Well hello! This is a rather long overdue post about our trip to vibrant Vietnam…! I am so excited to tell you all about it! It was such an amazing trip!
Travelling is always one of my favourites – and this year my husband Ben and I went on a trip to vibrant Vietnam!
We visited two cities while in Vietnam. First, we spent a few days in Hoi Chi Minh City (otherwise known as Saigon) – which really is a city that never seems to sleep! There is always a constant flow of people on motorcycles. It is honestly impressive how much cargo they can carry on such a small vehicle!
Secondly we went to Danang which is a modern coastal city. We travelled quite frequently to Hoi An from Danang. Hoi An is a magnificent ancient cultural village and UNESCO heritage site. I will never forget the bright lanterns that lit up the streets and candles floating along on the river at night – too beautiful for words!
But let’s start at the very beginning!
We flew to Vietnam via Hong Kong – a rather long and tiring flight! I always find flying tiring – despite actually mostly managing to catch some zzzz on the flight!
What to do while in Ho Chi Minh City in vibrant Vietnam
We stayed at the lovely Le Meridien Hotel in Ho Chi Minh. We went straight to our hotel when we arrived and had a quick nap. Then we made our way on foot around the town to get a feel for the lay of the land!
Chu Chi Tunnels
The next day we set off early for the Chu Chi tunnels – a very interesting and fascinating excursion! Our trip around the site lasted about two-and-a-half hours. We learnt a lot about local history and the Vietnamese war. Also how the Vietnamese combatted the American attacks by their intricate tunnel system and cleverly crafted weaponry.
The famous Opera House in Saigon
Watching any show in this iconic Opera house (built in 1897 by French architect Eug̬ne Ferret in typical Colonial architectural style) is a pleasure Рthe building is so beautiful!
However, the show we watched at the Opera House was fabulous! We watched a show “My Village” by Bamboo Circus by Lune Productions, which showcases traditional Vietnamese life in an array of different settings. The artists in this show are amazing performers with great talent. They are a combination of acrobats, contortionist, stunt men/women, and talented musicians. If you are visiting Vietnam and are able to see this show – please do! (You can find out more information from their website here)
Getting around in Ho Chi Minh in vibrant Vietnam
While being in Ho Chi Minh city, you have to experience the most famous local form of transport – the motorcycle! Of a population of 8,637 million people – it is estimated that there are roughly 2 million scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in Ho Chi Minh! I would say travelling on a motorcycle here is as important as visiting some famous sights for an authentic experience of Vietnam’s largest City! 😉
Getting around on a Grab scooter (very much like an Uber – but with motorycles) is unlike any other experience I have had in my life! At first it is a bit scary as motorcycles seem to have their own rules for the road. They weave and wind their way through the streets (and even on the sidewalk) masterfully! But in the end it adds to the fun and adventure!
Tailor experience in Ho Chi Minh in vibrant Vietnam
I went on our trip to vibrant Vietnam very keen to explore the option of tailored clothing. Vietnam is quite famous for it’s affordable, high-quality tailoring services.
My husband had a sports jacket custom made in Ho Chi Minh city. His jacket was fully lined and tailored. It cost around $105 and was made from start to finish in 36 hours!
I read a lot of Tripadvisor reviews on tailors in Vietnam before we travelled, so I knew which tailors were in close proximity of our hotel. Because we were on a very tight time-line, we went to a tailor who we felt could give us good quality items within a very strict deadline. In Ho Chi Minh we went to Tricia and Verona and were very happy with their service and the end product!
Places to eat in Ho Chi Minh in vibrant Vietnam
Some local places were we enjoyed good food in Ho Chi Minh were:
The Chill Skybar
This popular dining and nightspot offers spectacular views over the busy city. You will be amazed at the traffic – the streets are flooded with lights from motorcycles – even well after 10pm at night! The view from the 25th floor is spectacular – and the food was just as good. Definitely worth a visit!
Ngon Restuarant in Saigon
From the traditional ambience to the fantastic food – this is a definite “must-visit” on your list! We had a spectacular 7 course meal here with attention taken to every detail! We were so full after 5 courses-but the food kept coming!
The second leg of our trip took us to Danang – where we spent the most enjoyable 3 days…
What to do while in Danang / Hoi An in vibrant Vietnam
We stayed at the beautiful Pullman Resort while we were in Danang- the most gorgeous beach resort!
