Info For Visitors
So you’re one of the lucky people to be planning a visit to Hanoi to stay with – or near – us. Then you’ve come to the right place.
Here at the Excellent Adventure, we’re asked many questions such as “What do I bring?”, “How much money will I need?”, “Do I need vaccinations?”, “Will Sam creep into the living room and video me sleeping?”.
All these questions will be answered, but first, let’s hear some epic poetry, the closing stanzas of oen of my favourite W.W. poems, “Song of the open road”. Might just get you amped.
Allons! the road is before us!
It is safe- I have tried it- my own feet have tried it well- be not detain’d!
Let the paper remain on the desk unwritten, and the book on the shelf unopen’d!
Let the tools remain in the workshop! let the money remain unearn’d!
Let the school stand! mind not the cry of the teacher!
Let the preacher preach in his pulpit! let the lawyer plead in the court, and the judge expound the law.Camerado, I give you my hand!
I give you my love more precious than money,
I give you myself before preaching or law;
Will you give me yourself? will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?
Weather
If you want to know what the weather will be like when you’re going to visit, a quick trip to this website will illuminate you.
The general rule of thumb is, it’s gunna be warm, but bring some long sleeve top(s) and pants. You’ll appreciate that when your leg gets brushed by a motorcycle muffler. Insulation people!
What To/Not To Bring
Bedding (including mossie net) will be provided. All you need is money in your Debit Card, your passport, 2 or 3 changes of clothes and Roberto’s your father’s Mexican brother.
If you have any motorcycle gear such as kevlar gloves/kevlar pants etc, bring it.
Vaccinations/Medical
Hanoi has no large Malaria threat, but it’s still here so bring some decent mossie repellant. DEET is ok in the amount you’ll be using it for, so 15% DEET mossie repellant is fine. (No aerosols on the plane kids, grab them pump packs. Roll On = Fail On, treat it like a wounded soldier and leave its ass behind.)
Medicines are available 3 doors up from the apartment and we have located 2 good quality hospitals and 1 good quality doctors surgery. So band-aids and anti-septic is all that’s required in terms of first aid (We have a motorcycle accident first-aid kit).
Get your Hepatitis A and B shots, and don’t step foot here unless you’ve got your Tetanus shots (this also covers diphtheria. Bonus!). No fucking around with those Hep shots either, they don’t screen for Hep B in their blood donations so that’s not something else to worry about if you need an emergency blood transfusion, and Hep A you can get from food, so get those shots.
They’ll might want to give you Typhoid shots too, which won’t hurt (actually, they do) but it’s unlikely it’ll be a problem, but grab it if you like. Especially if you’re gunna be travelling to the country for a while. Talk to your doctor about it and read smartraveller about it.
Vegetarian?
No frigging problems.
How much cash do I need?
Rose and I budgeted $50AUD per day. That includes food for 2, accommodation for 2 and all that stuff. We saved money because we didn’t have to pay for sex, but you probably won’t have to pay for accommodation because you’ll be with us.
Realistically, you can easily, EASILY get away with $30AUD per day. That’s including looking at museums, travel expenses, all food. Obviously, increase that if you’re going to be drinking more than a couple beers a day and if you’ll be buying ballroom dresses and shoes.
Any more questions? Add em in the comments.