Bangkok, Thailand: We are 3 women friends traveling to Hanoi from May 7th for 2 nights. We are looking for affordable accomodation a short walk to shopping for art and Vietnamese handicrafts. We would like rooms that are clean and quiet, preferably with air conditioning (if you think we need it for this time of year). We've looked at guidebooks, but it seems like there's not many places that meet all these requirements. Any suggestions?

Robert Reid: I like Church Hotel. It's on a street of boutiques next to a lovely church, about a block from the Hoan Kiem lake, and two blocks from many galleries. It's small but nice rooms with wood floors, blasting AC and a bit more style than you get at the bright-tile and fluorescent-bulb guesthouses around the center. I stayed there for half my two-week visit to Hanoi last year. Rooms start at $40.

_______________________

Las Vegas, Nev.: I am Contemplating going to Vietnam next Feb or March with Ritz Tours. Is this a good time to go and do you recommend this tour company?

Robert Reid: Feb and March can be cold up north, so it's not the ideal time to trek in Sapa or cruise around Halong Bay. But that doesn't mean it couldn't be enjoyed. I tend to not be overly afraid of the weather in Vietnam. In fact, I think the monsoon is a great time to be there... hours of cloudless skies, then suddenly torrents of clothes-soaking rains, then clear again... Of course, there are times when that rain doesn't stop and cities flood. That isn't fun.

I don't know Ritz, sorry.

_______________________

Philadelphia, Pa.: I am visiting Vietnam in April for 8 days. My boyfriend is there teaching English in Saigon. We have not laid out an itinerary yet and I was hoping for a suggestion for this time frame. Ideas include seeing some of Saigon, Hanoi, Halong Bay , Hoi An or Nha Trang, or possibly Phu Quoc. Basically, Saigon and Hanoi are set and the other options are what's variable.

Robert Reid: Your boyfriend may have a lot to show you in Saigon, but here's how I might carve up the time.

Plan on two days in Saigon and two days in Hanoi. That leaves four days to play around with. I'd fly to Danang and spend two days in Hoi An, perhaps taking a snorkel tour and sitting on the beach there. From there you can fly to Hanoi.

That leaves two more days. Pick something between a two-day Halong Bay cruise from Hanoi, or two days in Hue (north of Hoi An, then fly from Hue to Hanoi), OR two days in the Mekong Delta from Saigon. Or, like you said, you could fly to Phu Quoc from Saigon too. In all, a bit rushed but it could work!

_______________________