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One of the most romantic cities in the world and let me tell you it totally lives up to the expectations. The city is known for its well-preserved ancient town, beautiful beaches, and traditional architecture. The Old Town of Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is famous for its well-preserved buildings, including traditional wooden houses, pagodas, and assembly halls.

Day 5 of our trip and we woke up in this beautiful, ancient city. We reached there late in the night the previous day. We had not booked our flight tickets from Hanoi to Da Nang which was a huge mistake. I strongly recommend you book the tickets in advance. We were trying to book the tickets from the morning but something or the other was happening. We finally booked the tickets, which cost us around 20k(including baggage charges) for the round trip. Our flight from Hanoi was with VietJet Air and our experience could have been better. Our tickets did not include check-in baggage so we paid for our 15kg bag. But they were measuring the weights of cabin baggage as well. So please make sure to keep them to an exact of 7kgs. It took us 3-4 hours to manage the weights of the bags and convince the executive to let us take an extra 1-2 kgs.

We reached Da Nang Airport by 7:30 in the evening. From there we booked a cab for Hoi An. It took around 1200 Rs. On the way, we stopped at Ganesh Indian Restaurant to pick up some Indian food as I was craving some desi-style Dal Roti. The food was good, not too spicy. We had booked the Four Seasons hotel for our stay. The hotel is located in a secluded narrow lane but the rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable, and have a view of the pool and vast fields. The owner is a sweet and kind man. He made us feel at home there. We quite enjoyed our stay there. They also had provided us with bicycles to explore the town and riding in the Hoi An is the best way to explore it. So do check with your hotels(if you are booking somewhere else) for the bicycles.

The next morning we started our day by pedaling around the Old Town of Hoi An. We roamed in ancient streets. The streets had such a pretty vibe. Every location is picturesque there. We visited historical buildings such as the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phung Hung Old House, and the Quan Cong Temple. There are other pagodas and buildings on the streets we were roaming around and randomly going to the cute buildings. It was raining that day so we had to take shelter several times to save ourselves. I would strongly advise you to check the weather and keep an umbrella or raincoat accordingly.

As the evening progressed and lanterns started getting lightened, the view of the place changed completely. We knew that it was going to be beautiful but it was way more than what we expected. The whole old Town was beautifully lit up with colorful lanterns. We were just sitting around the night market soaking in the view of the river flowing on one side and people bustling on the other amid the amazingly lit-up town. It was a magical and enchanting experience. It was the calm among the chaos. There are a lot of cafes on the street overlooking the river and the market. Some of them were even having live performances. You could sit and relax in any of them. Alternatively, you could also go for a romantic boat ride on the Thu Bon River. I am sure you won’t regret it. We roamed around the night market enjoying the local dishes.

It again started raining so we proceeded towards the city to find a place to eat near our hotel. We wanted to sit somewhere, relax, have some drinks and call it a night. But it didn’t happen that peacefully. So the place where we went was a local pub and the servers there didn’t speak or understand English. With the help of Google Translator, we made them understand that we didn’t want the beef dish. We ordered just one dish as we were not that hungry.  The dish was served and as soon as we took the first bite one of the servers came to us and told us that they have mistakenly served us the beef dish. It would have been okay with me if they would have rectified their mistake, taken the dish back, and given us our original order. But they were insisting that because we had taken a bite from it they can’t take it back and would charge us for it. That is where I felt it was getting unfair. We didn’t know what our order should look like as we were trying the cuisine for the first time so charging us for their mistake didn’t go down well with me. I retaliated for that and after a lot of to and fro arguments all over Google Translator they agreed on their mistake. In the whole process, our original dish also got cold and we didn’t enjoy it as much. Not a nice experience at all.

