In August 14 SAYFC members travelled to Vietnam as part of our International Travel Programme. Read on for a full report of all their adventures in their own words:
VIETNAM TRAVEL REPORT
By
Karen Shepherd, Jane Hamilton, Cerys Seaton, Jennifer Craig, Rebecca Bryce, Amy Bryce, Craig Cochrane, Jak Murray, Greig Christie, Courtney Bell, Emily Robertson, Katie Kelly, Lauren Burgess & Rachel Watson
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INTRODUCTION
This year, fourteen of us were fortunate enough to be selected for the SAYFC Group Travel Tour, embarking on an unforgettable journey to Vietnam. Our adventure took us on a meticulously guided twelve-day tour, “Vietnam: Historic Cities & Ha Long Bay Cruising,” offering a rich blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. From the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City to snorkelling in Nha Trang, this trip has been an extraordinary experience filled with exploration, camaraderie, and countless moments of discovery. We are immensely grateful to our clubs, districts, Ellen Kerr, and the International Travel Fund for making this opportunity possible.
Our travel report provides a day-by-day account of our experiences and the fascinating facts we uncovered along the way, offering a glimpse into the vibrant and diverse world of Vietnam.
DAY 1
After a long day of travelling. Flying from Edinburgh to Doha then finally after 24 hours landing in Ho Chi Minh City at 8:00am.
We checked into our hostels then headed for lunch and explored the streets around us. Amazed at all the market stalls and the sheer scale of the traffic.
In the afternoon it was time for a well needed nap before we met our G Adventures tour guide Huy Tran, who talked us through what is installed for us for the next two weeks.
Huy then took us to a local Vietnamese restaurant, where I had the best spring rolls that I have ever tasted. Afterwards we then took a stroll down to see Saigonโs nightlife. We ended the night having drinks on a rooftop bar looking over the city.
FACT OF THE DAY: Even though itโs been officially called Ho Chi Minh City since the fall of Saigon in 1975, the locals (especially from the Republican South) still call it and want to keep Saigon alive.
DAY 2
After last night’s antics, we had an early morning heading to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a few hours outside Saigon.
The tunnel system is what the VC Guerrillas lived in and helped them perform their guerrilla warfare tactics during the war against America. At one time, up to 20,000 VC Guerrillas could be living in this huge system.
While exploring we got to see some of the traps that were used as well as getting to explore the tunnels ourselves.
Back in Saigon, we explored the local street food, and where some of us tried exquisite Pad Thai, and even ostrich, as well as homemade Coconut Ice Cream.
After our late lunch, we then got a Cyclo Tour to explore more of Saigon. Some of the most notable sights were the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral (under major construction), Hindu Temples and the Buddhist shrine to the burning monk.
We also stopped at the General Post Office, to write and send some postcards back home, however we think we will be home before them.
Now we are on our first sleeper train heading to Nha Trang.
FACT OF THE DAY: VC Guerrillas wore Ho Chi Minh Sandals where the soles were backwards in order for their tracks to go undetected by the GIs.
DAY 3
After a sleeper train filled with competitive cards and Dobble. We arrived at Nha Trang at 5:30am, and headed to the beautiful beach, which was also the end point of the Vietnamese Marathon that had started at 3:00am for the runners to avoid the heat.
We then headed to a beachfront cafรฉ for breakfast where we had the option of the traditional breakfast of Pho, a beef noodle soup, or some western style breakfasts such as pancakes.
Once we checked into our hostel, the owner took us to the local mud bath spa, where we soaked up all the benefits of the mud and the hot spring mineral waterโฆ. and too much sun.
In the afternoon, a few of us headed to a hotel for lunch and then to experience their 360โขC infinity pool. Stunning views from every angle of Nha Trang.
For dinner, Huy, our guide, took us to a local restaurant, where most of us enjoyed a mix of street food and traditional dishes. A favourite was the fresh rice paper spring rolls.
On our way home we walked through the night markets, where you could buy anything from a fridge magnet to a Chanel purse.
We then headed out on a pub crawl with others from the Bondi Backpackers.
FACT OF THE DAY: Nha Trang is a holiday destination mainly for Russian, Chinese and Korean tourists so all of the menus and signs here will have all four languages on them.
DAY 4
Today, we headed out on a boat tour around the fishing villages of Nha Trang. Our tour guide Lam firstly showed us around a floating fishing village. Around 2,000 locals live in this area and live off the sea. Lam then introduced us to the local wives who make the fishing nets for their husbands, as well as the net tailor.
Back on our boat, we headed to a snorkelling spot where we got the chance to swim in the coral and see the fish. It was incredible to be able to see clown fish, angel fish and star fish up closeโฆ however none of us were a fan of the sea lice that kept stinging us.
The crew then had prepared us the most fantastic lunch, that had all been cooked on the boat. It was one of our favourite meals so far.
After lunch, we continued snorkelling and swimming, as well as jumping off the roof of the boat into the sea.
After our day spent at sea, we went back to the hostel to shower and get ready for our next overnight train but not without a stop to a local salon first for a few of us to get a pedicure.