The resort has so much to offer – from swimming pools, water sports and even a butterfly garden. I could quite happily spend a couple of days here at the resort without going anywhere! 😉
However, we spent a lot of our time travelling from our resort to Hoi An, and ancient city and UNESCO heritage town.
So – let’s look at some of the things to do in Hoi An:
Visit the local central market
The local market is synonymous with Hoi An – a unique experience on a trip to vibrant Vietnam! From crafts, to local goods and street foods – this is a truly great opportunity to meet the locals and do some shopping. The markets are open until around 10 pm – so a lot of people are still shopping and bargaining on the streets until well after dinnertime! Be prepared to barter, though!
The other fun thing to do if you’re out and about during the evening is to buy a paper lantern with a candle in and put it on the river while making a wish. This tradition is supposed to bring you good luck and happiness – and a bit of that can’t hurt, can it?
Cooking Class at Vy’s Market Restaurant and cooking school
We spent an evening here preparing and eating our meal. We shared jokes and laughs with our friends and excellent chef host, Miss Moon. I really recommend doing this – I think it’s especially fun if you are travelling with friends! Such a great way to learn a bit more about local culture and way of life! (We bought Ms Vy’s cookbook while here – Taste Vietnam: The morning Glory cookbook- I can’t wait to try out some of the recipes!)
Visit to Tra Que Village
We spent a morning riding bicycles in the country in the picturesque Tra Que Village on our trip to vibrant Vietnam. This wasn’t quite as pretty as it looks, as the humidity and heat was intense! 😂. We learnt about the farming methods the locals use for planting their crops and also stopped at a Nursery School and house in the country. It was fascinating to see how locals farm. They are so skilled at what they do, but with very minimal modern equipment to help them. For example – sprinkler systems were only installed in this village about 3 years ago. And guess what? They are only used if the women who work the land are too tired to water!
Places to eat in Hoi An in vibrant Vietnam
Some local places where we enjoyed good food in Hoi An were:
Brother’s Cafe
Such a pretty setting as it is located along the riverside! Sitting outdoors where there was a slight breeze was a welcome relief from the heat and humidity. The food we had was presented beautifully and was very tasty!
Cocobox – Farm shop, juice bar & cafe
Our favourite stop for local chocolate, tea, coffee and natural products! But not only that – their coffee and fresh juices/smoothies were definitely the best – and worth going back for! 😋
And of course Ms Vy’s restuarant which I mentioned earlier!
Tailor experience in Hoi An in vibrant Vietnam
While in Hoi An I had a coat made at local Kimmy tailor. The streets of Hoi An are full of tailor shops – so you are honestly spoilt for choice! One small word of advice though – just make sure that you know how to return to the tailor you select, as there are so many little streets and finding your way back might be trickier than you think!
As in Ho Chi Minh – I decided to choose a tailor from TripAdvisor – based on reviews and fast turn-around times! My coat from Kimmy’s is beautiful – after two fittings it was absolutely perfect and ready to go! But be aware that their standard is three fittings – so make sure that you allow enough time to schedule these fittings into your itinerary. Luckily though they are very accommodating and used to working with tourist. My whole experience was lovely and very professional – from the lady Sophie who helped me with measurements and fabrics, to my fittings and finally the end product. The only down-side being that Kimmy’s is it is a bit more expensive in comparison to some of the other local tailor’s.
A teeny tiny bit of Danang in vibrant Vietnam
We also spent a day exploring a little bit of Danang. I love seeing the famous sights in different countries and places – and Dragon Bridge was on my list! Dragon Bridge lit up at night is absolutely magical!! Unfortunately time didn’t allow for more than a dinner, a little walkabout and a stroll through the local market!
There are many other fantastic things to do while in this part of Vietnam – some of which I would love to go back and see – but unfortunately this was all we had time for on this trip!
And before I wrap up this blog post – if you are anything like me and love mango – you simply cannot go on a trip to vibrant Vietnam without trying their local mango smoothies – most restaurants and street juice bars make them – and they are simply too delicious to miss!
PS: If you’d like to read a bit more about travelling to Vietnam – you can read more here – they have a great travel guide to places in Vietnam – including Hoi An and some other fabulous spots! https://maketimetoseetheworld.com/where-ive-been/asia/vietnam/
