I am planning a trip to Vietnam. I will fly into Hanoi, rent a hired auto and go to Saigon and then to go Cong. I will meet a friend there and hire a boat and go down the Mekong and then around Ca Mau and up to the Island of Phu Quoc and then to Ha, Tien. From Ha Tien, I will hire a ferry to go to Bangkok. I am looking for anything at all about this trip.

I am a photographer and have been there before. But it has been more than 20 years.

I have not been north of Hue so this is going to be a great trip for me. The rest of the trip I have done before..and also was stationed there from 1969-1970 as a helicopter pilot and saw the south from a chopper many times. I know it has massively changed.

I also understand that everynight you have to be under room by law. I would like to talk with someone who has done the Hanoi to Saigon trip recently. I might just catch the bus and then hire cars when I get to areas where I want to go. Otherwise I have been advised that I should rent or buy a motorcycle but that hurts as to what all you can carry and what you can leave here and there while doing what I do..photography.

Jon Barry

We were in Vietnam around June of 2008. There are lots of ways to get around the country. We flew from city to city because it was so inexpensive but it is even cheaper to buy one of those open ended bus tickets that will take you the entire length of the country. there are lots of places willing to sell you transportation. i know the renting/buying a scooter to travel the length of vietnam is really popular so something you might want to consider if that is your thing.

what do you mean by under room by law? if you are referring to some sort of curfew then that is not true. You can stay out all night long drinking cheap beer with the locals if you want. although be prepared to wake up in the morning to some nice communist rise and shine military music if you stay close to one of those speakers.