[BMW F22]

So one of my closest friends and I planned a trip to Vietnam a few weeks back. We were gonna stay for at least a month to basically enjoy everything (if you've watched that Top Gear special or Anthony Bourdain you should know what I'm talking about).

Anyhow, we booked tickets and I've bought everything people back there asked me to buy for them (clothes and stuff). So I told the guy to tell his parents at least a few days before (preferably a week) so we have room to react if anything was to happen. So the dude waited until Friday the 13th to tell them. Earlier that day his mom's car was backed into by a neighbor so he ended up not telling them that he was leaving. So I kept telling him to fucking do it already cus it's starting to annoy me. Hell he didn't even tell this girl he's been seeing until like 2 days before.

So anyhow, freaking guy waited until this past Monday night to tell them- one day before we were supposed to leave. Needless to say they went freaking bananas on him and refused to let him go. He hold me to go but it was too last minute and I couldn't decide whether or not I wanted to go by myself. So we ended up canceling the tickets the same day our flight was scheduled for. I told him he's gonna have to pay for my cancelation fees and he agreed ($500 for the both of us). Anyhow, I woke up the next day kind of regretting that I didn't go. I mean I have family back there that I could go hang out with since some of them are in my age group but still, it's always more fun with friends (and again too last minute for me to decide). Hell he was still trying to talk some sense into them 6 hours before we were supposed to head to the airport.

So the past couple days I've been mad/sad/angry/pissed off/thinking if I should book another flight and just go. Ticket prices have gone up gradually (it's gonna cost at least $400 more if I decide to go). FWIW if he told them earlier they would still be pissed off but at least it gives them time to think about it and also gives me time to think about what I wanna do.

If anyone else have something like this please do share. It will help calm me down.

[pdjafari]

I never understood why people needed to travel/eat or enjoy themselves with another. I think that once a person is comfortable enough to be alone (travel, eat) by themselves, they are truly happy. If I were you, I would have gone, don't ever rely on anybody in today's world.

[choicez]

You should've gone by yourself. I backpacked Europe for two months by myself. I met all kinds of cool people everywhere and it was a life changing experience.

[Kensta335]

You should've went alone. I mean you have family there. You wouldn't be totally lost.

[BMW F22]

Honestly I was really contemplating going by myself but again it was too last minute. I mean by the time he was done talking to his parents for the last time it was already 4pm. I told him before we booked that I didn't wanna go alone. Since he has been wanting to go back, we went ahead and booked it. So with that notion I went along with it and at the last minute I was forced to decide if I wanted to go alone. It was just a decision that I needed time to think about- hence the reason I told the fucking guy to tell his parents at least 4-5 days before.

BTW- it would have cost me a lot more to go by myself. When you travel with others your costs go down. I was planning to spend maybe $2500 there (with family providing shelter and food when I stay with them) but if I went alone it would have gone up quite a bit.

[Hawkeye]

I backpacked through Europe by myself as well for 4 weeks and it was amazing. I would have still gone for sure, especially if you have family there.

How old are you that you had to ask your parents permission to go somewhere?!?

[xT4iw4n3zx]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I backpacked through Europe by myself as well for 4 weeks and it was amazing. I would have still gone for sure, especially if you have family there.

How old are you that you had to ask your parents permission to go somewhere?!?

It's an asian thing....

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I backpacked through Europe by myself as well for 4 weeks and it was amazing. I would have still gone for sure, especially if you have family there.

How old are you that you had to ask your parents permission to go somewhere?!?

That's what another friend of mine asked too- why does he need permission from them to go? Heck I don't know the answer to that myself but I think it has to do with the Asian culture. Sure he could have gone but knowing that they're pissed off, he probably won't enjoy it.

[Hawkeye]

Oh, that makes sense You Asians and your weird culture and delicious food... now I'm hungry again, damn.

[Bimmer335i]

All I gotta say is that friend of yours gotta grow some freakin balls! And I feel you about going back to VN by yourself since I've been contemplating that for years too, but since I can't really leave for an extended period of time for a vacation, I have a good excuse not to go. This year, I plan to head back there for Tet, which is next Feb. with some friends..it'll be more fun with friends..In terms of cost, you plan to spend about ~ $2K?? Damn how long do you plan on staying there, 1 week? lol...i was thinking spending more like 6-7K there, not including air fare... :-)

[OC Guy]

Originally Posted by Bimmer335i

All I gotta say is that friend of yours gotta grow some freakin balls! And I feel you about going back to VN by yourself since I've been contemplating that for years too, but since I can't really leave for an extended period of time for a vacation, I have a good excuse not to go. This year, I plan to head back there for Tet, which is next Feb. with some friends..it'll be more fun with friends..In terms of cost, you plan to spend about ~ $2K?? Damn how long do you plan on staying there, 1 week? lol...i was thinking spending more like 6-7K there, not including air fare... :-)

Vietnam is cheap man, that's a whole lot of happy endings for 7k James!

