[MY JOURNEY TO] VIETNAM
When I started this assignment and write about my trip to Vietnam, I began to find old notes, to read more about its history, and to be surprised for the second time about what I found. A country with a great French influence due to the occupations that took place in the XIX century, marked forever due to the long and devastating war it suffered with Japan and the United States in the middle of the last century, and yet a country that maintains a third of its territory as a wonderful forest, and that a few years ago showed one of the highest economic growth in the world.
I think that many times we completely ignore those attributes that make Vietnam a country that you want to visit today, due to the bad reputation that was accumulated in times of war, but today those times are over, and Vietnam is a country in constant change and development. It happens that sometimes the media guide us and we follow them without first thinking about what we really want to do.
Many times I have interviewed couples to organize their honeymoon, and I find that they want to go to Thailand, for example. When I ask them: why? The only thing they answer is because they have been told that it has beautiful beaches. Totally true, except that Thailand and the entire Indochinese Peninsula is quite an experience, especially Vietnam, a country that is really worth including in your Bucket List.
What to expect when you travel to Vietnam?
One of the things that surprised me the most was the number of smiles I saw. Such a sad past, but an encouraging present and future, combined with great respect for everything and everyone.
There is an obvious Chinese influence, because this peninsula was part of the Empire for years, which can be seen in their customs, music, crafts, architecture and food. Spectacular landscapes with endless waterfalls, clear skies and extensive rice fields are characteristic. The colors are similar to the Amazon jungle: vegetation of various shades of green contrasted with the brown of the river and the deep blue of the sky adorned by contoured clouds of intense white. Marvelous mammals such as the Asian Elephant or the Indochinese Tiger in an environment that seems to have come straight out of a Jurassic Park-style movie.
Organized chaos. In the cities, the streets are full of motorcycles and mopeds that do not follow the same line, but in a certain way, most of the time, they don’t collide. It seems that everyone who has learned to walk has a motorcycle.
From Hanoi to Saigon
When I arrived in Hanoi the trip started in an incredible way. We were taken to the home of a local musician where we were invited to dinner while he played the flute with his wife accompanying him on the piano. Life around Hanoi is extremely quiet, so we went for a walk to Cuu, a charming little town with French architecture. From there we returned by bicycle, and we went by train to Lao Cai, quite an experience! Along the way we saw rice fields, small towns and rivers. Upon arrival we walked through fields of colorful and smug orchids and fields of pine trees. We returned by train and spent the night in Hanoi.
When I woke up I was very excited. Finally! the day had come! We were going to Halong Bay. For years I dreamed of taking those cruises that seem to have come out of one of the Peter Pan's series of adventures. I could not wait any longer. The panoramic views of caves, islands completely covered in green vegetation with the sea accompanying all the scenery, took my breath away.
The following days passed by between Tai Chi classes, sumptuous breakfasts, sunset cocktails and walks in villages with Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese architecture. Surprising combinations of ancient legacies. We wanted to continue, we wanted to fully absorb the essence of Vietnam, so we continued. They taught us calligraphy techniques, they showed us street food, we rode a bike and breathed the air again and again… It was absolute freedom.
Would I go back? In the blink of an eye, to see one more time those poetic lotus ponds, banana fields and horizons with small boats that seem painted in watercolor. A good friend a few days ago said, and I totally agree: "Enjoy life, because you're only here passing through."
There are things you just can't miss:
When you go to a restaurant in Vietnam, remember to order:
Bánh Khot – Rice cakes with a shrimp
Pho – Noodle, meat and vegetable soup
Coi Cuon Chay – Vegetarian Spring Rolls
Mí Naú Hai San – Egg noodle soup with seafood and vegetables
Com Tám Bí Su’òn Cha – Steamed Rice with Grilled Pork and Egg Cake
Mien Lua – Crab Noodle Soup
Ca Ri Chay – Vegetarian Curry
Chà Giò Chay – Fried spring rolls
Hu Tio – Fried noodles with mushrooms and vegetables
Bánh xèo – Crepes with prawns and vegetables
Gỏi đu đủ – Vietnamese papaya salad
Coffees, hot and iced, Vietnamese
And the two beers named after the two biggest cities: Hanoi and Saigon
What to do?
Rent a motorcycle
Ride a boat
Diving in Con Dao
Snorkeling in Phu Quoc (spectacular beaches)
Visit the Museum of Literature
Take the Aqua Expeditions cruise down the Mekong River
Dive into the waters of the Mekong
Visit the floating markets, pagodas, temples and caves
Visit the Royal Tombs
Take a cooking class at Highway 4 Cooking School
Some suggestions…
Combine your trip to Vietnam with Cambodia and Thailand due to their proximity and the number of flight frequencies. If you are looking for something super exotic, combining it with the Philippines is a very good option, and if you have enough time available, Indonesia and its beaches are spectacular. Keep in mind that a flight from Bangkok can take approx. 4 hours.
The best season
To the North of Vietnam from December to April, to the South from November to March and to the center from February to May, so February and March would be the IDEAL months to travel anywhere in Vietnam.
Let 's travel!
Natalia Ordonez
