Vietnam

We arrived in Hanoi at 5 AM and completed visa formalities, reaching our hotel by 7-8 AM. Our first task was renting a motorbike from the hotel, which proved invaluable for exploring the city. We visited the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and spent time around Hoan Kiem lake, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and nearby garden. For meals, we had our first Vietnamese coffee at Laika cafe, which was excellent, followed by a delicious vegetarian Banh Mi from a local store. Dinner at RK Spice Indian Restaurant was quite average, though we found better Indian options later in our trip.

We arranged a local guide for our day trip to Ninh Binh, which proved to be an excellent decision. The two-hour boat ride through Trang An was incredibly relaxing as we navigated through multiple caves. The hike to Mua caves, while challenging with its many steps, rewarded us with spectacular views from the top. We also enjoyed cycling around the old town, experiencing its beauty and charm. Back in Hanoi, we explored the night market (Friday to Sunday), where we enjoyed watching people dance, sing, and play games. For dinner, we had excellent Kadhai Paneer and naan at Red Chilli Indian Restaurant.

Our Ha Long Bay experience began with a two-hour Volvo transfer from our hotel to the port. A speedboat then transported us to the Era Cruise, where we were welcomed with lunch before checking into our room, which featured a spacious balcony overlooking the bay. The afternoon included kayaking activities, which proved to be exhilarating. We concluded our day with dinner on the cruise and spent the evening on our private balcony, enjoying music while taking in the serene bay views.

The day began with breakfast on the cruise, followed by a boat excursion to the Light and Dark caves, which offered stunning natural formations. After returning to Hanoi, we checked into our Airbnb, though Nam's place proved disappointing due to its small size and interior location. We visited The Note Coffee, explored the iconic Hanoi Train Street (timing our visit with the train schedule), and concluded the day at Lotte Tower's observatory deck, the tallest building in Hanoi, where we enjoyed sunset views. We had dinner at Red Chilli Indian Restaurant.

Upon arrival in Da Nang, we secured a motorbike from our Airbnb, which served as our transportation for the next four days. We explored the area around Dragon Bridge, which offers a particularly vibrant atmosphere with college students enjoying games and social activities nearby. The bridge features a special fire-breathing display on Saturdays and Sundays at 9 PM. We also visited the Da Nang Market, though its extensive seafood displays might not appeal to everyone. For meals, we tried both Indian Curry Restaurant and Maharaja Indian Restaurant.

A local guide arranged our Ba Na Hills excursion, which began with a scenic cable car journey offering spectacular views throughout the ascent. The Golden Bridge, with its iconic giant stone hands, was particularly impressive. We spent several hours exploring the French Village and enjoying the gaming zone. The afternoon was dedicated to revisiting the Dragon Bridge area, which we had enjoyed so much the previous day.

We embarked on a 45-kilometer motorbike journey to Hoi An, beginning our day with breakfast and excellent coffee at Good Eats Hoi An. The day was spent exploring various tourist attractions, including a notable house that has survived multiple floods reaching its first floor. The highlight was an evening lantern boat ride, where we witnessed the streets come alive with beautifully lit lanterns creating a magical atmosphere.

Our day began at the Lady Buddha statue, which offers panoramic city views. We then spent time at My Khe Beach, notable for its excellent maintenance and cleanliness, enjoying coffee while relaxing by the sea. The afternoon took us to Sun World, where we experienced the giant Ferris wheel that provides 360-degree views of Da Nang, though the park offers limited additional attractions.

After arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, we visited the fascinating secret weapons cellar, a regular house with an ingeniously concealed underground storage area for weapons. The attached café offers full house access with a coffee purchase, allowing exploration of various secret passageways and tunnels. We spent our evening at Ho Chi Minh Square, which comes alive after 7:30 PM with street artists, vendors, and a vibrant café scene. Dinner was at Namaste Indian Restaurant.

Our morning was dedicated to exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network used by the Vietnamese army. The guided tour demonstrated how these invisible tunnel openings were concealed in the forest, with options to enter tunnels of varying lengths (30m, 100m, and 200m). The afternoon brought us to Landmark 81, Ho Chi Minh City's tallest building, where we enjoyed sunset views and the lively atmosphere in the surrounding area.

We spent over four hours at the War Remnants Museum, examining its detailed exhibits on the Vietnam War, including war equipment, weapons, and documentation of the conflict's impacts. Our cultural exploration continued with visits to the historic Saigon Post Office, which remains fully functional and offers souvenir shopping opportunities, and the nearby Pink Church. The evening concluded at Bui Vien Street, a vibrant walking street featuring diverse entertainment and nightlife, including the unusual sight of snake handlers.