Metal Sludge Gossip Board

Was going to take my twins (son/ daughter 14 years old) on a trip to Vietnam (4 weeks) & Cambodia (1 week) later this year.

In this region , I have been to Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore before (many years ago before kids) , but have always wanted to see these countries and will be my twins first time to Asia.

The itinerary so far is :

Fly to Hanoi and stay for a few days to enjoy this vibrant city.

Ha Long Bay : sail this scenic UNESCO World Heritage area

Nhim Bhin - a few days in this spectacular scenic area before taking sleeper train to

Phong Nha - stay a few days to explore the world’s largest cave system and the region’s amazing scenery.

Hue - Ancient capital and sail the perfume river etc . Then take scenic train to

Danang and Hoi An : 4 days to explore this fantastic area with so much to see and do , before flying to

Angkor Wat Cambodia : I have always wanted to visit this wonder of the ancient world plus see and experience other nearby Cambodian areas .

Phnom Penh : experience the capital city and sail down the Mekong River, back to Vietnam.

Chau Doc - border city on the river : hike to top of nearby Sam mountain for view overlooking Cambodia on one side and the Mekong River Delta on the other and the mountain’s religious temples and a nearby national park .

Can Tho to Ben Tre and the Mekong Delta to experience a few days of life on the delta. Including Homestay , biking through the delta islands with their fruit orchards and boat tours etc .

Phu Quoc island : incredible island for beach time , snorkelling, Disneyland type of amusement parks, amazing water parks , food , hiking / biking , longest cable car ride over the ocean to a more distant island with a water park resort etc .

Hi Chi Minh City (Saigon) : few days of food , history and sights before flying home.


Has anyone been to these countries ?

Sounds fantastic
Hope you have a great time!

Bring more than $5.

I'm so jealous!

And I've never been, but heard nothing but raves from friends and co-workers who have been.

Enjoy and be safe!!

Sounds like pure hell
Waste of money , time and stress
This seems like vacation Paul Stanley would plan for his family in some stupid place like Dubai

Time of year makes a big difference. The far east can be dangerously hot and humid through the summer. I’ll never go back unless I can afford first class and fall weather. Don’t forget typhoon season too.

Do you speak the language?

And what kind of business are you in where you would spend a month there? I’ve never heard of anybody taking a money long vacation!

Vietnam was Anthony Bourdains favorite place to travel. Watch his Vietnam episodes for ideas.

DonJuanDeMarco wrote: ↑Fri Apr 25, 2025 2:29 pm Do you speak the language?

And what kind of business are you in where you would spend a month there? I’ve never heard of anybody taking a money long vacation!

Vietnam was Anthony Bourdains favorite place to travel. Watch his Vietnam episodes for ideas.

No I don’t speak the language but with google translate etc and was shocked how great software is at even looking at a photo and translating all words to English. I figure if had a great time traveling before smartphones, with them , will be even easier .

I get 6 weeks of vacation every year plus , all 13 stat holidays and even my birthday off . So almost 9 weeks in total .

If I can’t take all my vacation days , they get rolled over to the following year . Although they frown on us rolling too many days over to the next year .


I always take a month off to go on vacation ( including cruises , road trips) with my twins , as they still love hanging out with dad lol

And always take every Friday off while my twins are on summer holidays , to use up some days and go on shorter camping and road trips etc . Or do days of long scenic bike rides or river floats etc (or short ski trip)

Thanks for reminding me of Anthony , I will have to check out his Vietnam episodes .

Even Clark Griswold wouldn’t take his family on this vacation
A real life Griswold 5 week vacation

Someone please make this movie

Clark Griswold “I got google translator “

CanadianMetal wrote: ↑Fri Apr 25, 2025 7:29 pm I get 6 weeks of vacation every year plus , all 13 stat holidays and even my birthday off . So almost 9 weeks in total .
If I can’t take all my vacation days , they get rolled over to the following year . Although they frown on us rolling too many days over to the next year .

Goddamn Socialism!

