A country with so much to offer, with its fascinating history, spectacular landscapes, delicious food and a warm vibrant energy. For me it by far exceeded my expectations and completely different to any other Asian Country I have been to.

I found the Vietnamese people to be some of the nicest, friendliest and happiest people you could meet. I never found them pushy only ever helpful and charming.

Crossing the road was a crazy adventure particularly in Hanoi, nobody is going to stop for you and there are no such things as pedestrian crossings, you just have to pick your time and go for it and whatever you do …. don’t stop!!

Hoi An

My favourite town in Vietnam was Hoi An, such a picturesque town by the river. I stayed in the Old Town and loved this part of Hoi An. It is such a mix of era’s and styles from the Japanese covered bridge to the colourful French colonial building to the wooden Chinese shopfronts, it really is a photographers dream. The shopping was great and the food in Hoi was sensational and cheap! You also must try the coconut iced coffee, very tasty!

We did an amazing bike tour through winding village roads while enjoying the beautiful countryside scenery. We visited the village of Tra Nhieu which has retained many typical features of Vietnamese livelihoods including farming, fishing, poultry and livestock breeding and mat weaving. We learnt about the local plants and herbs and visit the homes of some local families to observe how they make rice wine, rice noodles and rice paper. We finished our trip at a local restaurant where we chose to treat ourselves with a 30min foot massage before savouring lunch.

The nearest large city, Danang is about 45 minutes away and is another beach-side town popular with families and those looking for a little relaxing time by the pool. There are some amazing resorts there. We stayed at the Fusion Mai Resort and would highly recommend adding this at the end of you trip. Part of the room rate included a minimum of 2 free spa treatments per day. Accommodation is all pool villas and the Day Spa is like nothing I have seen before.

Hanoi

I feel like Hanoi is a city you must experience when visiting Vietnam. At least once!

Often referred to as the “Paris of the East” The capital of Vietnam is a mix of noisy, traffic filled tree lined streets, scenic lakes, street vendors and beautiful historical colonial buildings.

Your trip would not be complete without sampling some of its famous food delights such as the Banh Mi sandwich and my favourite Chicken Pho.

Another must do in Hanoi is a cyclo tour through the famed Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ named after the original 36 artisan guilds that date as far back as the 13th century. A wonderfully eclectic glimpse into Hanoi street life.

A highlight for me was the Hanoi Street Eats Tour. Eating on the street is a very typical activity for Hanoians and makes up an important part of the city’s unique culture. Try some famous Hanoi snacks such as Pillow cake, fried sweet cakes. Next stroll through the streets lined with many food vendors and make your way to a steaming bowl of Pho Ga (Vietnamese noodle soup with chicken). This is practically Vietnam’s national dish and is a dish enjoyed morning noon and night. Lastly the night is not complete before experiencing the Beer Corner in the old corner to try a cold glass of Bia Hoi (fresh draft beer) like a local.

Ha Long Bay

Breathtaking emerald green waters, filled with limestone islands and caves Halong Bay also needs to be added to your itinerary. I would highly recommend an overnight trip on a junk boat. On this two day itinerary you will take in the floating villages, kayaking, visit the archaeological site of Tien Ong Cave. Admire the sunset over Halong Bay while the boat anchors overnight. The evening will offer cooking demonstations, try your hands with authentic Vietnamese food followed by an amazing buffet dinner.

Awake early and start your day with a Tai Chi lesion on the sundeck.

It is worth spending the extra money on a good quality boat and have this amazing experience.