Fun things to do in Vietnam

Man
There are tons of things I wish I have time to do.
Just take traveling. Get out of the city, man. There are tours visiting national parks, reservations, or just go to Can Gio.
Sports: tennis and golf. If you still have time to spare after them, how about volunteering?

Phi Long wrote:

I'm starting to get bored of this city after over a year now. Things have become a routine from coffee shops, movies, eating out, bars, clubs, etc.  ...

Go to Ha Noi, after a couple of days, tops, you'll realise TP HCM is a hot place.

Go visit the Cao Dai Cathedral; climb Sam Mountain; check out the MeKong Delta, crawl around Cu Chi ... although that's still in TP HCM.

Anatta wrote:

Man
There are tons of things I wish I have time to do.
Just take traveling. Get out of the city, man. There are tours visiting national parks, reservations, or just go to Can Gio.
Sports: tennis and golf. If you still have time to spare after them, how about volunteering?

Thanks for the ideas. Might take a look at some more tours. I haven't been to Can Gio either.

Not much into tennis or rather, don't have anyone to play tennis with. Golf, I usually hit a couple at Him Lams (Driving Range) Golf Course now that they reopen.

I was looking at some volunteering opportunities at the American Center so might take that up.

Jaitch wrote:

Go to Ha Noi, after a couple of days, tops, you'll realise TP HCM is a hot place.

Go visit the Cao Dai Cathedral; climb Sam Mountain; check out the MeKong Delta, crawl around Cu Chi ... although that's still in TP HCM.

I've only been to the airport in Ha Noi. So I've already seen the best part of what Ha Noi has. Just kidding. Don't condemn me.

Thanks for the tip. Might check out Sam Mountain when I have time to get away.

Not much in Can Gio, but if you want a relaxing weekend/day trip, it is a good alternative especially since it is so close and the road is quite ok. If you don't have a car, hire a taxi. Heck, people even use motorbike.

If you are a new beginner in tennis, it is probably best to hit with a teacher. Mkt price: around 150K/hr + court time: 70-200K. Once you become more skilled, just go to the tennis court and look for a group at the same level. Go and talk to them. More often than not, they will welcome you to join. Those groups normally hire court time 2-3 days/week at fixed time. They are normally quite nice people.

Phi Long,

My favorite pastime here is to hit the rural areas and see how the real Vietnamese live and work.  If you are into that, just find some locals, the majority of whom have ties in the countryside, and get them to hook you up.  Start with the closer locales first, then go from there.  There are some pretty cool activities and amazing foods to be discovered.  But, don't stay overnight, though.

Howie

Good ideas in this topic.

Howie, why do you make a point to say "don't stay overnight", bad stories or is it just rudeness?

Xavier,

In the countryside, bug (especially mosquitos) is still an issue.  Then, the further you are from the city, the more primitive life becomes (no hot water, no mattress...).  Finally, because homes are few and far in between, safety is a concern.

Wild_1 wrote:

In the countryside, bug (especially mosquitos) is still an issue.  Then, the further you are from the city, the more primitive life becomes (no hot water, no mattress...).

One big hassle in staying overnight in people's homes in registering with the Cong An.

In small villages they have agents, Cong-An-Wannabes who can be officious and a pain in the you on where, as to where you can sleep.

My wife bought my in-laws a great bed. They really enjoyed it's arrival. Next morning she took them tea only to find them sleeping on the floor as it was more comfortable than the soft bed. We ended up buying a sheet of plywood to put on top of the mattress, then they were happy.

Often rural beds are just wooden slats without pads. Toilets are basic, forget the hot water, some have no water but rely on collected rain water. The bugs in the tanks make for interesting study, though.

You also need to carry toilet paper.

The cuisine can be a bit dubious at times, mystery meat that you don't recognise. Rats are considered a delicacy in the MeKong.

Howie's idea is the correct one, go and volunteer your labour, or your talents. You might be given a chicken in thanks, but you can claim to be a vegan.

Or you could study how they make Nuoc Muam (spelling?) in Phan Thiet - if you hare patient.

