I got tons of questions about my Vietnam trip from people planning their own and so I’ve decided to share my notes with all of you guys. My journey started in Ho Chi Minh and I made it all the way up north to Hanoi in about 30 days. These are the places I visited along the way in South Vietnam.
BEN TRE
The town itself is nothing special but I stayed at the Ben Tre Farm Stay and it was a lovely countryside experience filled with beautiful lush plants and colorful flowers of all colors, shapes and sizes. You can
- take a boat tour down Mekong River
- explore the village on a motorbike or a bicycle and visit two little super green islands full of huge butterflies by taking a local ferry
The nearby town, My Tho, is a very popular destination for tourists but I skipped it in favor of the countryside views.
Tip: Enquire at your accomodation or check out TripAdvisor to find a Mekong Delta Tour that works for you, since there is quite a variety of experiences being offered. There are even full day tours from Ho Chi Minh City available for those who are short on time.
CAN THO
The city itself is quite nice actually, full of restaurants, cafes and coffee shops. At night, Can Tho is home to the brightly lit neon floating restaurants, bars and hotels accompanied by loud pop music. You can hop on one of the boats for a fun night out or just enjoy the colorful view from the shore.
VISIT:
Cai Rang Floating Market
I came to Can Tho to see the biggest floating market in Vietnam, but it was somewhat disappointing because it did not look anything like what you see if you google the place. It was still a great experience though and was worth a detour. You can expect waking up before sunrise to take a boat ride to the market, having traditional noodle soup for a very early breakfast sold by a lady in a small boat who attaches herself to yours for about 15 minutes, being taken to a souvenir shop full of useless but cute stuff, being surrounded by locals in small motorboats offering you endless varieties of mangoes and other fruits and witnessing how vital the Mekong River is for the regional economy. Catch a boat to Cai Rang market around sunrise at Ninh Kieu Wharf Marina located in the city center.
Ferry Terminal Ben Pha Xom Chai
In Can Tho, city life is right across the river from the village life. Take a 2-minute local ferry to the other side of town and see how locals go about their day when tourists are not watching. The juxtaposition of massive billboards and tiny fishing boats, children, dogs and chickens running around, is quite an interesting one.
Local Produce Market
Check out the local street market for delicious fruits and veggies. Some of the most flavorful fruits in Vietnam can be found here. The scene changes a bit as you go more north where imported produce from China is also sold, so don’t miss the opportunity to indulge and explore many exotic varieties. Locals at the market do not speak English so just smile, point at what you want, pay and enjoy!
COOL EATS:
- If in Can Tho, visit Bánh Mi A&T sandwich shop to get your dose of fresh baguette (courtesy of French colonialism) with delicious liver pâté and crunchy cucumbers.
- Grilled Sausage Thanh Van Eatery was recommended to me by locals and it did not disappoint, just don’t go in expecting anything fancy. Try it if you are looking to explore traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
- Lophuong Tea cafe is a perfect place to get your brew. Love this spot for its super friendly service and an option to adjust the sweetness of your beverage by percentage points.
DA LAT
Favored by the French colonizators trying to escape the heat, this is still one of the most popular places to visit in Vietnam. Because of its higher elevation, it is considerably cooler in Dalat than the rest of the South Vietnam. Locals come here for the winter holidays to get that Christmas feeling that only a warm cozy sweater and a fuzzy scarf with a matching hat can provide. By the way, if you are into golf, this place is for you - there is a super lush green course smacked right in the middle of the city overlooking a small lake.
To Get Around:
- walk around: the city is mall enough to do that with only a few destinations located outside the city center
- hire an electric car recently introduced for tourists if on a tight schedule or not a big fan of repeatedly putting one foot in front of the other
VISIT:
Blue Buddha and The Elephant Waterfalls
Take a picture with a smiling Happy Blue Buddha at the Linh An Pagoda and hike the rugged terrain to get a good view of the waterfalls. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes and bring water for your hike, which is a bit tougher than a typical walk in the park.
Golden Buddha Pagoda
See the huge golden Buddha statue and take lots of selfies. Definitely one of the biggest Buddha’s I’ve ever seen! And it’s very very gold!
