I was lucky to experience two sides to Vietnam in my two week stay in the country. Staying with Nevena's family was an experience and a half, where I ate some amazing and crazy things and spent a lot of time looking confusedly at Nevena, my appointed translator!
Hanoi
Hanoi served as our home base, and whilst on the surface it's 'just another big city' I was able to experience some unique things. We were there for the Vietnamese new year, also known as Tet, which meant the streets were madness, and festivities were in swing. More importantly (in my eyes) was the therefore constant eating, which including some strange things, like eel and chicken testicle. Yes, you read that right, chicken testicle. I wouldn't recommend it. Out and about, the street food was incredible, with my favourites being the classic pho (pronounced fuh) and bun cha, a local specialty. It never hurts to pick up a cheeky pork bun (I was impressed that they use quail eggs there) and you can't go wrong with fresh fruit from the many street vendors. Dessert wise, I was introduced to the most amazing ice cream place (Nevena's childhood favourite) in the centre of Hanoi, called 'Kem Tràng Tiền'.
Halong Bay
We took an overnight trip to Halong bay, and made some instant friends in a group of three English guys. The boat trip was great fun, and we befriended the crew who gave us free beers the one night we were on board. Halong bay itself was lovely, though the caves did leave a bit to the imagination. Our second night was spent on nearby Catba island and the hotel was less than desirable, however the hike up to the islands peak rewarded us with a gorgeous view.
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| Not quite quick enough for our group shot! |
Ho Chi Minh City
We found ourselves stuck in the madness that is Tet, the new year, which left travel options quite difficult for the weeks surrounding the holiday. Nevena had to leave me in Hanoi due to a family emergency back home, which left me jumping on a last minute flight with the friends we had made on our Halong Bay tour. The highlight was visiting the Cu Chi tunnels, which can be a quite claustrophobic experience for some, but it was an eye opening visit. The majority of my remaining time in Ho Chi Minh was spent taking advantage of the delicious street food, enjoying 30 cent beers and soaking up rays by the side of the hotel pool. We made the conscious decision to splurge (by Vietnamese standards) and get a family sized hotel room just outside of town. It gave us access to authentic local cuisine and a pool all to ourselves! The hotel staff must have thought we were so strange with 4 English guys and an Australian girl staying in one hotel suite, and to top it off we were there over the week of valentines day. It was a unique situation, that's for sure, but from experience it's always the most bizarre experiences that make the best stories!
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| Ho Chi Minh |
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