Seriously, I've not been to either country but both, and especially Angkor Wat, are well on the tourist trail so you're unlikely to have any language problems. Vietnamese street food is reputed to be some of the best in the world. It all sounds fantastic.

@CanadianMetal

Amazing! Personally, I think I may have watched Rambo a few too many times! I’m uncertain about Vietnam. But that’s amazing that you travel like that. Wishing you all the best!

I went to Vietnam at the end of 2023 for about 10 days. Had a great time!

Your money goes far!

Food is great. Try and join a food tour when you arrive in hanoi. A local will show you some great places you probably wouldn't find by yourself. There are two different types of street food. The amazing stuff that locals eat. The dodgy stuff you should avoid! Also don't drink tap water or have ice!

Hanoi was quite smoggy when I went. But it's a very cool city to explore. Most of the pavements are full of parked mopeds or shop fronts. So you have to walk on the road sometimes with the traffic which can be unnerving at first! You soon get used to it. And the mopeds are used to going around people.

Ha Long bay is stunningly beautiful. Try and stay at least one night on the boat. It is also very touristy. Doesn't take away from the incredible scenery though.

Hoi Ann is really nice. Especially at night with the lanterns.

Da Nang has some amazing beaches.

Local currency is dong but they also accept US dollars.

People are nice for the most part. There are some who might try and get you to do expensive touristy stuff like see the train in hanoi. But for the most part I found the people really friendly and helpful.

Most people you come across will speak English. Lol at thinking you need to learn vietnamese! Although knowing a few sayings is polite!

I didn't have time to go to Saigon unfortunately. But I do plan on going there and visiting Cambodia and Laos as well.

When are you planning on going? I went in November which was great climate wise. Not peak high temperatures but also not monsoon season either

Vietnam >>> LA by a country mile!

Nate S Axel wrote: ↑Fri Apr 25, 2025 12:36 pm Five weeks... wow! It sounds very foreign.

I think Stevie has toured in all of those countries though, so you should PM him and ask what vaccinations you should get and what food is edible aside from household pets.

Have fun for real though!

Stop being a racist piece of shit!
That was the rumor, when I was a teenager in the Bay Area in the very early 80's about Asian refugees. That's disgusting! The truth is, there were no cats, and dogs were not pets in Vietnam, the dogs were rabid and wild, and there weren't that many. Everyone was afraid of them and no one would eat a rabid animal. The guy who did my nails in the early 90's told me all about that.
And our VP reconstituted that rumor about Hattian immigrants in Ohio on the campaign trail.
Just stop being a racist piece of shit. It's not funny or Sludgey.

What a great trip!
And for your young kids, it will be very educational for them. It will shape them in a way that most of us don't get to do with our kids.
I've never been myself, but I have many friends who have. As others have said, the food is excellent!

@pieceofme , thanks for the detailed response, and yes I will try to do a food tour , as I love trying great food in all the places I visit.

As for my kids , I am pretty lucky that they have never been the complaining type. Even as toddlers they had not terrible but terrific two’s. When they were 3 or 4 I started to take them on longer bike rides , camping , road trips . So They never complain about sun , rain , heat , cold , snow , bugs and love animals. I never gave them electronics at restaurants.

A couple years ago, my daughter actually thanked me for not letting them use electronics at restaurants , after she saw my friend’s kid have a restaurant meltdown and how he could not have a conversation with anyone , other than one word answers when we spent a weekend visiting their family.

They now appreciate that they are lucky and how many of their classmates and friends have never been farther that 100 miles of home or go to just one particular destination for vacations . While they got to see and experience most Canadian provinces, 10 states and some Central American countries, cruises etc.

When people speak to my son or daughter, they will comment to me afterwards about how knowledgeable , thoughtful , and articulate they seem than their age would otherwise suggest .


As for planning this trip . I have about 65% of the accommodations booked so far, and doing more research on other locations now .

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words on this trip , it is appreciated!

Danzig in the Dark wrote: ↑Thu Apr 24, 2025 2:55 pm Bring more than $5.

Yeah, he may want to bang more than 10 ladyboys.