Crazy house
You have to see Crazy House if in DaLat! This work of architecture inspired by Gaudi got the “Alice in Wonderland” vibe to it. It is also a guesthouse so you can spend a night here.
Linh Phuoc Pagoda & Hydrangeas Farm
Another must-visit place in Da Lat. It is about 20km away from the city but definitely worth the trip! This beautifully decorated place is like Disney Land but with oriental vibes and very spiritual. There is a 10-meter stair of a Buddha inside, but for me, the excessively decorated gates steal the show. The Hydrangeas farm is very close by and it is a wonderful place for photos.
Langbiang Mountain
Langbiang Mountain is a beautiful destination for nature seekers but do not hire a Jeep to take you up, use the little dirt road to the right of the entrance and hike up through gorgeous pine woods instead (no tourists there and it’s free). A bus from the city center goes to Langbiang Mountain a couple of times a day or you can take Grab for convenience. Bring a raincoat: it might get wet and windy up there, depending on which side of the mountain you are at.
Bonus: if you choose to hike up, you can meet many horses peacefully grazing in the misty woods.
Read about my New Year’s Eve day at the Langbiang Mountain here.
Tuyen Lam Lake & Truc Lam Zen Monastery
The lak and the monastery are easily accessed by bus, but I highly recommend taking a breathtaking cable car ride and floating over pine woods and a strawberry farm instead. You can rent a boat to take you to the opposite side of the lake where a restaurant is located (not a cheap one). This 15-minute boat ride is quite picturesque and worth checking out.
Tip: share your boat ride with other people in line for a cheaper fare especially if traveling on the budget (a flat rate per boat is charged, no matter how many people are in it). You can also bring your own lunch, like the traditional Vietnamese sandwiches, Banh mi, and enjoy a little picnic in the woods.
COOL EATS:
- visit Quán Hoa Sữa stall in the heart of the city. This Dalat street food landmark is notorious for its flavored soy milk (sesame, peanut, green bean & corn flavors) and supurb French pastries. Open after 6pm, this place gets pretty crowded around 9 with happy customers occupying every available plastic chair. You can thank me later for this yummy tip and I do want to know which flavor you liked best (peanut and sesame for me).
- Had my first breakfast of the year at Kem Phụng Ice Cream Shop which serves ice cream with fruits and it was absolutely delicious and totally the right way to welcome the New Year! Also, try the signature Dalat avocado ice cream to indulge your inner foodie.
- Don’t forget to take a selfie in front of the infamous, very yellow Tiệm Bánh Cối Xay Gió Vietnamese sandwich shop (might have to stand in line for that one though).
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Maybe Blue Coffee got a cool decor, chill vibes, nice staff and reasonably priced drinks. Lots of plants in the cafe so you could take those very floral Instagram-worthy shots.
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Thong Dalat Space Cafe is a good spot to spend an hour or two catching up on your emails or just relax and take selfies in a quiet environment with good decor. Lots of natural light and plants in this very laid back place. Don’t forget to check out the sunny rooftop.
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Kem bơ Thanh Thảo is a popular dessert place with Avocado Ice Cream stealing the show. Ask to add coconut meat to make it even more delicious. On a weekend there is always a line right outside the door, that’s how I spotted this popular place. Lots of other desserts available here though, but it’s not easy to order if you don’t speak Vietnamese.
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Bánh Căn 14 Tăng Bạt Hổ if you are craving a bit of a foodie adventure, check out this very traditional spot. Choice of seafood and meat with quail eggs which comes in the form of little savory cakes. Definitely try cake soup.
Stay :
HOTELS:
Crazy House
Zen Valley Dalat Resort
Dalat Wonder Resort
HOSTELS:
Tigon Dalat Hostel
Pizzatethostel
Komori House & Foods
Pi Hostel Dalat
Mooka 's Home (Backpackers)
FYI: three German girls I’ve met in Ben Tre raved about their bicycle ride experience from DaLat to MuiNe and the breathtaking nature views they got to see along the way. Might be something you would like as well. Your luggage is taken separately by car, the ride is mostly downhill and you have a local guide with you, so it is not as hard as it might seem.
