Our Two Step Start

Category: Vietnam

  • Vietnam 2 week Travel Itinerary

    Vietnam 2 week Travel Itinerary

    Vietnam is a beautiful country located in South East Asia and is a popular backpacking location for travellers!

    No matter your travel itch, it will for sure be scratched here with bustling cities, rich history, and so much more to get your teeth into. Each location you visit is like a new country itself with it’s unique design and feel.

    People seriously dream of visiting this place, but where in Vietnam shall you start?

    There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but you sure want to make the most of your time here. If you are from the UK, you can spend 1 month here at most before moving on or doing a border run.

    Through personal experiences, stories and research, we have come up with the best itinerary for travelling Vietnam, so look no further!!

    Hanoi: Day 1 to Day 4

    When visiting Vietnam, you are likely going to enter through one of the major cities. This will be either Ho Chi Minh in the south or Hanoi, the capital, in the north. Here, we opt for the north. Hanoi is a busy city that truly never sleeps.

    This would be a great introduction to life in Vietnam and an opportunity to try a lot of the local foods, including Banh Mi. During your time here, you can visit local markets, hit up the local puppet show, or visit the history of Hoa Lo Prison and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.

    You can easily find yourself lost in the busy streets of Hanoi but there is beauty wherever you turn and would be a great starting point for you Vietnamese journey!

    Ha Giang Loop: Day 5 to Day 8

    Now, this is one location people won’t think of and maybe only been made aware of due to other people’s experience but this is a MUST DO. For us, this was the best thing we did in South East Asia and something everyone would rave about when speaking about their top things in this part of the world.

    It’s an experience that can very much cater to your itinerary and you can choose the length of time you want to experience this. Only a short 12-hour bus journey from Hanoi. Deep into the northern hills of Vietnam lies a tiny village called Ha Giang that boasts a pretty popular and beautiful sights many visit each year.

    When visited in 2022, it was very popular, so it may be more so now it would still be highly recommended to see. The loop starts from a 1-night stay in the northern hills to a 3-night, 4-day stay. This stay will include travelling, from location to location, all through the northern mountains and staying in various villages and seeing sights along the way.

    The sights include stop offs to meet locals, beautiful vantage points to enjoy the awe-inspiring views, homemade, local delicacies, and so much more. The itinerary will be laid out by the company you choose to do this through, and will give you a rough guide of your day-to-day activities.

    All this travelling through the mountains will be done on a motorbike so get your license ready or get a joy rider to do it for you, either way, the experience will be a once in a lifetime trip you will not regret!

    For more information on this, check out our blog on the Ha Giang full experience here. And make sure to try the veggie spring rolls!!

    Da Nang/Hoi An: Day 9 to Day 11

    Now, moving further south in Vietnam to a beachside location full of surprises. Da Nang is a powerful, coastal city surrounded by places to explore and local attractions.

    Firstly, a day trip/night stay in Hoi An is required to experience the floating markets, beautiful handmade clothing and so much more. This place is likely venturing through a Disney film with it’s vibrant colours and feel. In the evening, the locals sometimes set off lanterns on the river providing a beautiful image as the sunsets.

    Here is the home of leather wallets, tailored clothing, jewellery and so much more in Vietnam and a great place to explore when you have a little money spare from your trips.

    After leaving Hoi An, you have options…

    You can either venture to Ba Na Hills to see the hand bridge and venture up cable cars to the hidden cloud city in the mountains. Believe it or not there is a theme park up there and you can stay overnight for an amazing experience, something we weren’t aware of at the time. The hand bridge is the one you see on Instagram; however, be prepared for the views to be covered by the clouds because, yes, you really are super high into the clouds.

    Or you can head to the Temples of My Son, which are deserted historic relics that you can find yourself exploring till your hearts content. This is a unique and unheard of UNESCO heritage site that not many travellers visit and have stood for centuries. To be specific, the relics here were built between the 4th and 13th century for Indian Kings and rulers and they really do still stand today.

    Unfortunately, the Vietnam War saw to that some were destroyed, but large building still stand erect and strong even after all these years. It’s a great location to just wander for the day, see where the path takes you. Some people opt to visit there via bike to be able to visit the UNCESCO site and see all the beauty it has, and upon reflection, wish we did the same!

    (both of these locations would lead you to head back to Hanoi and complete your 2 week trip! However, if you opt for neither of these, you have the opportunity to spend a couple days at one last location…

    Ha Long Bay: Day 12 to Day 14

    This is one of the natural wonders of the world and the views are not to be underestimated. Here, you can find yourself on the water, weaving between hundreds of tiny, uninhabited islands boasting all of its natural green beauty.

    The water and bay are something to admire for sure, and worth the long trip to the City from the (likely) capital. However, don’t be fooled by the large, tall buildings in the city of Ha Long Bay as the city feels deserted and baron.

    When exploring the streets, it was really difficult to find anywhere to find a place to eat or shops open. Maybe it was the time of year we visited (November) or something, but it wasn’t what was expected.

    However, the Bay is really something to admire and a wonder that shouldn’t be slept on. You have the opportunity to explore caves, visit Ti Top island, and go kayaking to look for wild monkeys! The great thing about Ha Long Bay is that the locals to preserve the natural beauty and therefore make sure that it is kept well even with many tourists visiting it throughout the year.

    If you don’t know already, Vietnam is really a beautiful country, and a trip here would be a huge highlight reel for you in many years to come. The country really does boast a beautiful mix of amazing foods, loving people, historic sights, natural wonders and so much more. And even in 2 short weeks you can find a way to experience all this and more!!

    W would however recommend a whole month in the country to really explore and soak in the country has to offer. It truly is amazing and a location we could not recommend for new travellers, avid travellers, or generally anyone in this world.

    If you have been to Vietnam before or any of these locations, we would love to know your thoughts and recommendations on any locations that are a MUST to include in this 2-week itinerary.

    Find our Travel Essentials!

    We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:

    We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!

    • Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
    • Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
    • Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
    • HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
    • Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
    • Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
    • ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

    We post weekly Youtube Videos now! Please check out our Osijek Vlog here!

    If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!

    Check out our Social Media’s below!

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans and make memories!

    We post daily content of our travel experiences and also must know travel tips so be sure not to miss out on this!

    Thank you for reading this blog, and have a good day.

