Vietnam - Where to Go, What to Do

Ninh Binh - Kong Skull Island - View Point

This post is dedicated to who made this trip extraordinary and unforgettable experience in Vietnam: Katie and Kathie (Di La Va).

The desire to visit Vietnam came after telling my Vietnamese friend that I was going to Thailand and she provoked me saying that I should go to Vietnam instead and I will not regret it. What a stunning landscape, history, relaxing and friendly people I met, from the urban city like Hanoi and Ho Chi Min to rural countrysides like Ninh Bin and Sapa. Many cultures influenced these people such as the native Dong Son, China, India, and French colonialism. 

My itinerary was 12 days from Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh. Below, I will describe the main cities and some tips, starting with Sapa. 

Sapa

Close to the Chinese border, it is known for its hill tribes and trekking. The hill tribe make up the majority of trekking guides in Sapa, showing you their backyard. The trek through the vibrantly green rice terraces cascade down rugged mountains in Sapa is unforgettable and spectacular. And very surprising is to see young lady guide carrying her baby with pure plastic flipflops all the way down and up while I was struggling with my boots. 

Sapa - Ta Van - Rice Fields

Sapa - Ta Van - Rice Fields

The girl and her pet. Poor pet or a poor girl?

Homestay in Sapa, messing up the kitchen

Wild strawberries in Sapa, the real one, without genetic modifications

Indigo to color the clothes... and my hand

Tips:

-Take an overnight bus to Sapa and organize the trekking with the guides in Sapa.

-Stay in a homestay where you can experience a bit of their life, cooking and knowing a bit more about them.

Hanoi

Hanoi

 Hanoi was the city where I could have a fantastic introduction to Vietnamese culture in this places my local friend recommended me:

Dong Xuan Market: local market. It was the cheapest place to buy everything in Vietnam, in the Old Quarter. Not many tourists are found there indeed.

Buncha: Buncha is a rice noodle with grilled pork, and this place sells it in Old Quarter

The address: 43 Hang Buom

Lotus Water Puppet Show: I was amazed by the music and show and an excellent opportunity to learn about their instruments, music, and culture.  It takes place over a waist-deep pool of water telling the history of Vietnam, planting rice, fishing and village folklore. The secret of how puppeteers control the puppets from beneath the water has been closely guarded for centuries.  The skills include passing objects from puppet to puppet. But for me, the best part was the music and musicians. Voice, traditional instruments were a must see.

Lotus Water Puppet Show

Old Quarter - Hanoi

Hoan Kiem Lake which means “Lake of the Returned Sword” is a graceful, red-painted wooden bridge which leads to Son Temple in the middle of the lake.

Hoan Kiem Lake - Turtle Tower - Old Quarter - Hanoi

Quan An Ngon: the authentic Vietnamese street cuisine cooked at stalls in the garden courtyard, offering dishes from South, Central, and North of Vietnam. The place itself is worth a visit, located in a beautiful garden. It was the best restaurant experience I have been in the last years. One more thanks to the Kathy which introduced me to this a genuine place.

Quan An Ngon

Old Quarter offers cheap shopping, plenty of backpacks, and delicious food to try.

To stay: definitely in the Old Quarter.

One cozy, fun and affordable suggestion which I stayed is Cocooninn Hostel www.cocooninn.com

Tips: you must try in Hanoi the egg coffee where egg yolk and condensed milk are whipped together to make a sweet and airy head.

The entrance of the best egg coffee with the best view from Old Quarter and the Lake

Egg Coffee

Temple of Literature is a 1000-year-old temple to education which was almost destroyed by war in the 20th Century. What I like most was the number of old and beautiful bonsais which reminded my daddy.

Temple of Literature - Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: The first president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam lies embalmed there, “Uncle Ho”. Visitors are allowed to pay their respect under strict rules: no photography, no shorts, and silence.

Bibh Minh Jazz Club

Binh Minh Jazz Club 

Mr. Minh, the owner, an excellent saxophonist, give a very sophisticated show every night. I loved listening very much and seeing the improvisation and connection the band has between them, and I felt delighted to realize that a musician is running a bar for ages to foreign listeners.