The next day was a fresh morning and it was our last day in Hoi An and in Vietnam as well because the next day was going to be consumed by traveling only. So we wanted to have a super chill lazy day to end our trip. We started very late and then went on to this cute cafe called Morning Glory to enjoy our brunch leisurely. The cafe had great food. We then rode on our bicycles towards An Bang/ Cua Doi Beach. The beach is situated 5-6 km from the Old Town. It was an awesome experience. We got to see the lovely countryside. The views of the fields, the local way of living everything was spectacular. We stopped at random beautiful places on our way and clicked pictures.

We were so not over the evening scenes of the Old Town that after chilling on the beach and watching the sun go down we started to head back to the night market. We ate some more local dishes and shopped for souvenirs. Hoi An is a very artsy town. You could buy many different paintings and wooden decorative pieces from there. You could also get fridge magnets, silk scarves, lanterns, chopsticks, and a lot more from there. You could even get yourself a custom-tailored silk satin gown or suit at a very reasonable price from there. The only thing to remember while shopping is to keep your bargaining pants on. After a lot of shopping and bargaining, we headed for dinner and our experience was not great today either. We chose a place along the riverside but the food quality there was not good. We got nothing but disappointment for our last meal in Hoi An 🙁. Although they realized that we didn’t like the food so they kindly gave us a discount.

But going to Hoi An was worth every penny. We loved the city so much that we ended up spending both days there. If you want you can spend one day at Hoi An and the other one at Da Nang. It also has many attractions to visit. You can go to Golden Hand Bridge, take a cable car to the top of Ba Na hills, or go to Non-Nuoc Beach. You can also take a food tour as the city has a vibrant food scene.

We had a flight back to Hanoi early morning so we went to our hotel and retired. Our hotel owner arranged a taxi for us to Da Nang airport. Remember that Da Nang International and Local Airports are different. So if you are traveling locally don’t go to International Airport by mistake like us 😛 We had booked Vietnam airlines for our return journey and the experience could not be better. Hassle-free luggage check-in and a very comfortable flight. We reached Hanoi Airport and had a lot of time to kill before catching our International Flight back to India. We hung around in different restaurants at the airport itself before catching the flight. And that is how an awesome trip came to an end.

I hope you loved the Vietnam series. I will post one more blog about the food dishes that you should not miss trying while in Vietnam. Till then keep reading!!

See you soon!!

Day 3 of our Vietnam trip started early in the morning but was filled with loads of excitement and the reason for that was, We were going on a cruise. Yayyyyyy!! I was so looking forward to this part of the trip. Ok now let me give you some insights into our cruising trip to Halong Bay.

Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in northeastern Vietnam. It is known for its breathtaking scenery and thousands of limestone islands and islets that rise from the water. To explore Halong Bay, cruises are the best choice. They are on a little expensive side but for someone like me who has never been on a cruise, it was an experience must having. You could look into other alternatives like Cat Ba Island if you don’t want to splurge over the cruise.

Most cruise companies provide two kinds of tours: A day tour and a night stay tour. We had booked one night-stay tour with Athena Royal Cruise. It cost us 330 dollars for two people and it included:

• Pickup and drop from Hanoi Old Quarter.
• 1-night stay in the cabin
• All meals while aboard
• Entrance and sightseeing fees
• Surprise Cave, Ti Top Island Visit
• Kayaking
• Cooking Class and Fishing

So at around 8 in the morning cab driver picked us up from our hotel and took us to a limousine bus. The bus was nice and quite comfortable. We started our ride from Hanoi toward Halong International Port. It was a pleasant journey through the countryside of Vietnam. We made two stops on our way, the first one was just a refreshment break and the other one was to visit a Pearl Farm. They show you different types of pearls and how they are cultured. There is a Pearl Showroom called Legend Pearl where you can buy pearl jewelry. You can also grab a cup of coffee from Legend Coffee.

We reached the port at around 11:30 in the morning. After completing all the formalities we were guided toward the boat which took us to our cruise. We were a group of around 30 people from different parts of the world who were staying there. Once we boarded the cruise we were welcomed with refreshing drinks and taken directly to the dining hall where we had lunch. It was a big buffet with different types of dishes and desserts. You can watch the other ships sailing away on the bay while you eat your food. It was quite an amazing experience. We were given basic instructions, an itinerary, and room keys.