    Leave a comment

  • The Ha Giang Loop- Visiting Vietnam’s Hidden Gem – Full Itinerary

    The Ha Giang Loop- Visiting Vietnam’s Hidden Gem – Full Itinerary

    The Ha Giang Loop for us was a hidden wonder! A place we wasn’t aware of and didn’t plan to visit at all once we headed to Vietnam. Vietnam has so much to offer we didn’t come across it when researching – we only learnt about it when meeting fellow travellers who have experienced the loop. We then added it to our itinerary and didn’t regret it one bit! So we wanted to share it with you so you don’t miss out on it as well! Here is our 2 day itinerary for visiting the Ha Giang Loop!

    Top tours to do in Hanoi | Ha Giang Loop Tour | by Ourtwostepstart
    Top tours to do in Hanoi | Ha Giang Loop Tour | by Ourtwostepstart
    Top tours to do in Hanoi | Ha Giang Loop Tour | by Ourtwostepstart

    *This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂

    The Ha Giang Loop

    Want to jump to a specific part of this blog? Check the content here!

    1. The Ha Giang Loop
    2. Transport to Ha Giang
    3. Hostel stay
    4. Ha Giang Loop Experience – Day 1
    5. Ha Giang Loop Experience – Day 2
    6. How to Book
    7. Overview
    8. Want help planning your Vietnam adventure?
    9. Find our Travel Essentials!

    Transport to Ha Giang

    Ha Giang is a town hidden in the north of Vietnam which requires a 12 hour sleeper bus/coach to get there. Crazy we know!! This is usually from the capital Hanoi and can be very daunting for new travellers as it’s such a long time travelling. However, it’s not so bad.

    We got a small minivan up to Ha Giang which was quite a difficult ride. The chair was almost a grandad’s armchair, which was cosy and soft. A perfect seat to melt into and enjoy the next 12 hours in. Sleeping was a tough task but with the seat reclining, you had some sense of a bed but it was still difficult to sleep. If you plan to budget and get the minibus we would recommend to go in the day. If we went overnight, we think the experience would be much worse and probably similar to a flight where you just can’t sleep well.

    Our recommendation would be to load up on food at the local shop or 7Eleven beforehand to give yourself snacks and meals as you more towards Ha Giang. This bus will include locals making the trip north so be mindful of noise as many of these people will be looking to relax on this journey! If you want help with buses during your southeast Asia travels, look at booking with these!

    Hostel stay

    We stayed at the Garden Villa Homestay in Ha Giang which is a premium Hostel located in the centre of Ha Giang. The Hostel was unique in it’s reception being full outside in a courtyard type area with the rooms located all around. We opted for a private room as we planned to start the loop in the morning and wanted a good night’s rest (highly recommended!).

    The room was simple with a large double bed, a sizeable en-suite. The walls were wooden which was unique but offered a great nights sleep ready for the start of our Ha Giang Loop journey.

    In the courtyard they had a rather beautiful seating area which looked over a local lake into the mountains. If we stayed longer we definitely would of enjoyed this with dinner or as a place to enjoy when waking up in the morning. Do be aware, near any fresh water usually brings mosquitos, so to be safe and itch free, use bug spray while staying here!

    However, the price of £13 for a deluxe room which is often discounted to £10 is pretty reasonable. If you are sharing this with a friend or partner, that’s only £6.50 each for a night stay with an en-suite! Cannot complain!! Find it here.

    Ha Giang Loop Experience – Day 1

    For the Loop, we decided to book with Jasmine Hostel as we were recommended these by a few friends to go through. In the morning of our Ha Giang Loop start (9am roughly), we headed to the hostel where we met decided on whether to have an easy rider or not. An easyrider is a local who gets paid to ride you through the Ha Giang Loop as appose to riding yourself. This is perfect if you aren’t comfortable riding a bike or don’t have any experience in riding in the mountains. We opted for an easy rider for these reasons alone.

    Having an easyrider allowed for more benefits including able to soak up the views when riding. If you were riding, you couldn’t take any time to look away from the road to enjoy the scenery.

    Make sure to pack a small bag for the Loop as there really is limited space on the bike for a large bag. The rider places both yours and their bag between his legs and straps it to the bike so it has to be small enough. Also, make sure to bring Vietnamese Dong with you! If you want to grab some food or drinks out, there will be no card machines as you are in the middle of nowhere so don’t make that mistake.

    Before riding off, we decided to rent out knee and elbow pads for the ride. These may look a little silly but these will for sure save you if the worst was to happen. As the saying goes.. it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

    So now we have met our easyrider and have 5 or so minutes to get used to being on a motorbike. After this, we all as a group head up to the petrol station and fill up before heading off into the mountains!

    The first ride took roughly 2 hours until we found our first stop. This first stop is at a mountains edge where a family lives and has a shop of local snacks and drinks to eat and hydrate before heading off. There’s enough time to have a toilet break, grab snacks and admire the view!

    After this break you are back on the move to head towards the spot you will enjoy for lunch! You will spend the next few hours weaving through the hills and enjoying the beautiful scenery before you come across a local town which comprises of 1 main road with a few side streets. Here, you will be stopping off where a buffet style lunch will be prepared. This lunch is included in the price of the payment to Jasmine Hostel but do be aware they charge you for drinks. The food here is local and is super tasty. You will order food bits and sit at the table and share between a small group of 4-6. This is a great way to meet your fellow riders and make friends. After all, the Ha Giang Loop is a multiday activity.

    Once again you head back onto the bike and head back into the mountains for more luscious views. You just can’t get enough of them!

    You will make several stops on the way to your hostel stay including a place where locals will be playing pool and also a viewpoint on top of a tower! All these stops are a great place to soak up the local way of life and experience deep in the mountains!

    You are likely to arrive at you place of stay around 5-6 dependant on weather etc where you are likely tired from all the riding throughout the day. You are given an hour or so to freshen up and find your hostel room before heading down for drinks and dinner. We met some friends and ended up playing cards for a good 30 minutes before dinner which was a great ice breaker when meeting people.

    As we all started to gather round for dinner, the light from the sun fell and the food was brought out one by one. A feast for all of us to share. The food was all locally made and produced by ohh my it was some of the best food we have ever had. The spring rolls are still to this the day the best food ever! The spread included such variety from meats to noodles and rice and sides including these flavourful spring rolls.

