I'm going to Vietnam in 2011. Any suggestions as to what to see, where to go?

[arbusto_baboso]

Background: My step-father, a 3-tour vet, is returning to Vietnam in the summer of 2011 to see his old haunts in Saigon, Da Nang, Quang Tri, etc. He's taking me and my step-brother with him.

A lot of the trip will be taken up seeing places he was while in Special Forces (including a small side trip into Laos...). I'd like some ideas what to do during non-scheduled time. I already want to see the old city of Hue...

[bikebloke]

1. Lucky duck.

Vietnam is on my list of places left to visit.

Cuba, Egypt and Turkey are the others. Though the crumbling economy and Limbaugh flu pandemic may put a damper on my travels.

Have a good trip! :hi:

[arbusto_baboso]

2. I'd say I'll take plenty of pictures, but....

the government of Vietnam is still a bit paranoid, so I'll have to be careful about my photography. Still, I'll take as many as I'm allowed, of whatever I'm allowed...

[Bossy Monkey]

3. There was a terrific article on Hanoi in National Geographic some years ago

Unfortunately, all that's online is an excerpt: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0405/feature5/index.html (This might be a different article than the one I was thinking of; regardless, it indicates that Hanoi is very beautiful.)

Sorry, that's all I know. Lots of resources on the National Geographic site, though.

[arbusto_baboso]

4. I remember that article!

Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be getting anywhere close to Hanoi.

[old mark]

5. Hue is become a real propaganda experience.The locals will tell

you about the terrible brutal Marines who destroyed the city while not telling you about the several thousand civilians - the intellectuals, unionists, etc, who were executed by the NVA and dumped into a mass grave.
The country is more warped as you get farther north - Saigon is actually still a human city.
Overall, it should be an enjoyable trip. Just take what you see and hear with a grain of salt.
Your step father being an old sneakey pete will know a lot about the place - they are a pretty smart group.

mark

[arbusto_baboso]

6. Oh, I expect a lot of propaganda.

Part and parcel of the experience. Otoh, they want our dollars, too, so they'll be as careful as we will be not to offend.

[Dogtown]

7. It's a very beautiful country

Breathtaking.

BTW, we did some horrible things there, as did the opposition.

We lost that war years ago but some here can't forget their anger. I doubt the citizens will want to talk about the war anymore than you do.

Forget any advise about paranoia and enjoy yourself!

[arbusto_baboso]

8. That's what my step-dad always said.

That it's a beautiful country, I mean.

Actually, his exact words were, "It's really quite a beautiful place, when all the shit around you isn't blowing the fuck up."

[Dogtown]

9. War does fuck things up.

I try not to remember that stuff.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

10. I've heard from a former colleague that Vung Tau

beach is pretty spectacular.