We then proceeded to check out our rooms and explore the rest of the yacht. The rooms were super pretty with a black and gold theme going on. We had a little balcony attached to the room overlooking the waters. The ship had 3 floors, the lowest one had around 10 rooms, the next floor had 5 rooms, and the dining hall and the top floor was the deck with a bar and hot tub which was not working when we were there. You could relax and read a book here while soaking in the views of the bay. Overall the boat didn’t feel like it was packed, in fact, everybody had their own space. We never felt like we were on top of each other but it was also compact enough to easily talk to people and make new friends. We actually befriended a nice couple from Malaysia.

We relaxed for a bit on the deck and then proceeded to get ready for the sightseeing. We disembarked the ship, got on a boat, and started for our first stop which was Sung Sot Cave also known as “Surprising Cave” or “Amazing Cave”. The cave is known for its impressive rock formations and large chambers. The cave is believed to have formed around 500 million years ago. The boat dropped us at the entrance and the view from there was spectacular. We had to climb around 700-900 steps to reach the cave entrance. The pathway to the entrance is very beautiful and green. The cave itself is divided into three chambers which are lit by different colored lights. There are beautiful rock formations inside. It felt like we were in a large museum. We covered the whole cave and exited at another point where our boat was waiting for us to take us to our next destination i.e. Ti Top Island.

Ti Top Island is a small island located in Ha Long Bay. The island is known for its beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters, as well as its panoramic views of the surrounding bay. Ti Top Island is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the scenery. Once we reached there, we had two options either to take a dip and enjoy the beach or to hike to the top of the lighthouse for a great view of the bay. We chose to do the latter. It is a 91 meters hike which is all covered in stairs. To be honest it was not an easy task for me but after a lot of effort we reached the top and the view from there was absolutely worth all the pain. It was absolutely stunning. It felt like we are watching a scene from a James Bond movie 😛We caught our breath, clicked amazing pictures, and then started our descent. There is a small cafe on the island where you can enjoy some refreshments with a view.

We came back to the cruise from the island and by the time it was almost time for sunset. Guys, the one regret I have for this whole trip is missing that stunningly beautiful sunset because I went to my room. So if you are there please don’t do the same mistake which I did. Head straight to the deck after coming back. I and my husband are sunset lovers and when he showed me the pictures and told me that I missed one of the best sunsets that he witnessed I was very sad. So do plan to watch this unmissable sunset from the deck.

Anyways, There was a cooking class planned where the chef showed us how to make Vietnamese Spring Rolls. After the class, the happy hour started. It was the perfect time to relax, have some drinks, and mingle with people. Everyone present there was enjoying the time in their own sweet way. We went for dinner after some time. The dinner was served as a four-course meal. I enjoyed the appetizers very much but the main courses were a little bland for me. I am a girl who loves her spices so it was a little underwhelming for me. But my husband enjoyed it very much. Fruits were served as dessert and they were delicious.

Once we were done with the dinner, there was squid fishing planned but we skipped that as we wanted to just chill. So we went on the deck, as I was hungry we asked the crew if anything can be done and they were kind enough to fry up a plate of fries for us. We ate, danced, laughed, listened to music, and enjoyed our own private time. It is the most cherished memory of the trip in my heart to date.

The next morning we were up early to have a light breakfast and then go Kayaking around Luon Cave. Being on the kayak in vast waters, paddling around the beautiful islands, and passing through stunning caves was such a surreal experience. We kayaked around for about an hour. Once back on the cruise, we finished up the packing, had one last brunch on the cruise, and disembarked at Halong International Port. We waited there for some time before getting on a  bus back to Hanoi.

Overall I would say that it was truly an amazing experience, completely worth having. For the cruise all other things were exceptional but for me, the food quality could have been better. I would recommend you guys to book the cruise in advance before going there by researching about prices of multiple cruise companies. As we booked super last minute we could not compare the prices but all in all, we thought that we got a good deal.