    After the food was finished and everyone’s belly was full, there were shots passed around for all the enjoy and cheers to the amazing experience in which we embarked on. From here, the music will be played and the drinks will flow. This is the perfect time to get to know your fellow riders and sing, dance and drink the night away. Karaoke is offered and this entertainment usually lasts until roughly midnight.

    Be mindful that you will be back on the bikes for roughly 9 am so don’t drink too much!

    Ha Giang Loop Experience – Day 2

    In the morning you will be provided breakfast which is rather hearty ready for your long day ahead of riding. As it’s the 2-day itinerary, we were heading back so split off from the rest of the group. Our riders took us back a different way to Ha Giang. This way allowed us to see the different views of the mountains that were just as beautiful. It was only a 3/5 hours back to Jasmine Hostel but included some stops to stretch our legs and even to see some local natural waterfalls.

    At the waterfall, we stopped off and even went for a swim in the waters below! The riders got involved and joined us swimming and invited us to cliff jump from the top. This is a remote waterfall but there’s not many opportunities in life where this is possible so why not! We spend 10-20 minutes cliff jumping and wild swimming before trying to dry off and getting back onto the bike.

    We then carried on back to Jasmine Hostel where we arrived just in time for a late lunch.

    How to Book

    Book the Ha Giang Loop Tour

    Our whole experience was amazing with scenic views, friendly people, and amazing activities! There was no fault of the experience and think it is budget friendly only being £215 with 3 days/2 nights which is inclusive of the following: All meals, all overnight stays, free stay at Jasmin Hostel the night before, Bike hire, fuel, transportation from locations across north Thailand. All you are expected to pay for is your drinks, insurance and any tip for a rider if you want. Check this out here.

    Overview

    This experience was the best we had during out time in South East Asia and something we aim to do again. We would totally recommend this to anyone and it’s truly a once in a lifetime experience!

    If you have experienced the Ha Giang Loop, do let us know what your experience was like! We hope this has inspired you to take this trip and travel the world. If you did enjoyed this blog, check out our recently uploaded Hanoi best trips to do here and like this blog, it really does help!

    Also, you can follow our travel journey on our social media’s which we will link below where we share all of our travel tips, thoughts and experiences!

    Want help planning your Vietnam adventure?

    We now offer custom travel planning support! Experience the pinnacle of travel planning, ensuring your journey is luxurious, well-organized, and unforgettable! Find our Basic package, Standard package, and Luxury package, ready for your Vietnam trip! We have made a blog post explaining these packages further here!

    Find our Travel Essentials!

    We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:

    We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!

    • Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
    • Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
    • Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
    • HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
    • Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
    • Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
    • ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

    We post weekly Youtube Videos now! Please check out our newest Vlog!

    If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!

    Check out our Social Media’s below!

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans and make memories!

    We post daily content of our travel experiences and also must know travel tips so be sure not to miss out on this!

    Thank you for reading this blog, and have a good day.

    Leave a comment

  • The top tours in Hanoi you can’t miss out on

    The top tours in Hanoi you can’t miss out on

    Hanoi is one of those cities that never sleeps. There is so much to see and do you can almost get overwhelmed which can lead you to missing some amazing experiences. It’s very much a city that you could spend a few weeks in and still discover amazing experiences and hidden gems. So let’s delve into the all the exciting tours in Hanoi which you can’t miss out on!

    *This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂

    Top tours to do in Hanoi | Hanoi City Photography | by Ourtwostepstart
    Top tours to do in Hanoi | Hanoi City Photography | by Ourtwostepstart
    Top tours to do in Hanoi | Hanoi City Photography | by Ourtwostepstart
    1. Tours in the City
      1. Local Cooking Class with market visit
      2. Hanoi Food Tour
    2. Day Trips from Hanoi
      1. Ha Long Bay Tour
      2. Ha Giang Loop Tour
      3. Lan Ha Bay Day Trip
    3. The Best Hanoi Tours!
    4. Want help planning your Vietnam adventure?
    5. Find our Travel Essentials!

    Tours in the City

    Local Cooking Class with market visit

    In Hanoi, it’s very popular for traveller’s to partake in a cooking class to learn how the locals make the delicious local dishes. This tour will give you the full experience starting off with going to a market and gathering your fresh ingredients. You will have the option between 2 set menus which is inclusive for vegetarians.

    After this, you will head back and be supported with cooking your meals included a demonstration and step-by-step instructions. They also provide you with homemade rice whisky and seasonal fruits to enjoy during your experience. Once you have cooked your food you are welcomed to relax and delve into your tasty meal.

    The experience is topped off with a certificate of completion and a cookbook for when you arrive back home and look to recreate these dishes from scratch.

    It’s such an amazing experience with local produce and knowledge to make some of the best and popular Vietnamese foods! This experience is great for all types of people and a great way to learn more about the countries culture. Check out the experience here for more information and to book!

    Hanoi Food Tour

    This is a must visit tour for all traveller’s in Hanoi. As many already know, Vietnam produce some of the best foods in Asia and this food tour will certainly not disappoint.

    Your will be given a local tour guide which will take you round the old quarter to all the best food spots. You will be given recommendations on the best foods to try at each spot and given samples to taste to get your taste buds tingling. The food on this tour is the best way to find the best local spots, as after, the locals do know best!

    You will be taken off the beaten path down alleyways that produce some top spots to stop off at which many will accidently skip on their own. The foods on offer is all cooked locally and includes an array of options for any requirements. You will also be taken down to Train street which is a local train which passes through a narrow street where locals sell food. It’s a must see place! Here you will enjoy a complementary drink before moving on to more locations.

    The local guide really knows the best places to taste some of the best flavours in Hanoi so be sure to check it out here.

    Day Trips from Hanoi

    Ha Long Bay Tour

    The first and most obvious day trip that is available from Hanoi is east to Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay is a natural wonder of the world and a popular place for tourists to visit and see the natural beauty here!

    It has stunning islands that you can meander through with many fun activities! There are different trips to choose from including overnight stays, day trips and 5-star cruises.

    The day trips is a full day experiencing the closer islands of Ha Long Bay. There are many activities to do during this trip like kayaking, sightseeing, island hopping, visiting beaches and more! You also get your lunch included in the trip as there is roughly 5-7 stops along the way.

    It’s a great experience to see the Bay and it’s beauty on the timescale. The day will be jampacked full of activities and will be totally worth it!! You even get the opportunity to explore some local caves in the Bay. This is the perfect trip for budget-friendly explorers who want to see a large part of the Bay in a day whereas the others are more luxurious. To learn more on the day trips, check it out here.

