VIETNAM: Highlights and Tips. By Judith Maizey
If you’ve been contemplating going to Vietnam for some time, stop procrastinating and just go.
Vietnam is scenic. It’s vibrant. It’s colourful, noisy and engaging. And, the food is amazing – whether it be street food, cafe or high end.
For past travels with my husband, I’ve always done my own research and worked out an itinerary that suited us and then gone ahead and booked all the flights, accommodation and excursions without any help from a travel agent.
But, times have changed particularly since the Covid pandemic and the turmoil it created trying to get from one suburb to another, let alone to another country.
So for our trip to Vietnam, I decided to do things differently and, after inputting a few key words into my computer’s search engine, I found and booked a private tour with Australian-based Boutique Tours & Travel.
I did this mainly because a well-travelled friend, who had recently been to Vietnam, suggested it would be a lot easier logistically to go through a tour company and we couldn’t have been happier with our decision because our 14-day trip of this fascinating Asian country went like clockwork.
Glenda Fagan, the founder of Boutique Tours & Travel, has a fabulous Cultural, Foodie and Handicraft Tour of Vietnam which she willingly agreed to tweak to suit our needs, adding an extra day in both Hoi An and Saigon. She also organised our accommodation for extra days at the beginning and end of our tour, as well as the relevant airport transfers.
As it turned out, we just happened to jag the best weather during our time in Vietnam from mid February to early March – hot, but not scorching, and relatively dry.
Every plane we caught was on time and, unlike many people we know, our luggage arrived at each destination without a hitch.
But I digress -let me tell you about Vietnam and the highlights of our tour.
For a start, my husband and I opted for a private tour which meant we weren’t at the mercy (for want of a better word) of other travellers on group tours so if we wanted to linger at any place, we could.
Our three Vietnamese guides were also incredibly knowledgeable about their beautiful country and highly organised.
But back to the highlights and, without a shadow of a doubt, Hoi An topped my list of favourites.
Located in Central Vietnam, Hoi An’s Old Quarter, with its lovely old buildings, little alleyways and cafes is picturesque during the day and just magical at night by the river with fairy lights, boats, bars and brightly coloured lanterns.
As part of our visit to Hoi An, my husband and I took part in a private cooking class. I’ve done oodles of cooking classes in my time, but this class with the Bamboo Cooking School was special as it involved a shopping trip to Hoi An’s bustling fresh food markets which is an experience in itself and a relaxing boat cruise to get to the school which is set on the riverbank in flower-infused gardens.
The hands-on class and luncheon afterwards is hosted by the delightful Zjung, a sous chef from one of the area’s top resorts.
As well as learning how to make authentic spring rolls, we made Beef wrapped in Betel Leaf and Vietnamese Chicken Curry with Mountain Spices. To finish, we enjoyed a plate of fresh tropical fruits including mangosteen, rose apple and longans.
Another highlight of Central Vietnam was learning how to throw a clay pot; make rings out of disused electric wire and create a place mat out of used noodle wrappers with the crew at the Hope Centre in Hue which was established to help those with a disability.
In the south in Ho Chi Minh City, visits to the Reunification Palace and the pedestrian-only Book Street deserve a mention as other highlights as does a cyclo ride around the French Quarter in Hanoi in Vietnam’s north. A vegetarian banquet of 12 dishes in Hanoi was unbelievably good, so good that I wanted to return and do it all again the next day.
Of course, Ha Long Bay is an adventure all of its own with unique water and limestone scenery, but coming after a hectic few days the overnight cruise gave us a chance to just sit back, relax and let the world go by.
I could go on and on describing how lovely the people are, how interesting the history is, how manic the traffic is, but the only way to really experience the joy and ‘wow’ factor of Vietnam is to get on a plane and go.
And, I definitely recommend booking through Boutique Tours & Travel as Glenda and her team made the whole experience exciting, pleasurable and stress-free which is what travel should be all about.
Travel tips to Vietnam
· Download a currency conversion app to your phone to convert Vietnamese dong to Australian dollars. Also look at a translation App.
· WhatsApp is also handy to have on your phone so you can stay in touch with your guides at no cost.
· When crossing the road, be brave. Don’t change direction and don’t run, but walk with purpose.
· Add a free day to your itinerary in Hoi An if you can so you can explore at leisure.
· Try Vietnamese coffee in all its different forms, cold, hot, with egg and without.
· Only drink bottled water. Wine is expensive, beer and cocktails are cheap in comparison.
· Wear a hat when outside as it keeps things cooler and the UV Rays at bay.
· Cameras are banned in some temples and do not take photos of military facilities, presidential residences, defence personnel or the police.
