Spending three weeks in Vietnam, travelling from the south to the north, and back again, was an experience! It's unlike anywhere I've been before, not sure I'd return, too many city stops and too loud for me unfortunately, but I'm glad I went! Saw a lot, learnt a lot, will remember a lot :)
What to expect
To feel like you're in Vietnam!
A lot of the views and surroundings are exactly how you'd picture them to be: vast greenery, from fields with farmers wearing the pointy straw hats to mountains, and lots of water masses with gondola style boats. I did find in some places though, usually when walking along the coastal promenade, I could have been in a European beach resort such as Spain or the Canary Islands. In others, it would have been Bangladesh. It's odd.
Celebrity Status
If you're white you're more than likely to get Asians asking you for a photo. Not to take one of them, no no, to be in the photo, with them grinning ear to ear whilst holding your hand. I might start charging.
This doesn't however mean you get special treatment; expect to also be shoved, honked out of the way and have your personal space invaded. I've actually had to 'shoo' away a man at the airport who couldn't possibly wait behind the red line for me to be served at check in. He wanted to put his bag on the counter with mine, push his luggage past me onto the conveyor belt, take a look at my passport and stare at me whilst I was getting my boarding pass. Back off fool.
Must see's
The War Museum in Ho Chi Minh City
The Vietnamese war for me was unexplained; I had zero knowledge on why it happened, or what the outcome even was, due to my lack of research or general knowledge levels, as well as not learning about it in school. This museum was vast, covering all aspects, with lots of photography and brutal honesty. I now feel that era has been explained and is clear to me. It's also inspired me to generally know more about the world and its history; I should know things, so I'm going to make the effort to do so.
The city of lanterns in the day AND night
Hoi An is mine and many others' favourite city in Vietnam, it is beautiful. The buildings are rustic and painted lovely colours, while the streets are covered in lanterns. In the day time it's a lovely stroll and great for shopping, and at nighttime the streets come alive with lights making the river look lovely.
Halong Bay
An incredible mass of sky high, rock islands that you weave your way in and out of on a boat. The day tour will also take you on a basket boat through water caves, and guide you through an unbelievable cavern inside one of the islands on foot.
Must do's
Cycle tour and Basket Boat Rowing
This is a combined tour and one of my favourite days so far. Being able to cycle through rice fields and past buffalo was, literally, a breath of fresh air after lugging around your backpack, sweating your t*ts off. As a bonus, at the end of the cycle, we were able to get into basket boats (round, dome-like bamboo boats) and row around the reeds.
Noodle making class
I'm not crazy about noodles, I'm a rice kind of gal, so I wasn't too bothered about this class beforehand, but I'm glad I did it. Not necessarily for the education in Asian carbs, but for the insight into the organisation who run the class, Streets. They take on young adults living in poverty, give them accommodation and food for 18 months while they are taught skills in hospitality as well as English, enabling them to have a career and leave poverty behind them.
Hire motorbikes as much as possible
In Vietnam, motorbikes are everywhere so it's easy, as well as cheaper and more convenient, to hire one yourself. It may seem daunting at first, but the traffic is actually really slow, and the views, secret spots and untouched scenes are well worth it.
Trek up Lang Biang Mountain
Whilst in Dalat, in between cruising around on your motorbike, climbing the Lang Biang mountain is a must. It's not easy, I won't sugar coat it, Ciara and I nearly died, and we're quite fit! But it was awesome. There's something about trekking against the clock, getting caught in a storm and losing all ability to speak, let alone breathe.
What to eat
Bahn Mi: Their favourite baguette filled with pork strips, salad and different sauces. A really cheap street food for lunch or long journeys (less than a dollar, about 75p...)
Coconut iced cream: I'm going to make some at home by just putting coconut cream in the freezer, it's got to be healthier than Haagen Dasz right?
Mi Quang: Noodles with Pork, shrimp, quail eggs and a peanut sauce
Vietnamese coffee! Super strong with condensed milk and ice, delish
Tips
- Fibre... In Vietnam, the diet isn't particularly fibrelicious, so grab it wherever you can and make the most of it. I'm sure you get where I'm going with this, I won't go into details of the implications otherwise
- Take water bottles to meals to save you buying restaurant priced water
- When visiting Hoi An, because you have to, make sure you buy a city ticket for the old town. It's only $6 but if you get caught without one you'll get fined; I wouldn't have known without Channy, our CEO. With the ticket you also get five entrance tickets to tourist attractions i.e. Temples, the Japanese bridge and an art performance, so it's worth the money anyway
- Although you might think Halong Bay is the most beautiful, picturesque place in Vietnam, and the islands certainly are, don't stay more than a day, 2 max, on the mainland. It's such a strange place with unfinished construction everywhere, ugly grey multi-storey buildings, minimal restaurants and bars with average food quality, an out of place empty theme park and little to none shopping or activity options. I recommend you go on an overnight boat trip around the islands then skedaddle
- Monzo: a pre-paid debit card for being abroad. It doesn't charge you to use it, it gives you the actual exchange rate, and there's a great app which instantly notifies you of the money you've just spent in your own currency. https://monzo.com
- Fluffy bed socks: for over-night trains, long bus journeys and flights. I wish I'd brought some because your feet get minging, and it would be lush to have cosy feet!
Onto Bali!
Cam on (Thank You) and Gambit (Goodbye)!
#Vietnam #LiveLaughLearnTravel
