Expert: Al Slagle - 1/13/2008

Question
Hello,
I haven't travelled much through Asia. (Thailand only of 2 weeks). Is Vietnam difficult to get around without knowing the language. Also, I would be going on my own at this point - Would I expect to meet many people from Aus. I.E is there specific places / accommodation where i would have more luck in running into people back home.

Answer
Hi Victoria,

I would put Vietnam and Thailand at the about the same level in terms of getting around. If you did ok in Thailand, you should be ok in Vietnam. Since the tourism industry is growing there now, most people at travel agencies, guesthouses, restaurants, and shops in the big cities and tourist areas speak some English, pretty much the same as it is in Thailand.

When I traveled there, I took a bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City and there were about 4 others from Australia/New Zealand and 4 or 5 from Europe. Pretty much everywhere I traveled, there were Westerners traveling to the same places. In fact we often ran into the same people along the way even though we had different itineraries. The bottom line is, you shouldn't have any problems running into people from back home.

In HCMC, the Pham Ngu Lao area has a lot of guesthouses that cater pretty much to foreign travelers. There are local travel agencies in that area that can set you up with tours and what not. In smaller cities like Nha Trang, Hue, and Hoi An, there are spots where travelers congregate that aren't hard to find. In Hanoi, there are quite a few guesthouses in the Old Quarter where travelers stay. If you're there, be sure to take a tour to Halong Bay.

Ok, that's about it. Have a great trip and let me know if you have any other questions!

AL