    The above package is a standard trip around Ha Long Bay whereas the package here is more luxurious and offers a premium experience. The transportation between each location has beautiful interior and luxurious seating adding to the overall experience in the Bay. The food provided offers more options and is in a similar setting to a premium restaurant with stunning interior and a dining experience.

    Compared to the option above, you will embark on similar excursions but have a luxury experience for meals and between places. This is perfect for luxury travellers or holiday makers who are looking for a premium experience in the Bay. It’s definitely worth it!

    The meal you have on this 5 star trip is an all-inclusive buffet with a large selection of local foods to choose from. To see more on this amazing trip, do check it out here.

    Now, this is a major step up from the day cruise with the option of a 2 day/1 night or 3 day/2 night stay on a luxury cruise. This cruise will make it’s way through the Bay looking at all the beautiful locations with activity stops including the ones in the day trip.

    The main different is that you are on a luxury cruise with many onboard amenities that aren’t included in the other packages. These packages include all meals included (3 meals a day dependant on when you board the cruise), entrance and sightseeing fees, all activities, cooking classes & Tai-Chi on board and squid fishing.

    The stays will include a beautiful private room with an en-suite. These rooms are very luxurious and look like they are straight out of a 5 star hotel at the Marriott so you will not be disappointed.

    These are the ultimate luxurious experiences that will make your time in Ha Long Bay super memorable for years to come. If you are looking for the best Ha Long Bay experience, check out the 1 night experience here and the 2 night here.

    Top tours to do in Hanoi | Ha Long Bay Tour | by Ourtwostepstart
    Top tours to do in Hanoi | Ha Long Bay Tour | by Ourtwostepstart

    Ha Giang Loop Tour

    The Ha Giang Loop is not massively known but is a top experience when visiting Vietnam. Hidden in the northern parts of the Vietnam mountains, the Ha Giang Loop is a route in the mountains that takes anywhere from 2 – 4 days to complete. Before setting off, you can decide whether to have an easyrider which will be a local to join you on this journey or if you feel competent enough, you can ride the motorbike yourself!

    The Ha Giang Loop is a collection of roads which elegantly weave in the mountains near the Chinese border with many amazing activities get involved in. Now, the main experience of this trip is a motorbike ride into the mountains with some of the best views we have experienced in our lives. The loop showcases hundreds of mountains stacked behind each other creating a unimaginable view. This is a view you could stay and watch for hours on end.

    The loop is designed to have stops along the way where you can get photos, a drink, even go on a quick hike to viewpoints and more! The first day is heading into a small town in the mountains where you will be having your lunch with your group and have some time for a little exploration.

    You will have designated stays across the Ha Giang Loop’s route with some amazing local preparing each meal which is super flavourful. So flavourful that the best food we had during the trip across South East Asia was in the Ha Giang Loop eating local vegetable spring rolls. The best food we have EVER had!

    Your day’s will be 4-6 hours worth of biking per day with a break ever hour or two so you can stretch out. During the trip you can stop at important places across the Loop including the Chinese border, mountain top stops and so much more. When we visited we stopped off on the way back at a local waterfall where local kids were swimming and we did some cliff jumping into the waterfall below which was a surreal experience.

    This experience is seriously a once in a lifetime experience and one we didn’t know much about before going but now is something we would definitely do again.

    To learn more about this experience you can check out the 2 day/2 night tour here and the longer 3 night/4 day experience here! The longer you go, the more experiences you will have and of course the more you will see and do. So if you have the time and it sounds like your type of tour, definitely go for the 4 night experience!

    Lan Ha Bay Day Trip

    This is a great trip around Lan Ha Bay which is local to Hanoi and a great day trip to see a paradisal beach and local activities.

    On the trip you will be taken to local ancient villages where you will be given a multitude of activities. This includes massages and visiting local houses and meeting the locals. This is a great way to see how the locals live and get a taste into what their life is like. You will also enjoy your time on Cat Ba Island which is a tropical haven!

    After visiting here you are given some fun aquatic activities including swimming, boat jumping, kayaking and more. This is a great opportunity to enjoy your time and soak up the aesthetic views in the beautiful bay.

    The luxury cruise includes a rooftop bar, two restaurants and even a water slide floating swimming pool! The cruise offers great enjoyment onboard between locations with some amazing rememberable experiences in the day! To learn more about this amazing day trip, check it out here.

    The Best Hanoi Tours!

    We hope these top Hanoi Trips have inspired you to book your bucket list experiences when visiting the capital of Vietnam! Hanoi offers some amazing experiences for day trips so be sure not to miss out on these great opportunities!

    If you enjoyed this blog do check out our other blogs around travel including the best things to do in Hanoi and the ultimate North Thailand 2 week itinerary!

    We also showcase all of our travels on our social media’s including all of our daily adventures so be sure to check that our below! This includes an exciting trip to Thailand in September 2024 so expect all things Thailand coming up!

    Want help planning your Vietnam adventure?

    We now offer custom travel planning support! Experience the pinnacle of travel planning, ensuring your journey is luxurious, well-organized, and unforgettable! Find our Basic package, Standard package, and Luxury package, ready for your Vietnam trip! We have made a blog post explaining these packages further here!

    Find our Travel Essentials!

    We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:

    We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!

    • Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
    • Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
    • Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
    • HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
    • Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
    • Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
    • ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

    We post weekly Youtube Videos now! Please check out our newest Vlog!

    If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!

    Check out our Social Media’s below!

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans and make memories!

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  • Is Ha Long Bay worth it?

    Is Ha Long Bay worth it?

    Is Ha Long Bay worth it?

    Ha Long Bay is a beautiful location that is situated on the east side of Vietnam roughly 2/3 hours from the capital. The Bay is known to be one of the most popular spots to visit in the world to visit. So much so that it is known to be a natural wonder of the world. Over 10 million people are to visit the natural wonder but does it really live up to expectation? And is it worth visiting??

    *This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂

    Image of Ha long Bay in Vietnam, with boats and rock formations

    Transport

    The best way to get here from most locations is by private taxi or coach. As mentioned it is a few hours from the capital, and these are the most popular ways that people travel to the Bay. We went directly from the Ha Giang Loop which was a sleepers bus through Hanoi and to Ha Long. This was a long journey but was overnight so the perfect place you can have a sleep and wake up at your destination.

