05-25-2011, 09:05
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#1
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Auxiliary
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Okinawa Japan
Posts: 74
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Trip to Vietnam
Back from the sand box and two of my teammates and I are going to take a trip to Vietnam. Planning on flying into Hanoi, spending a day or two there then getting some motorcycles and taking a trip to the south. Not sure yet if we are going to use one of the motorcycle "tour agencies" or just buy bikes and do our own thing. However, I am planning on a 12 -14 day journey stopping by Son Tay, Hue, Da Nang, My Lai, A Shau Valley, and ending up in Ho Chi Minh. Planning on taking the Ho Chi Minh Trail for as much of the ride as possible. Once in Ho Chi Minh, we will spend another 10 - 14 days there relaxing and continuing with the touristy type of activities.
Anyone have any suggestions as to other places stop by and check out? Also, if anyone here has any specific requests pertaining to photos or things of that nature along the route, send me a PM and I will do what I can to facilitate your requests.
Semper Fi
__________________
Sometimes your best isn't good enough. Then you just do what is required to get the job done - HS Wrestling Coach
Things are never as bad as they say they're going to be, until they are, then they're way f'n worse.
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MARSOC0211 is offline
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05-25-2011, 09:41
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#2
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BANNED USER
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Monterey California
Posts: 392
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Dalat is cool (literaly), Tay Ninh has Coa Dai temples and Nui Ba Den (Black Virgin Mtn), The tunnels of Cu Chi are neat to visit. The beaches in Nha Trang and Vung Tau are the finest in SEA.
De IOppresso Liber
Mike
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f50lrrp is offline
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05-25-2011, 09:47
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#3
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,821
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You could watch the Top Gear episode where they ran a very similar trip on bikes from the South to the North, mostly along the coast.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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05-25-2011, 09:48
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#4
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: NorCal
Posts: 15,370
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MARSOC0211
...use one of the motorcycle "tour agencies"...
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...and let them know where you wanted to go...it's a lot different running QL1 than the interior and crossing borders. 
Richard 
__________________
“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)… There are just some kind of men who – who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” - To Kill A Mockingbird (Atticus Finch)
“Almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.” - Robert Heinlein
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Richard is offline
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05-25-2011, 09:59
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#5
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orange, Ca.
Posts: 4,950
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If you are going down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, you need to go to Laos or Cambodia. I would suggest Cambodia. The Pathet Lao are still in charge of Laos. They aren't particularly fond of Americans. Something about more bombs dropped in Laos during the Vietnam War than in the entire European Theater during WWII.. Cambodia is pretty nice these days- good food, friendly locals, great beaches... But if you see a large woman with an axe, stay clear. Anchon is mad again...
Last edited by mark46th; 05-25-2011 at 17:41.
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mark46th is offline
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05-25-2011, 10:01
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#6
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Tampa
Posts: 2,530
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Stop by Hoa Lo prison in Hanoi (Hanoi Hilton), also the 12/11 bar (there is a bomb in the middle that came through the roof on 11 Dec of some year and didn't blow up) and Apocalypse Now.
There is an incredible steak joint (Australian) right near there.
The Spotted Cow is a famous watering hole as well.
REAL touristy you can get the King Cobra at "The Snake Place" and they will kill it at the table, you get to drink the blood and bile from the gall bladder - then eat the raw heart. They will cook the rest of it however you want - usually grilled or fried.
Good luck-BE SAFE...
Eagle
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Primum non Nocere
"I have hung out in dangerous places a lot over the years, from combat zones to biker bars, and it is the weak, the unaware, or those looking for it, that usually find trouble.
Ain't no one getting out of this world alive. All you can do is try to have some choice in the way you go. Prepare yourself (and your affairs), and when your number is up, die on your feet fighting rather than on your knees. And make the SOBs pay dearly."
The Reaper-3 Sep 04
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Eagle5US is offline
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05-26-2011, 02:57
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#7
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Auxiliary
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Okinawa Japan
Posts: 74
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Thank you everyone for the replies. I definitely want to check out the beaches and I can't believe I forgot about the Hanoi Hilton...
TS, that Top Gear video is actually what cemented this idea in my head. I had wanted to go to Vietnam, but was not sure exactly what I wanted to do until I saw that episode.