We spent the evening on the train playing poker and applying after sun, and we will wake up in Da Nang in the morning.
FACT OF THE DAY: Colours hold very important meanings in Vietnam, so fishermen are very conscious of what colour they paint their boats. The most popular is Red which brings good luck and blue which brings Hope. This in return will bring them lots of fish.
DAY 5
Once we arrived in Hoi An this morning, we got to explore the Ancient Town, which was built by the Chinese and the Japanese. Some highlights were The Chinese Temple, The Japanese Bridge and The Oldest House in Hoi An – 8 generations of the same family have lived there since 17th century.
We also got to try the popular Vietnamese coconut coffee, which was very refreshing in the heat.
There are over 400 tailor shops in Hoi An and we visited Blue Chic Tailoring, one of the best family-owned tailor shops in Hoi An. Lots of us decided to get clothes made and we were amazed at the fact we could draw a picture of a top and they were able to make it. 8 hours later we went back for our first fitting and everyoneโs pieces were stunning. We canโt wait to go back tomorrow to get our finished garments.
In the afternoon, the group went on a cycling tour of the nearby rice fields and also got the chance to ride in the traditional coconut boats.
In the evening, we went down to the river to light lanterns. It was a beautiful experience, especially seeing Hoi An all lit up.
We ended the night in Tiger Tiger singing out of tune karaoke for far too long.
FACT OF THE DAY: In Vietnam, they also believe in the zodiac, very similar to the Chinese zodiac apart from they have a cat instead of a rabbit. 2024 is the year of the dragon.
DAY 6
In the morning, we went to Oodles of Noodles to learn how to make traditional rice noodles. This class is run by STREETS, a social enterprise that is dedicated to hospitality and culinary training for disadvantaged young people. We were all pleasantly surprised that it was actually very easy to make noodles and then afterwards we were served delicious noodles for lunch.
We quickly had our final fitting appointment at the tailors. By the end of the day our finished garments had been delivered to our hotel. Everyone is incredibly happy with their new clothes.
In the afternoon, three of us headed to another local restaurant, Green Mango, for a Vietnamese cooking lesson. We learned how to make five dishes:
– Green mango shrimp salad with tamarind sauce
– Duck spring rolls with a strawberry and balsamic dipping sauce
– Tofu and eggplants in claypot
– Grilled fish in banana leaf
– Mango sticky rice
The food was exceptional, and hopefully we will be able to recreate some of these dishes back home.
In the evening, we went to Memories Land to see the Memories of Hoi An Show. This showcases the traditional Ao Dai dance to tell the 400-year history of Hoi A with incredible costume, lighting and scenery.
A quick late-night swim was in order for us to cool down after another hot day, and was a nice way to finish our busy days in Hoi An.
FACT OF THE DAY: The Vietnamese Dong is the official currency here, which only uses notes as their legal tender. Coins were introduced in 2003, however children swallowed coins often. This contributed to coins being withdrawn from circulation in 2011.
DAY 7
In the morning, we took advantage of the many massage parlours and got a foot massage, to help with our swollen feet.
We travelled through the Hai Van Pass as we headed to Northern Vietnam. Stunning views across to Da Nang and Huรช.
For lunch, we went to a Buddhist Monastery where we were served a allowed to eat meat.
Once we arrived in Huรช, we went on a motorbike tour around the nearby countryside. Some of the highlights of the tour were the museum about rice farming, watching the women make in-scents and hats. As well as the Buddhist Temple, and the Old Elephant and Tiger Arena – where for one hundred years elephants and tigers would fight to the death.
In the evening, we had dinner and drinks at the hostel, before heading out to Brown Eyes, a local bar for a night filled with fun and dancing.
FACT OF THE DAY: A commonly held superstition in Vietnam is about women with high cheekbones, if you marry them, you will die young. So many of them either opt to have plastic surgery or they end up marrying foreigners.
DAY 8
To relax in the morning, a few of us went and got a full body hot stone massage for ยฃ10, which helped soothe all our aches and pains. Because it is so cheap here, many locals will go for massages once a week here.
For lunch we walked to a local bakery and admired their collection of pastries and cakes. Getting a few each to try. They were all incredible, but a favourite was the coconut croissant.
Today was mainly spent travelling to Phong Nha, as it took five hours on a bus passing through the countryside and mountains.
We passed over the 17th parallel, DMZ, which used to separate North and South Vietnam (1945-1976). However, there were Communist Party celebrations on, so we were not allowed to go and visit the bridge at the DMZ.
We arrived in Phong Nha and were in awe with the scenery around us. Huy made us try street food on our way to dinner, banana fritters and sweet potato and coconut fritters, which are commonly eaten by students. At dinner, we tried more traditional food such as Caramel Pork and Shrimp, as well as the bright pink Bamboo Spaghetti that the restaurant was renowned for.
We spent the rest of the evening playing some poker. It was all to play for when chocolate M&Ms were at stake.
FACT OF THE DAY: Gambling and Casinos are illegal in Vietnam so at the weekends it is common for the Vietnamese to travel to Cambodia or Laos to go and gamble in casinos that have been built near the border. The casinos will provide them with free drinks, cigarettes and even accommodation to entice them to come.
