For me, there were a few things about Vietnam that stood out immediately. Firstly was the food; it is delicious, and I ate so much of it! Secondly was Vietnam’s incredible history; but through it all, the country has emerged with a very strong sense of its own culture. Lastly, I was moved by its magnificent landscape and beautiful architecture.
Entering Ho Chi Minh is like going into a different world. If you take the local bus from the airport, you will get a crash course in Asian cities like I made a mistake in making which I will never do again it was hot, busy, cramped and surrounded by hundreds of scooters. As soon as I finally arrived to my hotel, i headed straight to the shower!
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
I spent a few days in Ho Chi Minh so needed to make the most of it. It is very easy to get around the city on foot, and there is plenty of walking routes to make sure you visit everything. It's a superb idea to do what I did and book your excursions before you arrive like a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong Delta or maybe a cycling tour.
If you like the beach life like me then go up to Mui Ne like I did its a very popular beach resort about 5 hours to the North –i took the bus again another mistake!. This beach resort is famous for its year-round water sports including kite surfing and wind-surfing which I did not partake in, hell no!. For me, this is a great place if you want to get away from the madness. As Mui Ne as a base, you could learn to kite surf, relax on the stunning beach or hire a scooter for the day and head up to the sand dunes.
Visiting Hoi An was my favorite place in Vietnam, and I would highly recommend it. I found out it was a major port until the 19 century where the river silted up, forcing the port trade to move out to Danang. What now remains is a traditional Vietnamese town that has kept all its character. Famous for its many tailors and handmade clothes and shoes, like me, you’ll need to spend at least three days here if you plan on getting anything made. I got some beautiful items made, and I can tell you it was well worth the wait.There is plenty of things to see and do to keep you amused.
Rice fields on terraces in the sun at MuCangChai, Vietnam
You could spend time exploring this traditional town and its many alleyways of shops, cafes and extensive food market where I actually got lost! I finally decided to hire a scooter (which was a bit daunting at first) and head out to the gorgeous local beaches. My highlight was the trip to Marble Mountain about 30 minutes from Hoi An by scooter. From the bottom, there is not a lot to see, but once you get to the top, there are tunnels and caves that reveal the most amazing sculptures it was fab.
This is a country I will never forget, and I will definitely return again some day very soon.