Vietnam🇻🇳

We spent five weeks exploring Vietnam, and it was honestly one of my favourite countries of my entire Southeast Asia trip. From the incredible scenery and adventurous activities to the food, culture and amazing people we met along the way, it was a country that had a bit of everything and somewhere I'll always recommend visiting!

Ho Chi Minh City

We started our Vietnam adventure in Ho Chi Minh City, where we spent a total of seven days. This might seem like quite a long time for one city, but we absolutely loved it here! Ho Chi Minh City seems to have quite mixed reviews among travellers, but we really enjoyed exploring everything it had to offer and could easily have spent even longer. I have put together a separate blog with all our recommendations, which you can find here.

Mui Nei

We made a very quick stop in Mui Ne, spending just one night there. Although, it barely felt like a proper night as we were up incredibly early for the sunrise sand dunes tour!

Mui Nei Hills Backpackers
We stayed at Mui Ne Backpackers, which was a gorgeous hostel with a lovely pool and beautiful views overlooking the town. The dorm rooms were really spacious and had adjoining bathrooms, making it a really comfortable place to stay. After our 3am start for the sunrise tour, it was lovely to come back, relax by the pool for a few hours and enjoy the sunshine before catching our bus to Da Lat!

White & Red Sand Dunes
The main attraction in Mui Ne is the sunrise sand dunes tour. Our tour included transport to and from the dunes, as well as quad bikes that we could ride up and down the sandy hills. We went in pairs with a guide, taking turns driving and riding together, which made for such a fun experience! Afterwards, we had some time to take in the views and watch the sun begin to rise over the dunes.

After visiting the White Sand Dunes, we headed to the Red Sand Dunes, another beautiful, desert-like landscape. Here, we also had the option to hire bodyboards and slide down the red sand, which was a really fun way to finish the tour!

Mui Nei Fishing Village
Another place worth visiting in Mui Ne is the Fishing Village. It's pretty cool to see all the colourful fishing boats lined up along the water and get a glimpse of what the local fishermen do. However, be warned that the smell of fish and seafood is pretty strong! If you're not a fan of fishy smells, this might be one spot to skip.

Fairy Stream Mui Nei
The last stop on our Mui Ne itinerary was the Fairy Stream, a famous walking trail that takes you through a small canyon surrounded by bright red and orange sand, clay banks and towering sandy formations. The water is very shallow, so we took our shoes off at the start and walked barefoot through the stream. It was a really unique spot and a lovely way to finish exploring Mui Ne!

Da Lat

Our next stop was Da Lat, where we spent two nights. However, I would definitely recommend staying for longer, as we absolutely loved it here! Unfortunately, the weather wasn't on our side during our visit, and it absolutely poured with rain. We decided to cut our stay short and move on, but it's somewhere we'd love to return to one day and explore properly next time!

Crazy House
The Crazy House is a unique architectural landmark and hotel that visitors can explore. From the outside, the building looks like something straight out of a fairy tale, with winding staircases, hidden rooms and all sorts of quirky designs. You can purchase tickets to explore the building, giving you access to its high walkways, spiral staircases and hidden gardens, as shown in the pictures below.

It also operates as a hotel, with a small number of uniquely designed, animal-themed rooms featuring some wonderfully unusual sculptures and interiors. It's definitely somewhere worth visiting for something a little different!

New Alpine Coaster & Datanla Waterfall
The Datanla Alpine Coaster is a 2,400-metre-long roller coaster, making it the longest alpine coaster in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. You can ride the coaster from the top of the mountain all the way down to Datanla Waterfall, travelling through some incredible forest and mountain scenery along the way.

You can reach speeds of up to 40mph and control your own speed using the manual handbrake levers on the side. You can ride in pairs, making it a really fun experience to share! Once you reach the bottom, there are also plenty of other activities to enjoy, including a biplane ride, high-rope courses, canyoning and various scenic walking trails.

Other things to do in Da Lat:

• Maze Bar – The Maze Bar is a multi-storey, labyrinth-style bar filled with winding corridors, secret staircases, low ceilings and even crawl spaces to explore. You can make your way through the maze, which eventually leads up to a rooftop garden and terrace with lovely views overlooking Da Lat. It's a really quirky place to visit and definitely an experience in itself!

Nha Trang

We then spent two nights in Nha Trang, which is known for its long sandy beaches, offshore islands and mud baths. If you are short on time, I personally think Nha Trang is somewhere you could miss out of your itinerary. However, if you're looking for somewhere to slow down, relax and spend some time on the beach, it is a great place to visit. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't particularly great during our stay, which may have been one of the reasons we didn't enjoy it as much as we could have!

Museum of Oceanography
The Oceanographic Museum is one of Vietnam's oldest and largest marine research centres, home to an extensive collection of preserved marine species, as well as a large aquarium featuring a variety of sea life, including fish, sharks and turtles. We spent a rainy morning exploring the museum, which was a great way to escape the bad weather and learn a little more about Vietnam's marine life!