Again, I appreciate it,
Ross
__________________
Sometimes your best isn't good enough. Then you just do what is required to get the job done - HS Wrestling Coach
Things are never as bad as they say they're going to be, until they are, then they're way f'n worse.
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MARSOC0211 is offline
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05-26-2011, 05:07
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#8
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: 18 yrs upstate NY, 30 yrs South Florida, 20 yrs Conch Republic, now chasing G-Kids in NOVA & UK
Posts: 11,901
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Ross
My neighbor just returned(last month) from a tour. Landed in Hanoi, toured the the city & Hilton, went down to Ho Chi Minh. From there he took a boat tour up the Mekong to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It was an all-arranged package tour. He went with a HS buddy and they loved it.
He said the accommodation were fantastic. On the river, they slept, eat, & drank on the boat. There is still a lot of depressed areas out side of the "tourista" zones. ALL the people were very friendly. He renewed some of his language skills, as he had been a MACV advisor.
They took several bike-taxi tours in the different cities as THE WAY to get around. The traffic is even more congested than it was 40 yrs ago.
I would be leery of a 1500k personalized bike tour??
Good Luck,, Pictures and AAR required??
__________________
Go raibh tú leathuair ar Neamh sula mbeadh a fhios ag an diabhal go bhfuil tú marbh
"May you be a half hour in heaven before the devil knows you’re dead"
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JJ_BPK is offline
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05-26-2011, 06:19
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#9
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Auxiliary
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Okinawa Japan
Posts: 74
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JJ,
Thanks brother, I will definitely post up an AAR and photos.
We are looking to spend the majority of our motorcycle trip out of the tourist traps. Luckily, one of my teammates is of Vietnamese decent and speaks really well. So far, we are planning on spending about a day and a half there in Hanoi, then jumping on the bikes and heading south. Here is our planned route:
Day 1: Ha Noi - Hoa Binh ( Via Son Tay) *we should stay extra day for halong bay also*
Hoa Binh - Son Tay Raid Site, Hoa La Prison
Day 2: Hoa Binh - Thanh Hoa
Most of city destroyed, but completely rebuilt after war
Day 3: Thanh Hoa - Nghe An
Day 4: Nghe An - Quang Binh
Underground river, Hot Springs, Battlefield sites along the HCM trail
Day 5: Quang Binh - Quang Tri
Major battleground for Tet Offensive. VC eventually took over Quang Tri
Day 6: Quang Tri - Hue
Imperial City (HUGE palace for only royals), FOOD, Museum of Royal Arts
Day 7: Hue - A Luoi ( see Hamburger Hill)
Day 8: A Luoi - Da Nang
Marble Mountain, My Son (Hindu Temples), Hoi An (UNESCO) Old style buildings *touristy*
Day 9 :* Da Nang - Quang Ngai ( to see My Lai)
Day 10 : Quang Ngai - Kon Tum
Borders Laos/Cambodia, Overrun by VC, French Influence
Day 11: Kom Tum - Buon Me Thuot
Last major battle between VC/VN Army, Excellent waterfalls
Day 12: Buon Me Thuot - Lak lake
Hilltribe life, Sweet villages, Emporer Bao Dai Villa
Day 13: Lak lake - Dak Mil
Real foresty trail ride
Day 14: Dak Mil - Dong Xoai
Battle of Dong Xoai, SF Camp attacked
Day 15: Dong Xoai - Sai Gon
Then spend about 14 days in HCMC. While there, travel around and check out Cu Chi Tunnels, Nha Trang and Vung Tau beaches. The first two and a half weeks will be busy, but the final two weeks will be pretty relaxed. We are also using those 14 days in HCMC as a buffer ICO weather or any other unforeseen circumstance. I am pretty stoked about this opportunity. 
Ross
__________________
Sometimes your best isn't good enough. Then you just do what is required to get the job done - HS Wrestling Coach
Things are never as bad as they say they're going to be, until they are, then they're way f'n worse.
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MARSOC0211 is offline
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05-26-2011, 06:21
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#10
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Area Commander
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,469
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Pictures.....Lot's of Pictures, photograph everything and create a journal online - Flicker.
If you get south of Chu Lai you'll find unspoiled coastline. The local food, particularly the fish stew's with kaffer lime and coconut is not to be missed.
Pick pockets galore in HCM City.
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Penn is offline
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05-26-2011, 06:29
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#11
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Quiet Professional (RIP)
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Carriere,Ms.