I hope this blog gave you an insight into what to expect in a cruise stay and will help you decide if you want to do it or not. Thanks for reading.

See you soon!!

Hanoi: The vibrant and chaotic capital of Vietnam. It is a city that’s always on the move. From the hustle and bustle of the Old Quarter to the peaceful tranquility of West Lake, Hanoi is a city of contrasts and surprises. The city is famous for its food, vibrant streets/markets, and centuries-old architecture. It is the most popular and attractive city in Northern Vietnam. It is very well connected with the other parts of Vietnam. There is no better place to start your Vietnam journey from.

That is where we began our trip as well. We flew in from Indira Gandhi International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport. The check-in queue at IGI, Delhi for Viet Jet airlines was very long. It almost took us 1:30 hr just to check in the bags. After that immigration process also took about 25-30 mins, although the immigration officer didn’t ask us any questions. We reached the Noi Bai airport early in the morning and the immigration process was much faster there. It hardly took us 10 mins to complete the whole process. The airport was relatively quiet, especially in the morning, compared to the chaotic airports in India. Almost all the eateries and shops were closed except currency exchanges and sim card shops.

First, we got a minimum amount of currency exchanged at the airport. Do not convert the whole amount, convert the bare minimum to get you to the hotel. You will get much better exchange rates in the local market. Once you are all set, you can either book a cab using the “Grab” app or if you are lucky enough like us you can find a fellow local Indian to help you negotiate the prices with taxi drivers. The ride to our hotel was pleasing. It was drizzling which delayed us a little bit.

We booked Soleil Boutique Hotel through Agoda after comparing prices at multiple sites. The hotel is located in the central area of Hanoi. Multiple restaurants, convenience stores, etc surround it. Despite being located on a bustling street, the rooms were quiet, clean, and comfortable. We reached our hotel at around 9 AM in the morning and had a lot of time to kill as check-in time in hotels was 2 PM. We got freshened up in the hotel and kept our luggage there before heading out on the streets to explore.

We started exploring on foot to get to know the place. As the hotel was surrounded by a market, we could literally go in any direction. Most of the shops were opening at that time. Soon we stopped to grab our breakfast. We had BanhMi from a small local eatery. To know more about what not to miss eating while in Vietnam, read my other blogs which I will be posting soon. The nice gentleman at the BanhMi store told us about a very old and famous joint to get Pho. So we had our second breakfast of Pho. Then we wandered around, did some window shopping, and had coffee. At around 1:30 PM, our hotel room was ready, so we checked in.

We took some rest as we were tired from the overnight journey. As we were getting ready to head out in the evening I got sick😔. Yes guys, on the very first day of our trip I was sitting there in my hotel room crying with severe stomach ache. (Pro tip: Don’t eat heavy, the day you are flying if you have a weak stomach like me). Thankfully, medical supplies were easy to find. After taking I took my medicines, we just chilled on the rooftop of the hotel which has a nice pool and a view of the lively street, had Indian food, and called it a night.

I know, everyone will not fall sick like me. Spend your evening at Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Sword Lake. (P.S.: We went there the next evening) The lake is considered a symbol of the city and is said to have been named after a legend in which a golden turtle god emerged from the lake and reclaimed a magical sword from a Vietnamese emperor, which then returned to the depths of the lake. The lake is surrounded by several notable landmarks and tourist attractions. It’s also a nice place to see the daily life of Hanoi people, locals often practice many kinds of physical activities such as badminton, dancing, etc. Book a taxi using the Grab app to reach here. Once reached here, you can visit The Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple. Be sure to reach before 5 PM as it closes after that.

You can also go to Water Puppet Show at Thang Long Water Puppet Show Theatre. Water puppet shows are a traditional form of theater that originated in the Red River Delta region. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool, with the puppets controlled by rods hidden beneath the water’s surface. Watch scenes of village life on an ever-changing stage, learn about festivals and traditions, and get to know quirky characters inspired by Vietnamese personalities. The show is for 50 minutes and a single person’s ticket costs about 400-500 Rs. You can book the tickets on klook.com and check the timings of the show there.

