Diane - I have shared your request on our FB page so hopefully we will get some response from here an there.

Best

Lance

Thank You

I know from my Mum that accepting that you need mobility assistance is a huge psychological step to take but would he consider starting to use a chair or electric mobility scooter? Once my Mum did, her and my Dad were able to resume their travelling and travel companies are far more switched on these days about access issues. I've met people on cruises who found it no problem to use their scooters on board the ship as well as on shore (though you need to avoid itineraries with tender transfers if you want to take it with you on all port calls).

My Mum has a great folding chair that folds up like the old McLaren 'umbrella' buggies and has its own carrying shoulder bag making it ideal for travelling since she does still have some mobility - enough to step on and off buses and trains etc and it is light and compact enough for me to carry on and off or be stowed in the luggage compartments of coaches etc. What swung it with my Mum was persuading her that it would make life easier for my Dad and other travelling companions and after the first trip she did admit that she should have started using one long beforehand. It opened up so many opportunities that she admitted she had shut down for them because of her stubbornness in trying to persist in not accepting assistance.

I have been to Vietnam a couple of times- only to Saigon and Hanoi, but we did take trips out of the cities. Hanoi we stayed in the old quarter. The old quarter is absolutely fascinating. You can take trishaw trips around it. Plenty places to stop off at for a rest and a cooling drink. I loved it and even if you get no further, you will certainly have a great experience.
From there you get a day and overnight at Halong Bay. We couldn't go as we didn't go at the right time of year. There are a range of trips to see various villages outwith Hanoi. Your hotel would easily book private tours for you. If you look at viator you should find a range of tours. But ask your hotel to price them.
When we were in Saigon we booked several trips for ridiculously cheap prices ( may not be as cheap now ). The Temple of the Holy See
is absolutely fascinating. There are some stairs to climb though. Is he able to do that?
As Sma said, it might be worth him using a wheel chair to help see a few more things. The foldable chair is a great idea !
Internal flights are quite cheap.

I don't know how old you both are but if one of you is over 50 years old have you considered a tour with SAGA. As they specialise in holidays for older people most of their tours take in consideration the health problems that their customers may have. I don't know what tours they are offering to Vietnam at the moment but they might be worth a try and I would think that they would be able to tell you how strenuous the tours might be.

Although I have in the past mostly travelled independently at times I've taken small group tours with tour companies and twice have taken tours with SAGA, one incidentally to Vietnam, though not the north, just the south. I don't remember anything really strenuous other than climbing down the Cu Chi tunnels which most of the guests didn't attempt anyhow. We were taken from place to place by coach or occasionally by trishaw .

If you are younger (or older)than 50years old then there are a host of tour companies that offer a huge variety of escorted tours to places around the world and most will be able to tell you the level of difficulty of the tour. Voyages Jules Verne and Travelsphere come to mind.

This is the chair my Mum has (except the carry bag has shoulder straps as well)

http://www.vivantage.co.uk/viva-medi-tartan-transit-wheelchair.html?utm_campaign=ShoppingFeed&utm_source=google&utm_medium=merchantcenter&utm_content=Health%20%3E%20Wheelchairs%20%3E%20Wheelchairs%20-%20Transit&gclid=CNuWlNqquNQCFS-T7QodpCANfQ

Whilst this one is more expensive, it looks to be of better quality and folds up even smaller.

http://www.betterlifehealthcare.com/view/travelite-lightweight-wheelchair-with-free-carry-bag/8391/?ref=google_base&gclid=CLmAitKruNQCFQIG0wodGd4JIQ

It's worth shopping around and if he is registered disabled or has a Blue Badge then it is often possible to buy them VAT free.

We have travelled with Saga but this type of group activity is now too demanding as you have to keep up with the pace of the group. Thank you for your input

The Rickshaw tip is worth thinking about as we have done this in Thailand.
Thank for the inspiration

Great advice, just need to persuade husband, he does use a mobility scooter at home and we have used wheelchairs in museums. Need to do some more Research into hiring a wheelchair.
I will certainly look at the chair details you have sent, although as we are both 70 he worries about giving me more to do. Maybe I need a new husband!!

Judith- was trying to think if the Cu Chi tunnels would be doable ? I Seem to remember that it was relatively ok for a wheelchair? Obviously not down the tunnels

Fiona

I can't remember how far we walked from where the coach was parked to the tunnels, though I'm pretty sure it would be doable for a wheelchair. I can't remember which SAGA tour I was on where a couple of the men had the walkingstick/chairs with them and everytime we stopped they had a rest on the sticks. Of course if keeping up with the group becomes a problem then taking a lightweight wheelchair would probably be the answer. Had great fun riding in the trishaws in Vietnam and India .

Thanks Judith - I was thinking it was doable as well but wanted to make sure you thought the same.

I think a cruise would be ideal if he is tired he doesn't even have to leave the ship people also take mobility scooters and wheelchairs onboard. Also if yo go on the ships excursions the coaches are usually parked near the ship and certainly on Thomson cruises the excursions are rated as to the level of mobility. An alternative to a sea cruise would be a river cruise wher yousee lots of scenery and the boats moor close to the city centres in most cases.

Thank you for your suggestion