staff kindly took us there in a car no charge.  Must get the Grab car app. and give it a try.  A really lovely place to stay but again very hot and humid.  Probably one of the best ways to get around would be to hire a motorcycle for two but not for us.  Very much a tourist city with lots of bars, restaurants, shopping for anything you desire including clothes, jewellery, shoes, all kinds of bags and accessories, watches etc.  Several large indoor markets with lots of other stuff including materials for clothing and tailors to make them in a day.
  • Quite a number of historic buildings including temples, meeting halls and don't miss the historic Japanese Bridge recently restored.  Boats on the river if that is your fancy.  Another fun thing here you can go and do a lantern making class. Good  fun and you get to keep the lantern to take home.  Good money for the lady with class but fairly cheap for us.  See the photo above.
Now on an Intercity Semi Sleep Bus to Qui Nho'n

  • Last time we go on a big bus.  The two of us in the back of the bus on our backs squeezed in with 3 women and another five people above us that's it no more!!!
  • Mainly a beach side holiday resort but very quiet when we were there.  Seemed a lot of businesses were closed, maybe a bit out of season.  The photograph above shows an enormous statue and arena with a young Ho Chi Minh and his father. Not really a great deal to see here unfortunately the beaches were not clean again maybe out of season.  We did have a good dinner at the Four Seasons beach side restaurant excellent position and great food.
Not sure but we think a Mini Bus or Train to Nha Trang 

  • An interesting holiday resort.  A very large contingent of Russian and Kazakhstani tourists.  Not a criticism by any means as they help keep the economy of this coastal city going.  They have their own hotels, travel agents, restaurants, shops and supermarkets here.  Some nice people amongst them and some of the cleanest beaches we've seen in Vietnam.  We had thought to do a tour of some kind but no English speaking travel agencies.  If you want a nice rest in a big hotel right on the beach in Vietnam with plenty of restaurants, shops and supermarkets and a great place to swim it's well worth going to.
Now in a Taxi, Hotel to Hotel to Phan Thiet

  • Luxury.  We hired a driver through 12go (Travel App).  Couldn't get a mini bus.  Approximately 200 klms with a couple of stops.  Good driver with passable English and fairly new SUV about $100 AUD.  Very good value considering no taxi or grab to and from hotels.
  • We stopped off at Phan Thiet as a last hurrah before getting into Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).  Probably stayed in the wrong part but managed to have a wander.  Quite a number of old or replica French building types here.  Large fishing fleet with a big selling area on the edge of the harbour.  Probably should of stayed in another area of the city a little further north with good beaches and more expensive but a good restaurant opposite and quite a good little boutique hotel.
Taxi Again No Mini Bus Companies Available to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

  • Again a good decision.   Around 150 to 200 klms.  Under $100 AUD.  Picked up at the hotel with a couple of stops along the way and driven straight to our hotel in Saigon.  What a bargain!!  Great Driver , fairly good English and near new SUV very comfortable trip.
  • What a great progressive and vibrant city.  Staying in an excellent hotel California Saigon.  Just up the hill from Ben Thanh Markets.  Quite an improvement since Covid I think.  Stalls and Alleyways don't seem to be so crowded as a few years ago.  You still get bombarded with stallholders trying to sell any manner of things to you but always some bargains that you want to buy.  Because we were so close it seemed a shame not to go back there several times.  Good Western Union money exchange very close with excellent exchange rates.   
  • Down the hill from us the Pasteur Street Craft Beer and Restaurant, great food variety and great beer variety.  Because of being in Vietnam for almost 30 days tasting lots of different foods we had lunch and dinner there for the whole 5 days we were there.  Only beer there but the wine was expensive so we bought a bottle of wine from nearby supermarket and paid corkage great!
  • Lots of places to see but really hot and humid again so difficult to walk very far in one go.  Again the hop on hop off bus fairly inexpensive and you can get off and visit all the places you want to including museums, churches, historic sites and anything else you want to see and then get back on the next bus.