3 weeks of pure joy in Vietnam

I travelled through South East Asia for 43 days, and Vietnam was my fourth and last country in this trip. My journey from South to North Vietnam was the one I've been wanting to experience once in my lifetime and wouldn't mind doing it again! If you haven't read my other blogs on South East Asia, here are the links - Thailand Laos Cambodia

Read on to know about the places I visited in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City (4 nights)

I arrived at Ho Chi Minh City by bus from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Ho Chi Minh City is the capital of Vietnam. The city bustles with traffic and people.

Places visited - Cu Chi Tunnel, Ben Thanh Market, City and War remnants museum.

Nha Trang

This is a town in South Vietnam with beautiful beaches. If you're adventure and water lover, then this is the right town to visit, as there are several dive centers in town who will take you scuba diving or snorkeling.

Place visited - Thap ba mud bath, Ponagar Temple, Nha Trang Cathedral, Studio & Gallery Long Thanh Art.

Da Nang

Da Nang was my next stop. This town is also located on the coast. From dragon shows to historical caves, this place will definitely keep you busy.

These are the places I visited - Marble mountains, Lady Buddha, Dragon Bridge, Son Tra night market.

Hoi An

A must visit to town to experience local culture and celebrations. Tết marks the first day of the Lunar calendar, and the locals recommend spending this time in Hoi An as one can witness these celebrations in town.

Places visited - Hoi An night market, Memories land, Museums.

Hue

This is a town in Central Vietnam and was the national capital in the eighteenth century during the Nguyen Dynasty. The town mainly popular for its Citadel and other Mausoleums of kings.

Places visited - Mausoleum of Emperior Khai Dinh, Hue Citadel.

Ninh Binh

This is one of the chilly towns to visit in Northern Vietnam. Ninh Binh is surrounded by lakes and rivers and mountains, where one can enjoy either by taking a boat ride on the river or hike up a mountain.

Places visited - Bai Dinh Pagoda, Mua Caves, Trang An Boat Tour, Ancient Capital

Ha Giang

Ha Giang is the northern most town of Vietnam and close to the China border. Ha Giang loop is a popular trip that tourists make to explore the surrounding villages. I did the loop for 3 days and 2 nights and this ride was one of the highlights of my travel.

Towns visited - Dong Van, Du Gia, Meo Vac

Hanoi

Hanoi is all about food, good vibes, great coffees, museums and much more!

Get lost in the streets of old quarter and enjoy the various types of coffees, eat local food, explore museums.

Helpful tips:

Entering Vietnam by road - The bus journey from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh was not a smooth experience. Immigration process was long and tiring. The best way to enter Vietnam would be to fly to any of the international airports in the country.

Sim cards - I found it challenging to get a sim card in Vietnam from an official store (Viettel), hence ended up getting a sim that was already registered in local person's name. I did not face any issues throughout my travel in Vietnam. I would still suggest getting a sim card at an official store first before settling for alternate methods.

Internal bookings - All of my bus tickets were booked on 12goasia. Flight tickets were booked directly on the airline website.

Beverages - Most beverages like coffees and teas are cold brewed, even during winters. If you're not used to drinking cold brews during winters, then ensure to ask the cafe to give you a hot beverage.