Today’s post is going to be a photo overload.
I visited Vietnam back in 2014. Vietnam is a truly mind-blowing country changing at a frenetic pace. Today I’ll let the photos do most of the talking, but I have listed my favourite things I did in Vietnam, and a few things you might want to consider avoiding.
Setting out on our journey to Hue
My favourite experiences in Vietnam
Drinking lots of Vietnamese coffee - served with condensed milk it’s sublime
Having my preconceptions about communism challenged by seeing first-hand how Vietnam is thriving. Also reading Vietnam Rising Dragon by Bill Hayton helped nuance my understanding.
Learning to ride and ride pillion on a motorbike. And escaping with my life
Enjoying the spectacular, and utterly tropical beaches around Hoi An
Street food!
Travelling from Hoi An to Hue by motorbike on the spectacular Hai Van Pass
Learning the Vietnamese perspective on the Vietnamese war by visiting the fascinating War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace and Củ Chi tunnels
Having my tastebuds explode with flavour during almost every meal, and especially table barbecue
Travelling North on the sleeper train from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang
Drinking as much bia hoi as possible while sitting on tiny plastic chairs
Taking a motorbike and visiting the Mỹ Sơn ruins at sunrise
Morning on the sleeper train to Da Nang
Two things I would skip in Vietnam
Hạ Long Bay - this precious, fragile natural wonder already has enough tourists. It was painful to see pollution and too much tourism spoil this spectacular place.
Buying a tailor-made suit - it was a bizarre experience to be fitted for a suit, but ultimately the quality of what I bought wasn’t great and I didn’t wear it, so it felt like a waste.
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