The Vietnamese Experience

In 2014, I had my first trip to Southeast Asia visiting Thailand. During this trip, I met many travelers who were on a journey around the region from Thailand to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Being a foodie, I have tried Vietnamese cuisine in Dubai many times and became a fan. These two facts were enough to become curious about Vietnam, plan a solo trip in 2023 and discover more.

Located in the eastern part of Southeast Asia, Vietnam is a fascinating country that not only is blessed with natural world wonders, intriguing culture, and bustling cities but also has survived a two-decade war to become one and showcase its challenges, learnings and hopes for a better future to the rest of the world.

While I did have certain expectations out of this trip based on my travel search and a rough wish list of key things to explore in the country, I’ve accumulated some very unique adventures and beautiful details that made Vietnam a place to remember. Here’re five key observations that have shaped my Vietnamese experience:

North Vs. South

The two main cities to explore in Vietnam are Hanoi, the country’s capital located in the North, and Ho Chi Minh City, its modern business hub in the South. The story of the North and South was interesting for many reasons and it gave me deeper insights about the country and its history. Both cities have witnessed the brutal consequences of the Vietnamese War (1954-1975) from a human and economic perspective. Also, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (known as Saigon) have been influenced by the Chinese empire for 1,000 years and French colonialism for 26 years.

These multi-factors have created some obvious and more subtle similarities and differences between two sides of the same coin. My first stop in Vietnam was in Saigon, which gave me a completely unexpected contemporary view of the country with its skyscrapers, hanging bridges, global look and feel, and outgoing youngsters. I didn’t feel like a stranger after visiting Vincom Landmark 81, the tallest skyscraper in Vietnam and the highest bar and restaurant in Southeast Asia, which somehow reminded me of Dubai’s tallest landmark, Burj Khalifa. On the other hand, Hanoi felt more ancient and traditional with its old quarter, narrow streets, and historic buildings. Despite the traffic, high population and air pollution, the city has many beautiful lakes, public parks and squares that give people a breather and the opportunity to gather and interact.

Life is a Motorbike

One of the most fun experiences in Vietnam is moving around on a motorbike. On my way from the airport to the city center, I was overwhelmed by the volume of motorbikes on the road exceeding cars, buses and humans. Many buildings and public parking areas have designated floors and spaces just for motorbikes. When watching the riders from afar, all you can think about is chaos, madness and unsafety.

After spending ten days in Vietnam and doing a couple of city tours with local guides, males and females, on the bike, this method of transport became my favorite. Not only was it fun, quick, and practical, but also gave me the chance to live and move like a local and enjoy a once in a lifetime experience. I felt a unique sense of freedom while navigating Saigon and Hanoi’s busy roads, highways and alleys on the motorbike, squeezing in between cars, enjoying a fresh air breeze amid the hot humid climate, and feeling empowered by the confident female motorcycle riders showing me hidden gems around the city and sharing beautiful stories about their country.

Street Food

Some people may have concerns or reservations about trying street food. I was one of them, to some extent, until I visited Vietnam. If you’re a foodie and love to dive deeper into a country’s cuisine, specialties and flavors, a street food experience in Vietnam won’t disappoint you. In Saigon, I went with a young and fierce Vietnamese lady on a motorbike to sample the city’s local food and stroll around its diverse markets. The streets were vibing with shops, flowers, lights, locals and visitors. We tried anything and everything from the Vietnamese Pho (soup noodles) to grilled banana with coconut curry, local pizza made with grilled rice paper as a base, yummy banh mi baguette filled with vegetables, cheese and cold cuts, and a sweet ending with a local crème caramel.

In Hanoi, I had a different street food experience by joining a walking tour in the old quarter. We were a small group guided by a passionate guy who loves his city and ensures his guests learn how to eat and cross the busy roads as locals do. We tried another delicious seafood variation of the pho, without the soup, along with fish balls. We learned how to clean our chopsticks with a squeeze of lemon and roll our own rice paper and fill it with vegetables, fruits, cheese, and meat. I tasted one of the most exquisite ice creams made with fresh coconut and mango. On this fun tour, we were also joined by a local lifestyle journalist and photographer who captured the whole experience through the eyes and words of the guide and tourists. One more thing to try for sure whether you’re going north or south is the country’s famous egg coffee, which was first created in Hanoi in 1946 in response to the pressures of a milk shortage caused by the French War.

Boat Gymnastics

Another fascinating observation of Vietnam is visiting the village side of the country and learning about its people, traditions and ways of living. During my stay in Saigon, I went on a day trip to explore the Mekong Delta, boosting a vast maze of rivers, islands, floating markets, and villages surrounded by rice paddies in southern Vietnam. Taking a traditional wooden boat through the small canals of the delta will give you a glimpse of its village, authentic lifestyle, and peaceful shaded narrow waterways. My second countryside discovery was Ninh Binh, a small city in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. The city has plenty to offer from its ancient temples to mountains, rivers and breathe taking green landscapes. Ninh Binh is also home to Hoa Lu village, Vietnam’s very first capital city. A one-hour paddleboat ride in Tam Coc will provide you with spectacular views of enormous karsts, mysterious caves, and open blue skies.

One thing in common that caught my attention in Mekong Delta and Ninh Binh was the highly skilled and fit local people riding the rustic rowboats. Historically, rowing boats were widely used in Vietnamese daily work, transport, and trade through lakes, rivers, and narrow canals. They’re still in use today for fishing and introducing the country’s culture to tourists. Wearing their traditional rice hats with a warm smile on their face, the Vietnamese men and women were happily transferring the visitors on the river and riding the boats with their feet in an effortless manner. This made me pause and think of how much effort spoiled city people put to go to the gym and stay healthy and stress free. While exercising non-stop every single day and keeping fit are just part of the norm for these happy locals in Vietnam.

Living on a Cruise Ship

My final thrill in Vietnam was Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and natural wonder with its limestone islands topped by rainforests. It’s one of the most visited destinations in the country, attracting 6 million tourists every year. While squeezing a day trip during your stay in Hanoi is doable, booking a cruise ship stay for a night or two is definitely worth it. I arranged my trip through Ha Long Bay Tours which offer different options and packages for visitors opting for a multi-day stay on a cruise. Eventually, I booked a two-day/one-night trip on the Peony Cruise, an elegant two-story ship with blue-fitted stylish cabins, a restaurant, rooftop bar and jacuzzi. Everything was super organized from the minute I was picked up from my hotel in Hanoi until I arrived at the port area and was transferred to the cruise along with other guests on a small boat.

The excitement began to rise as we spotted other cruise ships staying still in the calm waters and saw Peony’s staff weaving from afar. After a warm welcome, we had a brief introduction about the cruise and two-day program then got our room keys. As soon as I got into my room, my heart was filled with joy having my bed, private balcony and bath overlooking the bay. I also went on a kayaking tour which made me soak up the unforgettable views even further. The magical experience continued with a delicious dinner, music and chats with other travelers from around the world. The next day, after having a quality sleep and morning coffee, I had more free time to relax and enjoy the scenic bay enlightened by the thunder and rain.

All these unique experiences made Vietnam a country to remember with its contrasting modernity and heritage, fierce motorbikers, delicious and diverse cuisine, world natural wonders, and happy people who practice a simple and healthy lifestyle.