Rough Guide to Vietnam - Jan Dodd [127]
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The Mekong Delta | Phu Quoc Island | Eating and drinking |
Moving on from Phu Quoc
Speedboats to Rach Gia leave from the jetty at Vong Beach ($13–15, 2hr 30min), while those bound for Ha Tien ($11; 1hr 30min) leave from Ham Ninh. It’s certainly advisable to book in advance: either ask your hotel or guesthouse to help you, or visit the offices at the top of Tran Hung Dao, just behind the northern end of Long Beach.
Flights to Ho Chi Minh City (several daily; 1hr) leave from Phu Quoc Airport. Reservations can be made at the Vietnam Airlines office at 122 Nguyen Trung Truc (077/398 2320), in front of the airport gate, or at the branch office at the Saigon-Phu Quoc resort.
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The Mekong Delta |
Travel details
The Mekong Delta | Travel details |
Buses
Bus stations are gradually becoming more organized, with ticket desks and scheduled departures. However, it is still almost impossible to give the frequency with which buses run because of the large number of private minibuses that ply more popular routes, and depart only when they have enough passengers to make the journey worthwhile. Off the main highway, to be sure of a bus it’s advisable to start your journey early – most long-distance departures are between 5am and 9am, and few run after midday. Journey times can also vary; figures below show the normal length of time you can expect to take by public bus.
Ca Mau to: Bac Lieu (2hr); Can Tho (5hr); Ho Chi Minh City (7hr); Long Xuyen (6hr); Soc Trang (3hr).
Can Tho to: Bac Lieu (3hr); Ca Mau (5hr); Chau Doc (2hr 30min); Ha Tien (5hr); Ho Chi Minh City (4hr); Long Xuyen (1hr 30min); My Tho (2hr 30min).
Chau Doc to: Ca Mau (7hr); Can Tho (2hr 30min); Ha Tien (4hr); Ho Chi Minh City (6hr); Long Xuyen (1hr).
Ha Tien to: Can Tho (5hr); Chau Doc (4hr); Ho Chi Minh City (8hr); Long Xuyen (6hr); Rach Gia (2hr 30min).
Long Xuyen to: Ca Mau (5hr); Chau Doc (1hr); Ha Tien (6hr); Ho Chi Minh City (5hr).
My Tho to: Can Tho (2hr 30min); Cao Lanh (2hr); Ho Chi Minh City (2hr).
Vinh Long to: Sa Dec (50min); Tra Vinh (1hr 30min).
The Mekong Delta | Travel details |
Boats
Ca Mau to: Rach Gia (daily; 3hr).
Can Tho to: Ho Chi Minh City (daily; 4hr)
Chau Doc to Phnom Penh (daily; 4hr).
Ha Tien to: Phu Quoc (daily; 1hr 30min)
Phu Quoc to: Ha Tien (daily; 1hr 30min); Rach Gia (several daily; 2hr 30min).
Rach Gia to: Ca Mau (daily; 3hr); Phu Quoc (several daily; 2hr 30min).
The Mekong Delta | Travel details |
Flights
Ca Mau to: Ho Chi Minh City (daily; 1hr).
Phu Quoc to: Ho Chi Minh City (several daily; 1hr).
Rach Gia to: Ho Chi Minh City (daily; 2hr); Phu Quoc (daily; 25min).
The central highlands
Vietnam’s mountainous midriff isn’t the first region of the country that most tourists think to visit. And yet, after a hot and sticky stint labouring across the coastal plains, the central highlands, with their host of ethnic minorities, mist-laden mountains and thundering waterfalls, can provide an enjoyable contrast to the tropics. Getting around is at times a challenge: travel can be slow with some roads impassable after a downpour. In addition, local tourist authorities may raise a fuss about tourists travelling independently, and there are no really heart-stopping sights. But the highlands’ allure lies in such simple pleasures as inhaling their invigoratingly chill airs, and walking or cycling with a spray of mist on your face. And, cocooned in woolly jumpers, scarves and bobble hats, the highlanders exude a warmth unsurpassed elsewhere in the country, making a trip here doubly appealing.
Bounded to the west by the Cambodian border, and spreading out over the lofty peaks and broad plateaux of the Truong Son Mountains, the central highlands stretch from the base of Highway 1 right up to the bottleneck of land that squeezes past Da Nang towards Hanoi and the north. The region’s fertile red soils yield considerable natural resources