Vietnam: Timeless Charm

With our second month abroad in the books, we had to say goodbye to Vietnam. Unlike the Philippines, we got to see a fair amount of the country, from the big cities to the countryside. But there is still so much more that we weren’t able to see, like Phu Quoc, Sapa, Nha Trang, and the Mekong Delta, to name a few.

Our highlights were the caves in Phong Nha, Hoi An with all of the lanterns and day trips, and Ha Long Bay even with its downsides. We also had fun in the big cities of Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Da Nang.

Vietnam is an easy country to get around. We mostly flew but if you have the time, you can take a train or buses across the entire country, or even buy a motorbike and sell it at the end of your trip. But if your time in the country is limited, we suggest you stick to the central and northern parts of the country from Hoi An to Hanoi. And if you like a little adventure, definitely visit Phong Nha in between.

We found the food to be more enjoyable than in the Philippines. Therese had many more vegetarian options to choose from. Obviously, the pho was great! With me being a picky eater, my other go-to meals were banh mi and lemongrass chicken. The coffee was definitely as good as you hear it is! But really, I think it’s all about the condensed milk they put in it.

Vietnam is such a unique country! With its fascinating history, gorgeous landscapes, beautiful beaches, amazing cultural highlights, great food, and kind and thoughtful people, there really is something for everyone!

Our next country to visit was Thailand. There were so many places we wanted to go to, we ended up getting a two-month visa, which was a wise choice.