I explored the two main cities of Vietnam in under a week, from Ho Chi Minh’s vibrant nightlife to the train streets in Hanoi, trying out some amazing Vietnamese food along the way.
Upon landing, I checked into Saigon Prince Hotel, freshened up and headed out. I visited the Independence Palace and War Remnants Museum. In the evening I decided to go to the Ben Thanh Market and ended the day with a show at the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater.
I had breakfast at the hotel and headed straight for the most epic part of my trip: the Cu Chi tunnels. This full-day tour offers a chance to experience one of the most sophisticated tunnel networks in the world, gain insight into Vietnamese history, and try local snacks. Once back around 6 PM, I visited Nguyen Hue Street.
On Day 3, I woke up early for a quick swim, then had breakfast at the hotel before leaving for the Mekong Delta Tour. This one-day tour included a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda, followed by a guided boat tour to the city of My Tho. I got to explore the coconut capital, Bến Tre, before returning to the city in the evening. I ended the day with a visit to Bui Vien Walking street.
I took an early morning flight to Hanoi, landed, and checked into my hotel, Grand Plaza Hanoi Hotel. After freshening up, I visited the iconic train street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where you can watch a train pass by while sipping authentic Vietnamese coffee (note: do check the timings before you go).
Next, I took a city tour of Hanoi, visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, and Tran Quoc Pagoda. This is how I covered the city in pretty much one day.
I woke up early morning, had breakfast at the hotel, and left for a Ha Long Bay Tour. The tour began with a visit to Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, and Ti Top Island. Kayaking amidst the caves was really special. It was almost evening by the time I got back to Hanoi.
On day 6, I had breakfast at the hotel and left for the Ninh Binh Tour. On this tour, I uncovered the culture and natural heritage of the Ninh Binh province on a guided day trip from Hanoi. I visited the Bai Dinh Temple Complex, floated through the tranquil rivers of Trang An, and climbed to the top of Mua Caves for striking panoramic views of rocky hills.
Later, I returned to the city and visited the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. This marked the end of my trip, and I returned to my hotel with memories of a lifetime.
