Seoul/Taiwan/Vietnam trip - advice sought

I know Omega Forums has members worldwide and many are well traveled. So I thought why not ask for some opinions/advice for an upcoming trip in late October.

First leg is business related with an evening plus full day in Seoul for leisure.

Then to Taipei and Kaohsiung, business related. Wasn't planning on spending too much time in Taiwan but could make a bit of time to explore.

Finally, 4-5 days of free leisure time which leads me to Vietnam. First inclination was to hit a resort near the beach in Danang. But it will be the height of rainy season so worried that it will be a wash out. So I thought maybe farther north to Ha Long Bay, a couple of hours from Hanoi and less chance of rain. But I'm reading a lot of mixed reviews of Ha Long.

To summarize, seeking advice as to the best option for Vietnam. As well, any can't miss things in Seoul and Taiwan, although my time is very limited for those.

Thanks in advance!

Taipei is a great city. I bought my 69 pre-moon at TT Watches in Taipei. They usually have some good stuff and are as friendly as can be (which is all of Taiwan). If you like sushi, check out You Sushi in Da’an. If you like whisky, check out L’Arrier Coeur on Anhe Road.

Vietnam is amazing but a mixed bag. Maybe @Barking mad has some good ideas.

I'm planning a trip to Taiwan in November, with the family. We'll fly into Taipei but will be spending most of our time in the East coast. We'll be spending a few days in Taroko Gorge/ Hualien county, then heading south down the East Coast to Taitung. We'll then head back up to Taipei for a few days for the shopping and food.

In past trips to Taiwan, I've enjoyed Sun Moon Lake and Tainan. Tainan has nice history, temples and salt fields.

In Taipei, I would recommend the Chiang Kai Shek memorial and the National Palace Museum. And the night markets (the smaller ones would probably be more rewarding).

The central mountains of Taiwan are quite beautiful too. I've been to Cingqing and Alishan but I've heard good things about Yushan National Park as well.

Some pics:

Sun Moon Lake:



Tainan:



Ching shui cliff (Hualien):


Cingqing:

I have been living in Korea the past 12 years and have visited Seoul numerous times. It's an amazing city with lots of thing to do.
Since you have only one day I would highly recommend to visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the surrounding area where you can have a great taste of the Korean culture and tradition.

As for watch collecting, it can get a little tricky since there are a lot of redials, case polishings etc.

Plenty of Vietnam experience here too, although I've never flown to or from Haiphong. But ditto the comment that 1 night on a boat in Halong Bay is not enough; go for the 2 night/3 day cruise. (I've had good luck with Paloma Cruise)
Lots of resorts to choose from in Danang, many of which are Korean-owned (if that matters). You'll have opportunities for day trips to Hoi An and/or to Ba Na Hills resort up in the mountains where it'll be much cooler. I wouldn't worry about rainy season too much. There's not much you can do about it, after all, and you might only get some cloud cover to keep the sun a bit at bay. I've never been completely rained out.
Frankly, I don't go to Dalat anymore. The influx of tourism has ruined what was once a quaint getaway.

Sample itinerary: If you have 5 days, you could fly into Hanoi on day 1 and get picked up for the drive to Haiphong for night 1 on the boat. Day 2 on the Bay (usually includes swimming, kayaking and motoring around), night 2 on the boat. Day 3 on the boat is a half-day, then back to Hanoi for a flight to Danang. Day 4 you taxi down to Hoi An for shopping, sightseeing, and dinner - back to Danang for night 4. Day 5 can be a beach day, combined with a trip up to the Lady Buddha temple and dinner at one of the you-pick-it seafood places along the waterfront.

I’ve been to Vietnam a couple of times, and the second time nearly every establishment I was so eager to go to again had become something else. If you’re flexible and easygoing you’ll have a great experience. If you’re a drinker, sample a jug of bia hơi every evening. It’s unpasteurized, unpressurized beer made fresh every day and usually served out of a cooler and drunk over ice. Every batch tastes different but it’s all light and fizzy and almost always great. I think you can get it all over but especially in the North. I’m less familiar with Taiwan and Korea but if you don’t have one of the most memorable meals of a lifetime in either of those countries, something has gone wrong.

Thanks to all that have added to the suggestions. You may get a PM from me at some point to discuss the details a bit more.

I forgot to close this out with a final thanks to those that posted and responded via PM. I hope to return to the region in the next couple of years. A single obligatory vacation pic of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam from my hotel: