Vietnam
We spent 26 days in Vietnam, the longest we’d spent in any country on our travels. Some of this was because Vietnam is inexpensive, and we knew Europe would stress our budget more than we’d like. So we saw Vietnam as a way to save up.
But it’s also a really fascinating country, and we slipped into slow travel mode and had a very memorable visit, filled with motorbike traffic, egg coffee, and one pickpocket.
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Vietnam Posts
I rode a cyclo and took a cooking class in Vietnam
Jackie tells us about that time in Ho Chi Minh City when she rode a cyclo through the busy streets, shopped at the market, and learned how to make some Vietnamese dishes.
Vietnam in Pictures
We didn't quite know what to expect when we arrived in Vietnam, but we found it to be a fascinating and sometimes paradoxical country full of great food, rich tradition, and a complex history. Here's some of what we saw while we were there.
Wednesday, 14-01-2015. Day 147.
Travel day: Vietnam to Cambodia.
We leave Vietnam and take a short flight to Cambodia where we encounter deadly naga, friendly tuk tuk drivers, and a sneaky street scam. Thrills abound! Oh! And tacos!
Sunday, 04-01-2015 - Wednesday 14-01-2015.
Days 137 — 146.
Sometimes when you’re traveling, you just need to slow down.
We’d been on the go pretty steadily since we’d left Bali on November 14 (which was day 86, so 51 days prior), and we were getting a little burned out. So now that we were set up in a (mostly) quiet residential apartment, we sort of took it easy for the next ten days.
01-01-2015 through 03-01-2015.
Days 134 through 136.
We had to check out of our hotel on Saturday, so we had three more days in District 1, and we really didn't do much over the next few days—aside from dealing with credit card companies and taking a cooking class, that is.
Wednesday, 31-12-2014. Day 133.
Sour Events, Sweet Endings
After getting a crash course in Vietnamese History at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels over the past few days, we decided we were ready to tackle the War Remnants Museum. But first ... breakfast!
Monday, 29-12-2014 & Tuesday, 30-12-2014
Days 131 & 132
We took in a little bit of Vietnamese history over these two days during visits to the Ho Chi Minh City Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnel Complex at Ben Duoc.
Sunday, 28-12-2014. Day 130
Exploring District 1
The first thing we did when we got to the hotel was take a nap. When we woke up we were hungry, so we went out to see what there was to see in the neighborhood.
27-12-2014 & 28-12-2014
Days 129 & 130
We spent the next 32 hours in a small 4-berth cabin on the Reunification Express. Here's how we spent those 32 train-bound hours.
Friday, 26-12-2014. Day 128
Three Days on Ha long Bay. Part Three
We spent three days aboard a junk, floating around Ha Long Bay (a UNESCO World Heritage site) in an adventure we like to call ... Ha Long We Gonna Be On This Boat?
Thursday, 25-12-2014. Day 127
Three Days on Ha long Bay. Part Two
We spent three days aboard a junk, floating around Ha Long Bay (a UNESCO World Heritage site) in an adventure we like to call ... Ha Long We Gonna Be On This Boat?
Wednesday 24-12-2014. Day 126
Three Days on Ha long Bay. Part One
We spent three days aboard a junk, floating around Ha Long Bay (a UNESCO World Heritage site) in an adventure we like to call ... Ha Long We Gonna Be On This Boat?
Tuesday, 23-12-2014. Day 125
Prisons, Puppets, Food Tour Redux
We enjoyed the previous night's street food tour so much, we decide to do it again. But first it's all about prisons and puppet shows.
Monday, 22-12-2014. Day 124
Reunions, Memorials, Street Food
After spending the whole day with a guide showing us Hanoi by day, we went out for a night time street food tour.
20-12-2014 & 21-12-2014
Days 122 & 123
After our whirlwind tour of China, we were looking forward to slowing down for a few days in Hanoi.
Friday, 19-12-2014. Day 121
Another Day of Travel, Another Border Crossing
In which we learn how to enter Vietnam.
Pick-pocketed in Ho Chi Minh City
› Although we hoped it wouldn't happen, we knew that being pick-pocketed on our trip was a very real possibility. We tried to always be careful, especially in crowded places, but we just weren't careful enough in Ho Chi Minh City.