Thailand + Vietnam Trip

4/25 -> To Bangkok
CI837 TPE 2235 -> BKK 0120
LJ003 ICN 2125 -> BKK 0115

4/26 -> Bangkok
Grabtaxi BKK -> Hotel
Narai Hotel (USD 75.30 for 2 nights)
222 Si Lom, Khwaeng Suriya Wong, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Silom, Bangkok, Thailand 10500
Get “RTC Rabbit” Card

Get Simcard: AIS/true move/ dtac (8-day 3GB 299 Baht)

– Chatuchak weekend market (Mo Chit BTS)
– Ratchada Rot Fai Night Market
– Khao San Road

https://www.klook.com/blog/en-sg/best-bangkok-food/

4/27 -> Bangkok -> Chiang Mai
DMK ->CNX FD3433 1250 ->1356 (31.71USD)

Kokotel (USD 42.5 per night for 2 nights)
21 Soi 12 Nimmanhaeminda Rd.,Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai,Chinag Mai 50200, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

– Walk around Nimman Walking Streets

– Doi Suthep (Taxi to destination and back – around 500 Baht)

Chiang Mai related info:
– https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/chiang-mai-tha-cm-cmc.htm

4/28 -> Chiang Mai
– Chiang Mai Old City
Temple-hopping: Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh

Wat Chedi Luang

– Blue Noodle shop (Beef Noodles)
– Sunday Walking Market

4/29 -> Chiang Mai
– Check out of Kokotel
– Check into The Small Chiang Rai (19USD/ night for 3 nights)
– 12:50 -> 1600 Grand Canyon Chiang Mai – 200 Baht per person (meeting @ Macdonald infront of Tha Phae Gate)

– Night Safari 1800 -> 2200 (500 Baht/person)
– Chang Klan Road (Night Bazaar)

4/30 -> Chiang Mai
– Elephant Family care 0830 – 1700 (no riding)/ Waterfall/Lunch/Rafting – 1350 / person
– Chang Puak Gate Night Market FONG-FEI-FEI PORK RICE
– North Gate Jazz bar
– Walk around and back to hotel

5/1 -> Chiang Mai
– Warorot market
– Yoga
– Chang Puak Gate Night Market FONG-FEI-FEI PORK RICE

5/2 -> Chiang Mai -> Hanoi
– Plum cafe (Thai boba tea)

FD870 CNX 1320 -> HAN 1450 (USD 77)

Hotel: Rising Dragon Villa Hotel (USD 51/night for 2 nights)
43A Bat Su Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam

Ways of transportation to city
– Hotel pick up (normally 400,000 dong / for 3 people or less)
– Grab (normally 300,000 dong)
– Pubic bus (Bus No.87 for 30,000 dong / person)
– Klook Private Noi Bai Airport Transfers (HAN) for Hanoi City: USD 13.30

– Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn (49 Bát Đàn) Pho
– Bun Cha Hang Banh Dac Kim
– Old Quarter
– Hoan Kiem Lake
– Daiichi Travel Agent
– French Quarter
– St. Joseph’s Cathedral

5/3 -> Hanoi
– Dong Xuan Market
– Train Street
– Walk around the city

5/4 -> Hanoi -> Cat Ba Island
Transportation -> 10USD/person (0830-1200: 3.5 hours)

https://www.getyourguide.com/hanoi-l205/full-day-halong-private-cruise-t35388/?referrer_view_id=7455ad90693ed1f848714b9f9f7b5bac&referrer_view_position=0#booking-assistant

Halong Bay for backpackers:
https://www.dreambigtravelfarblog.com/blog/best-halong-bay-cruise-for-backpackers

DIY Guide to Halong Bay: Dodge the Crowds & Get More Bang For Your Dong!

Cat Ba Island
https://www.catbavietnam.com/hydrofoil-cat-ba-timetable.html

– Beach no.1 & 2 & 3

5/5 -> Cat Ba Island -> Halong Bay -> Haiphong/Hanoi
– USD$16 / person for tour around Halong Bay 0830-1700
– Halong Bay -> Haiphong harbor: 9USD
– Halong Bay -> Hanoi hotel: 11USD

5/6 -> Back home
VJ926 Hai Phong HPH 2330 -> ICN 0615
CI792 Hanoi 1135 -> TPE 1530

Chiang Mai Must eats:
1. Khao Soi (coconut and curry flavored soup filled with yellow egg noodles and chicken)

– KHAO SOI KHUN YAI : KHAO SOI (near north gate)

2. Pad Thai: Pad Sen Benja
3. Roast Chicken: Kiat Ocha, Cherng Doi Roast Chicken and SP Chicken.
4. Beef Noodles: Blue Shop (71 71 Ratchadamnoen Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
5. Pat Kee Mao: Tikky Cafe (doesn’t open on Sunday)
6. Sia fishball noodle (Nimmana Haeminda Rd Lane 11, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200 )

Hanoi Must eats:
1.

