My advice: Do not pay attention to everything they tell you and live it yourself. There are people who still think that they are at war. And more than 40 years have passed!
From my own experience I arrived with many doubts about everything I had heard and I left delighted. Both with places and with people. An unbeatable balance. Not a punch!
Destinations like Halong Bay, the big star attraction of Vietnam, will be engraved in my memory until the end of the day, which, added to other unexpected surprises, makes Vietnam a country that I recommend without any doubts.
One month traveling from north to south, as an experienced traveler who’s exploring based on must see as well as off the beaten track routes and traveling for free. Next, my itinerary, in the form of a summary guide, of the places where I was.
The best? The wonder of Halong Bay and the island of Cat Ba, something absolutely magical, Tam Coc, the Halong Bay land and Mui Ne and Hoi An, two totally unexpected surprises. And I admit that I liked the chaos and madness that is breathed in the big cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Worst? In the tourist Sapa did not accompany me neither time nor health and Hue, except the Citadel, I did not find anything special.
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I do not usually dedicate a post to the crossing of a border between 2 countries, but in this case I deserved its own history.
Already with the visa of Vietnam in my passport I decided to take the road that almost nobody takes to cross the border from Luang Prabang in Laos to Sapa. For free and taking local buses.
I slept in cities where tourists could count on the fingers of my hand and I had four fingers left over.
An endless trip, with moments where I swallowed dust for hours, where I preferred not to look out the window and not realize the precipices we crossed or where the fever visited me at the worst moment. Of course, the incredible landscapes on the way compensate for all the above!
Quite an experience, that if you are thinking of doing it yourself too, I’m just going to give you some advice. Patience! But hey, sure you already know that and I do not have to tell you that;)
More information and photos on how to cross the borders within Vietnam – Or How to get Vietnam visa and traveling from From Luang Prabang to Sapa
More tourist than I imagined, I had no luck with time or health and, after a somewhat uneven arrival, I could enjoy mountainous landscapes mixed with fantastic rice fields and a spectacular color combination.
If there are many tourists, the amount of women dressed in the traditional clothing of the area offering trekking and trying to sell souvenirs is not far behind.
Interestingly, there I completed half a year of travel. I got excited and bought a flight to Taiwan, another to Hong Kong and another to the Philippines. There is nothing! Who says that a rainy day in Sapa can not be taken advantage of?
Hanoi, chaotic capital of Vietnam, is that city where if you do not have the 5 senses 100% you will be run over by a motorcycle at the first change.
It is clear that what most attracts attention at first is that motorcycle madness that gives it a special touch. Added to the many interesting places you have to visit make me leave surprised in my days in the city.
After the bad references I had heard, I was a bit on the lookout, but I admit that I personally liked Hanoi. More than I thought!
That disorder and chaos has its charm. Markets where they sell everything are mixed with bars and their peculiar mini chairs and mini tables, not very comfortable for heights like mine. Authentic life on the street.
A special section deserves the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Here rests the body of the former leader of the country until his death in 1969. Absolutely revered, you can visit the interior and see the body.
More information and photos in: Hanoi, capital of Vietnam. Chaotic and very authentic. Much more than motorcycles!
Sailing through Halong Bay has been without a doubt one of the most special moments and that I have enjoyed the most of my whole traveling adventure. Absolutely magical!
I fell in love with this part of the world. Rock formations such as sky falls and paradisiacal beaches in a fantastic environment. It is rightly a World Heritage Site by Unesco since 1994.
I decided to go directly to the island of Cat Ba and hire the tour there. Infinitely cheaper Cat Ba is very worthwhile and, in addition, an anecdote occurred to me that I will never forget.
Still with the hangover of having lived one of the most special moments of my adventure traveling through Halong Bay and visiting the island of Cat Ba, I moved to Ninh Binh to visit Tam Coc, the “Halong Bay terrestrial”.
The passage of the river between rock formations and valleys is spectacular, where indescribable panoramic views are drawn that make you not want to move from there, especially from the top of Hang Mua.
In this case the images are worth more than a thousand words.
And as a curiosity, the people who take the boats row with their feet!
A jewel very little known and not at all touristy. The best kept treasure in Vietnam
The imperial city of Hue or Kinh Thanh Hue, capital of the country until 1945, has as its main attraction the Citadel, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1993.
With an extension of 10 square kilometers when it was built, it is divided by zones. Each of these zones had a specific use. The building where the emperor lived, the one of the Queen Mother, the rooms of the service, meeting room, etc … And in the middle what they call the Purple Forbidden City. It receives that name since only the emperor could access here. Any other person who tried to pass would be sentenced to death.
Besides the Citadel I did not see anything really remarkable. Well, the millions of motorcycles like in the rest of Vietnam. Every time you try to cross the street, it is first and foremost a real challenge!
More information and photos in: Hue: the Imperial City of Vietnam.
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. Hoi An is a super touristy and complete city, where you can enjoy some buildings and a charming old town, atmosphere day and night, bars, restaurants, countryside, resorts and beaches more than acceptable, very long and white sand that made me stay several days out there.
To travel the most important places it is advisable to rent a bike. The motorcycle is not necessary. It’s cheaper, you do not pollute and you exercise. So to pedal!
Also agreed that it was full moon, the city is completely dark and dressed in colorful lanterns that people throw into the river.
Hoi An will catch you!
Hidden city between valleys and mountains where you can enjoy panoramic views and colorful houses from above.
After so much heat and suffocating heat it is worth this visit to take oxygen, where at night it even refreshes. A change of scenery!
As a curiosity, the Crazy House (Hang Nga), a house designed by a very Gaudí-style Vietnamese in Barcelona. I felt like inside the Flintstones movie. As its name suggests, it’s crazy!
It is recommended to go to some of the waterfalls in the surroundings, such as Datanla, which are quite good.
What is a village in Vietnam surrounded by dunes of different colors? Dunes in Vietnam? These are the questions I asked myself when they told me about the existence of Mui Ne, a fishing village next to very long beaches in the south of the country. It is true that it is taken by the Russians, but it does not matter too much either.
We can find what they call the Fountain of the Fairies, a fabulous creation of nature. An unusual combination of landscapes in one place. On one side of the river rock formations more than curious interspersed with dunes of different colors, both red and white. On the other side palm trees and green field Spectacular!
And finally, from there I could see the best sunset in all of Vietnam. Mui Ne was one of those totally unexpected surprises.
Ho Chi Minh City, former Saigon. The largest, most modern, most “European”, most chaotic and most motorbike city in all of Vietnam.
Thanks to Çouchsurfing I got to know the most local Vietnam. If it is crazy to see the traffic and motorcycles from the barrier, imagine walking the city uploaded to one and driven by a local. It gives absolutely the same traffic lights, crossings, the opposite direction, sidewalks … And bikes on all sides!
I would also visit the impressive Cu Chi tunnels that the Vietnamese built in the War against the Americans. They reached 200 km in length. The most shocking of all is the width of them. I could not believe how a human being could get in there.
