Amazing country, amazing people and a wonderful place.
Started planning spontaneously with a couple of my friends (Abi and Divi). How about we backpack from north to south of Vietnam? "Let's do it", said all of us unanimously.
First things first, book the tickets. Then there is no turning back and we booked tickets with out even checking if we had enough annual leave or even if the employer will approve the leave. Took a leap of faith and let me tell you, it worked out well and in favour for us.
We started planning and printed out a Vietnam map and started marking places which we wanted to visit. Then short listed must visit places and things that we can include in 10 days.
Boarded flight on 2nd Nov 2017 and off we go, had a 4 hour transit at Guangzhou, China and landed in Hanoi at 11PM. We took a cab (bad choice) to our hotel which was not too far from the airport.
We visited few places in Ha Noi that day.
Then we took a train that night at 8PM and head off to Lao Cai. The train was super comfortable though we were curious about anything that can go wrong.
We reached Lao Cai at 5AM and then we took a shared van from there to Sa Pa, a really beautiful place in Vietnam.
We spent that day and the next day in Sa Pa. We stayed at Cat-Cat hotel.
We did a full day trek with a local guide in there, she was wonderful. After a full day trek we reached a waterfall and then she arranged a cab for us to go back. Walking back was not an option for us.
We reached back and then we did some massage there, was fun. Luckily for us that night, they had night market and we bought some souvenirs and had some local street food.
The next day we hired a motor bike and rode ourself though some random places. Its left hand driving there, even though we had some small hiccups, we managed it.
That night we caught the 8PM train from Lao Cai back to Ha Noi. We reached Ha Noi at around 7AM. We just freshened up and rushed as we had a cruise to catch.
Yes, we took Halong bay cruise and that was awesome. Once in a life time opportunity, but for the love of God, do it. Totally worth it.
We started with a bus drive and we were stopped at a place to refresh and toilet break where they had some handicraft works. That place was pretty awesome and you can find some highly skilled people there. We bought a few stuffs from there and then continued to the quay.
We boarded the cruise and there was not even a single minute where you felt like you have to keep the camera down.
They took us in a small boat to another island where you can climb up hill and get this view.
Down at the bottom of the island we had a quick swimming session and then we took off. The we visited a pearl farm and also did canoeing as well.
We reached back to Ha Noi that evening.
That night we took our next train from Ha Noi at 10PM to Dong Hoi. We reached there early in the morning and then caught a cab to Phong Nha. This is place is very much underrated, but is a must visit place in Vietnam. This was one of the most memorable experience in Vietnam. We stayed at Phong Na garden house.
Such a wonderful place to stay. That day we hired motor bike and roamed around in the area. It was such a beautiful place to ride around and the national park in there, Phong Na-Ke Bang was wonderful.
The next day with the help of few local guides, we went to visit a cave, Ruc Mon cave, such an awesome cave experience that will put caves in Australia to shame. This had 4 levels and we had to swim, climb, boulder etc. to complete this and was so fun.
Next day we started early and caught a train from Dong Hoi to Da Nang. From Da Nang, we took a cab to Hoi An, was a sweet 50 minutes drive. We roamed around Hoi An that day and also in the night market which had souvenirs and street food.
Next day we visited the famous Hoi An bridge, where we need ticket to walk and cross a 5 meter bridge. The local shops and food were amazing, we bought another crap load of souvenirs (worth it).
We also made some custom made suits and shoes, which a cheap and looks stunning as they are tailor made for you. After they make it quickly (in half a day), you can try it on before they do the final setting which was fantastic. We visited few other places and temples as well.
Next day morning we caught our final train to Ho Chi Minh. We roamed around in the biggest city in Vietnam.
The next day, we went to the War Remnants Museum.The atrocities and the human genocide that the Americans had done to the local people was portrayed in the museum and let me be clear, its not for weak hearted.
We took an Uber back to our hotel and we called the trip a wrap.
We flew back to Melbourne that night where our flight was cancelled by them, for no reason. But we were so desperate for a parma and a schooner that we didn't fight back and booked another flight.
Few things that we learnt.
Started planning spontaneously with a couple of my friends (Abi and Divi). How about we backpack from north to south of Vietnam? "Let's do it", said all of us unanimously.