Posts: 6,922
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagle5US
REAL touristy you can get the King Cobra at "The Snake Place" and they will kill it at the table, you get to drink the blood and bile from the gall bladder - then eat the raw heart. They will cook the rest of it however you want - usually grilled or fried.
Eagle
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OMG,you guys are really snake eaters aren't you?........
Big Teddy
__________________
I believe that SF is a 'calling' - not too different from the calling missionaries I know received. I knew instantly that it was for me, and that I would do all I could to achieve it. Most others I know in SF experienced something similar. If, as you say, you HAVE searched and read, and you do not KNOW if this is the path for you --- it is not....
Zonie Diver
SF is a calling and it requires commitment and dedication that the uninitiated will never understand......
Jack Moroney
SFA M-2527, Chapter XXXVII
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greenberetTFS is offline
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05-26-2011, 07:29
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#12
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Auxiliary
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Okinawa Japan
Posts: 74
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penn
Pictures.....Lot's of Pictures, photograph everything and create a journal online - Flicker.
If you get south of Chu Lai you'll find unspoiled coastline. The local food, particularly the fish stew's with kaffer lime and coconut is not to be missed.
Pick pockets galore in HCM City.
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Penn,
Flicker is the intent. Two of us will be rolling through with D60s so there will be a ton of photos  . Thanks for the advice on the venues south of Chu Lai, and thanks for the heads-up on the pick pockets in HCMC. Researched the DOS site and a couple of "other" conduits, and it seems like petty crime is pretty prevalent. Figure we will take the same precautions as we typically do when in PI.
TFS,
I'll eat anything!!!
__________________
Sometimes your best isn't good enough. Then you just do what is required to get the job done - HS Wrestling Coach
Things are never as bad as they say they're going to be, until they are, then they're way f'n worse.
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MARSOC0211 is offline
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05-26-2011, 07:37
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#13
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,821
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MARSOC0211
Penn,
Flicker is the intent. Two of us will be rolling through with D60s so there will be a ton of photos . Thanks for the advice on the venues south of Chu Lai, and thanks for the heads-up on the pick pockets in HCMC. Researched the DOS site and a couple of "other" conduits, and it seems like petty crime is pretty prevalent. Figure we will take the same precautions as we typically do when in PI.
TFS,
I'll eat anything!!! |
Be prepared for a lot of anti-US lies and propaganda.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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05-26-2011, 07:44
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#14
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 11 miles from Dove Creek, Colorady
Posts: 3,924
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JJ_BPK
Ross
My neighbor just returned(last month) from a tour. Landed in Hanoi, toured the the city & Hilton, went down to Ho Chi Minh. From there he took a boat tour up the Mekong to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It was an all-arranged package tour. He went with a HS buddy and they loved it.
He said the accommodation were fantastic. On the river, they slept, eat, & drank on the boat. There is still a lot of depressed areas out side of the "tourista" zones. ALL the people were very friendly. He renewed some of his language skills, as he had been a MACV advisor.
They took several bike-taxi tours in the different cities as THE WAY to get around. The traffic is even more congested than it was 40 yrs ago.
I would be leery of a 1500k personalized bike tour??
Good Luck,, Pictures and AAR required??
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My bike trip.
__________________
"...But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive."
Shakespeare - Henry V
Lazy Bob Ranch
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Utah Bob is offline
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05-26-2011, 07:53
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#15
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: 18 yrs upstate NY, 30 yrs South Florida, 20 yrs Conch Republic, now chasing G-Kids in NOVA & UK
Posts: 11,901
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reaper
Be prepared for a lot of anti-US lies and propaganda.
TR
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TR
My neighbor (JCG) was impressed with the total lack of any anti-American feelings. Now,, he was on a planned and guided tour, but when they were on the boat in the Mekong, the villages they stopped at were very friendly and off the tour.. In Cambodia they were unsupervised. He was very impressed with the commi-capitalist attitude that has sprung up.
We may have won after all??? or at least the almighty $$ won their hearts & minds..
As a reference, JCG is a retired 06 and spent most of his career between the ROK DMZ and Ranger committee.
__________________
Go raibh tú leathuair ar Neamh sula mbeadh a fhios ag an diabhal go bhfuil tú marbh
"May you be a half hour in heaven before the devil knows you’re dead"
Last edited by JJ_BPK; 05-26-2011 at 08:30.
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