prairie girl musings

Tag: Vietnam

Saigon Sights

Ho Chi Minh City is quickly modernizing and now is the time to visit as buildings that are here today will be gone tomorrow!

Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi (see city guide here) couldn’t be more different. Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, retains much of its old world charm whereas HCMC (formerly Saigon) is fast-paced and racier.

Just when I thought crossing the street was difficult in Hanoi, HCMC was a whole other level of chaos! Intersections were crammed full of motorbikes, cars, buses with the odd pedestrian thrown into the mix. As many a tour guide will warn you, “traffic lights mean nothing to the Vietnamese. Green means go, yellow means go faster and red still means go.” Paired with the hottest temperatures I’ve experienced in a looooong time (maybe ever?!) I found HCMC to be a wee bit stressful. That said, it is a thrilling experience and I’m glad I visited when I did as I’m not sure I could handle HCMC later in life.

Stay/

We stayed at the ever-miniscule (only 22 rooms), Ben Thanh Boutique Hotel. The oriental-style hotel is somewhat hard to find (it’s in an alleyway off a side street), but a a lovely place to lay your head after a busy day of sightseeing. Its convenient location means you can peruse the night markets and the myriad of cafés in the area.

Eat/

Our favourite place for pho was Pho 2000, which is located near Ben Thanh Market. The roomy restaurant has enticing options for both vegetarians and meat eaters. I also loved the vermicelli noodles (pictured below!)

Discovering new brunch spots is a full-time hobby of mine, and L’Usine appeals to both the design and food-focused. Grab a seat on the balcony, which overlooks the hustle and bustle of the city below and order eggs florentine or the big breakfast. After your meal, check out the shop below which carries hard-to-find brands.

My sister and I enjoyed The KAfe Saigon for its nutritious breakfast options. Natalie enjoyed her smoothie here and I was a fan of the fruit bowl with yogurt.

Shop/

Vietnam is a great place to find affordable ceramics and china. I suggest visiting L’Authentique Home for gorgeous vases, bowls and tea sets. Home to three workshops, Authentique is committed to celebrating the fine crafts traditions of Vietnam. Known for refined design, carefully selected materials and beautiful craftsmanship, you might find yourself checking a second suitcase.

Another spot for interior design lovers is The Vintage Emporium, which is also a café. I marvelled at the carefully chosen decor and the stunning tile floors!

Sights/

We had quite a bit of time in HCMC, so Natalie and I decided to book a few day trips through our hotel. First, we headed to the Mekong Delta for some boating and rowing adventures. We visited local villages, indulged in delicious fruit and coconut, and even visited a temple and Happy Buddha, which just so happens to be my favourite Buddha!

January 13, 2016
Hoi An Travel Diary

Hoi An is unanimously Vietnam’s most loved destination. There are many reasons behind this universal adoration, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s primarily because it offers respite from the chaos of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Natalie and I enjoyed our time in Hoi An so much that we decided to stay two extra nights.

We selected our hotel based on its proximity to both the beach and the ancient town. Thankfully, most hotels in Hoi An offer free bicycles for their guests and it is the main form of transportation for tourists.

The ancient town is the most laidback of all the places we visited in Vietnam. Known for its well-preserved architecture (you’ll see a stunning combination of French colonial, Chinese and Japanese), its an endless array of tailoring shops, delicious local cuisine, stunning beaches, and soothing spas; the lantern city delights even the most scrutinizing travellers.

Eat & Drink/

Madam Khan aka the Banh Mi Queen: This was hands down our favourite banh mi experience in Vietnam. For $1 CAD, we chowed down on banh mi filled with fresh vegetarian omelettes. We even returned the following day because the bread was so fresh!

Reaching Out Teahouse: A social enterprise/garden oasis that employs disabled individuals. Natalie and I loved the serene setting of the teahouse and the assortment of teas and treats on offer. We communicated with our server through wooden blocks with words written on them (see photo below).

Be sure to visit the retail shop and workshop as well, (located just around the corner) which showcases exquisite crafts made by local artisans.

If you’re a coffee lover (addict) like me, both Hoi An Roastery and The Espresso Station are sure to satisfy.

We were in dire need of some fruit and veggies, so thankfully Natalie discovered Cocobox and we ended up going there twice for their smoothies and cold-pressed juices.

Nu Eatery: This hidden restaurant is known for its appetizers and Vietnamese fusion dishes. I had some of the freshest spring rolls I’ve ever tasted. The bao was also a winner!