[MontegoGoGoGo]

Hey, my dad won a free trip to Vietnam when he was 18.

All it cost him was two gun-shot wounds, malaria and massive shrapnel to the legs.



On a serious note (not like that wasn't serious, but you know what I mean) I personally wouldn't have gone alone either.
Everything is more fun with friends/lover/partner/ANYONE you like!

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by Bimmer335i

All I gotta say is that friend of yours gotta grow some freakin balls! And I feel you about going back to VN by yourself since I've been contemplating that for years too, but since I can't really leave for an extended period of time for a vacation, I have a good excuse not to go. This year, I plan to head back there for Tet, which is next Feb. with some friends..it'll be more fun with friends..In terms of cost, you plan to spend about ~ $2K?? Damn how long do you plan on staying there, 1 week? lol...i was thinking spending more like 6-7K there, not including air fare... :-)

Agreed.

About Tet, I think it's on January 28th this year. As for the cost, it depends on what you wanna do. I think $2k for one month is good enough since I can stay with people (which saves me on food and hotel). You could travel and eat somewhat lavishly for that kind of money. With 6-7k I take it that you really wanna be a baller. I mean going to a nice bar could easily run you $200+ a night.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by MontegoGoGoGo

Hey, my dad won a free trip to Vietnam when he was 18.

All it cost him was two gun-shot wounds, malaria and massive shrapnel to the legs.



On a serious note (not like that wasn't serious, but you know what I mean) I personally wouldn't have gone alone either.
Everything is more fun with friends/lover/partner/ANYONE you like!

Yeah I heard they were giving away free 1-way tickets to Vietnam in the 60's.

But yeah, I'm a social person so I like being around people. I might have gone by myself if I had a few days to think about it rather than a few hours. Thinking about it still pisses me off to no end.

[Inspired]

how old are you guys? 16? still need a parents permission to go out?

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by twinturbo335

how old are you guys? 16? still need a parents permission to go out?

Not me dude. But anyhow, it's an asian thing. Shoot my grandparents still yell at my uncle who's in his 40's for going out late.

[Inspired]

Originally Posted by BMW E90

Not me dude. But anyhow, it's an asian thing. Shoot my grandparents still yell at my uncle who's in his 40's for going out late.

i'm asian. My parents treated me like that when I was 16

[BMW F22]

^ I guess not all asian parents are the same. I mean mines are cool with me going and they're more "modern" while his are more old school. I'm not defending him cus I really don't give a f*ck, just saying. But yeah I told him he needs to freaking do something or they will be telling him when he can and can't breath.

[persian54]

I traveled part of japan alone and it was fun

You should go, but don't go now, buy a ticket that'll fly a little later so it'll cost a lil less

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by BMW E90

Agreed.

About Tet, I think it's on January 28th this year. As for the cost, it depends on what you wanna do. I think $2k for one month is good enough since I can stay with people (which saves me on food and hotel). You could travel and eat somewhat lavishly for that kind of money. With 6-7k I take it that you really wanna be a baller. I mean going to a nice bar could easily run you $200+ a night.

I don't think he is talking about bar, he is talking about "cafe ôm".

You should have gone by yo self dude. Now all those folks back home wating for all the stuffs you promised to bring back are very sad

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by persian54

I traveled part of japan alone and it was fun

You should go, but don't go now, buy a ticket that'll fly a little later so it'll cost a lil less

Unfortunately tickets were only cheap from June til about end of Oct. From Oct 31- November 2nd it went up over $100. Tickets in Dec is about $1400 ($600 more than what I paid). Perhaps it will go down next summer but that's a whole different story.

Originally Posted by txusa03

I don't think he is talking about bar, he is talking about "cafe ôm".

You should have gone by yo self dude. Now all those folks back home wating for all the stuffs you promised to bring back are very sad

lol- cafe om, bia om, xe om- all kinds of om.

But yeah man, they're a little disappointed since they've been looking forward to it. Now all of a sudden, the last freaking minute, it's canceled. I felt bad but it wasn't really my fault. I just needed more time to think about what I wanted to do. Seriously though, if I had 2-3 days to think about it I probably would have gone by myself (since I woke up the next day kinda regretting not going).

[jpsum]

not all asian parents are like that. I was on my own when I was 18. They didn't stop me from going anywhere. They might suggest otherwise, but they won't stop me.