Far East

Discussions regarding holidays in the Far East.
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We got visa on arrival last year and had no problems. We applied online via an agent who emailed us the relevant paperwork to print off. Once at HCMC visa window is on EXTREME left before Passport Control.
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Thanks for the reply. We opted for the Visas from the Embassy and just got them back today. Not long to go now. can't wait.
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;) When and whereabouts are you going in Vietnam? Recommend Ben Tre, Can Tho and the island Phu Quoc!
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We leave mid March. We're doing quite a lot of travel and sightseeing but we are having a few days to relax at the end. It's an escorted tour with Kuoni.
Starting off in Ho Chi Minh City (Ben Tre is an optional tour) then Hoi An, Hue, Dong Hoi, Vinh and Hanoi. A cruise in Halong bay. Then overnight train to Lao Cai/Sapa train back to Hanoi and flying to NhaTrang for 4 days of R&R.
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Do try and do the tour to Chu Chi Tunnels when in HCMC and the war museum ;) We're looking at Hanoi and trip either one day or overnight via junk to Halong Bay...then maybe flying back down to Hue and Hoi An. Have really got to get sorted :rofl
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The tunnels and the war museum are included in our tour. Hope you get yours sorted. Good luck.
Gail
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;) When the guide at Chu Chi tunnels asks where the entrance to it is...it's at his feet! Vietnamese man will pop up! I went in there..can only do it with arms above head..but as I'm short I didn't have enough leverage to push myself out :rofl Luckily there was a young Ozzie lad in that group who took hold of both my wrists and yanked me straight out LOL!

Also if you're going to go down the tunnels (they've made a section slightly wider for Europeans!)..try and jump down IMMEDIATELY after the guide...that way you'll do the whole part of the tunnel that's open that day and won't get !!!! and stuck behind any in the group that panic/get stuck :rofl . They'd closed the 60mt bit off the day we went because it was so hot someone earlier had fainted in there...so were only doing 40mtr section...I jumped straight in after guide but had VERY small back pack on which was catching on the roof of the tunnel..so I did it on hands and knees lol...O.H. followed (although wasn't sure if he would do it and had spent the night before having panic as doesn't like confined spaces!)..and another ozzie lad after him...the rest got stuck etc..and came out at the 20 mtr section.
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That looks amazing. I'm not sure if my OH will fit down the tunnels, he's a bit on the large side. (Just as well he doesn't read what I write on here! :rofl )
I'm not a big fan of confined spaces either.
It does look very interesting though. I hope we manage to do it without getting stuck.
Thank you so much for the info and photos. Much appreciated.
Gail.
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the section of tunnel we tourists go through has been widened for us and you won't get stuck. I had no intention of going along the tunnel but our guide didn't seem to even contemplate anyone saying no. I'm glad I did it but it is dark. BP makes a good suggestion- go early in the group. the second half of our group took a long time to surface and obviously one of them had frozen in the tunnel. Trouble is that there is nothing you can do - you just have to keep going forward. I'm glad I did it- but if we went back- I wouldn't do it again! Once is enough :rofl
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Thanks Fiona, we'll definitely give it a go. Hope I'm not the one that freezes and holds the others up!
Gail
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Gail
I am sure most folks manage no bother. I am just a bit of a coward- but even I managed it :) It does give you an idea of what the warfare was like. The film they showed us right at the beginning of the tour was fascinating.
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