Our travel specialist Millie travelled to Vietnam and experienced lots of highlights. This is part two of her travelogue continuing her tour of Vietnam in Hué. Did you miss part one, where she visited Hanoi and Ha Long Bai? Read it here.
Hué
After a quick introduction and breakfast, we boarded a traditional Dragon Boat (known locally as thuyền rồng) and started to sail along the famous Perfume River, which apparently gets its name from autumn flowers falling into the water, creating a natural perfume-like scent. Sitting at 80km long, it impressively divides the ancient Imperial Citadel from the modern city. We stopped at Thien Mu Pagoda, which is an extremely impressive octagonal tower and is seven stories high with a Buddha statue at each level, said to be the tallest of its kind in Vietnam.
Next stop for our Hué exploration was the famous UNESCO world heritage site of the Imperial City. Built by the Nguyen dynasty in the early 1800s, the Imperial city is an imposing citadel and its massive walls, domineering architecture, sacred halls, and palaces – all surrounded by moats – does make it a very impressive site and one which will particularly appeal to history enthusiasts. Our local guide was full of incredible facts and figures which really brought everything to life!
After a quick lunch stop, we continued our exploration of the city and went to one of the many Royal tombs that are famously scattered here in Hue. We visited the Tu Duc Mausoleum, which is one of the largest tomb complexes and also one of the most important, as he was the 4th emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. I loved soaking up all the fascinating culture and history as I weaved my way through the different ritual areas and temples. Our guide was as knowledgeable as ever – filling our heads with wild facts and stories about the emperor and his reign of power.
After the city tour, it was time to get back in the car and continue on to our next stop in the Central Vietnam region – Hoi An.
Hoi An
After a busy start to the trip in the wonderfully chaotic city of Hanoi, a fantastic whirlwind exploration of Ha Long Bay, an overnight adventure on the night train and a day running around Hué…arriving in Hoi An was the perfect tonic!
It is an incredible ancient town in the Quang Nam Province and, for me, it is arguably one of the most charming spots in the whole of Vietnam. Whether it’s history, culture, nature, art, shopping, or spirituality that you are looking for, Hoi An will not fail to deliver! We leave the days free in Hoi An for people to enjoy as they wish – you can either choose to stroll the charming streets and indulge in a bit of people watching or choose some of our optional excursions to get out and about.
We kicked off our first day here with the guided walk of the Old Town with a local. This part of town is easy to explore with the stunning Japanese covered bridge, private houses, and temples but by exploring these with a local – it really did take it to the next level! It allowed us to uncover the city in a way that guide books can’t and discover hidden gems and stories that only a local would know. As well as the temples, local houses, and the abundance of charming boutique shops and cafes, it was the hidden back streets, mysterious passageways, and bustling markets that really brought the city to life for me. To finish up our wandering, we stopped by at Folklore Museum to watch some traditional performances and even a spot of bingo (but not as we know it).
Whilst Hoi An is the perfect spot to catch your breath with a slower pace and even enjoy a day at the beach – there is also so much to see and do. Whilst we were there, on our next free day, we did the optional tour of ‘Half-day cycling tour on the outskirts of Hoi An’. I really enjoyed this experience because the bike ride through the rice fields enabled us to see the local life on the outskirts, the grazing water buffalo, and we even tried our hand at traditional lantern making (with mixed success).
When travelling, it is easy to fill your days and jam pack them with activities but sometimes it is the unplanned moments and the free evenings that leave the biggest mark. Hoi An is one of those places which really comes alive in the evening and no matter what age you are, or what background you have, strolling the charming streets, listening to the sounds of the cafes and bars, and watching the colourful lantern boats cannot fail to make you smile.
Ho Chi Minh City & the Mekong Delta
We spent our final night in Hoi An and then bright and early the next morning, we travelled to Ho Chi Minh City.
I was expecting another big city, similar to Hanoi, but there were some vast differences. Hanoi feels more rooted in its history and traditions, whereas Ho Chi Minh is more modern and has a much more westernised and cosmopolitan energy. One thing that I was interested to learn was the difference between the names Ho Chi Minh vs Saigon, as this is a question that does often arise from our guests. Ho Chi Minh City is the official name, whereas "Saigon" is the historic name still used by locals and mainly references the most central area of District 1.
The next day we had our adventure on the Mekong Delta and it exceeded expectations by a mile. I was ready for a nice boat ride along the river, but what I wasn’t ready for was getting a real insight into local life, to seeing the fascinating change from the cosmopolitan city of Ho Chi Minh to the rural river setting, to eating fresh tropical fruits as we passed along river houses, to seeing traditional techniques to make medicine, handicrafts, and food and for meeting the infamous ‘Rat Catcher’ (what locals lovingly call pythons) in the flesh.
The day after, it was time to explore a different side to Ho Chi Minh and focus on the city rather than the outskirts. Our first stop was the Emperor Jade Pagoda, which is a beautiful Taoist and Buddhist temple and is over 120 years old! One of the main attractions is the large Buddha statue which people come to pray to and ask for help to get them through difficult times. It was wonderful walking around the different rooms and the courtyard areas, marvelling at the intricate wooden carvings and being surrounded by the musky smell of incense.
The next stop on the city tour was a visit to the War Remnants Museum, which was an incredibly moving and thought-provoking experience and offered a terrifying insight into Vietnam’s recent history – focusing on the grim realities of war and lasting human consequences.
The tour continues to the historic Reunification Palace, where the war officially came to an end. Here, you can see war rooms, grand reception halls, and the president’s office, among other fascinating sights. The grand rooms were incredibly elaborate and amazingly maintained and restored, which enables you to get a real glimpse into that time. Moving on in our busy city tour, we visited the Old Post Office, designed by world-renowned French engineer Gustave Eiffel – although this is disputed. Either way, it was a pleasure to visit and a real nod to the French influence on Ho Chi Minh City.
Mui Ne
The final stop on our North to South adventure was to head to the coast to Mui Ne.
By the time we arrived, it was early evening but staying at the Blue Ocean Resort was perfect and we could already tell that it would be a wonderful few days here. Even in the rain, the pool area and open air restaurant were beautiful and inviting.
In my opinion, adding on the beach at the end is a great way to finish up a trip through Vietnam as it allowed us to not only relax and enjoy the pool and beach area but also reflect on the adventure and what incredible experiences we have had in Vietnam
During our stay, the staff were wonderful and really accommodating. The food was delicious and the breakfast buffet was fresh and tasty with lots of choices. Happy hour was a great way to watch the sun go down and chat about the past week's adventures!
For anyone deliberating over a trip to Vietnam, I can only say – do it and you won’t regret it. Whether it’s history, culture, landscapes, or food and drink that float your boat, there really is something for everyone here! I also have to say that throughout the trip – each local guide has been incredible. They have all been so knowledgeable but in a really charming way and have welcomed any questions, thoughts, and perspectives. I really think they all helped me gain a greater understanding of Vietnamese life – past and present!
Millie,
TourCompass – From tourist to traveller