    You can check out the 12go buses here for all of your Asia bus needs, or check out the specific route here.

    The City of Halong

    The city is strange… A large city with buildings standing pretty tall but not much life. We stayed on the west bank of Ha Long and we struggled to find places to eat. There weren’t many people around and felt very desolate. Unfortunately we didn’t have the time to visit the east side of Ha Long but we heard similar stories of quiet streets and a lack of life in the large city.

    Hotel

    We stayed at Ruby Ha Long 8 Hotel which was on the bank of the water, a beautiful place for early morning walks. It’s a great location to see the Ha Long from the city and to go to the dock to board your boat ready to visit the islands of Ha Long. The Hotel costs roughly £15 a night and is high quality with lovely, spacious rooms, spotless bathrooms and great hosts. If you are looking to visit be sure to check out this hotel for an amazing experience here.

    Activities and Experience

    There are quite a few different activities and bookings you can attend with some providing overnight stay while in the Bay.

    When we visited we opted for the day trip into the bay which included a buffet lunch, kayak activities, places to swim and explore as well as cool islands and caves. The activity lasts most of the day usually ranging from 9 am through to 5/6 pm and definitely keeps you busy throughout the day.

    Check out the full experience via Viator here – Halong Bay Day Trip with Cave and Titop Island From Hanoi.

    To delve in deeper, we started the day in the morning and meeting at the docks to board the boat which is much larger than the boats provided across the rest of South East Asia. Usually the boats are small with limited cover but this is a proper boat!

    Here you had a seating area much like a restaurant with booths either side and a walkway down the middle to a bar with drinks and snacks. There are places to go outside and enjoy the lovely weather or views throughout the day so don’t worry. In the morning they will provide you with some fruits (fresh pineapple)for a small fee and you are left to your own devices while we head to the first stop.

    On the trip you head to some luscious caves deep into the bay which are very large and you are taught about the history of the bay. It’s a nice walk and can take up to 45 minutes to enjoy before you head off to your next destination. At the end of the caves there is a local shop which offers local souvenirs that you may want to buy to remember your trip by.

    Another destination on the agenda for the day is Ti Top Island which gets it’s name from astronaut Gherman Titov who visited the island in 1962. The island includes a statue which looks out across the bay and also has a viewpoint that is a pretty short walk. This gives you a beautiful view of the Bay!

    It’s known to be one of the top beaches in Vietnam and can be popular to visit in the busy months of the year. They have a designated area to swim in to preserve the surrounding waters. This is a common place for people to also enjoy sports including beach volleyball or just simple to relax and get an ice cream to soak up the views of this beautiful island.

    The top destination on this trip for us would be this small lagoon located through a small crack in the mountain that opens up to a lake-like water. Here there are wild monkeys that live and can come up close so make sure to keep your distance as after all, they are wild animals! The hidden water is a great place to explore with a Kayak and you get roughly 1 hour to explore, check out the rock edges, look for other small gaps towards more pools of water and just to marvel at the beautiful greenery.

    This location really is beautiful and is a place to soak up the natural beauty of the bay. It definitely helps you to understand why it’s a natural wonder of the world! Such a stunning location!

    Boat photo in Ha Long Bay Vietnam
    Buildings in the distance in Vietnam
    Cave experience as part of the Ha Long Bay trip
    Statue at ha long bay

    The lunch provided on the trip is rice with different local meats and veggies which is a great way to fill yourself up after exploring and being busy around the local islands. The food is cooked fresh on the boat and is a buffet so make sure you make the most of it.

    Throughout the day, the captain will make sure to update you on each location you are to visit and the plan for the day so you are aware of proceedings.

    At the end of the day you will be dropped off back at the same location you were picked up at so you can head back and get much needed rest after a long day exploring the bay.

    As mentioned previously, there are options to stay overnight or even for 2 nights! This would be a great way to see the Bay away from the bulk of travelling and enjoy the natural silence and beauty. This is also an opportunity to catch the sunrise and sunset in the bay which would be a marvel within itself. Also, as it’s a natural wonder there is limited pollution so there may be a good clear sky to enjoy the stars at night.

    If you are interested to know more on the overnight stays at the bay, do check it out the 2 day tour here and the 3 day tour here.

    Our Thoughts on Ha Long Bay

    Ha Long Bay is a beautiful location that is full of nature and untouched islands. The stops are very informative and have a great balance of history, nature and activities that will keep you busy for the whole day for sure. The price for the day trip is budget friendly and when visiting it is definitely the number one thing to do here. Many people travel to Vietnam to visit the Bay so we would totally recommend it!

    However, there are other places across South East Asia that are just as beautiful if not more so, including the South of Thailand and Palawan. If we could only recommend visiting one location we would recommend opting towards the South of Thailand and Palawan. We feel these are better value for money and have more opportunity to experience all of what the islands have including snorkelling, turtles and meeting locals on isolated islands.

    To learn more about these opportunities in the South of Thailand please check out more here. For more on Palawan, Philippines, check out our blog post here.

    We hope you enjoyed this blog and wish you an amazing trip wherever in the world you are travelling. We are currently showcasing all our travels, trips and experiences on our social media’s below so be sure to check them out.

    Our favourite must-needed travel resources

    Where to Fly

    Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.

    Kiwi – Use Kiwi’s amazing service that is pioneering in the flight space! They use virtual interlining, which means they can provide seamless connecting flights into one single itinerary!

    CheapOair – Being one of the fastest growing online travel companies in the US, CheapOair offers great flight deals, hotel rooms, rental cars and more!

    Where to Stay

    Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!

    HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!

    Vrbo – Find stunning vacation rentals with Vrbo! Offering over 2 million paid listings in 190 countries, find memorable experiences with this accommodation service!

    Where to Explore

    Viator – A trip advisor company, viator offers over 300,000 experiences over 200 countries, including water sports, walking tours, boat trips, food tastes tours and more! Including activities for many budgets, check out Viator!

    Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!

    Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common too!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!

    Where to get Connected

    Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!

    Where to be Protected

    ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

    Our Top Traveller’s Essentials

    Backpack – Osprey Farpoint 40 – This backpack is a staple amongst many travellers! Being a lot cheaper than the luxury brands, this is a quality backpack from a well known brand. It boasts quality durability, is lightweight with a great framework and is a great option for most people! This backpack has a hip strap to help carry the bag, a breathable harness strap, and comes in multiple colours!

