“I think it’s always extremely important to remember that on most trips you are getting the “Disney experience,” seeing the best of areas and hidden away from some of the darker truths and history. “

Welcome back and GOOD MORNING VIETNAM (No I will not be stopped). 

After the Cu Chi tunnels, we went on a nighttime Vespa street food tour of Saigon. The streets here are no joke. Let me tell you, I’ve crossed the streets in Vietnam through hundreds of mopeds. I can handle anything. You have to walk with confidence at a normal pace, as cars and bikes all zip around you and like the maniac I am, I got right on the back of a bike and joined the madness. 

Here are some of the amazing bites we tried on the food tour:

#1. Bo Kho Banh Mi: Vietnamese Famous Braised Beef with Bread 

#2. Chuoi Nuong: Coconut milk grilled plantain, which is a bit sweet and salty, with coconut milk sauce.

#3. Banh Khot (savory crispy pancake with shrimp) served with a lot of herbs and salad and special dipping sauce.

#4. BBQ Beef wrapped in betel leaf.

#5. Spring Roll: fresh rolls with shrimp and peanut sauce.

#6. Chen Trung nuong: A Cup of Grilled Eggs

#7. Banana or coconut cracker: The city’s most famous local snack made from egg whites whipped with sugar and sesame seeds, or ginger, or banana.

#8. Cold cane juice with kumquat, a kind of lemon. It is the most popular juice in Ho Chi Minh City.

#9. Saigon’s Signature Baguette (Bánh Mì): the best-known baguette in the world, with sausage, pâté, meat, pickled vegetables (and coriander). 

#10. Flan cake

The next morning, we woke up early to go to the Ben Thonh Market in Saigon. Imagine Canal Street with the fake bags, but on steroids, with food and drink stalls, and everything is negotiable. I know some people hate negotiating, but I like to think of it as a sport I am really good at. You need a fake purse, I can get it for you at half the price. At one point we had every stall in the market looking for a particular branded hat for Stacey. I’m thinking Stacey and I will need our own show negotiating at foreign markets. Any reality TV producers out there? Just throwing it out there!

The next morning we were up at 4am to travel to Ninh Binh. What’s another flight and 3 hour drive? 

This is the part I like to call Disney Vietnam. It was full of tourists, felt like we were waiting in a fast pass line, and watched as Vietnamese alike rowed tourists through Tam Coc, or the 3 Caves. 

I think it’s always extremely important to remember that on most trips you are getting the “Disney experience,” seeing the best of areas and hidden away from some of the darker truths and history. When you travel you have to do the touristy things, like a boat through Tom Coc, but also it’s important to learn about where you are beyond the flashy rides. 

The main religion in Vietnam is Buddhist, followed by Catholicism second. Graveyards in the Buddhist tradition are designed by Feng Shui masters, choosing the best direction, design, and date for burial. This is also true for weddings, the dates are chosen by a Feng Shui master. 

Our last stop of the day was at a 15th/16th century Buddhist temple, built on top of the mountain, to create a more sacred and quiet place. 

The next day we started our drive to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO world heritage site with emerald waterways filled with tiny islands. We stayed on a cruise through the bay for 3 days and 2 nights. The boat itself felt like a Wes Anderson film, and truly was a magical experience I will never forget. Waking up to the bay and sipping my Vietnamese coffee overlooking the sunrise really makes you forget about everything else going on in the world. 

There are a total of 1969 islands, and only half of them have names, which are based on their shapes – chopstick island, teacup island, dog island, etc. There are only 2 islands where people live, but they are not part of the protected area. 

During our time on the cruise, we got to kayak, hike, and explore many caves, which were up to 160 million years old. Did I mention one of these caves was seen on the Amazing Race? 

Vietnam is also well known for their pearl farms. We did stop at a pearl farm to see more about the process and to my surprise there are so many variations and types of pearls. Like everywhere when traveling, all roads lead to a gift shop. I did not get any pearls, but if you are in the market for some pearls, wait for your next Vietnam trip.

The next blog post will be more intense and tell the family story of our amazing trip leader, so I will leave this one here. 

Until next time, please enjoy this incredible, not preplanned at all, panorama of Ha Long Bay…

Oh and this amazing rock formation in the caves…