You’ll want to watch the lanterns turn on as the sun sets in Hoi An, and there’s no better place to do so than Fusion Café. They quickly accommodated our group of nine with seats overlooking the Japanese bridge. And as we sat down, a DJ started spinning popular tracks only adding to the ambience. The mojitos here are top notch as well.

Admittedly we ate a bit of Western cuisine in Hoi An because these gals like options. Popping into Hola Taco was one of our better decisions. Serving up some of the most flavourful fish tacos I’ve had anywhere, Hola Taco is a bright and welcome addition to Hoi An.

See & Do/

Ride your bicycle to An Bang or Cua Dai beach and lounge under an umbrella with a fresh coconut in hand. Go for a swim, but be wary of the enormous waves!

If you’re hoping to have some clothes tailor made, Hoi An offers hundreds of options! We didn’t research too thoroughly, but both Natalie and I each had one piece of clothing and one pair of shoes made. I’m happy I had shoes made because my feet and arches are an awkward shape.

Vietnam is also known for its well-priced, quality spas. During our two and a half week trip, I had a magnificent massage, a fantastic facial, and a well, less than adequate pedicure (but that’s another story!) Do your research on TripAdvisor and you’ll certainly find a spa that suits your needs and budget!

Thanks for reading!

December 26, 2015
Hanoi Travel Diary

Vietnam wasn’t at the top of my travel bucket list, but sometimes unexpected destinations are the most surprising.

Natalie and Clinton were halfway into their four-month expedition having already visited Thailand, Bali, Cambodia and Laos. I watched their adventures closely both through social media and by talking to them on FaceTime regularly.

When the opportunity arose to join Natalie in Vietnam while Clinton headed to Goa, I could barely contain myself! Travelling with my sister is always a treat, but especially now that we no longer live in the same city (or even on the same continent!) She’s wonderful to travel with because she’s level-headed, fun to be around, budget-conscious, and directionally-savvy. Not to mention, we have similar priorities when travelling.

We began our travels up north in Hanoi. Here are some of the highlights should you ever find yourself in the capital of Vietnam:

The Old Quarter is where you should spend your first morning, although you could easily spend an entire day here if time permits! The crowded markets are quite overwhelming, with merchants calling out to you from every direction. As much as Natalie and I enjoyed other parts of Vietnam, this is where we truly felt like we had stepped back in time. I experienced sensory overload watching locals pile their pedal bicycles and motorbikes high with produce and flowers. Hanoi has retained much of its colonial character, and it’s really the best place to sit on a street corner and enjoy banh mí and phõ.

The lake in Hanoi offers respite from the chaotic Old Quarter. It’s a lovely spot to sit back and take in local culture. From the assortment of photoshoots (you’ll see ladies dressed up as brides taking hundreds of professional photos) to the community gardeners, there’s always something going on by the lake!

The Hỏa Lò Prison was first used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners. Later, by North Vietnam, for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. It’s a frightening prison (I may have even screamed once or twice…) and contains A LOT of propaganda, but it’s educational and worth checking out if you have time.

Our favourite coffee shop in Hanoi was Cong Caphe. The quirky military-inspired café serves delicious Vietnamese coffee with coconut frozen yogurt. Grab a seat on the rooftop patio and enjoy views of the hustle and bustle below.

We stayed in the Opera Quarter, which a short walk to the Old Quarter and the lake. Our rooftop offered supreme views of the French colonial architecture Hanoi is known for.

The Hanoi Social Club is a wonderful spot for vegetarian food, drinks, and epic views of the city. Be warned that the drinks here are STRONG.

Be sure to book a two-night/three-day tour of Halong Bay. Even if you’re pressed for time, I’d suggest giving up a day in Hanoi to spend a second day in Halong Bay. Tours can be booked through your hotel, although some tend to hike up the price because they get commission. We compared prices, and then booked through a local travel stall in central Hanoi at $150 USD/person.

Our first day was spent sailing around Halong Bay and exploring the nearby caves with our tour group. We then did some kayaking at sunset (the views were breathtaking) before heading back to our main junk boat. That night, we had dinner and slept on the junk boat. Our second day involved venturing to Cát Bà Island, which is more remote with better views.We spent one night at the Nam Cat Resort in Cát Bà. It was worth waking up at 6AM for this sunrise.

Our tour guide, Tú told us stories about his family and daily life in Vietnam. His enthusiasm made him one of the most memorable tour guides I’ve ever encountered, and he made us laugh more times than we could count.

There’s nothing quite like a Ha Long Bay sunset.

My favourite part of the tour was visiting Cát Bà Island. I loved cycling around the island and watching the locals go about their days.

Thanks for reading! xx

December 21, 2015