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Tag: ha long bay

  • 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!

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    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.

    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!

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