Photos: The Fish Market of Hoi An, Vietnam

The problem with Vietnam is the early nights. By 10pm the streets are quiet and tourist revelers are being tossed out of the bars during their (our) second drink - the evening is over. The reason: the Vietnamese wake up early and the Fish Market in Hoi An really proves this. If you want to catch the market you have to be up when it starts 5.30am because it finishes by 7.30am, however remnants do remain beyond and there is always some form of market. But it is a brilliant experience, while there is little fish - it shows how different the north of Vietnam is to the more southern coast.

Response: The Early Bird Traveller

In response to: Capturing Summer Travellers - The Early Bird http://blog.microsecommerce.com/index.php/uncategorized/capturing-summer-travelers-the-early-bird/comment-page-1/#comment-39860



I don't doubt your marketing sales techniques - what I do doubt is your "Early Bird" travellers start now. People looking for good deals in summer vacation should research in the October/ November of the year before and plan on having booked by now. Therefore you really should have done all the aforementioned techniques during the winter/early spring period.
Cash-strapped travellers should have paid for their holiday by now so they spend the next few months building their cash for spending.
When you mention "somewhere fairly far from home" If people are looking for anywhere outside Europe the best time to book flights would have been during the airline sales of March (2 months ago). Flights need to be booked at least 3 months if not 6 months from the departure date for the absolute best deal as on the whole airlines increase rates, not decrease unlike hotels.
Just a note...especially for travel sellers, they need to have already planned the above by now. They should potentially be looking at Autumn travellers.

Photos: Tombs & Forbidden cities - Hue, Vietnam

Vietnam like the rest of Asia is not without its historical tombs and ancient sites of worship and cultural interest - the only difference is that much was destroyed by American or French wars and paragodas as well as temples have undergone much refurbishment throughout the centuries. However one thing is sure, they can be true to themselves, not replacing these amazing pieces of architecture with modern versions but replicating them as best they can. The audacious role that former kings played on the country before giving in to foreign leadership is very much apparent.