Vietnam: Highs and Lows
Back in January, my best friend and I were planning our trip to Vietnam for September. We were going to start in Ho Chi Minh City and make our way north to Hanoi.
But obviously, in light of corona 2020 travel plans have meant adjustments and cancellations. But this doesn’t mean we can’t use this time to plan for future travels. And remind ourselves of why we were interested in travelling to certain destinations in the first place. In this post, I’m thinking back to what attracted me to Vietnam in the first place. And reflecting on how these highlights during my brief trip to Hội An 2019 sparked my initial travel plans for 2020.
Highs
Being comfortable
Before heading to Bali in June 2019, I felt the most comfortable in Vietnam. Maybe I was feeling a type of way from some of the stresses in Hong Kong (see my previous post). People were super friendly and respectful. And if someone glanced my way out of curiosity, more time they smiled first which eased the build-up of tension.
So if you are looking for calm interactions in most public spaces, Hội An is a spot I’d recommend!
Food
- As you know by now I’m a foodie. My favourite food memory from Vietnam was chilli jam. Now I know this may sound like an unexpected combination but chilli jam and mint featured in a lot of my meals — and the flavour was awesome. For any vegans out there check out the restaurant Karma Waters.
- Chợ Hội An (Hội An market) had lots of stalls full of tasty treats. At night the market was lit up with beautiful coloured lanterns. For breakfast, I tried dragon fruit for the first time.
Things to do
I was only in Hội An for a few days but there’s so much to do! Which is what inspired the thought of returning to Vietnam over a longer period of time.
Tailor made clothing
Hội An is famous for the number of tailors who can sort out custom made pieces in short periods of time. If you fancy some quality garms, I would suggest spending half a day thinking about a) what you want made? b) searching for tailors close by and c) your budget. I had some smart trousers and top with no sleeves made which cost around $45. The process of selecting the material, an early fitting and completing the piece took 3 days in total!
Bike riding
I’m not going to lie, riding a bike around Hội An is not the safest way of getting around. You’ll be competing with mopeds and cars so be careful. But biking was a cheap way to get around. We rode all the way from Acacia Hotel to An Bang Beach which took approx 30mins. Just be aware that you’ll have to pay to park your bike as bikes aren’t allowed on the beach itself.
Hiking
I always try to squeeze in at least one hike while travelling. We hiked up a rocky terrain with a guide which faced Bà Nà Hill — where the Golden Bridge is located. Our guide was literally forging our pathway with a machete. We eventually made it to a rocky clearing, above a running stream — which had an incredibly clear view of Bà Nà Hill. If you intend to hike in Vietnam make sure you are prepared because it gets really hot. I’d suggest bringing:
- Plenty of water
- A lightweight bag to carry essentials
- Arm guards, wearing a hat and long trousers
Reaching Out Teahouse
A tranquil and cosy spot to appreciate tea in silence. Established in 2000, this teahouse provides opportunities for people with disabilities ‘to learn skills and gain meaningful employment so that they are able to integrate fully with their communities and lead independent and fulfilling lives’ (Reaching Out, 2019).
Mỹ Sơn sanctuary — Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
A stunning architectural complex of temple’s and monuments, (drawing from ‘the spiritual origins of Hinduism in India’). The location of these structures was ‘the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom’, which has been described as ‘the most important constructions of the Mỹ Sơn civilisation’ (UNESCO, 2019).
According to the tour guide, there are no gaps between the original brickwork. Whatever is connecting these bricks together is still a mystery…
With my curator hat on, it became clear that managing this site involves several challenges. Such as the conservation of the physical site and the surrounding environment. While managing the exhibition space and the growing number of tourists to the site. Archaeological Survey of India began conservation and restoration work in February 2017, with the second working season ending in June 2018 (Embassy of India, 2019)
Lows
I’m really racking my brains to think about any lows during this trip. The only thing I can remember was the slightly dodgy activity at the currency exchange building outside the airport. There were two currency exchange buildings next door to each other and we wanted to check which one had the best deal. But we soon realised that none of the businesses had the exchange rates written down anywhere. And depending on who you spoke to, the exchange rate being offered changed. So if you can exchange your money beforehand or at a more legit place, do so. Having a Monzo card was really useful if you want to avoid exchanging currency in general.
For more useful info (in short form) when travelling in a Vietnam, check out the Tales of a Traveller Podcast – episode 4.