Crossing the street: seriously, this is part of the tourism in Vietnam. No traffic signal is respected. The only rule I could learn is to make eye contact with the drivers and go confident crossing in the middle of thousands of motorbikes and cars.

Halong Bay

Halong Bay means “where the dragon descends to the sea” is one of the world heritage sites. This region is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vietnam. There are many boats which explore the giant emerald green pond. I would recommend staying overnight, and you can see the sunset and sunrise.

These companies do tours in Halong Bay: Oasis Bay and Halong Party Cruises.

Halong Bay - Sunset

Halong Bay

Halong Bay - Canoying

Freedom Island - Halong Bay

Ninh Binh

Rice Field - Ninh Bin

 Ninh Binh is also known as the Ha Long Bay on land instead of water. As of Halong Bay, there are hundreds of limestone monoliths with green rice field on the bottom with rivers flowing through them and caves. This place is getting more famous because the latest movie King Kong filmed there. It is an excellent opportunity to see the rural way of living in Vietnam.

Tam Coc is the most populous site in Ninh Binh where you can see mountains, rivers, caves, rice fields. The boat peddler takes you through the river. The peddlers have learned to peddle with their feet to avoid getting injured.

Tips: this there are so many tourists, and they pester tourists by selling food and drinks along the river.

Trang An: “The Green Sea” is a complex of mountains and caves to which you can only get to by water.

Van Long Nature Reserve: same as Tam Coc or Trang An but less touristic.

Dragon Mountain Viewpoint/Hang Mua Peak: it was the best hike ever in Vietnam. It is only 500 

stair climb but entirely worth with a panoramic 360-degree view of the countryside.

Kong Skull Island - View Point - Ninh Binh

To stay: Ninhbinhvalley homestay. If you love nature, this place will be perfect. One large lake in the middle of milestones and a bungalow house where you can wake up with the fantastic view of the song of nature. 

Ninh Binh Valley Homestay

Ninh Binh Valley - Homestay - What a view for a toilet

Hoi An

Hoi An - Night Market

Hoi An was served as a major port for Japanese, Chinese, Indian and Dutch traders up until the 17th century. With the narrow brick streets, tailor shops and electric lights at night was made into a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are plenty of cheap tailor shops to order clothes, bags, shoes, and boots. I felt so happy to have my first jackboot close to the knees.  There are no boots which fit my calf in this world, so, it needs to be customized. And everything ready in 1 day.









Eco Cooking Tour: it is an excellent tour where you can ride on the Thu Bon River through the Coconut Forest, which is an ecological zone and then have some cooking lessons.

Cloth Shop: Mr. Xê – 71 Nguyen Thai Hoc St

Shoe Shop: 351 Nguyen Duy Hieu St

Email: thuhuong5687@gmail.com

Avana: if you like unique clothes, this is a store from an Italian woman who has been living there for ages and had an incredible creativity (57 Le Loi). 

To stay: Thanh Binh II – Serene Hotel 

Hoi An

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh Tunnels

 -Cuchi tunnels are a massive network of underground tunnels that once served as a command post for Vietnamese forces including hospitals, entertainment facilities, kitchen, weapons factories, etc. It is more than 200km, 9 meters under the soil and it is amused to see the creativity of them building it. There are three levels underground; however, visitors can have a small experience until the second level down. The third one which is a scape of the river is not allowed.

Tip: try to cross the tunnel is you can.

If you are into shooting, you can try shooting a Kalashnikov or an AK 47 for a small fee.

Ben Thanh Market Saigon: a symbol of Ho Chi Minh City

Thai Binh Market: the second cheapest place to buy bags, shoes, clothes, souvenirs, etc.

To eat:

-Corner Restaurant – Buivien: a cozy and pleasant place to be and view the atmosphere of the city. 

Corner Restaurant - Ho Chi Minh City

To stay: Ailen Garden Hotel (2 stars Hotel close to Vien Street which is the center of backpackers´ tourism. 

If you are looking for a different place to visit, you should not miss Vietnam. From North to South, beautiful sceneries to be seeing and experiences to be lived.  Have a safe trip and write your tips.