VIETNAM - MORE THAN EXPECTED!

Sometimes I feel like the world is under my feet. Before this journey I have read: "A land of staggering natural beauty and cultural complexities, of dynamic megacities and hill-tribe villages, Vietnam is both exotic and compelling" . Well, everybody writes about nature view and exotic things, but... I never have thought that my eyes will see such contrasts and beauty...believe me, this kind of experience should be a part of every persons life.

A journey to Vietnam was one of the most active holidays we ‘ve had so far. Our mornings started at approx 6 am and ended late late at night. Total of 4 people, 5 Hotels, 1 Cruise, 2 domestic flights and uncountable memories, experiences, interesting people and places - just in 9 days.

We have arrived to Hanoi late at night. After some rest next morning we’ve started our 4 hours journey to Sapa. The misty mountain market town of Sapa, hub for trekking in Northern Vietnam, is a must for travellers! We have visited Cat Cat Village - impressed by the peacefully picturesque sceneries. This Village gives a chance to have a glimpse into the daily life of local ethnic people, the original architect of H’Mong people , also “Silver waterfall” which was absolutely magnificent.

We have also climbed to Ham Rong (Dragon Jaw) mountain where scenery hidden in the fog and echo sound from bamboo flute of Mong minority boy changed this place into a heaven on the earth. The foot of Ham Rong Mountain is only a short walk from Sapa church - so so worth visiting.

Sapa Panorama

Sapa

Sapa

We’ve spent an evening in a beautiful and magical Sapa Sky view restaurant. Why Magical? Because I have never ever had dinner so high up that the fog came inside through the windows. And everything happened just in a few seconds, so magical.

After dinner we have visited an interesting bar where the wall was made from different currencies from all over the world. Of course we have found Lithuanian Litas (although Lithuania uses Euros nowadays) which was nice!

Next day we came back to Hanoi. This city is crazy and by crazy I mean chaotic. So many motorbikes, so much traffic, so many people and so noisy. It feels impossible to cross the road, you just kinda go with the flow. Nobody seems to stop. Traffic lights? It’s like what is that?! :) We came late in the evening, so I thought to myself : ok, maybe it’s a little different during daytime as majority of people work, children at school....but no. Busy busy all the time! Oh, Hanoi is a super city, I liked it. Last thing we did in Hanoi was a short stop for a drink in a bar named Highway just near Hotel. Few drinks turned into full on dinner, we’ve tried fried crickets:) Remembering about it I have just a big smile on my face. This city gave me a lot interesting experiences and left me with so many amazing memories! History of architecture, a communist atmosphere, the oldest in Hanoi huge market, the best food I have ever tried and very interesting tradition - Water Puppet show.

Water puppetry is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. Today's Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition.

Water puppet show end

Hanoi at night

Hanoi day time

Another day.... another adventure... early morning, perfect breakfast (there was probably not one bad place for food) and another approx 3 hours journey to Ha Long Bay where we had 1 night cruise awaiting for us: 1 night in the water - In the UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular travel destination in Quang Ninh Province.

The name Hạ Long means "descending dragon”. There are a number of beautiful beaches on the smaller islands. We had a chance to visit Hang Duo Guo and Tien Kung Caves. Also we stopped in Titov island. Gherman Stepanovich Titov is a very famous Russian cosmonaut who had visited the island and it was named after him.

There you can climb up few hundred steps to the observation deck on the summit of Ti Top mountain that reveals a panoramic view of Halong Bay - it is definitely worth the effort.

After night in the water, next morning on the way back to the marina, we had a chance to explore water with kayak. Marvellous experience, which I would love to do it one more time again.

Our cruise journey was changed by the Ninh Binh City. It was a first capital of Vietnam. Very old and industrial city. We came rather late to this city, so just had a late night walk and came back to the hotel. We thought we will try hotel´s roof bar. Believe me, it was like 20 years ago. So many led lights, old fashion music, old-fashioned style furniture. This city made me feel like back in my parents era about 30-40 years ago when they were young. Great and unexpected experience.

After the night full of led lights our trip continued to TAM COC national park. I think after cruise and Ha long Bay it was the best place I have visited in Vietnam so far. We had a 3 hour boat tour via Ngo Dong river where nature, hills, water, atmosphere, water markets left me totally speechless. Like I said, I thought I have seen a lot, but this was absolutely different, so many experienced feelings. Despite the weather not being the best we still managed to have an amazing time and it touched my heart.

After a boat tour we have visited an old and beautiful three-trie temple (Pagoda).

It is so pure how people from all over country/world come to visit such place, donate and pray for their family members.

And of course there could not be a day without something bizarre happening to us. First time I felt so strange when people began to take pictures of us. Apparently they have never seen Europeans before and it was their first time :)

A very short time in Ninh Binh province left a huge mark to me, it was more than I have expected. Luckily we had a very good tour guide who told us a lot about this amazing country.

Days flew so fast in Vietnam. Ninh Binh was soon far away as a memory. In the evening we flew from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city. Again late night check-in to the hotel and how can we “survive” without night adventures. Our Ho Chi Minh exploring began with a visit to night food market and last breath was on the top of the “OMG” roof bar with 90’s DJ :)

Our tour guide was funny person:smiling, laughing, joking all the time. I will remember him very well and especially his phrase : RELAAA ( Should be relax, but somehow always last letters in the words just disappear :) ) I must say that Ho Chi Minh city is the biggest city in Vietnam and traffic lights do exists here and people care about them/pay attention.

Next day we had another water adventure day at Mekong Delta. Again although the weather was not the best, but that was even more memorable. We left Ho Chi Minh early morning and after 1.5 hours by car we had a chance to visit traditional honey and coconut villages. We have reached all places by boat and horse. Coconut village left us with great memories - best home made coconut ice-cream I have ever tried and vodka barrel with snakes inside. Guide assured us that vodka is good medicine, so guys have tried it and everything was fine :)

After “medicine” and lots of coconut, a little boat between Palms and Jungle took us to the local restaurant. Lovely lunch, bottle of local (just 30 %) liqueur and nice atmosphere.

Soon boat took us back to the marina. Next destination and last was city Phan Tiet (Muine), were we spent 2 last nights. Beautiful city by the South China Sea.

I wish I could have spend couple more days there just to relax and have more time to reminisce all the beautiful place we’ve visited and seen.

However.... we couldn´t stay still. We’ve organized another day out. We came to see the Red Dune, where local women offer you flat boards which might be used to slide down the mountain of dune. Jeez, the temperature, it was so hot! Whole journey was rather cold and these last days were proper sizzler! I suppose it’s a nice touch to end the holidays.

This journey will be one of the most memorable ones I had. Maybe because my native Lithuania and Vietnam have something in common ref. communism or maybe because it is just simply very simple pleasant nice country all around.

If you want to taste the best food, get to know about interesting traditions, get opportunity to see a rather different country, culture, to experience new feelings - you should definitely plan your next trip to Vietnam ! Happy Happy Happy! The more I see - The more I smile! > P.P.

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