Thap Ba Ponagar Nha Trang
Thap Ba Ponagar is an ancient Hindu temple complex dedicated to Yan Po Nagar, the Mother Goddess who taught the Cham people agriculture and weaving. The temples are beautifully built from red and orange bricks, with the main temple standing at around 28 metres tall. It is a fascinating place to visit, offering a glimpse into Vietnam's rich history and Cham culture.

Thap Ba Mud Baths
Nha Trang is home to several wellness spas where you can spend a few hours relaxing in natural mud baths and hot mineral water pools. We spent a few hours here, booking a session that included 30 minutes in the mud baths before washing off and finishing with a relaxing soak in the hot baths. It was a lovely way to unwind and enjoy something a little different!

Other things to do in Nha Trang:

• Long Son Co Tu - the largest and most famous Buddhist temple.
• Cheers Sports Bar - sports bar that serves English Breakfast.
• Sailing Club Nha Trang - beach club cocktails.

Da Nang

From Nha Trang, we travelled to Da Nang, where we spent three days. If you're short on time, I would definitely prioritise Da Nang over Nha Trang. The main reason for this is to visit Sun World Ba Na Hills, which is one of the biggest attractions in the area!

Ba Na Hills (Sun World Ba Na Hills)
Ba Na Hills is a huge mountaintop resort and theme park, best known for its impressive indoor amusement park and the famous Golden Hands Bridge. To get to Sun World, we shared a taxi to the entrance before purchasing our tickets. There are a few different ticket options available, but ours included the cable car ride, park entrance and, I think, lunch as well!

To reach the park itself, you have to take a cable car up the mountain. The tickets are quite expensive, but in my opinion, they are completely worth it! The panoramic views along the way and from the top were absolutely incredible. We were really lucky with the weather, as conditions at the top can change very quickly, but we had clear skies and were able to take in some amazing views along the way.

Ba Na Hills Fantasy Park
Once at the top, you can explore Fantasy Park, Vietnam's largest indoor amusement park. It features over 100 games and attractions, including a huge drop tower, alpine coaster, climbing walls and cinema experiences, amongst plenty of other things to enjoy.

It's an incredible place to spend the day, with so much to see and do. In my opinion, it's completely worth the ticket price, especially considering just how much is included!

The Golden Hand Bridge
The other main attraction is the famous Golden Hands Bridge, a beautiful elevated walkway that appears to be held up by two enormous stone hands. It first opened in 2018, so when we visited in 2022, it was still a fairly new attraction.

The views as we walked along the bridge were incredible, with panoramic views stretching across the mountains and Da Nang below. I would definitely recommend visiting in the morning if you can, as the weather at the top can change very quickly. By the afternoon, when we were making our way back, the skies had become cloudy and visibility was much more restricted. It's definitely worth getting there earlier to make the most of the views!

Marble Mountains
The Marble Mountains are a group of five limestone and marble hills, each named after one of the five traditional Eastern philosophical elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth, with Water being the tallest and main mountain open to visitors.

To get there, we drove to the entrance and purchased our tickets before making our way up several flights of stairs to the top. Once there, you can explore a series of fascinating grottoes, tunnels and caves, including the famous Huyen Khong Cave. One of the highlights is its impressive open-air skylight, which allows natural light to shine down onto the large Buddha statues inside, creating a really beautiful and atmospheric setting.

Other things to do in Da Nang:

• Con Market.
• Chua Linh Ung, Ngủ Hanh Son.
• Cathedral Saint Denis.
• Wonderlust Cafe.
• Bikini Bottom Express.

Hoi An

We then spent four nights in Hoi An, which was another one of our absolute favourite places in Vietnam. In fact, I wish we had stayed here for a whole week! Out of all the stops mentioned so far, Hoi An should definitely be at the top of your list. There is so much to see and do, from exploring the beautiful Old Town to taking cooking classes or simply spending some time relaxing.

We stayed in a hostel just outside the Old Town, around a 10-minute drive away. We didn't mind being a little further out, but there are also plenty of hostels within walking distance of the main attractions if you'd prefer to be closer to all the action.

Hoi An Old Town
One morning, we hired bicycles and spent some time cycling around Hoi An's beautiful Old Town, stopping at different landmarks along the way. It's a lovely way to explore the area and take in all the sights at your own pace. Some of the highlights include:

• Historic Streets – Wander through the old streets and visit iconic landmarks such as the Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall and Hainan Assembly Hall.
• Hoi An Night Market – Browse the many stalls selling colourful trinkets, handmade goods and souvenirs. It's particularly lovely in the evening when the lanterns light up the streets.
• Cafes, Bars & Restaurants – There are so many lovely places to stop for a coffee, grab some food or enjoy a drink while taking in the atmosphere of the Old Town.

