My solo 10 day trip to
Vietnam in Feb. was characterized by amazing food, beautiful scenery by
motorbike, coffee, history of the war, and great people I met.
Places traveled: HCMC, Hoi An, Hue, Dong Hoi, Phong Nha park
I like visuals, so I'll provide you with some of those:
My favorite...
Hoi An speciality - (hoanh thanh chien) Fried wontons with a salsa-like topping.
Mine had diced, grilled pork, tomatoes and onions.
INFO ABOUT MY TRIP
Ummm I don't remember many details about each place since it was months ago, but in the future I will be more detailed so maybe this blog can actually help those of you who plan to travel to the same places I did.
I will write down what I remember about the trip overall though:
1. I felt cheated most of the time (money-wise).
I thought people were always after my money even though I clearly did not look like a luxury traveler (I usually had a backpack or cloth bag attached to me). This didn't apply to less-touristy places I ventured to for meals, where I got the local price without even asking for it.
2. The environment in Dong Hoi felt unfriendly.
Very few foreigners in the city of Dong Hoi, and I did not feel welcome when I walked around.. In fact, I felt pretty uncomfortable walking around the city alone. Too bad.
3. Good food everywhere, but I was never full.
Really great, fresh-tasting food in each city I visited. I had to eat like 6 meals a day though because I was always hungry. Maybe it is because I am American and we are used to unnecessarily large portions?
4. My favorite moments were riding bikes (motorbikes and bicycles) through countryside and villages.
Bikes are a big part of Vietnam and a cheap way to see the country. If you are too scared to drive one yourself (me), find someone else who doesn't mind being the driver.
Places traveled: HCMC, Hoi An, Hue, Dong Hoi, Phong Nha park
I like visuals, so I'll provide you with some of those:
FOOD
My favorite...
Hoi An speciality - (hoanh thanh chien) Fried wontons with a salsa-like topping.
Mine had diced, grilled pork, tomatoes and onions.
SCENERY (BY BIKE)
Bike tour with some couchsurfers outside of Hue
My great traveling companion to Phong Nha caves. Thanks for driving!!
Rural paths outside of Phong Nha National Park
COFFEE
(every day, twice a day)
(every day, twice a day)
Vietnamese coffee is sooo good.
Maybe it's the generous portion of condensed milk which makes it taste so good and smooth.
Maybe it's the generous portion of condensed milk which makes it taste so good and smooth.
BOMBS
Traveling anywhere around Vietnam makes you realize how affected and devastated the country was (and in some areas still is) by the Vietnam War.
Traveling anywhere around Vietnam makes you realize how affected and devastated the country was (and in some areas still is) by the Vietnam War.
Ruins of a church in Dong Hoi destroyed by American bombs
Driving through the countryside, I saw many pools of water that are 'fish ponds' from bomb craters.
There is some ironic saying about how America graciously donated thousands of fish ponds to Vietnam...
Driving through the countryside, I saw many pools of water that are 'fish ponds' from bomb craters.
There is some ironic saying about how America graciously donated thousands of fish ponds to Vietnam...
INFO ABOUT MY TRIP
Ummm I don't remember many details about each place since it was months ago, but in the future I will be more detailed so maybe this blog can actually help those of you who plan to travel to the same places I did.
I will write down what I remember about the trip overall though:
1. I felt cheated most of the time (money-wise).
I thought people were always after my money even though I clearly did not look like a luxury traveler (I usually had a backpack or cloth bag attached to me). This didn't apply to less-touristy places I ventured to for meals, where I got the local price without even asking for it.
2. The environment in Dong Hoi felt unfriendly.
Very few foreigners in the city of Dong Hoi, and I did not feel welcome when I walked around.. In fact, I felt pretty uncomfortable walking around the city alone. Too bad.
3. Good food everywhere, but I was never full.
Really great, fresh-tasting food in each city I visited. I had to eat like 6 meals a day though because I was always hungry. Maybe it is because I am American and we are used to unnecessarily large portions?
4. My favorite moments were riding bikes (motorbikes and bicycles) through countryside and villages.
Bikes are a big part of Vietnam and a cheap way to see the country. If you are too scared to drive one yourself (me), find someone else who doesn't mind being the driver.
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