Will we have a tip-top Tet?

September 8, 2008 2:41 AM

Just how chaotic does Vietnam get during Tet? Is it going to be a problem for inexperienced travelers?

My girlfriend and I (both 20) are planning on going on our first independent trip around Cambodia and Vietnam during January. Tet will be celebrated while we are away (January 26 I believe) and most travel guides and basic advice we have heard is that traveling can get tricky then due to overbooked hotels and closed services either end of the celebrations.

We will likely be in Hoi An during Tet itself (other possibilities include Hue or Danang) and will mostly be traveling north through Vietnam via bus and train. The festival certainly sounds like a lot of fun (and we can't change the timing of our trip anyhow) but there is still concern about missing out on accommodation or having to settle for more expensive rooms (we are ridiculously poor students).

Is this something that inexperienced travelers should be wary about? And should we book accommodation early (which we'd rather not do)?

Any good Tet stories would be more than welcome.

posted by Serial Killer Slumber Party to Travel & Transportation around Vietnam (3 answers total)

I was there during the tail end of Tet in Saigon, Hue, and Hoi An a few years ago (you know that celebrations -- and potential travel problems -- last about 2 weeks right)? When I was there, rail travel was hard to come by or non-existent. Most local shops will be closed too. However, don't be disheartened. The tourist infrastructure remains mostly intact. The tourist buses will get you wherever you need to go, and tours will still be running. For good measure, you really should make your guest house reservations in advance (yes, i know you'd rather not, and yes, it'll have to be guest houses, not hostels). Locals wont fill these places up, but displaced travelers might. Enough places take reservations in advance that you shouldn't have a problem (I did this without any difficulty). I paid slightly more than I would have liked to in Saigon, but keep in mind this is SE Asia where more than you'd like is still far less than what you'd pay at home. I was getting great rooms for two people at $20 a night. Another option is couch surfing though. I know people who managed this during Tet without difficulty (but they were solo travelers).

I thought it was actually a pretty interesting time to be there. It's THE major Holiday in Vietnam, and people everywhere are celebrating (and in my experience, drinking a lot too so watch out for drunk drivers). You also get to sample all the treats that are mainly only eaten during Tet. There is no reason for "inexperienced" travelers to be wary about this. We missed out on the major celebrations, which I'm quite disappointed about. Public gathering points (markets, museums, parks, zoos, etc) are filled with locals too and are fun places to be.

Good luck. I don't think you'll really need it though.
posted by NormandyJack at 6:20 AM on September 8, 2008

Also, travelfish proved to be a great resource for finding places to stay. They never failed me, and at the time were a far less mature site.

However, quickly looking at their accommodations pages, I see that the "book online" doesn't necessarily mean you cant book it online (even if you need to book by email).

If you find a place you are interested in, make sure to check their website (if they have one) to see about booking options.
posted by NormandyJack at 6:44 AM on September 8, 2008

I was there last year during Tet. Hue and Hoi An get a little crazy, but it's nothing you shouldn't be able to handle. Book your bus tickets early to avoid getting ripped off (the prices triple for tourists around Tet), and don't let any travel agents spook you into thinking all the hotels are full except theirs. I found cheap accommodation easily on the day before the festival in Hoi An.

Good fun. Be sure to wish everyone a "chuc mung nam moi".
posted by Succa at 10:03 AM on September 8, 2008