Vietnam is a country of extraordinary extremes and distinctive experiences, from kayaking in Ha Long Bay, marvelling at the 14th Century Cham ruins at My Son and exploring ornate temples, to relaxing on pristine beaches, exploring the ancient cobblestone streets of Hoi An and strolling by the modern buildings of Ho Chi Minh City. Here at If Only, we are lucky to not only sell amazing holidays, but have a knowledgeable team who have first-hand experiences of the destinations we offer - which, of course, includes Vietnam. Lindsay, our product tailormade executive, has recently returned from a trip to this incredible country and has been kind enough to share her travels and top tips with us.
Read on to find out more!
Lindsay’s trip began in Hanoi where she enjoyed a stay at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel and The Capella Hanoi Hotel. Taking part in a half day guided tour of the city, which visited iconic attractions such as the Temple of Literature and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, was the perfect way to experience the best of Hanoi. A highlight for Lindsay was train street which she has detailed below:
“Train street was one of the top attractions I was looking forward to and it did not disappoint, yes it’s just a train running along a narrow street but that’s exactly why it’s so fascinating as there are shops and restaurants lined along this narrow street and everything just comes to a stop to allow for the train to pass by safely and then everything goes back to normal again, it definitely creates an exciting atmosphere with everyone getting ready for its approach.”
The next destination on the trip was Halong Bay. The best way to experience this UNESCO World Heritage area is to spend a night aboard a boat which is exactly what Lindsay had the chance to do. Arriving at the pier around noon she checked in to her cabin on The Au Co Cruise and then the boat set off to discover this magical site with lunch and dinner included. Lindsay certainly thinks this is an experience not to be missed!
“Halong Bay offered such a serene setting that I didn’t mind waking up at 5:30 in the morning to do Tai Chi on the deck at sunrise and I’m not a morning person! This stunning location is somewhere I would definitely recommend including into any itinerary.”
Next Lindsay flew to Hoi An where she enjoyed her first night at Boutique Hoi An Resort and her second night at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai Hoi An. The first full day in Hoi An began with a half day discovery tour with a local guide, exploring the ancient town. This was undoubtedly a fascinating experience:
“The ancient town of Hoi An was my favourite place to walk around, the architecture, the vibrant colours of the walls and lanterns and little side streets really piqued my interest. We of course also didn’t miss the opportunity of making a wish with a lantern along the Hoai river.”
Next, Lindsay took part in a traditional Vietnamese martial arts class called Vo where she got the opportunity to learn some basic steps under the guidance of the master!
“Not only did we get to watch some young masters show off their skills, but we got to partake and learn a few moves ourselves which proved to be a rather entertaining event for not only ourselves but the experts watching on and giggling at us.”
The final stop on Lindsay’s trip was Ho Chi Minh City (still known to the locals as Saigon). Here Lindsay enjoyed a two-night stay at Mia Saigon Hotel. The first night included a sunset cruise and dinner at Kitchen by the River Restaurant. The following day began with a Half Day Historic Landmarks and Hidden Charms tour which included the chance to visit a charmingly restored ‘shophouse’ located in the historic part of the city. Here Lindsay had the opportunity to discover the exquisite flavours of Vietnamese specialty coffee and learned how to prepare a delicious ‘caphe trung’, aka egg coffee:
“I’m a lightweight when it comes to caffeine but learning about the ancient tradition of where the famous egg coffee came from and why was an interesting and fun activity. Being your own barista is a great way to spend a couple of hours out of the heat or to escape a possible afternoon down pour.”
The final night of the trip was an unforgettable Vespa city tour experience:
“Being whipped around the streets of Ho Chi Minh on the back of a Vespa was an adrenaline fuelled evening, it offered an intriguing way to see a spectacular sunset over the city followed by enjoying the nightlife and street food of Saigon, as the locals still refer to it.“
Do you have customers looking at Vietnam? Then rest assured If Only have expert knowledge to take care of everything needed to create an incredible trip!