Vietnam
Hanoi
I have been to Asia several times, but arriving at Hanoi hit me like a hammer. 35 °C, an unbelievable humidity and scooters – scooters everywhere. But after acclimatizing: What a city. The overwhelming architecture, the vibrant street life by day and night, the food…
Traffic
Adapt to the lawless traffic takes a bit longer than to the climate. But if you understand the system and finally take heart to try it, it's pretty simple: Just walk. Like liquid, everything just flows around you.
Halong Bay
No Vietnam traveler misses this place, and it's definitely worth the trip. Basically everyone does the same there: Coming from Hanoi and getting on a boat to do a 1 to 3 day trip through the bay and to the islands.
Swimming villages
For us tourists, the bay is an attraction for a few days. For others, it's a home. Making their living from fishing or selling stuff to tourists, their houses are swimming on barrels between the thousands of islands.
Sea
Jumping from the upper deck into the sea for the first time and expecting the worse, the surprise was even bigger: The water is about air temperature.
Tam Coc
Another must-see spot in every Vietnam travel guide. The best idea was to rent a scooter during the day to experience the landscape and do the inevitable boat tour in the evening, when most tourists are gone.
Farming
What a contrast to the industrialized agriculture in our western countries. Here, everything is manual labour. If you saw the people working, you will value your 1 Dollar dinner a bit more.
Traveling
Getting around is super simple in Vietnam, but sometimes still adventurous. In case: Plan double the time that is written on the schedule.
The clutch
The bus trip from Tam Coc down to Hue and Hoi An took a while due to a broken clutch. The guys have routine, car workshops are all along Highway 1 and the bus driver of course is a mechanic as well.
Hoi An
What a place! The most beautiful town we discovered during our short trip. Old french architecture mixes with Vietnamese lifestyle. A calm and relaxed place, offering great food experience, an amazing beach and a time to breath deeply.
Food
Try a cooking class at Miss Vy. Really: Do it! It's worth every penny, if you love to cook exotic food at home.
Cycling
The bicycle is still the most important means of transport for a lot of Vietnamese – and for us, to experience the nearby area around Hoi An.
Markets
I love markets. No idea why, but wherever I am, markets attract me magically. In Vietnam, they are still way more important than supermarkets. You get basically everything there, but most of all: Grocery. What would I give for just one market like these back at home!
Sapa
The mountain side of Vietnam in the far North. Unfortunately at that time also the foggiest place on earth. So no mountain panoramas and rice terraces, but all I discovered in the mist:
The boy
That little guy was following us for at least a kilometer during our hike through the mountains. Finally some locals passing by took him back to where ever he came from.
Back to Hanoi
Staying a day less in Sapa due to the poor weather, we had one more day back in Hanoi. This time, we were prepared for the crazy city live.
Time to leave
Way too early, as always. But skipping the whole South this time is at least a good reason to come back!
