VIETNAM VENTURES
We flew out from Phnom Penh on Christmas Day and were welcomed in Vietnam with a prediction of a thunderstorm. Here’s how the second leg of our vacation began….
Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh formerly known as Saigon is the financial capital of Vietnam. It is also home to a lot fashion brands and party places. We were staying in District 1(Quận 1) which was walking distance to most of places that we visited below. This was helpful since we lost almost an entire day because of heavy rainfall.
What we did :
Apocalypse Now
Since it was Christmas Eve we decided to brave out the prediction and make the most of our stay in Ho Chi Minh. We had a few Christmas themed drinks like egg nog and some run-of-the-mill shots because, hey!, it was Christmas!. After which, we obviously ran to the dance floor to shake our tailfeathers .To be honest we were quite exhausted from our journey and called it an early night.
Apocalypse Now
Since it was Christmas Eve we decided to brave out the prediction and make the most of our stay in Ho Chi Minh. We had a few Christmas themed drinks like egg nog and some run-of-the-mill shots because, hey!, it was Christmas!. After which, we obviously ran to the dance floor to shake our tailfeathers .To be honest we were quite exhausted from our journey and called it an early night.
Cu Chi Tunnels Tour
We booked a guided tour from our hotel to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels that were used during the Vietnam War. Parts of the passageway have been renovated and tourists are allowed to walk through it and jump into. At the end of the tour we were offered a shot of the famous Ruou thuoc or snake wine. To say the least, that one 10ml shot was as potent as an LIIT.
Bui Vien Walking Street
A friend of mine works in Ho Chi Minh so we met up with her here. Just like pub street in Cambodia, this street is lined with pubs for about a kilometre and also street side vendors. We bounced from pub to pub getting more drunk as we inched our way to the end of the street. We also tried nitrous oxide “laughing gas” which has the name suggests made us laugh for about 5-10 seconds.
Rock Bar
On the same night our friend took us to a hostess bar. Most South-East Asian countries have places like this. The bar was playing rock music and had pool tables. A couple of the waitresses came and spoke to the boys from our group and it was entertaining for the rest of us to watch them fumble. We coaxed the DJ into playing Punjabi songs and danced till 3AM. It was a different experience , one we hadn’t planned.
War Remanants Museum
At the entrance you’ll find a lot of the authentic fighter planes and the concentration camps that were used during the Vietnam war. The museum is two storied and is filled with artillery and exhibits include the following: displays showing the protests and popular support for peace around the world, features on French and American war crimes, a documentary on the aftereffects of Agent Orange, photos from the collection of Japanese photographer Ishikawa Bunyo, and tiger cages like those used by the French and South Vietnamese to torture political prisoners. The photos, prominently displayed, are simply horrific. There are bodies blown to pieces, families grieving over the corpses of children, and every kind of gruesome injury. If you’re squeamish, then keep your eye on the pieces of equipment in the displays, because the photos are very real. But shocking sights like these are necessary, if only to remind us why peace is so important.
We booked a guided tour from our hotel to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels that were used during the Vietnam War. Parts of the passageway have been renovated and tourists are allowed to walk through it and jump into. At the end of the tour we were offered a shot of the famous Ruou thuoc or snake wine. To say the least, that one 10ml shot was as potent as an LIIT.
Bui Vien Walking Street
A friend of mine works in Ho Chi Minh so we met up with her here. Just like pub street in Cambodia, this street is lined with pubs for about a kilometre and also street side vendors. We bounced from pub to pub getting more drunk as we inched our way to the end of the street. We also tried nitrous oxide “laughing gas” which has the name suggests made us laugh for about 5-10 seconds.
Rock Bar
On the same night our friend took us to a hostess bar. Most South-East Asian countries have places like this. The bar was playing rock music and had pool tables. A couple of the waitresses came and spoke to the boys from our group and it was entertaining for the rest of us to watch them fumble. We coaxed the DJ into playing Punjabi songs and danced till 3AM. It was a different experience , one we hadn’t planned.
War Remanants Museum
At the entrance you’ll find a lot of the authentic fighter planes and the concentration camps that were used during the Vietnam war. The museum is two storied and is filled with artillery and exhibits include the following: displays showing the protests and popular support for peace around the world, features on French and American war crimes, a documentary on the aftereffects of Agent Orange, photos from the collection of Japanese photographer Ishikawa Bunyo, and tiger cages like those used by the French and South Vietnamese to torture political prisoners. The photos, prominently displayed, are simply horrific. There are bodies blown to pieces, families grieving over the corpses of children, and every kind of gruesome injury. If you’re squeamish, then keep your eye on the pieces of equipment in the displays, because the photos are very real. But shocking sights like these are necessary, if only to remind us why peace is so important.