Once you are done with the show, take a stroll around the lake. Enjoy the music and dance shows going on. Visit the night market and buy souvenirs. Indulge yourself in local Vietnamese food and drinks. I personally loved the vibe here. The atmosphere was so jovial and full of energy. As you pass by houses and restaurants, you will notice that people sit on small benches/stools and eat their food outside. It’s a common practice here. Here houses are very narrow as the government takes tax on the width of the house. I would strongly recommend having that experience. Vietnamese people are very helping and kind by nature. They helped us number of times by guiding us towards good places.

The next morning after a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, head out towards Tran Quoc Pagoda. It is a Buddhist temple, one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam, and is considered an important cultural and historical site. The pagoda is known for its striking architecture and elegant design, which reflects the influence of both Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhism. The main hall of the pagoda houses a large statue of the Buddha, while the surrounding buildings and courtyards are adorned with intricate carvings and statues of other important figures in Buddhism. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and capture the beauty of Hanoi and the peacefulness of this ancient pagoda. Keep in mind the timings of the pagoda as it opens from 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM in the morning and then 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM in the evening.

After enjoying the calmness of the pagoda head to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It is a large memorial building that is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the founder and first President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, who led the country during and after its struggle for independence from French colonial rule. The mausoleum was built in the late 1970s and is modeled after Lenin’s tomb in Moscow. It is a large, granite, and marble building with a central hall that houses a glass-encased sarcophagus containing Ho Chi Minh’s remains. Visitors are allowed to enter the mausoleum but the opening schedule is limited and could be closed on certain days or seasons depending on the event schedule or maintenance work. It was closed for visitors when we went there. The mausoleum is surrounded by large gardens and a pond which makes it a beautiful place to chill, click pictures and hang out for some time. The Golden Hour pictures come pretty awesome here.

Lastly head to Old Quarter to discover ancient streets, shop cool collectibles, and eat your heart out. After dark, you can go to Bia Hoi Corner. It’s a great spot to experience Hanoi’s nightlife, it’s open late, and the ambiance is lively and casual. Note that it can be a bit crowded on weekends, and it’s best to go there early to secure a table.

Hope you find this helpful for planning your trip. Do let me know in the comments section, what others places have I missed.

See you soon!!

I had taken a trip to Vietnam in April-May of last year. Vietnam, a country that has captured my heart with its stunning landscapes, rich culture, and delicious cuisine. As I wandered through the winding streets of Hanoi and Hoi An, I was struck by the energy and vibrancy of this vibrant nation. That is why I have decided to jot down my journey and share it with you. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just starting to plan your first trip to Vietnam, I hope my stories and advice will inspire you to discover the wonders of this amazing place.

For most middle-class Indians traveling internationally is a dream. Ok, let me admit it was for me at least. I had been dreaming about getting a stamp on my passport for far too long. Now don’t judge me as a shallow person, I love exploring new places but you have to admit that the first stamp gives a different kind of satisfaction. So that makes our first international trip much more special.

Oh yes, you caught it, It was us. Guys, it was my honeymoon. I felt nervous, excited, and jittery all at the same time.Maybe those were wedding jitters but who knows 😛. Now I know you must be wondering why Vietnam for a Honeymoon when there are a lot of other destinations that most couples prefer to pick. But I would say Why Not Vietnam?

The country has it all.It has an ancient history, so you get to see the historical side.It has a diverse culture and natural landscapes for nature lovers. Don’t forget one of the most romantic cities in the world happens to be in Vietnam(You have to read my next blogs to know which one). And you know what the cherry on the top is “It is light on the pocket.” Yes, you can plan a very budget-friendly trip to Vietnam. You can experience the country’s beauty without burning a hole in your pocket.

Our heart was set on going to Vietnam even before we got engaged. But making it happen was not easy at all. Planning your first international trip amidst wedding preps can be quite overwhelming. But let me tell you this If We can do it you surely can.

