When I Went: November 2012
Was That the Best Time of Year to Go? Yes. It was past their rainy season, but not quite their tourist season, where it gets so crowded.
Why I Went There: To experience another world.
Who Went With Me? My friend
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We Stayed Here: Ho Chi Minh City – Palace Hotel, Nha Trang – The Light Hotel & Resort, Hoi An – Hoi An Riverside Resort, Hue – Huong Giang Hotel & Resort, and Hanoi – Medallion Hotel. Then we stayed on a boat – Paradise Luxury Cruise in Halong Bay.
You Won’t Want to Miss: The city of Hoi An. Everyone is so friendly and it’s such a quaint place to go. We did a countryside bike tour that was so much fun! We rode all along the countryside then stopped at a local family’s house, where they took us on a traditional basket boat and fished for purple crab. Then we rode to Tra Que Vegetable Village and got to plant vegetables, and they made the most incredible food fresh from their garden. I absolutely LOVED it!
Eat Here: Most of our tours included meals, and that was the best food because it wasn’t the normal fare that you would usually go for in a restaurant. It made you go out of your comfort zone.
Play Here: Thap Ba Hot Springs
If I Went Again: I would stay longer in each city. I felt as if we had such little time to explore what each city had to offer, since we were they just two days each.
How Did You Get There From Dallas? Flew American Airlines with one stop in Japan.
Other Tips For Fellow Travelers: When crossing the streets, don’t run! Walk at a steady slow pace and pray. 🙂
