I never really thought much about visiting Vietnam until I was living in Dubai. I was chatting with a co-worker, who is a fellow avid traveler, and he strongly suggested I add Halong Bay to my bucket list because it was one of his all time favorite places to experience. Since I was not familiar with Halong Bay, I did some research and after seeing awesome photos, and reading fantastic reviews, I decided I definitely had to experience it for myself.

So after a bit of subtle prodding, my boyfriend and I set off on an almost three week adventure to Vietnam and Cambodia!

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN VIETNAM

We knew we wanted to see and explore as much as possible, but with insider knowledge acting as our guide, so we booked our entire itinerary through a fantastic travel agency based in Vietnam. We hired a personal tour guide for our trip and although it was a little pricey, it was well worth every penny!

We flew into Saigon (which is modern day Ho Chi Min) and immediately we felt the energy and intense culture of the immensely populated city. Our hotel was in the heart of the city which made it perfect for walking, or riding a moped if you are more adventurous (this is also the most popular and efficient mode of transportation). I would not however advise renting a moped unless you are highly skilled at maneuvering through the intimidating, hectic non-stop traffic. Everyone we met during our outings was friendly and we did not have any problems communicating/language barriers as pretty much everyone we encountered spoke English.

EAT THE LOCAL CUISINE, ESPECIALLY THE PHO!

We love trying new food, especially anything that is local and traditional, so our first meal was Pho and it was so delicious! It’s basically noodle soup, but much better than any I have ever eaten before. I would highly recommend eating anything vegan as the ingredients were just so fresh and full of interesting flavors. Definitely treat yourself to the various fish dishes as well, especially the elephant ear fish. Super yummy!

SPEND A DAY AT THE CU CHI TUNNELS

Our first tour was a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This area was known as the “Iron Triangle” during the Vietnam War. To be honest, I am not very familiar with a lot of details about the Vietnam war. I had not known about the tunnels and it was mind blowing to see to say the least. The tunnels are literally underground, as it was the way to wage guerilla warfare against the French and American military. The tunnels stretched over 155 miles and went as far down as 3 levels below ground. They allowed tourist to enter an actual tunnel to shed a little light on the unimaginable way the Vietnamese military suffered hiding and living sporadically almost 20 years underground. Since I’m 5’10’ tall, I backed out after one attempt to enter one one the bunker/tunnels due to the unbearable claustrophobic feeling. We saw old detonated leftover bombs, booby traps and even ate some of the food they had to eat during the war. I highly recommend visiting these tunnels as it was eye opening for me and I learned quite a lot.

TAKE A BOAT RIDE DOWN THE MEKONG DELTA

The Mekong Delta, aka the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, was for sure one of the highlights of our trip. I felt like this was one of the best ways to meet the local people and truly experience a day in the life of living in the region. Cruising on the river, hopping on and off various types of boats, (operated mostly by much older women whose amazingly beautiful faces easily expressed their lifelong work ethic), sampling the fresh foods, listening to cultural music, watching a traditional dance performance and inspecting the unique arts & crafts. There was so much to take in that we felt a bit overwhelmed with curiosity. The surrounding environment is so serene that you can feel the underlying current pulsating with history and tradition.

EXPLORE THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF HUE

Located on the banks of what is known as the perfume river, Hue was the capital throughout the Nguyen Dynasty. I believe it is considered the center of Vietnamese Buddhism, and it will not disappoint if you want to learn more about Buddhism or if you are a collector of Buddha decorative home ornaments like me. I was in awe of the elaborate Buddha sculptures peppered almost everywhere I looked. There’s much to digest and explore in the tomb of emperor Tu Duc, the Citadel, the Imperial Palace and the Thien Mu Pagoda. There is also much to do if you want to learn more about the Vietnam war and it’s history in this region. The Marble Mountains in Da Nang is not to be missed. I was completely blown away by the caves as well as the Buddhist sanctuary sites. The sculpting of the stone Buddhas inside the grottos is exquisite.

TAKE A DAY TO CHILL IN HOI AN

I loved Hoi An mostly because of the laid back vibe and colorful accents. Multi- colored lanterns are strung across and adorn the streets. The locals ride mostly bicycles vs noisy mopeds. The quaint restaurants are tucked away in cute flowery corners. And of course there’s the shopping! But not just any shopping, there’s several boutiques where you can get a one-of-a-kind, custom-made leather jacket (tailored to fit) in just a few hours and at really good price! There’s also a lovely beach to relax if that’s more your speed. Or, you can just spend time getting lost and strolling interesting little streets in this beautiful city.

BOOK AN OVERNIGHT CRUISE ON HALONG BAY

Hands down Halong Bay ranks on top ten on my bucket list. I beyond recommend not only an overnight on a cruise ship, but if you have the time I would suggest floating leisurely around this magnificent bay for a week exploring and taking a multitude of pics of the breathtaking limestone monolith islands (numbering over 3000). No exaggeration, but it feels like you’ve escaped reality and you’re in a dreamlike trance, surrounded by a stunning archipelago, while engulfed in absolute tranquility (trust me all true). I plan to return to Halong Bay one day, and make a trip further north to Sapa. This amazing place is one of 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam.

DISCOVER THE CITY OF HANOI

The sheer number of people, motorized vehicles/congestion, tourists, and street markets and sidewalk cafes in Hanoi can be overwhelming, but I say go for it ! Dive right in, put on some comfy walking shoes, carry a super small purse or backpack and make your way around this highly energized city. You can alway hop on a cyclos to make you way around faster. But checking out the Ho Chi Min Mausoleum, The Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda should be included in your stops. The Hanoi Hilton is a popular tourist site as well as the Old Quarter. I really enjoyed sitting at sidewalk cafes and simply people watching.

To Be Able To Think Out Of The Box, You Need To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone And Experience A New Environment

-Vietnam Proverb