DAY 9
Today we explored the caves in Phong Nha National Park. This park is nicknamed the Kingdom of the Caves. The first cave we visited was Paradise Cave, which is the worldโs largest cave system spanning 34 km and we got to explore the first kilometre. We were all in awe of the beautiful limestone structures within the cave.
For lunch we ate at a local Vietnamese restaurant, we have really gotten used to the Vietnamese style of eating where itโs all in the middle and you all share.
We then headed to the Phong Nha Caves, the largest water cave in the area, so we explored the caves by boat. Once again, they were incredibly beautiful, and we even got to see some bats.
A few of us then decided to go to The Duck Stop to feed the ducks. Which was an experience to say the least.
We quickly got a takeaway dinner, and we settled in for our final sleeper train of the tour as we headed to Hanoi.
FACT OF THE DAY: In Vietnam, they donโt celebrate their birthdays. This means that the people often donโt know when they were born or how old they are as they have forgotten. Instead, your death day is celebrated, where your family and ancestors drink and remember your life every year.
DAY 10
Our sleeper train arrived in Hanoi at 6am and we then got straight on a bus to head to Ha Long Bay. Most of us used this as a napping opportunity.
In Ha Long Bay, we then took a boat cruise to explore the 1,969 islands that are in the bay.
Our first stop was at Heaven Cave, where we explored and learned about all the Vietnamese myths that are told through the rocks. Our favourite was the Queenโs Breast, which people now come to see, when seeking a blessing of fertility.
We had lunch on the boat and then got the chance to kayak into the bay. It was very fun and peaceful and luckily no one fell in.
On the way back to the hotel we stopped in at the Ha Long Pearl Farm, and we were shown how they culture and harvest pearls from oysters. The jewellery was incredibly beautiful, but a bit out of our backpacking price range.
After a busy day, we had a chill evening walking around the city for dinner and to a local bakery to get a sweet treat.
FACT OF THE DAY: The Vietnamese are a very fit population. This is because every day their government wakes them up at 5am for them to do exercise before itโs too hot. Often you will see people running, swimming, playing badminton or practising tai chi, itโs very wholesome.
DAY 11
This morning, we left Ha Long Bay, and on the journey back to Hanoi we stopped at an embroidery shop. This shop employs disabled people to embroider pictures, as well as giving them a place to live. 65% of the profit from every picture sold goes to the person that made it. One of us indulged and bought one of the pictures since it was for such a good cause.
When we arrived in Hanoi, we went to get some Banh Mi, a Vietnamese Sandwich, it was incredible.
We explored the city, and ended up in the Note Cafe, where everyone leaves notes and wishes for the next patrons to see. It was lovely and funny seeing some of the messages that have been left over the years and we all left our own.
In the afternoon, we went on a street food tour of Hanoi, where our guide Tim took us round stops where the locals eat. Some highlights were the Coconut Ice Cream Sticky Rice and The Egg Chocolate.
At night, Huy Huy took us to Train Street, which is one of only three in the world. We settled in at a bar getting cocktails and we were lucky enough to see three trains go past us.
Some of us then ended up out in Pub Street for a farewell drink with Huy Huy before he left in the morning, which quickly escalated into karaoke.
Huy Huy also loved his Scotland Rugby Top we gave him as a thank you gift, and wore it out all night, which meant he did get recognised by some other Scottish Tourists.
FACT OF THE DAY: The Vietnamese Dream is to have 1 wife, 2 children, a 3-storey house, 4 wheels (a car), and visit 5 continents.
DAY 12
After our big farewell night, at 5:30am Jen and Cerys left to continue their travels in Thailand and Huy Huy, who was heading back to his hometown to see his family.
After a well needed long lie, we continued exploring the streets and markets of Hanoi, getting our last few souvenirs for home.
Lauren also left, as she continues her travels around Vietnam, doing the Ha Giang Loop before heading to Bali and Australia.
After checking out, we went for our last Vietnamese lunch before heading to the airport and starting the long journey back home. Twenty-three hours and one thunderstorm later we landed in Edinburgh.
FACT OF THE DAY: Vietnam has very low-income tax, so there are lots of family businesses, and opportunities for the people to make money. This is because despite being a Communist country it has a Capitalist economy. However, they must pay for healthcare and education.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, our twelve-day adventure through Vietnam has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the bustling streets of Saigon to the serene waters of Ha Long Bay, we have experienced a rich tapestry of culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes. This journey has not only broadened our horizons but also deepened our appreciation for the vibrant and resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people.
The daily discoveries, from the intricate Cu Chi Tunnels to the ancient charm of Hoi An, were complemented by the warmth and hospitality we encountered at every turn. Each day brought new insights, challenges, and unforgettable moments that we will carry with us long after returning home. The camaraderie among our group was strengthened through shared experiences, laughter, and the occasional karaoke session, making this trip even more special.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the clubs, districts, Ellen Kerr, and the International Travel Fund, whose support made this once-in-a-lifetime experience possible. Their generosity has allowed us to not only explore a beautiful country but also to forge lasting friendships and memories that will stay with us forever.
