Vietnam 2024

Vietnam is a country I loved and would like to visit again. This trip was meant to happen with a friend I reconnected with after around 10 years. 

Ho Chi Minh City-  BenThan nhat market, Pretty Cafes, Book Street, Pink church,

Cafe apartments, Opera house. 

We started on a Wednesday morning in Ho Chi Minh City - South Vietnam. The city vibes are like any other hustling bustling city, with lots of two-wheelers running throughout. We reached the place we booked for our stay at around 11 only to find out that booking.com disappointed us :( and they didn't have any booking in our name. 

So we headed to another hotel (last-minute booking - SomerSet - Ho Chi Minh City). Oh, what a lovely suite they gave us. one room each with a living room and an amazing kitchen. Our stay was sorted. 
We freshened up and left for Day 1 in this new city. We headed to Jackey Scooter Service to rent a bike. We rented a bike for 2 days for 280000 VND, I love to explore the city on 2 wheels at our own pace. 
I drove while my friend gave directions and the day began with excitement. 

We headed to the most famous Ben Than Nhat market for some street shopping and the stuff the city has to offer to tourists. Most of them are souvenirs, They have some amazing fruit juices and smoothies and coconut water of course. Please use all the bargaining skills you have at such markets.

Later in the afternoon, we moved towards the famous cafe apartments. Well yeah the apartment is indeed full of cafes, A whole variety of them. Beautiful interiors, perfect aesthetics and great menus.

 

Day 2, we headed to one of the prettiest cafes in the city. Cafe Mein Thao Moc, this was a long scooty ride, we enjoyed while viewing and browsing various streets of Ho Chi Minh city.

 

Cafe Mein Thao Moc

 

Later in the evening, we went to the War Remnants Museum followed by a walk along the riverside

Da nang - Hoi An, Ba Na Hills, Cable car, Indian food, Dragon bridge, Downtown Da nang.

We took our next flight from Ho Chi Minh City Airport to Da Nang (central Vietnam). HCMC airport was disappointing to be honest. We also had to get our names corrected on the boarding pass ( Please be careful your names on the ticket should be exactly the same as that on the passport. First, middle and last)

Landing in Da nang we checked into our little studio apartment, Da nang is a beautiful place to hang around. 
From here we headed to Hoi An - An ancient town at a distance of a one-hour drive from Da Nang, the drive was beautiful there were a lot of marble factories, and there was a beautiful sea shore on the way.

We did the iconic coconut boat ride and the coconut boat swirl, I was so excited and waiting for this.

Later in the evening we went for the famous Lantern Street in Hoi and and the Hoi an lake, It was serene and romantic I must say, All these romantic places but you are single AF :). hoi An is a vibe of its own street food, lanterns lake, clothes all of the local and authentic things a tourist must see.

   

After returning from this colourful and lit place we went for a stroll from our studio apartment to see the Dragon Bridge where the Dragon shoots fire at 9 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The weather was pleasant and the stroll around the city was peaceful. I loved Da nang

Next day we left for the Ba Na Hills day trip, only to our dismay that the hills were too foggy. So most of the views were blocked with the mist around, None the less if you visit during August, September the hills are really beautiful, They have a french village, a Sun World, Alpine coaster, and a lot of fun things to do in a day.

                      

     

We had good Indian food at the hills at one of the Indian restaurants up there, The buffet was great and fulfilling after not finding good for past 4 days. We also enjoyed a few 3D, 4D, and 5D rides whichever we could, I enjoy rides no matter where and what they are. 

Hanoi - Ha long bay, Shopping, Train street, Red Chilli Restaurant.

After Da Nang, we took a flew to Ha Noi the capital of Vietnam, The first day in Ha Noi we went for the Ha Long Bay day tour. (FYI : We booked all the day tours from Klook) The bay is beautiful, Our tour guide Mr. Strong was one of a kind I must say, 

So the tour started with a stop at Pearl farming industry where they showed how pearls are formed from the shells and the history around them.

 

After visiting this we boarded the cruise. It was 3 storey cruise, and we were served a few refreshments and food as soon as we arrived. The views along the bay were mesmerising and serene. We stopped at the Ti Top island for a short hike. I was a lil exhausted after the hike since it was crowded and about more than 500 steps

 

After the hike, We went for a kayak ride, We had an option for a bamboo boat and kayak so we selected kayak. This was my first time experience in a kayak and I loved it. After rowing for a few mins below the caves we were just sitting idle amidst the collection of islands under the wide blue sky. Those few mins were pure bliss. With no thoughts no efforts just sitting in a kaya doing nothing at all.

 

The tour guide Mr. Strong also took us to a cave after that, which was tiring for me. I didn't find the caves all that fascinating, but they were meant to be seen for once. 

        

After visiting those caves we headed back to the cruise to end our day and it was a peaceful one. The evening ride in the sea was calm and we had each other and a lot of gossip for the next two hours, until the day ended. 

The next day in Ha Noi we explore the famous TRAIN STREET, Well it is exactly as it is shown in the Instagram reels and a lot of tourists waiting for the train to arrive Haha. 

  

After the visiting this iconic place  we were going around the city shopping and exploring, There is a huge collection of hand bags in this city I must stay. There is some real silk clothing and various other souviniers which we bought. 

  

That was my trip to Vietnam, with my friend, I had a great time here. There is a lot lot more to this country, this is all we could cover in 8 days trip. Hope you enjoyed reading, and will visit the country sometime. :)) 

Buh byeee !!