PHU QUOC
Didn’t have enough time to visit this beautiful place but I hear it’s a gem. Let me know how you like it if you get a chance to go. And check out that infamous Hon Thom Cable Car, the longest cable car ride in the world spanning 7.9km. It comes with breathtaking views of the crystal blue ocean and picturesque islands.
HO CHI MINH
Skip it if you can, unless you really want to visit the tunnels, the War Remnants Museum and a very Instagram-worthy Pink Catholic Church. It is also a place for you if you are into photographing people, it is full of interesting characters. HCM City is loud, full of cars, motorbikes and bars filled with drunk tourists. Spending 24 hours in HCM City was more than enough for me and I got out on the first available bus going south. Someone on the motorcycle tried stealing my phone and I hear it is an everyday issue in Saigon. This was my first and only experience with attempted theft in 9 months of traveling by myself.
- Be extra careful with your belongings and try not to use your phone while on the street. Step inside one of the many shops or turn away from the road if you have to use you phone, so it would be harder to grab it while passing you by on a motorcycle.
- Ride only with top official taxi services or Grab (an equivalent of Uber in SE Asia) to get around. You will be offered extremely cheap rides by many on the streets but don’t take them as it can get you into a shady situation, especially if traveling solo.
CON DAO ISLANDS
This place is on my bucket list but I had to skip this little paradise as well. Con Dao Island is actually an archipelago of 16 islands most of which are uninhabited. You have to take a flight from Ho Chi Minh to get there for about $200 roundtrip. Because it is a National Park, arrangements with the Con Dao National Park Headquarters must be made if you want to explore the uninhabited parts. I have a feeling this place is not for a budget of a typical backpacker but I really hope one day I will have an opportunity to visit. Con Son island was once used by the French as a site for prisoners involved in the anti-colonialist movement for independence. Many Vietnamese come here to pay respect to Vo Thi Sau, a school girl executed here in 1952 for fighting as a guerella against the occupiers. She was the first Vietnamese female to be officially executed here and sadly, more followed.
MUI NE
This is an uber-popular beach town where everything exists just for the tourists. Lots of restaurants, cafes, bars and souvenir shops here to keep you busy.
VISIT:
Fishing Harbor
Come to the harbor for an incredible view of a thousand fishermen’s boats. This beautiful place is perfect for taking your Instagram snaps and thankfully your followers won’t smell the fish scent so characteristic of the place. Eat delicious seafood here or buy some to cook yourself.
Red Sand Dunes
Visit this incredible place full of red sand around sunrise or sunset for the best experience. It feels almost like a desert and you can ride down on a rented sand board or climb up the dunes. This is a good place to fly a kite as well. However, lots of tourists here and locals feverishly trying to rent out boards and sell you stuff.
White Sand Dunes
You can walk, hike around or rent an ATV with a driver for a fast and exciting ride up and down the white dunes. This magical place, which also comes with a lake, is highly recommend for anyone who has not seen a desert before.
Tip: Bring glasses, earplugs and a face mask - this place can get pretty windy.
Fishermen Show Theatre - Huyền Thoại Làng Chài
Get to know the story of a fishing village in Phan Thiet through this wonderful cultural show with contemporary dance performances, beautiful lighting, creative decorations and traditional live music accompanied by magnificent singing. This production tells a story of a whale skeleton which drifted on to the shore and was worshiped at Van Thuy Tu temple by Phan Thiet people. On Fridays, Saturdays and Wednesdays at 8pm with subtitles in English, Chinese and Russian.
WHERE I STAYED:
I stayed at a beach hostel a bit outside of the central tourist zone, at LongSon MuiNe Backpacker Paradise, so it was peaceful and not too touristic (there is a local bus that goes to the center during the day so you are not totally isolated). The beach was full of plastic and other debris though when I ventured beyond the camp territory, which makes it a pretty sad experience. This place should definitely adopt a new eco-friendly policy: bring a large bag of beach garbage and get a free beer to get that shore cleaned up fast. Don’t recommend eating anything with chicken at that camp: got food poisoning from the undercooked chicken which came with my pasta. The place is great for chill vibes (thanks to the English speaking volunteers), socializing over beers and cocktails, beachfront dorms and tents with the calming sounds of the ocean, but food, unfortunately, is made with no f**ks given attitude by the locals.