Try driving up Highway 13, slowly, and stop off at the village along the way. Head for Da Lat, where there are many interesting things, then back to TP HCM through Bien Hoa, etc.

You can spend an interesting day out around the bien Hoa area, just be on the lookout for signs - there is an old American bomb drop zone out there - flights that didn't drop all their bombs used to to jettison them, unexploded, in this area, and they still occasionally go off.

Jaitch,

But, that is Vietnam!  That is how the majority of Vietnam lives; and that is how most Vietnamese are.  Nothing comes close to Phu My Hung, and no one resembles anyone on Pham Ngu Lao Street, or those in your local immigration office.

That is what I love about this place and these people.

One more thing:

Although you may not define it as fun but learning the language is the best way to both passing time and increasing your enjoyment living in a foreign country.

You'll get a complete different level of integration and understanding. You'll also get so much goodwill for just making the effort that everyday living becomes much easier.

Not to boast, but I am fluent in 4 languages and conversant in a couple more so I know what I am talking about.

Rent a Motor Bike, and wing it. Take a map out and pick a destination.  You will see many great scenery, from the country to the smaller cities. 

My bro and I took a trip from HCMC to Hue, on bike. It was action pack from riding in the country side to sight seeing to just talking to the locals. It can take about 2 week to ride from here to Hue, depending how you time manage. 

If you are a beginner then I recommend taking a bike trip to Vung Tau. It's a 3 hour ride if you ride straight though. It's interesting.

PS: Careful of the cops.  Take your time ride slow.  There are tons of rest stops on the way. There's a few hammock cities on the way.

Didn't drive all the way to Hue, but did take the train last December. Went for my grandmother's one year after she passed away. Visit the village at her home town and met a lot of relatives.

The farthest I've driven on motorbike was to Dong Nai to meet my gf at the time's family during tet. Spent a little over a week seeing how life in the country side was like.

I remember driving back I started to get sleepy. Those hammock places are a life savior even though I was weary of thieves.

Hate to break it to you but thats life....

Even in Florida where I live all there is to do. Movies, beach, coffee, pool, clubs, bars, and things that almost no natives do there is kayaking, canoeing, skydiving, rockclimbing, scubadiving etc which are things I've started to do to pass the time. no matter where you go you'll have this hurdle. Just be open to try new things and you should be fine.

Well I did find something new and different the other day. Dodgeball group in Saigon.

Phi Long wrote:

Well I did find something new and different the other day. Dodgeball group in Saigon.

Yeah, I'm going to need to know more about this if you don't mind.

zztonedefzz wrote:

Phi Long wrote:

Well I did find something new and different the other day. Dodgeball group in Saigon.

Yeah, I'm going to need to know more about this if you don't mind.

http://saigondodgeball.org/

if you can dodge boredom you can dodge a ball

lol sorry i actually liked that movie

but yea i forgot to throw in random visits to mickey mouse in florida but that's about it, but yea keep your eyes peeled and try to look at the city in the eyes of a tourist and you'll do fine

distantarray wrote:

if you can dodge boredom you can dodge a ball

Was that really necessary? .... Necessary? (I'll let you finish the rest ...)

yes yes it was

If you're still here in October. You could check out Oktoberfest Vietnam. It's a huge party with lots of German food and beer. Always a good time and not part of the normal bar hopping routine.

oktoberfestvietnam.com

Edit: I also created a meetup event for those interested

meetup.com/Under-39s-Saigon/events/78505112/

So... Just to clarify... Dodgeball happens every Wednesday and there is no pre-registration or anything?

Make a like of 101 things to do before you leave Vietnam.

Here is a few to start you off.

1. Start a forum topic in Expat-Blog.com titled "101 things to do before you leave Vietnam"
2. Hug a cancer patient
3. Ride from North to South
4. Dance on a rooftop in full Saigon rain
5. Make friends with a backpacker and give them an amazing tour.
6. Bribe a Police officer with fake burning money
7. Stick an afro to your helmet for the day
8. Get a portrait of yourself painted
9. Fake an epileptic seizure during a massage

Not sure if this was what you were looking for but I certainly had fun doing all the above. Except for No 6. I'm crazy but not stupid.

nothing does............