A Slow Travel Snapshot - With grand plans of spending three months in Vietnam, we secured a 90-day visa, packed our lives into suitcases, and left the bliss of Bali for the cultural mosaic of Vietnam.
We arrived in Hanoi with the intention of making our way south through Ha Long Bay, Da Nang, Hoi An, and finally, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). As the journey unfolded, our plans shifted. The trip was shortened, accommodation types changed, and in total, we spent 30 days in Vietnam. We travelled from north to south by plane, flying with VietJet Airways. While affordable, their flight schedules were often unpredictable, and customer service was difficult to navigate. We booked via Expedia, which provided a helpful buffer when plans went awry.
Our rhythm was a mix of slow tourism, remote work, and digital wandering, blending freestyle exploring, guided day trips, and dedicated hours behind screens. Travelling through the spine of Vietnam gave us a chance to absorb the country’s layered history, everyday culture, and regional personality in five distinct destinations.
Hanoi – The Heartbeat of the North
Duration: 10 days (split before and after Ha Long Bay)
Vibe: Gritty, historic, and electric in the Old Quarter; relaxed and more spacious in Westlake
Style of Travel: Walking, guided tours, café working
Highlights & Sights:
-
Old Quarter – Hanoi’s bustling core with narrow alleys, scooters, street vendors, and colonial-era buildings.
-
Hoan Kiem Lake – Tranquil green space in the middle of the chaos.
-
Temple of Literature – 11th-century Confucian university, a cultural cornerstone.
-
Train Street – A surreal alley where trains pass within inches of homes and cafés (check for access rules).
-
36 Streets – Each named after traditional guilds that once defined the Old Quarter.
-
Street Food Tours – We didn’t join one, but everyone raved about them. Egg coffee, pho, bun cha, and more await.
Day Trips:
-
Ninh Binh – A dreamy escape with limestone mountains, caves, and boat rides through reflective waters.
-
Hat Painting & Incense Village Tour – Very touristy but great for photos and insight into small-village economies.
Cultural Notes:
Hanoi is Vietnam’s political capital and a cultural time capsule. French architecture, Confucian traditions, and modern chaos all coexist in one layered city.
Ha Long Bay – Surreal Serenity
Duration: 4 days (2 would suffice)
Vibe: Peaceful, slightly surreal, and semi-deserted
Style of Travel: Cycling, boat tours, hotel-based remote work
Highlights & Sights:
-
Bay Cruise – The floating limestone karsts were every bit as magical as they say.
-
Cave Exploration – Sung Sot (Surprise Cave) and Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace).
-
Biking Around Town – Flat terrain and stillness made it feel like a dream.
-
Sunset Swims in the Sky Pool – Quiet luxury.
-
Yoga & Hotel Gym – Perfect for rebalancing after Hanoi.
Cultural Notes:
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long is steeped in natural myth and beauty. The quiet was jarring after Hanoi’s sensory overload, in the best way.
Da Nang – Coastal Calm Meets City Energy
Duration: 5 days
Vibe: Underrated, modern, spacious, and friendly
Style of Travel: Beach walks, remote work, city wandering
Highlights & Sights:
-
My Khe Beach – Morning swims and golden light.
-
Dragon Bridge – Spectacle of fire and light on weekend nights.
-
Marble Mountains – Caves, pagodas, and panoramic views.
-
Lady Buddha at Linh Ung Pagoda – A Towering statue watching over the coastline.
Day Trips:
-
Hue – Explore ancient palaces, pagodas, and Vietnam’s imperial past.
-
Ba Na Hills – A bizarre, fairy tale-style French town atop a mountain reached via epic cable cars. Surreal, strange, and fun.
Cultural Notes:
Da Nang is a rising city that blends old and new. It’s spacious, creative, and chill—a stronghold for digital nomads seeking city comfort and coastal energy.
Hoi An – A Living Museum of Heritage and Craft
Duration: 5 days
Vibe: Romantic, timeless, lantern-lit
Style of Travel: Walking, cultural tours, relaxed excursions
Highlights & Sights:
-
Hoi An Ancient Town (UNESCO Site) – Well-preserved architecture from centuries of international trade.
-
Japanese Covered Bridge – A symbol of Hoi An’s cross-cultural history.
-
Tailor Shops – Custom clothes made in 24–48 hours.
-
Night Market & Lantern Boats – Pure magic on the Thu Bon River.
-
An Bang Beach – Sandy escape just outside the town.
-
Cooking Classes & Basket Boats – Fun, immersive, and hands-on.
Day Trips:
-
My Son Sanctuary – Ancient Hindu temples of the Champa Kingdom, dating from the 4th to 13th centuries. A spiritual and historical marvel.
Cultural Notes:
Hoi An blends cultural preservation with artisanal beauty. Tailoring, textiles, and spiritual heritage form the soul of the town.
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC or Saigon) – A City of Contrasts and Commerce
Duration: 5 days
Vibe: Bustling, bold, dynamic
Style of Travel: Walking, museums, café culture
Highlights & Sights:
-
Independence Palace – Historic site marking the end of the Vietnam War.
-
Notre-Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office – Colonial elegance, though under renovation when we visited.
-
Ben Thanh Market – Iconic, chaotic, great for food and bargaining.
-
Nguyen Hue Walking Street – Lively promenade for people-watching and coffee.
-
War History Sites – We skipped most, having absorbed much through earlier tours. Others include the War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels.
Day Trips:
-
Mekong Delta – Cruise through floating markets and river communities, witnessing traditional trade in action.
Cultural Notes:
HCMC is Vietnam’s economic engine, a heady blend of communism and capitalism. The South feels faster, more open to Western influence than the North.
Working on the Move
We often choose apartment-style accommodation for comfort, space, and access to kitchens. Cafés are generally work-friendly if you buy drinks (decaf is rare). Starbucks became a fallback—reliable Wi-Fi and caffeine without the jitters.
Remote work brought structure to the trip. Without it, we might have floated endlessly. Having a purpose in each place grounded us.
Vietnam in Layers
The contrasts between the North and South were palpable. Hanoi felt more traditional and reserved, while HCMC felt more global and enterprising. Their shared past of displacement and war has left cultural echoes in every corner.
The food amazed us—cheap, plentiful, and deeply woven into the culture. We were often shocked by how little vendors charged. Tipping felt fair. That said, witnessing animal preparation in the streets was confronting. One vivid memory: duck feet being snipped with scissors. Unsettling, yet part of what makes Vietnam so raw and real.
As Westerners, our privilege was evident. Children were told to ask white tourists for money. These moments remind us: even budget travel is a luxury. The gap between rich and poor is wide, but humanity exists in every exchange. A smile, a story, a shared glance—these matter.
Tips & Takeaways for Vietnam:
-
Domestic Flights are cheap and quick. We skipped buses and trains because the savings didn't seem to be worth the time lost; however, we missed the experience.
-
Weather – Plan around humidity. We added more AC stops and applied sunscreen often. Find a time of year that suits your disposition
-
Pacing – Five days in each place works well. Two in Ha Long and three in Da Nang are enough.
-
Must-try: Banh Mi. A bite-sized cultural blend of Vietnam and France.
-
Packing: Light layers, sun hat, strong SPF. Locals cover up for a reason.
-
Apps: Google Maps (download offline), Grab for transport, GetYourGuide for tours.
Vietnam challenged us, charmed us, and changed us—just the way we like it.