9/13-9/27 Spendings in Southern Vietnam + Siem Reap

Cost list-(per person) 400USD
Money Exchange (USD->VND):
– 9/13/2018: 50USD -> 1,165,000VND
– 9/14/2018: 100USD -> 2,321,000VND
– 9/15/2018: 100USD -> 2,321,000VND
– 9/16/2018: 100USD -> 2,340,000VND
– 9/18/2018: 100USD -> 2,330,000VND
– In Cambodia, USD is being widely used and accepted.

Airfares:
– 9/13/2018: TPE->SGN/REP->TPE (255USD) | ICN->SGN/REP->ICN
– 9/16/2018: SGN->DLI (33USD)
– 9/18/2018: DLI->SGN  07:10-08:00 (33.5USD)
– 9/18/2018: SGN->PQC 10:10-11:05 (49.3USD)
– 9/21/2018: PQC->REP (via BKK) (171.5USD)

Ground Transportations Airports<->Hotels:
– 9/13/2018: Taxi SGN Airport to hotel(Saigon)(200,000VND)
– 9/16/2018: Taxi Hotel to SGN Airport(Early Morning rate: 245000VND)
– 9/16/2018: Taxi DLI Airport to hotel (300,000VDN + 6USD) (ask for a fixed rate at around 250,000VDN)
– 9/18/2018: Taxi Hotel to DLI Airport(250,000VDN)
– 9/18/2018: Taxi PHQ Airport to Hotel(100,000VDN)
– 9/21/2018: Hotel to PHQ Airport (100,000VDN)
– 9/21/2018: Tuktuk REP Airport to Hotel (free of charge, paid by Hotel)
– 9/26/2018: Tuktuk Hotel to REP (8USD)

Accommodations
– 9/13-16: Bui Vien Hotel (34.34USD)
– 9/16-9/18: Maxim House Dalat (23.93USD)
– 9/18-9/21: Chang’s house ( 32 + 16.50USD)
– 9/21-9/26: Krong Siem Reap Hotel(60USD)
– 9/26: Krong Siem Reap Hotel late check-out (6USD)

Tickets:
– 9/14/2018: Sky bar entrance (300,000VND)
– 9/22/2018: 3-Day pass for Angkor Park (62USD)

Recreational Sports:
– 9/17/2018: Canyoning (50USD 08:00-15:00 lunch included)
– 9/20/2018: Phu Quoc Scuba Diving in the South (80USD/2 dives)

Visas:
– 9/13/2018: e-Visa(Vietnam): 6+25USD: 31USD
– 9/21/2018: Visa on arrival(Cambodia): 30USD

Foods:

Others:
– SIM card 4G unlimited/10days (Vietnam): 180,000VND 
– Miu Miu Body Massage in HCM: 380,000 VND
– Foot Massage in HCM: 150,000VND
– 1 day scooter rental in Dalat: 120,000VND
– Laundry Dalat Hotel: 45,000VDN
– 2 days scooter rental in Phu Quoc: 300,000VND
– SIM card 4G unlimited/14 days in Cambodia: 6 USD
– 4.5 days scooter rental in Siem Reap: 41USD
– Laundry Siem Reap Hotel: 4.5USD
– Foot massage in Siem Reap: 5USD
– Foot massage: 3USD
– Salon in Siem Reap: 3USD

Vietnam – best place for money exchange rate in Ho Chi Minh

There is nothing coming home from a great trip abroad thinking you had been really savvy about sticking to your budget only to be hit with unexpected currency-exchange fees on your bank statement and credit card bill.

Almost every overseas traveler needs to exchange currency at some point during his or her trip. If you don’t know the tricks, it can be extremely expensive.

The official currency in Vietnam is called Dong (VND). Banknotes are available in 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, and 500,000 dong. The 20,000 and 500,000 bills look similar so be extra careful when paying with these notes.

Foreign visitors in Ho Chi Minh can buy local currency upon arrival at the airport. The exchange rate is not favorable but it might be necessary to pay for taxi fare and other immediate needs.

For the best exchange rates, you are recommended to visit the money changers and gold dealers around Ben Thanh Market and Ho Chi Minh Square.

Some big hotels in Ho Chi Minh also offer currency exchange service, use it for your convenience only as the rates are quite poor.