    Compression Packing Cubes – Compression cubes are our favourite packing accessory! These cubes are similar to the normal packing cubes, but feature a compression zip, meaning you can compress your clothes down… this makes packing easier, limits the space you are using, and means more room for souvenirs etc!

    Powerbank – Don’t lose power when travelling! It isn’t always guaranteed to find charging ports, so we would always suggest carrying a spare power bank, just incase you do run low on power when you need it!

    Universal Travel Plug Adapter – Most backpackers/travellers visit multiple countries during one trip. And that means it isn’t guaranteed you will be using the same plug head during each place. A universal plug is great as it lets you switch between each plug head style all in one item! We love ours, it has USB slots meaning multiple items can be charged at once.

    Find our full packing list guide here.

    Thank you for reading our Ha Long Bay Guide

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  • Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Vietnam: Your Ultimate Travel Guide for 2024

    Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Vietnam: Your Ultimate Travel Guide for 2024

    Vietnam is a stunning location that is rich in culture and beauty. The Vietnamese people are very proud of their countries heritage, and has some beautiful historic monuments that thousands of travellers visit each week.

    The country has so much to do, there are mountains in the north, forests in the west, a stunning coastline on the east and little tropical Islands dotted about.

    Out of the countries in South East Asia, it is not as popular as Thailand or Indonesia, but is just as beautiful. It’s a country that has months worth of places to visit, and some of the kindest people in the world; but a place not many take the time to discover.

    In this list we have narrowed the activities and places to visit down to 7, so when you are backpacking Vietnam you can see the best things to do, and not miss out on seeing what the country has to offer! These are based on our personal experiences, and those we have met travelling that have given their views on Vietnam and the best things to do.

    This list is the things we would recommend all travellers/backpackers to do when visiting Vietnam. These are ones that we couldn’t miss out on and will make your time one to remember!

    *There are affiliate links in this post – they do not come at any extra cost to you, but just means we can earn commission to help us pursue this further 🙂

    1. Hoi an

    Hoi An is a small city located on the east side of Vietnam just south of Da Nang. This archipelago is a beautiful setting which we stumbled upon, filled with markets and a river that runs directly through the middle. This welcomes Vietnamese boats and boat rides in traditional circular boats down the river. Hear you can experience some of the countryside and learn more about the area!

    Further in the city, they have the most stunning tradition to light lanterns on the river to create a beautiful view. It’s something that is unique and really sets a lovely tone in the city when you wander. You can actually create your own foldable lantern in this workshop here, which can collapse nicely to fit in your luggage home, for a stunning authentic souvenir home! In the city there are so many local shops that offer real leather products and jewellery which would be perfect to shop at!

    They are some awesome food spots as well so make sure to take your time in this area, and we would recommend a 1 night stay to make the most of your time in Hoi An. You can enjoy a small group food tour around Hoi An with a guide to experience the best local foods here.

    2. Ha Long Bay

    This is known as one of the natural wonders of the world, and a place that is like no other on our planet. It’s located on the coast which is east of Hanoi and has over 1,600 islands to explore!

    You can experience an overnight cruise which you stay on the boat and spend the night on the water in nature, such as this beautiful 5 star cruise here, or the day cruise to visit many islands, like this one here where you can see caves, go kayaking, swimming and more! During thie trip you will have opportunities to stop at the islands to explore. These includes the famous Titop island named after the Russian Cosmonaut that was the 2nd person to ever orbit the Earth.

    Activities include kayaking in natural waters, wildlife watching (including wild monkeys) and cave exploring! There’s so much to see and do and the views are breath taking. We would definitely take the time to travel to Ha Long Bay and and experience the natural wonder!

    However, there’s not much to do in Ha Long as it’s very quite and a lot of the city is closed so be prepared to keep yourself busy. We would only recommend 1/2 night max as you will run out of things to do in the city very quickly!

    3. Ha Giang Loop

    When travelling South East Asia, we wasn’t even aware of this as an activity and was only told during our first outing in the Philippines. We met a local traveller who had spend 6-12 months in Asia and said this is the BEST thing he has done so far while here.

    The Ha Giang Loop is a small village in the north west region of Vietnam and is located just south of a hundreds of miles of open roads, peaks and tiny villages high up in the mountains. This is a largely undiscovered area which has seldom roads weaving in valley and alongside mountains.

    As expected, it is home to some of the most amazing views we have EVER witnessed and really connects you back with nature.

    If is recommended to book the Ha Giang Loop with hostels or activity companies, like this one, as it is safer and they have a set route. However, if you are adventurous you can hire your own motorbike and head into the mountains yourself! Please note that the region is vast and you could easily get lost so we would only recommend this if you are an avid bike rider and know the area well, or have planned this thoroughly.

    When booking, you can choose anywhere between 2 – 4 days and they provide you with a full breakdown of everything you will do while completing the loop. No matter the length of time you will see breath-taking views, eat some amazing food deep into the mountains and visit isolated waterfalls.

    Unfortunately we only did 2 days worth and loved every second of it! We would tell everyone that they need to do the 4 day Loop which will take you further into the mountains, go to the China border, visit cliffs and so much more!! It’s an experience that changed our outlook on our travels, and we have vowed to go back and complete the full loop in the future!

    During the first day we started out early around 9 am and get to meet your personal rider (if you have chosen this). You can ride the bike yourself but we would only do this if you are a competent rider and know rode motorbikes confidently before. We opted for a driver to be safe!

    It’s important to note that you will only take a small bag that is taken on the bike so pack light! You can rent protective gear for the ride which you should do! Normally you can get up to 60 km so falling off can be very dangerous. It’s cheap and could save your life if the worst was to happen. We would also recommend to take long sleeve clothing and long trousers so protect your legs. It can get warm on the back of the bike but it will protect you if you were to fall off.

    During the rike, you will take a break every 1 – 1 1/2 hours to stretch your legs, nip toilet and eat some food and drink before heading off again! You will stop for lunch in a small town on Day one and have food included which is a buffet. The food is beautiful and a great place to fill yourself up and meet your fellow riders!

    The place to stay is hidden in a small town and offers another buffet for dinner which includes the BEST food we have ever tasted… and this was veggie spring rolls. Drinks are available and you can dance the night away with music and get to know all the amazing people around you. It really is a great experience! The next day you leave early and head forward further into the mountains but we headed back another way and made stops at some beautiful locations where we took photos and met some amazing people. This included taking a break at a waterfall and going for a swim. Me and the rider took turns jumping off the rocks into the waterfall and even rock, paper, scissor to see who jumped first… (Jack won!!).

