22 April 2024

This trip was a real adventure, with no high heels or pretty dresses. Vietnam has so much to offer in terms of history, culture and food. Opted for private tours which are very affordable. Vietnamese people are very humble, and genuine and do their best to please visitors. Vietnam is a country of coffee rather than tea. If you are a coffee lover you will love it! Food is super fresh, people go to daily markets to get their groceries every day, fresh. Highlights – Hue and the Vietage Train Disappointments – Halong Bay, slightly Hoi An with so many tourists Hanoi– My first impression was so much traffic and so many bikes. - Ho Chi Minh mausoleum - all visitors to the mausoleum are required to wear clothes covering your knees and shoulders. - Presidential Gardens; Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc Pagoda; Hoa Lo prison - The Note Coffee – famous for their sticker décor and you can’t leave Hanoi without experiencing Train Street. Halong Bay Cruise We opted for 2 nights/3 days so the cruise could take us deep inside Lan Ha Bay where we would have more privacy, swim and kayak in a prestige water. We received and warm welcome from the cruise staff and settled down, followed by happy hour, cooking class and a ’la cart dinner. We were taken by bus to Trung Trang cave. The cave is 300m long through the mountain, possessing tectonic stalactites with different shapes. Halong Bay is too commercial with too many boats and dirty water, opt to see Sapa instead – the country of rice terraces. Hue On a scooter, we rode through little laneways, beside canals and through local markets, visiting a king’s tomb, pagoda and local handicrafts. Visited Hue’s Citadel and Forbidden Purple City and learnt about Vietnam’s emperors and their intriguing histories. Lunch was a delicious traditional Buddhist banquet served at a pagoda. This was a truly action-packed day of scenery, history, culture and cuisine and definitely the highlight of our trip. (You have the option of joining this tour by private air-conditioned vehicle). Danang / Hoi An Hoi An is a city of lanterns. I must admit I was slightly disappointed as the place was so busy with tourists that you can’t enjoy the beauty of the city and what it has to offer. Staying in Hoi An for 5 nights was a bit too long, I would prefer 2 nights in Danang and 3 nights in Hoi An. Danang – offers a long stretch of beach with many resorts right on the beach. - Marble Mountains - a cluster of five marble and limestone hills and spiritual culture - My Khe Beach - is famous for its blue sky, smooth white sand, clear & warm water year round and beautiful coconut trees. - Ba Na Hill – so-called The Golden Bridge is much smaller than on Instagram with many tourists trying to take a photo. The cable car taking 25 mins takes you up the hill from Danang to Ba Na Hills is spectacular. At the top, there is also an entertainment park so the kids were very happy to have some fun. Countryside biking and cooking class - with a guide, we rode our bikes along rice fields seeing water buffalos, and palm forests, and across bridges to get to a fisherman village where we enjoyed a boat trip inside a water coconut forest. Later we visited a local family well-known for its organic herbs & vegetables, learning about sustainable farming methods and cooking authentic Vietnamese food with a 70-year-old lady who was the entertaining director – a real loving grandmother. Hoi An things to do: - Tailors - They have many good tailors and many people opt to have their dresses, business suits or evening dresses for very reasonable prices. - The Old Town – you can find here many local shops and markets. It’s a town of the lantern that you can see everywhere, you can buy a lantern and take a boat ride on the river. - Restaurants – Old Town offers a variety of restaurants. Somewhat busy and overrated, we opted for a quiet place slightly outside of the busy Old Town called Reu Restaurant – the architecture of this place is amazing and the food prepared was divine. - Hoi An Lune Center – is the first and only bamboo theatre in Vietnam. Get a ticket and go to see a show – you won’t be disappointed. - Golf – Danang offers some amazing golf courses and many people come here to do just that. The Vintage Train from Danang to Quy Nhon 2 nights- was our absolute highlight. You have your own cabin (2 people only), all drinks included and a ‘la carte lunch is served. During 5.5 hours of journey, you see the real Vietnam countryside, rice fields and everyday living. After 5.5hrs journey you get to a stunning Quy Nhon. You can choose to stay in Anantara if your budget permits or Avani Hotel. From 15 May 2024, an additional carriage will extend to the coastal city of Nha Trang. Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon 3 nights - The largest city, business and financial hub of Vietnam with a population of almost 10mil people. Also known as Saigon, there are plenty of museums showcasing the country's dark wartime history and classic colonial architecture built by former French rulers. You can see and feel the economic inequality as you explore the streets. Cu Chi Tunnels by Speedboat - The tunnel site includes weapon and booby trap exhibitions, navigating authentic Viet Cong tunnel, we visited different underground bunkers (kitchens, meeting rooms, ammunition etc.), a firing range and much more. Mekong Delta – We took a boat and stopped at brickwork and coconut processing workshops located along the canal. Vietnam is an amazing country, with a rich history and vibrant culture, a country still waking up from the horrors of war. Vietnamese people are nice, polite, humble and felt safe. The country of Vietnam is still pure and not as commercial as other Asian countries. The traffic is hectic but you get used to it after a short while. Today, Vietnam is experiencing rapid economic growth, fuelled by a booming tourism industry, manufacturing, and a young, tech-savvy population. Its cuisine, renowned globally for its flavours and diversity, reflects the country's cultural tapestry. Despite its progress, Vietnam continues to grapple with challenges such as environmental degradation, social inequality, and political restrictions. Overall, Vietnam remains a fascinating blend of tradition and modernity, continually evolving while preserving its unique heritage.