Now comes the part of planning the whole trip. We went through multiple websites, resources on the internet, and travel planner apps. We talked to quite a few agents as well and to be honest they were also giving a good deal. So if you want to go via agents I would strongly recommend TripAdvisor. But as you might have guessed by now, we decided against it. We wanted to explore the country independently without any schedules at our convenience.

We faced multiple challenges, the first being that covid restrictions were not completely lifted by then. When we started planning, no direct flights were running between India and Vietnam. We were advised to wait for them to open but as soon as it was done prices skyrocketed. There was a time when we thought that we should drop the idea. But thankfully after trying again and again we got a good deal. Anyways, enough of my blabber, let’s see how we planned it all.

After deciding the destination, the first question that comes to anyone’s mind is how we can enter the country. How will we get a visa? The process to obtain a visa is very easy and hassle-free. You can apply for E-Visa which will allow you to stay for up to 30 days by filling in all the information in the link here. The cost of this is 25 USD which amounts to approx 2k as per today’s conversion rate and the best part is you will get your results in just 3 days(I got approval on the 2nd day itself :p).

We were jumping with joy once we got the visa approval. After that comes the most difficult part of searching and comparing the flights. We booked our round-trip tickets from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi to Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi. Before booking the flight, always compare the prices on Skyscanner. It costed us around 65k for round trip and we booked almost a month in advance. We preferred a direct flight which took around 4 hrs.There were no other options in direct flights so we had to travel with VietJet Air and our experience was not very good. So if you are traveling with VietJet Air don’t forget to keep water and snacks with you as they don’t even serve free water on the flight.

Now coming to the itinerary of our trip. We didn’t plan all the minute details of our trip. We made an overview of the itinerary, spending 2 nights in Hanoi, 1 night in Halong, and 3 nights in Hoi An. We decided to go with the flow and decided to book tours, hotels, and domestic travel there itself. It can be a good thing but sometimes it can turn against you as well. So learning from my mistake I would strongly recommend booking tours and especially domestic travel tickets beforehand. 

We booked our stay in the Soleil Boutique Hotel. It cost us somewhere around 72 dollars. for two nights. It was located in the middle of the market and had a lot of places to eat. We roamed around in the night on the streets of Hanoi and saw the vibe of the place. The rooms were clean and okay in size with all the amenities. The best part was the pool and bar on the top floor. Although it was quite windy that day we still managed to enjoy the view of the market square from there. The only downside was that there was no view from the window so if you are a person who loves that like my husband you might not like it.

When all the bookings are done, the period of waiting gets started. To take your mind off the things what we can do is Shopping! Yay, the most exciting part for ladies, deciding their outfits. So let me tell you a little about the weather. We went there in May and the weather was quite pleasant. It was neither too hot nor too cold. Take whatever you like dresses, shorts, and jumpsuits. Along with all these pack one light jacket for traveling and in case it gets windy.

So to summarize, I would say that keep in mind these points:

1. Prefer Vietnam Airlines, and just in case you have to travel via VetJet Air don’t forget to keep water and food with you.
2. The food can be bland there so keep some Indian Snacks with you.
3. Book your domestic travel flight tickets in advance.
4. For mobile connection, you have two options: buy a sim card after going there or get your existing number recharged for an international plan. I would suggest doing the latter.
5. Get your water bottles refilled in the hotel itself if they are complementary and keep them with you as the restaurants also don’t serve free water like in India.
6. The main language spoken is Vietnamese. You will find a lot of people who don’t even speak English. So keep your Google Translator ready.
7. Exchange a minimum amount of currency at the airport as the exchange rate they give is less. You can exchange the rest in the city.
8. Download Grab App for taxis. It is cheaper.

I think this is all the information you need to start planning your trip. Keep coming back to read more about this trip in my later blogs.

Thanks for making it till here. Hope you enjoyed reading. Stay tuned for the rest of Vietnam journey.

See you soon!!