Buzz
Ms. Huong's family of 4 embarked on a 4-day-3-night journey to Penang, with a total expenditure of 21 million VND.
Opting for Penang: A cost-effective choice for Vietnamese families during the summer
Ms. Thu Huong, a 33-year-old homemaker in Hanoi, took her entire family on a summer 2018 getaway to Penang, Malaysia. Prior to this decision, Ms. Huong spent considerable time exploring destinations like Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. According to her findings, accommodation and airfare to popular domestic destinations were approximately 1-2 million VND more expensive for a 4-day-3-night itinerary. Therefore, the family chose the coastal city in Malaysia.
Here are Ms. Huong's reflections after the Penang trip, hoping other families can consider this for their summer plans this year.
Airplane Tickets
I booked a round-trip flight from Hanoi to Penang on the website of the budget airline Malaysia. Although the flight timings aren't ideal (departure at 8:50 AM, return at 6:15 PM), the ticket price is great, just 2 million dong for a round-trip. During the summer, when all the kids are on break, the flight to Malaysia is even cheaper than going to Nha Trang or Phu Quoc.
Getting Around
Upon arriving at Penang Airport, we navigated from the second floor to the first, picked up complimentary maps available at the airport, then headed outside to catch a bus for 3 RM (approximately 17,000 dong). If you prefer not to take the bus, you can opt for a taxi for around 100 RM (about 570,000 dong) or use Grab at a lower price, almost half the cost.
From the airport, I went straight to the central area, George Town, which is 20 km away, taking about an hour to reach. Just 10 km further, you'll find Batu Ferringhi, a place with many 5-star beachfront resorts.
There are four transportation options for getting around Penang: Taxi, bus, Grab, and renting a self-drive car. Taxi prices are comparable to those in Vietnam, but remember to remind the driver to start the meter. Forgetting this might result in paying more than expected.
You can book a Grab, which is 30-50% cheaper than a taxi. Note that you should send a message to the driver, specifying the waiting location. If you're lucky enough to get a driver from India, communication will be easier as they speak better English than drivers from China or Malaysia.
If you trust your driving skills, consider renting a self-driving car at a rate of 120 RM (around 700,000 VND) per day. Fuel prices in Malaysia are comparable to those in Vietnam. Renting a car offers the advantage of convenience for long trips, such as visiting butterfly gardens, pristine forests, waterfalls, Kek Lok Si Temple, and more. You can easily rent a car at the airport.
Accommodation
Luxurious 5-star hotels and resorts in Penang start at just 260 RM (approximately 1.5 million VND) per night. My family highly appreciates the customer service at these establishments.
Check room prices for your intended date of arrival on hotel websites or booking platforms. We don't pre-purchase vouchers as they often come with surcharges or aren't guaranteed to have availability on our desired dates.
Explore prices and room options at some highly praised resorts in Penang, such as DoubleTree Resort (5 stars, starting from 1.6 million VND), Park Royal Penang Resort (starting from 2.2 million VND), Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort (starting from 3 million VND).
Alternatively, you can book resorts in the heart of Penang, in George Town. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this place captivates with unique wall murals, ancient forts, historic Chinese houses (similar to Hoi An), and numerous dining spots. Hotels in George Town are also affordable, with prices starting from 1.8 million VND per night, such as Evergreen Hotel...
Culinary Delights
George Town is often referred to as the “world's kitchen” with its diverse and delicious street food. During our visit, my family indulged in a variety of dishes:
Laksa Noodles: A tangy fish broth noodle soup at Pasar Air Itam Laksa, located on Jalan Pasar Road, 11500 Air Itam.
Assam Laksa (similar to noodles) at My Own Cafe, situated at 2 Lebuh Cannon (right outside Lebuh Armenia). The cafe also offers a unique durian coffee.
Char Kway Teow and Chak Koay Kak: Seafood stir-fried flat noodles at Pheng Huat, located at 108, Lorong Selamat – this place only serves from noon to evening, or at Kedai Kopi Sin Guat Keong at 86 Lebuh Kimberley – open from morning to noon.
Fried Oyster Omelette at Yi Garden, located at 150-152, Jalan Macalister.
Kwai Lock restaurant serves delightful dumpling noodles at 295-B, Jalan Burmah.
Seafood Spring Rolls: A traditional treat during festive seasons in every Penang household. Indulge in Gerai Gerai Padang Brown, located at Medan Selera Padang Brown (Dato Keramat Stall).
Cendol Dessert: Similar to Thai dessert, but with a richer flavor. Recommended spot is Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul, which has 4 branches.
Penang Seafood Noodles at Ah Soon Kor Har Mee, 168, Jalan Macalister.
Lok Bak Minced Meat: Kheng Pin Cafe, located at 16, Jalan Penang, offers a savory experience.
Additionally, try Hainanese Chicken Rice, Penang-style Chee Cheong Fun (rice noodle rolls) from street vendors, spicy grilled meat, and Tau Sar Piah (famous Penang baked pastry). Note that these eateries either provide no utensils or very sturdy ones, so bring your own disposable cutlery.
We also installed the Foursquare app on our phones to discover great and affordable restaurants around. Simply choose a restaurant and tap on the map for instant directions.
Shopping
Penang boasts several shopping centers like Queensbay Mall (the largest here) with over 500 stores; 1st Avenue Mall (featuring premium brands); Gurney Drive (a personal favorite for my family).
Must-Visit Attractions
Explore Kek Lok Si Temple, Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang Interactive Museum, Adventure Zone entertainment park, Georgetown Heritage Walk, Snake Temple, Little India district, and more.
Total travel expenses for Chị Hường's 4 days and 3 nights trip to Penang with her family (2 adults, 2 kids)
Round-trip flight tickets for an incredible 8 million dong
Accommodation and transportation costs totaling 8 million dong
Dining expenses amounting to 5 million dong
Total expenses (excluding shopping) reach 21 million dong
As reported by Thu Hường/Vnexpress
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Explore: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourJune 10, 2019