First things first, book the tickets. Then there is no turning back and we booked tickets with out even checking if we had enough annual leave or even if the employer will approve the leave. Took a leap of faith and let me tell you, it worked out well and in favour for us.
We started planning and printed out a Vietnam map and started marking places which we wanted to visit. Then short listed must visit places and things that we can include in 10 days.
Boarded flight on 2nd Nov 2017 and off we go, had a 4 hour transit at Guangzhou, China and landed in Hanoi at 11PM. We took a cab (bad choice) to our hotel which was not too far from the airport.
We visited few places in Ha Noi that day.
Then we took a train that night at 8PM and head off to Lao Cai. The train was super comfortable though we were curious about anything that can go wrong.
We reached Lao Cai at 5AM and then we took a shared van from there to Sa Pa, a really beautiful place in Vietnam.
We spent that day and the next day in Sa Pa. We stayed at Cat-Cat hotel.
We did a full day trek with a local guide in there, she was wonderful. After a full day trek we reached a waterfall and then she arranged a cab for us to go back. Walking back was not an option for us.
We reached back and then we did some massage there, was fun. Luckily for us that night, they had night market and we bought some souvenirs and had some local street food.
The next day we hired a motor bike and rode ourself though some random places. Its left hand driving there, even though we had some small hiccups, we managed it.
That night we caught the 8PM train from Lao Cai back to Ha Noi. We reached Ha Noi at around 7AM. We just freshened up and rushed as we had a cruise to catch.
Yes, we took Halong bay cruise and that was awesome. Once in a life time opportunity, but for the love of God, do it. Totally worth it.
We started with a bus drive and we were stopped at a place to refresh and toilet break where they had some handicraft works. That place was pretty awesome and you can find some highly skilled people there. We bought a few stuffs from there and then continued to the quay.
We boarded the cruise and there was not even a single minute where you felt like you have to keep the camera down.
They took us in a small boat to another island where you can climb up hill and get this view.
Down at the bottom of the island we had a quick swimming session and then we took off. The we visited a pearl farm and also did canoeing as well.
We reached back to Ha Noi that evening.
That night we took our next train from Ha Noi at 10PM to Dong Hoi. We reached there early in the morning and then caught a cab to Phong Nha. This is place is very much underrated, but is a must visit place in Vietnam. This was one of the most memorable experience in Vietnam. We stayed at Phong Na garden house.
Such a wonderful place to stay. That day we hired motor bike and roamed around in the area. It was such a beautiful place to ride around and the national park in there, Phong Na-Ke Bang was wonderful.
The next day with the help of few local guides, we went to visit a cave, Ruc Mon cave, such an awesome cave experience that will put caves in Australia to shame. This had 4 levels and we had to swim, climb, boulder etc. to complete this and was so fun.
Next day we started early and caught a train from Dong Hoi to Da Nang. From Da Nang, we took a cab to Hoi An, was a sweet 50 minutes drive. We roamed around Hoi An that day and also in the night market which had souvenirs and street food.
Next day we visited the famous Hoi An bridge, where we need ticket to walk and cross a 5 meter bridge. The local shops and food were amazing, we bought another crap load of souvenirs (worth it).
We also made some custom made suits and shoes, which a cheap and looks stunning as they are tailor made for you. After they make it quickly (in half a day), you can try it on before they do the final setting which was fantastic. We visited few other places and temples as well.
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| A local Mannequin and I |
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| A local dog and Divi |
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| A local suit and Abi |
They we took an Uber to Cu Chi tunnels and it was another marvel. The construction which has been done by the locals then was some magnificent engineerings skills. They also had a firing range where we tried AK-47, M40 and M60. Unfortunately, no pictures of that.
We took an Uber back to our hotel and we called the trip a wrap.
We flew back to Melbourne that night where our flight was cancelled by them, for no reason. But we were so desperate for a parma and a schooner that we didn't fight back and booked another flight.
Few things that we learnt.
- Where there is Uber, use it. Works out way cheaper than taxi.
- Bargain for every thing. (Divi was an expert)
- Coffee is real strong, blows your brain out.
- Try all food, especially street, at your own risk. We didn’t have any problems.
- Use google translator.
- Their trains are awesome, you can take an overnight train. This is a very cheap commute and also save on stay. Our most of the commute was in train and was clean and safe.
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| This is us planning the next trip to Vietnam (checkout the Vietnam shoes). |