Nha Trang
Due to thunderstorm our flight to Nha Trang was delayed and we only reached our hotel late in the evening, exhausted. Since we had done a lot of walking around in Ho Chi Minh, we decided to relax at our hotel and maybe visit the beach once the weather got better.
What we did :
Tran Phu Beach
We were in Nha Trang for 2 days and yet again braved the thunderstorm prediction and visited the beach after an authentic Vietnamese breakfast by the beach. The sea was quite choppy and we kept getting lashed by the broken palm tree branches. Before we succumbed any major injury we decided to call it a day and head out for lunch.
We were in Nha Trang for 2 days and yet again braved the thunderstorm prediction and visited the beach after an authentic Vietnamese breakfast by the beach. The sea was quite choppy and we kept getting lashed by the broken palm tree branches. Before we succumbed any major injury we decided to call it a day and head out for lunch.
Nha Trang Night Market
Since it was drizzling we decided to walk around the city and visited the night market to eat the local cuisine from the carts and buy souvenirs.
Since it was drizzling we decided to walk around the city and visited the night market to eat the local cuisine from the carts and buy souvenirs.
Zima Club
This club is situated on the Tran Phu beach and the night we visited, a live band with an amazing saxophonist were playing some of the latest hits. The DJ lit up the dance floor with house and techno tunes after 9:00 p.m. Entry is free, and if you present a flyer at the door, you can get a free cocktail. Keep an eye out for ZIMA club promoters down Tran Phu Street – they’re not hard to come by.
This club is situated on the Tran Phu beach and the night we visited, a live band with an amazing saxophonist were playing some of the latest hits. The DJ lit up the dance floor with house and techno tunes after 9:00 p.m. Entry is free, and if you present a flyer at the door, you can get a free cocktail. Keep an eye out for ZIMA club promoters down Tran Phu Street – they’re not hard to come by.
Hanoi
After a crazy night of partying we landed in the capital, hungover more than we have ever been, well at least I was. Hanoi is known for its breweries and more importantly a pitstop for the famous Halong Bay cruises.
What we did :
Golden Cruise Halong
We had a two day cruise in Halong Bay. The first day visited the Surprise Cave area, one of the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay and jumped into ice cold waters at the Ti top Island. The happy hours on the cruise with the beautiful view of Halong Bay by night was the perfect end to this day. On day 2, we taken by kayak to Luon Caves which led to a gorgeous lush cove with monkeys jumping around.
We had a two day cruise in Halong Bay. The first day visited the Surprise Cave area, one of the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay and jumped into ice cold waters at the Ti top Island. The happy hours on the cruise with the beautiful view of Halong Bay by night was the perfect end to this day. On day 2, we taken by kayak to Luon Caves which led to a gorgeous lush cove with monkeys jumping around.
Water Puppet Show
Since it was New Years Eve, Dinh Tien Hoang Street was crowded and we just about managed to catch the last show. The act in entirely in Vietnamese and shows at this modern theatre are performed in a pool of water as the stage for the puppets. The puppets are controlled by no more than eight puppeteers hiding behind a bamboo screen. The renowned Thang Long Water Puppet show is considered to be one of the cultural highlights of Northern Vietnam dating back to a tradition that first started in the Red River Delta. Since we don’t understand Vietnamese the show was a little hard for us to grasp but all in all in was a treat for the eyes.
Since it was New Years Eve, Dinh Tien Hoang Street was crowded and we just about managed to catch the last show. The act in entirely in Vietnamese and shows at this modern theatre are performed in a pool of water as the stage for the puppets. The puppets are controlled by no more than eight puppeteers hiding behind a bamboo screen. The renowned Thang Long Water Puppet show is considered to be one of the cultural highlights of Northern Vietnam dating back to a tradition that first started in the Red River Delta. Since we don’t understand Vietnamese the show was a little hard for us to grasp but all in all in was a treat for the eyes.
Old Quarter of Hanoi
We walked around this place where the air smelled like roasted chestnuts, clicking a lot of pictures that had, as millennials call it, “instagrammable” spots and since it was winter a lot of people were doing street art or performances, some had got their dogs, some were selling tickets for a “Best New Years Eve Party in Town”, some vendors selling winter Vietnamese street food . It was a perfect way to end this vacation and to usher in the New Year!
We walked around this place where the air smelled like roasted chestnuts, clicking a lot of pictures that had, as millennials call it, “instagrammable” spots and since it was winter a lot of people were doing street art or performances, some had got their dogs, some were selling tickets for a “Best New Years Eve Party in Town”, some vendors selling winter Vietnamese street food . It was a perfect way to end this vacation and to usher in the New Year!
VIETNAM TIPS:
- We fell in love with the Vietnamese coffee,Ca Phe. Its a must have when in Vietnam.
- We did our money exchange at the airport.
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