Bono Nettencourt wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 2:26 pm

Danzig in the Dark wrote: ↑Thu Apr 24, 2025 2:55 pm Bring more than $5.

Yeah, he may want to bang more than 10 ladyboys.

$10 each if he wants them to love him long time.

Danzig in the Dark wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 2:59 pm

Bono Nettencourt wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 2:26 pm

Danzig in the Dark wrote: ↑Thu Apr 24, 2025 2:55 pm Bring more than $5.

Yeah, he may want to bang more than 10 ladyboys.

$10 each if he wants them to love him long time.

Only if they're freaks without warning.

A small update, I have now booked virtual all the accommodations for the trip .

Also booked the overnight sleeper train journey, as well as a couple walking and food tours.

Has been very enjoyable researching for the trip and can now concentrate on planning the day to day activities we can do.

Vietnam/Cambodia is kind of a dream vacation for me. So I'm peanut butter and jealous.

The traffic always looks super fucked up and dangerous there but all I know is what I've seen on the Bourdain shows.

Oh, this is just a random vacation tip: INT'L ROAMING DATA PLAN!! Work that out in advance so your phone company doesn't charge absurd fees to Sludge it up with your homeboys.

Chip Z'Hoy wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 8:21 am Vietnam/Cambodia is kind of a dream vacation for me. So I'm peanut butter and jealous.

The traffic always looks super fucked up and dangerous there but all I know is what I've seen on the Bourdain shows.

It is eye opening when you first arrive and also when you're trying to cross an 8 lane road with no pedestrian crossing as mopeds go full throttle around you (hopefully!)

You should book it. Vietnam is a worthwhile visit. And once you get there your money goes far.

CanadianMetal wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 8:17 am A small update, I have now booked virtual all the accommodations for the trip .

Also booked the overnight sleeper train journey, as well as a couple walking and food tours.

Has been very enjoyable researching for the trip and can now concentrate on planning the day to day activities we can do.

I look forward to the review once the holiday has happened.

pieceofme wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 8:04 pm

I look forward to the review once the holiday has happened.

A few questions as you have been there before regarding cash / credit.

How much cash is recommended per week ?
I want to take enough , but don’t want to take way too much either .

What was the percentage of credit vs cash that was typically used ?

Would you recommend taking USD or is CAD fine for exchanging?

For local currency using ATM , any issue using our Canadian debit cards for withdrawals?

Did you rent a scooter and get an international drivers permit ?

CanadianMetal wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 9:48 am

pieceofme wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 8:04 pm

I look forward to the review once the holiday has happened.

A few questions as you have been there before regarding cash / credit.

How much cash is recommended per week ?
I want to take enough , but don’t want to take way too much either .

What was the percentage of credit vs cash that was typically used ?

Would you recommend taking USD or is CAD fine for exchanging?

For local currency using ATM , any issue using our Canadian debit cards for withdrawals?

Did you rent a scooter and get an international drivers permit ?

I took 100 Cad dollars worth of American dollars. And 100 Cad dollars worth of Vietnamese Dong. I had a bit left over after the trip as well. This was for me and my partner for 8 days. However, A lot of the activities were pre-booked with a credit card.

When I was there I just used a mix US dollars and Vietnamese dong. I got all my currency pre-trip. Didn't take any money out there so didn't have to use my debit card. Used my credit card occasionally for booking a couple of activities. But I would say good to have a decent chunk of cash with you and that is what I used mostly. Basically if it is more expensive, use your credit card. Food, tips, smaller activities etc. cash is good.

Have you heard of "Wise"? A prepaid Visa card with good exchange rate. Might be worth investigating to bring with that you just in case you need to use your card for events and meals etc.

I would recommend taking USD if you can as that currency is in full circulation.

I did not rent a scooter or get a drivers permit. We used tour radar which took us to different locations. And when we were in cities we just walked.

LAglamrocker wrote: ↑Fri Apr 25, 2025 9:01 pm Even Clark Griswold wouldn’t take his family on this vacation