    It was an out of this world experience and will definitely be the best thing you do in Vietnam! It’s just beautiful.

    The Ha Giang loop is usually booked through local (Jasmine Hostel) hostels or on activity companies in Vietnam

    4. Da Nang – Marble Mountains

    The Marble Mountains are located in Da Nang and is a great way to learn about the history of Vietnam, and explore cultural caves. The marble mountains include many steps which take you past sculptures, pagoda’s, religious caves, and old relic houses.

    It would take roughly 3-4 hours to explore and offer some amazing views of the city and beach from above. You can climb all the way to the top and even stop off for a quick ice-cream as you recover for the humid weather. The marble mountains get the name by being made from marble which is shown through sculpture shops surrounding showing off their amazing work. A lot of the statues are taller than us and are perfectly created!

    It’s such an amazing part of Vietnam to walk through and there really is no place like it. When leaving the mountain you can enter some souvenir shops that have small marble items you can purchase to remember this beautiful place by!

    5. Cu Chi Caves

    In Ho Chi Minh you can get a bus to the caves and learn more about the history of Vietnam. Vietnam were involved in a civil war between the 50s and 70s which saw many thousands of lives lost. During the war, the Vietnamese used tunnels as a way of hiding from the enemy and built a small tunnel civilisation which they would live in to survive.

    This is now available to visit and go into to see how they lived and learn more about the war. During this, you will be able to see the tunnels they walked and lived in, how they hid the entrances and many traps that they would lay to kill any enemy and how it was used. Find a half-day tour here, with an informative guide straight from Ho Chi Minh City.

    This really helps understand the war more and is a great way to spend half a day near Ho Chi Minh City.

    6. Hanoi Tailored Clothing

    Hanoi is a well known location for travellers to pick up tailored clothing to take home. There are so many tailored clothing shops and the quality of the maker and materials is amazing. They will show you different materials and designs to choose from and will let you design and create your own clothes and make it fit you perfectly.

    Once you place your order, you then leave it with them for a few days so it is designed and put together before picking it up. A lot of people struggle with finding a suitable place to keep/pack the clothing once purchased but you can now get the clothes sent home which they will sort at an extra cost.

    This is a rather expensive experience which can cost upwards of £100 – £200 as a minimum. You can easily spend close to £1,000 on tailored clothing but the clothes will last due the use of some top quality material and the expertise of the makers. For men it’s great to get a suit for home and for the ladies a dress that can remind you of your times in South East Asia.

    7. Mui Ne

    This is a place not many know about in Vietnam but definitely will be popular in the future! This hidden gem is a beautiful paradisal beach which is located next to sand dunes. These sand dunes are red, yellow and white so you can experience some amazing colours dependant on what part of Mui Ne you are.

    This is a perfect spot to do sandboarding activities and hire quad bikes/dune buggies to ride across the sand and have the best time. Once you are tired after a long activity in the sun, there’s no better place to collapse and enjoy the crystal clear waters and soak up the sun with an ice-cream or a fresh coconut.

    These sand dunes make you feel like you are in the Sahara Dessert and there is not any similar locations in South East Asia so make sure not to miss out on this!

    Vietnam is a must visit spot!

    Vietnam is an amazing country that is a must to explore for all travellers. There is so much to explore and learn whilst being here and it’s a place you are sure to make memories.

    Make sure to check out our backpackers guide to Hanoi and our other blogs on how to backpack South East Asia and other countries across the world.

    If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!

    You can follow our Backpacking and travel journey through our Social Medias below:

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans!

    Leave a comment

  • Vietnam Travel Guide; Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Vietnam

    Vietnam Travel Guide; Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Vietnam

    Vietnam is a stunning location that is rich in culture and beauty. The Vietnamese people are very proud of their countries heritage, and has some beautiful historic monuments that thousands of travellers visit each week.

    The country has so much to do, there are mountains in the north, forests in the west, a stunning coastline on the east and little tropical Islands dotted about.

    Out of the countries in South East Asia, it is not as popular as Thailand or Indonesia, but is just as beautiful. It’s a country that has months worth of places to visit, and some of the kindest people in the world; but a place not many take the time to discover.

    In this list we have narrowed the activities and places to visit down to 7, so when you are backpacking Vietnam you can see the best things to do, and not miss out on seeing what the country has to offer! These are based on our personal experiences, and those we have met travelling that have given their views on Vietnam and the best things to do.

    This list is the things we would recommend all travellers/backpackers to do when visiting Vietnam. These are ones that we couldn’t miss out on and will make your time one to remember!

    *There are affiliate links in this post – they do not come at any extra cost to you, but just means we can earn commission to help us pursue this further 🙂

    1. Hoi an

    Hoi An is a small city located on the east side of Vietnam just south of Da Nang. This archipelago is a beautiful setting which we stumbled upon, filled with markets and a river that runs directly through the middle. This welcomes Vietnamese boats and boat rides in traditional circular boats down the river. Hear you can experience some of the countryside and learn more about the area!

    Further in the city, they have the most stunning tradition to light lanterns on the river to create a beautiful view. It’s something that is unique and really sets a lovely tone in the city when you wander. You can actually create your own foldable lantern in this workshop here, which can collapse nicely to fit in your luggage home, for a stunning authentic souvenir home! In the city there are so many local shops that offer real leather products and jewellery which would be perfect to shop at!

    They are some awesome food spots as well so make sure to take your time in this area, and we would recommend a 1 night stay to make the most of your time in Hoi An. You can enjoy a small group food tour around Hoi An with a guide to experience the best local foods here.

    2. Ha Long Bay

    This is known as one of the natural wonders of the world, and a place that is like no other on our planet. It’s located on the coast which is east of Hanoi and has over 1,600 islands to explore!

    You can experience an overnight cruise which you stay on the boat and spend the night on the water in nature, such as this beautiful 5 star cruise here, or the day cruise to visit many islands, like this one here where you can see caves, go kayaking, swimming and more! During thie trip you will have opportunities to stop at the islands to explore. These includes the famous Titop island named after the Russian Cosmonaut that was the 2nd person to ever orbit the Earth.

