I consider myself well-versed in Vietnam. I lived there for years, and I’ve traveled to almost every corner of the country. I love (most of) Vietnam. Of course, it’s not for everyone. But the people who love it have a connection to the country that they just can’t shake.
Anthony Bourdain called it his “first love”. Saying, “I’ll come back to Vietnam, always.”
The amazing war film Apocalypse Now has a line about being stationed in Vietnam, “When I was here, I wanted to be there; when I was there, all I could think about was getting back…”
In a lot of ways, this is Vietnam. There are plenty of frustrations that come with living and visiting the country, but it’s truly a magical place, an addictive place. The vibrations it gives off is like a high that you didn’t notice needed until it was gone.
This backpacking guide to Vietnam covers 22 locations in Vietnam and shows you how you can travel the entire country for $20 a day. It took years of traveling to complete this detailed travel guide.
When I first moved to Vietnam, I started documenting everything I ate. Two years later, I had this complete food guide to Vietnam with over 75 dishes. It includes a food dictionary that will help you translate a Vietnamese menu.
Dai Nam Park, or Dai Nam Tourism Complex, is a huge 22 hectare amusement park that includes a cultural/historical area, a zoo, a water park, and amusement rides. There’s a hotel there (400,000VND per night), camping (about 230,000/night including tent and mattress rental), and many restaurants. Like I said, it’s huge.
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If you’re in Saigon and you need a break from the ‘beep’ or the ‘beeep beeeep!’, then a trip to Mui Ne is my suggestion to you. It’s a cheap bus ride from the backpacker district and there are plenty of hotels and resort where you can sit by the pool or the ocean and just relax. There’s also a few sights to see around the area. We rented a scooter and cruised around, stopping to see the amazing Fairy Stream. The seafood in Mui Ne is great. We spent far too much time throwing entire once-living creatures down our gullets. For lots more information about traveling to Mui Ne on the cheap, check out my guide to Mui Ne, Vietnam.
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When Sara and I were asked by a Vietnamese friend to join her on a trip to her hometown, we hesitated at first. Truthfully, the 7 hour ride on a night-bus scared us more than a bit, but after a brief consultation we were 100% on-board. This would be a true off the beaten path Vietnam experience. Next stop: Ea H’leo, Dak Lak.
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I have to admit, the first time I was in Hoi An I didn’t like it. The main reason: The tourists. I didn’t come to Vietnam to see westerners. The whole town is centered around tourism. Locals are aggressive when it comes to getting your business. The beautiful buildings are all shops selling — well, it doesn’t matter what they’re selling — I’m not here to shop. Truth be told, Sara and I were in and out of Hoi An in only a few hours. The heat and the harassing was just too much for your favourite budget travel couple. This time around though, I would be stationed in the city for 3 days. I’d have to do things differently if I wanted to keep my cool, so I brought my mom… She thinks I’m cool.
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If you’re visiting the ancient trading port of Hoi An, you should also consider a visit to the Cham Islands, a group of eight islands in the South China Sea, 19 kilometers off the coast of Hoi An. They are apart of the UNESCO Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An Biosphere Reserve, which includes Hoi An, the islands, and the waters around them. This made the islands a popular tourist location… and basically screwed them. Pollution levels went up, fish populations went down, and the islands were built on with almost no regard for the natural beauty. The UNESCO money wasn’t spent on protecting the islands, but making them into a money generator. There are a few activities that might interest you: SCUBA diving, snorkeling, camping on the beach, etc. That being said, you’ll want to choose method of visiting wisely. I went on a tour with a local company. Here’s how that went:
There are many reasons I love living in Vietnam. As we come close to the end of our first year in the country, I can’t help but think of something I was told by a man who has spent almost ten years living here.
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