Our Experience: The Beauty of Vietnam

Vietnam. As we were preparing for our maiden voyage to Vietnam last spring and friends and family would learn we were about to take the more than 22 hour flight, people had one of two reactions: one of pure confusion and fright or one of pure excitement and joy. My father, a Vietnam War veteran, couldn’t quite understand the appeal of Vietnam no matter how many photos I showed him and places I explained-- which is understandable. For many, Vietnam still brings back uncomfortable memories. The same cannot really be said for the Vietnamese. In Vietnam, they call the war the “American War” (which makes total sense, but just seems so strange to hear). Even though they fought us as enemies, they embrace American Tourists with open arms, ready to share their country with anyone who will walk it’s soil. They remember the war differently, from a different perspective of course, as is evident if you visit the Hanoi Hilton Museum or the American War museum.

Vietnam is a vast country with so much to offer that you could spend weeks within it’s borders and not reach every major landmark and city. The climates, cultures, and cuisines vary as you travel from the northern reaches of Sapa and Hanoi to the southern city of Ho Chi Minh City. There is something for everyone.

FOOD TOURS
In my travels, I have discovered, a walking food tour is one of the best ways to experience a new city. We prefer to take a food tour very early in our trip, as it allows for you to get a lay of the land and helps me to get outside of my comfort zone-- especially in a city where NOTHING is in English. You can find food tours all over the internet, but we enjoy booking through AirBnB. The reviews are a great way to determine who to book with and you are usually working with a local who knows the area inside and out. In our Vietnamese food tour experience, we tried all the Vietnamese classics like bun cha, pho, hot vin lon, and vietnamese egg coffee while engrossed in stories from our guide, Hanh about her childhood growing up in a suburb of Hanoi. I always fall in love with a city through my stomach-- and Hanoi was no different. Eight dishes accompanied with Vietnamese beers later, I was hooked on Hanoi.

HANOI
Hanoi is one of the largest cities in Northern Vietnam. I have never seen traffic as I have here. The traffic, the bustling noise, the pedestrians carting their shopping hauls back home for the day. It is hard to truly explain the hustle and bustle of the city unless you experience it first hand. During our food tour, our guide had to hold up her arms to keep me from stepping right in front of speeding mopeds. Mopeds rule this city. As she taught us how to navigate the streets of downtown Hanoi, stepping directly out into traffic without so much as a blink of hesitation (she says “if you hesitate, that is when you get hit!”) to walk across the narrow street from one food stall to the next. 
Highlights of Hanoi:

• The shopping in Hanoi is fantastic. You can hit up the luxury stores like Louis Vuitton and Cartier, or you can hop from one stall to the next in the Silk Market or Hang Trong to find cute boutiques and gifts to bring home. My favorite shop was Cerender Ceramic, a potter store on Hang Be street with the most beautiful handcrafted pottery I have ever seen. 
  
• Eat your way through Hanoi. Hands down the best food Hanoi has to offer can be found in Old Quarter. You also have to try Bun Cha, a pork belly meatball dish that even President Obama cannot resist. You can visit the same food stall as the President himself here: https://www.facebook.com/bunchahuonglienobama
  
• A visit to Hanoi is not complete without visiting Hao Lo Prison (a.k.a. Hanoi Hilton). Once a prison, this museum documents and displays the lifetime of the prison and those that it held captive- including Senator John McCain III. 
  
• GET A MASSAGE! Omamori Spa is a massage palor offering the cheapest massages I have ever heard of (90 minutes for $6… no joke) by blind masseuses. I never wanted to leave. After a long day of exploring the city, this is a much needed break to relax and prepare for a night on Beer Street in Old Quarter.
  
• Take in the sights and sounds of Beer Street. There are not many places that offer beer for fifty cents. It is crowded, loud, and a bit too crazy, but it is worth the experience. Grab a tiny stool, a beer (or several) and get as comfortable as you can while you absorb Hanoi at night. 
  

HA LONG BAY
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the Gulf of Tonkin and includes more than 1,600 islands and islets made from limestone pillars about 3 hours outside from Hanoi. There are numerous cruise and junk boat ships that sail the bay for recreational/tourist ventures of varying accomodations and itineraries. We chose a 1 night cruise tour with Paradise Cruise Vietnam. If I were to do it over again (and I would LOVE to), I would choose at least 2 nights aboard the ship in the bay. Each ship and itinerary will take you to a handful of caves, beaches, and cliffs throughout the bay. With any luck, you can enjoy a sunset cocktail on the top deck of the ship while fisherman, pearl divers, and floating convenience stores make their way silently across the water. 
Going for an extended trip to Vietnam? That’s awesome! Here are some other great destinations that you have to try!
SAPA
Sapa is a region in Northwest Vietnam with spectacular views of mountains and rice fields. The best thing to do here is to stay at a farm stay/home stay and really get to know the locals and the culture.

DA NANG
Known for the Golden Hands Bridge, Da Nang is located in Central Vietnam. In addition to a Lady Buddha and amazing cuisine, you can visit some of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam.

HOI AN
Hoi An is also known as the “lantern city” and the town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hoi An’s Old Town is where you want to focus your time here, with beautifully colored buildings, temples, and amazing street food stalls.

HO CHI MINH CITY
History and culture buffs must include Ho Chi Minh City on their itinerary. Ho Chi Minh City, also called “Saigon” is well known for being the city that unified North Vietnam and South Vietnam. If you are spending extended time in Saigon, venture to the Mekong Delta to see just a peek at some of the natural beauty of Vietnam.

Whether you are visiting Vietnam for 3 days or 3 weeks, there is something for everyone from culture to natural beauty, to rich history, and scrumptious cuisine, your trip to Vietnam will be the trip of a lifetime.