    Activities include kayaking in natural waters, wildlife watching (including wild monkeys) and cave exploring! There’s so much to see and do and the views are breath taking. We would definitely take the time to travel to Ha Long Bay and and experience the natural wonder!

    However, there’s not much to do in Ha Long as it’s very quite and a lot of the city is closed so be prepared to keep yourself busy. We would only recommend 1/2 night max as you will run out of things to do in the city very quickly!

    3. Ha Giang Loop

    When travelling South East Asia, we wasn’t even aware of this as an activity and was only told during our first outing in the Philippines. We met a local traveller who had spend 6-12 months in Asia and said this is the BEST thing he has done so far while here.

    The Ha Giang Loop is a small village in the north west region of Vietnam and is located just south of a hundreds of miles of open roads, peaks and tiny villages high up in the mountains. This is a largely undiscovered area which has seldom roads weaving in valley and alongside mountains.

    As expected, it is home to some of the most amazing views we have EVER witnessed and really connects you back with nature.

    If is recommended to book the Ha Giang Loop with hostels or activity companies, like this one, as it is safer and they have a set route. However, if you are adventurous you can hire your own motorbike and head into the mountains yourself! Please note that the region is vast and you could easily get lost so we would only recommend this if you are an avid bike rider and know the area well, or have planned this thoroughly.

    When booking, you can choose anywhere between 2 – 4 days and they provide you with a full breakdown of everything you will do while completing the loop. No matter the length of time you will see breath-taking views, eat some amazing food deep into the mountains and visit isolated waterfalls.

    Unfortunately we only did 2 days worth and loved every second of it! We would tell everyone that they need to do the 4 day Loop which will take you further into the mountains, go to the China border, visit cliffs and so much more!! It’s an experience that changed our outlook on our travels, and we have vowed to go back and complete the full loop in the future!

    During the first day we started out early around 9 am and get to meet your personal rider (if you have chosen this). You can ride the bike yourself but we would only do this if you are a competent rider and know rode motorbikes confidently before. We opted for a driver to be safe!

    It’s important to note that you will only take a small bag that is taken on the bike so pack light! You can rent protective gear for the ride which you should do! Normally you can get up to 60 km so falling off can be very dangerous. It’s cheap and could save your life if the worst was to happen. We would also recommend to take long sleeve clothing and long trousers so protect your legs. It can get warm on the back of the bike but it will protect you if you were to fall off.

    During the rike, you will take a break every 1 – 1 1/2 hours to stretch your legs, nip toilet and eat some food and drink before heading off again! You will stop for lunch in a small town on Day one and have food included which is a buffet. The food is beautiful and a great place to fill yourself up and meet your fellow riders!

    The place to stay is hidden in a small town and offers another buffet for dinner which includes the BEST food we have ever tasted… and this was veggie spring rolls. Drinks are available and you can dance the night away with music and get to know all the amazing people around you. It really is a great experience! The next day you leave early and head forward further into the mountains but we headed back another way and made stops at some beautiful locations where we took photos and met some amazing people. This included taking a break at a waterfall and going for a swim. Me and the rider took turns jumping off the rocks into the waterfall and even rock, paper, scissor to see who jumped first… (Jack won!!).

    It was an out of this world experience and will definitely be the best thing you do in Vietnam! It’s just beautiful.

    The Ha Giang loop is usually booked through local (Jasmine Hostel) hostels or on activity companies in Vietnam

    4. Da Nang – Marble Mountains

    The Marble Mountains are located in Da Nang and is a great way to learn about the history of Vietnam, and explore cultural caves. The marble mountains include many steps which take you past sculptures, pagoda’s, religious caves, and old relic houses.

    It would take roughly 3-4 hours to explore and offer some amazing views of the city and beach from above. You can climb all the way to the top and even stop off for a quick ice-cream as you recover for the humid weather. The marble mountains get the name by being made from marble which is shown through sculpture shops surrounding showing off their amazing work. A lot of the statues are taller than us and are perfectly created!

    It’s such an amazing part of Vietnam to walk through and there really is no place like it. When leaving the mountain you can enter some souvenir shops that have small marble items you can purchase to remember this beautiful place by!

    5. Cu Chi Caves

    In Ho Chi Minh you can get a bus to the caves and learn more about the history of Vietnam. Vietnam were involved in a civil war between the 50s and 70s which saw many thousands of lives lost. During the war, the Vietnamese used tunnels as a way of hiding from the enemy and built a small tunnel civilisation which they would live in to survive.

    This is now available to visit and go into to see how they lived and learn more about the war. During this, you will be able to see the tunnels they walked and lived in, how they hid the entrances and many traps that they would lay to kill any enemy and how it was used. Find a half-day tour here, with an informative guide straight from Ho Chi Minh City.

    This really helps understand the war more and is a great way to spend half a day near Ho Chi Minh City.

    6. Hanoi Tailored Clothing

    Hanoi is a well known location for travellers to pick up tailored clothing to take home. There are so many tailored clothing shops and the quality of the maker and materials is amazing. They will show you different materials and designs to choose from and will let you design and create your own clothes and make it fit you perfectly.

    Once you place your order, you then leave it with them for a few days so it is designed and put together before picking it up. A lot of people struggle with finding a suitable place to keep/pack the clothing once purchased but you can now get the clothes sent home which they will sort at an extra cost.

    This is a rather expensive experience which can cost upwards of £100 – £200 as a minimum. You can easily spend close to £1,000 on tailored clothing but the clothes will last due the use of some top quality material and the expertise of the makers. For men it’s great to get a suit for home and for the ladies a dress that can remind you of your times in South East Asia.

    7. Mui Ne

    This is a place not many know about in Vietnam but definitely will be popular in the future! This hidden gem is a beautiful paradisal beach which is located next to sand dunes. These sand dunes are red, yellow and white so you can experience some amazing colours dependant on what part of Mui Ne you are.

    This is a perfect spot to do sandboarding activities and hire quad bikes/dune buggies to ride across the sand and have the best time. Once you are tired after a long activity in the sun, there’s no better place to collapse and enjoy the crystal clear waters and soak up the sun with an ice-cream or a fresh coconut.

    These sand dunes make you feel like you are in the Sahara Dessert and there is not any similar locations in South East Asia so make sure not to miss out on this!

    Vietnam is a must visit spot!

    Vietnam is an amazing country that is a must to explore for all travellers. There is so much to explore and learn whilst being here and it’s a place you are sure to make memories.

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