Lanterns at Night
One of the most popular activities in Hoi An is taking a traditional small sampan boat along the Thu Bon River, particularly at sunset or after dark. You can also purchase a small, colourful lantern to release onto the water, which is believed to bring good luck. It's a lovely experience and a really special way to see Hoi An, especially when the river is lit up with all the glowing lanterns in the evening!

Vietnamese Cooking Class
One of the most popular activities in Hoi An is combining a traditional Vietnamese cooking class with a ride in the famous coconut basket boats. We booked our tour online for the eight of us, which included bicycles to get us to the cooking class. The cycle took around 30 minutes, and it was a lovely way to take in the surrounding scenery before arriving at the local market to pick up all our fresh ingredients.

We then spent a couple of hours learning how to prepare and cook a variety of traditional Vietnamese dishes before sitting down together to enjoy everything we'd made. It was such a fun experience and a great way to learn more about Vietnamese food and culture!

Coconut Basket Boat
After the cooking class, the second part of the day involved heading out onto the water in the famous coconut basket boats. We spent the first 20 minutes gently floating through the narrow waterways surrounded by bamboo palm forests, with our guide showing us how to catch little crabs along the way.

We then made our way out into the main open water, where we each got a turn at spinning around in the basket boats, just like you see in all the viral videos! It was such a fun experience and definitely a highlight of the day.

Other things to do in Hoi An:

• Shopping & Custom-Made Clothes – Hoi An is famous for its tailor-made clothing, and I would 100% recommend getting something made while you're here! The quality is incredible, particularly the linen pieces, and you can have pretty much any design made. My advice would be to bring photos or sketches of what you'd like, choose your preferred fabrics and then get measured. The process can sometimes take two fittings, and you'll usually need to pay around a 50% deposit upfront. Make sure you do this towards the beginning of your stay, as it can take a few days for your clothes to be made and ready for collection.
• Try the Local Food – Hoi An has some amazing traditional Vietnamese dishes that you should definitely try while you're here. Some local favourites include Cao Lầu noodles, white rose dumplings and the famous bánh mì from Madam Khanh, also known as The Bánh Mì Queen.

Hai Van Pass

We then drove along the famous Hai Van Pass, which was made popular after being featured on Top Gear. The full route typically runs between Da Nang and Hue, but as we'd already made plans with our group to take the bus, we decided to tackle just part of it, heading halfway along the pass to the main viewpoint. This meant we could still experience some of the incredible coastal scenery and winding mountain roads without having to commit to the full route. The views along the way were absolutely stunning!

Ninh Binh

We then took a day trip to Ninh Binh, which was another highlight of our time in northern Vietnam. If you have a little more time, I'd definitely recommend staying for at least one night so you can explore at a more relaxed pace without feeling rushed between attractions. However, if you're short on time, you can still fit the main highlights into a day trip from Hanoi!

Trang An, Bai Dinh & Hang Mua
One of the absolute must-do activities in Ninh Binh is taking a boat trip through Trang An, an incredible UNESCO-listed landscape of limestone karsts, caves and winding waterways. We booked this as part of our day trip and, although it was absolutely pouring with rain, we still had the best time! We made the most of the experience, enjoyed the boat ride and got to take in some of the most beautiful scenery along the way. So, don't let a bit of rain put you off – it's definitely worth doing whatever the weather!

Bai Dinh Pagoda and Hang Mua
After Trang An, we headed to two of Ninh Binh’s most popular attractions. We arranged a taxi to take us to both spots before making our way back into town to catch our bus back to Hanoi.

First up was Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest Buddhist temple complex in Vietnam. The complex is home to enormous bronze Buddha statues, long corridors lined with Arhat statues and an impressive bronze bell. Our next stop was Hang Mua Cave Viewpoint, which is located near Tam Coc. To reach the top, you need to climb around 500 steps up Ngoa Long Mountain, but the effort is completely worth it! Once you are at the summit, you are rewarded with incredible panoramic views overlooking the Ngo Dong River and the surrounding Tam Coc rice paddies.

Hanoi

Our final stop in Vietnam was Hanoi, where we spent a total of six days, split between our time before and after completing the Ha Giang Loop.

I have put together a separate blog with all my recommendations and favourite things to do in Hanoi, which you can find here. I have also written another blog on the Ha Giang Loop, covering everything you need to know before taking on this incredible adventure, which you can read here.

Conclusion

Overall, Vietnam was one of my favourite countries from my travels around South East Asia. It had the perfect mix of socialising and meeting people from all over the world, exciting activities, incredible scenery and unforgettable cultural experiences. We learnt so much about the country's history, traditions and way of life, all while having some of the most amazing experiences along the way. It is a country that has so much to offer, and one I wouldd love to return to and explore even more one day!