VIETNAM

“Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.”
— Anthony Bourdain

There are so many places to stay, eat and drink in each country, it just comes down to a matter of budget, preferences and time. Below is an account of each city we visited in Vietnam, where we stayed, things we enjoyed doing and places we ate & drank that were memorable.

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

Ho Chi Minh City, commonly known as Saigon, is the most populous city in Vietnam, with a population of around 9.3 million. The city's geography is defined by rivers and canals, the largest of which is the eponymously-named Saigon River. This was our first experience in Vietnam, and we loved this city.

Myst Dong Khoi - We splurged on this hotel and were not disappointed. It had mid century modern vibes, a rooftop pool and walkable location in the heart of District 1.

Pizza 4Ps - This place was one of our favorite restaurants in Vietnam. There are locations in Saigon, Da Nang & Hanoi.

Little Hanoi Egg Coffee - Cute little cafe with you guess it, the best egg coffee.

Stoker Woodfired Grill - The best steakhouse, frequented by locals and tourists in the know.

Melbourne Cafe - Good little brunch spot.

Hair Bar - Need a style, cut or color? This place is top notch.

Things We Enjoyed

Visiting Independence Palace, & the War Remnants Museum. Taking a boat tour up the Saigon River to the Cu Chi Tunnels, and in general just wandering around the city looking for coffee, and getting lost in the culture.

Da Lat

This city in the hills is considered a getaway for residents of Saigon, tourism is front and center of this quirky city.

Pi Hostel - This little gem of a place greeted us with plants, koi fish and gorgeous woodwork throughout the lobby. We opted for a rooftop room, a balcony with a view of the city. They also have amazing coffee and craft beers on site.

An CaFe - A cute cafe with lots of outdoor spaces, good food and views.

Rakkhun - Quaint little Thai bistro with good food and a Nic family who runs it

Primavera Italian - Great Italian food with all the ambiance you’d expect

Things We Enjoyed

Wandering through the flower park, exploring Cao Dai Temple by taking the Da Lat Plateau Railway scenic train up to Trai Mat from the Wes Anderson like Da Lat Railway Station. Exploring Crazy House, riding the Datanla Alpine Coasters, visiting the Truc Lam Buddhist Monastery watching all the buddhists walk to the lake & getting lost in Maze Bar.

Hoi An & Da Nang

The city of rivers, lanterns and temples. Hoi A was a quaint little town with lanterns, boats, cafes and lots tourists wandering over the bridges. Da Nang was a bustling large city with beaches, high rise hotels, and a history of being the place where US soldiers were stationed during the war.

Mulberry Collection Silk Eco - a cute basic hotel, located within walking distance of the main areas, lots of lush greenery around the pool, and good basic rooms.

Ellies Cafe - Hidden in a back alley, we went multiple times.

Flower Restaurant - A small family run place with tasty wontons and cold beer.

Bamboo Wood - A little gem with the best Vietnamese pancakes (savory) in a neighborhood off the main area

Lenco Cafe & Bar - A funky place with records, hi-fi and very tasty cocktails

Babas Kitchen - Really good Indian food

Things We Enjoyed

A small group tour of Da Nang, including the Marble Mountains and Son Tra Mountain (or Monkey Mountain as it’s commonly called). The ancient Chua Cau bridge, riding bikes to to A Bang Beach, taking the train over the Hai Van Pass to Hue.

Hue

The original capital of Vietnam, Hue the Imperial City is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage city. The Perfume River winds its way though the city, with forts, monuments and palaces on display as the main attraction.

Soliel Boutique - A cute little hotel outside of the main part of the city, and within walking distance of the Imperial City and monuments.

Eating Bun Bo Hue at an awesome little local place in town, a name I cannot remember. I think the ladies at Soliel hotel recommended it.

Things We Enjoyed

Exploring the Imperial City complex, and visiting the DMZ and surrounding area which included the Hien Luong & Vinh Moc Tunnels on a private transfer tour from Hue to Phong Nha.

Phong Nha

The adventure capital of Asia, and home to the Ke’ Bang national park with some of the largest caves in the world. With caving, rafting, and canyoning this is a town not to be missed for the lovers of active adventures.

Carambola Bungalow - A rustic guesthouse with private bungalows right on the river with the best hosts on the planet.

Oxalis Adventure - A fantastic tour operator with the only permits for treks into the largest caves, Hang En & Son Doong. We loved our 2 day trek and overnight in Hang En Cave.

Treehouse Restaurant & Cafe - Tasty pizza, pasta and a good selection of red wine.

Sophie Homey Cafe - Just up the street from the train station in Dong Hoi (we took the overnight train from here to Ninh Binh)

Things We Enjoyed

Exploring Paradise Cave and kayaking in the river before the main event, a 2 day 1 night Hang En Adventure with Oxalis.

Tam Coc (Ninh Binh)

A quaint little town known as the ha Long Bat on land. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site with lots to see and do. The main town is called Ninh Binh, the smaller village Tam Coc is close to the rivers, tunnels and monuments.

Tam Coc Bungalow - Private bungalow on the river up against limestone cliffs. Really kind hosts, a small cafe onsite, cute pool & garden area.

Banana Tree Hostel - Just down the road from our bungalow, great food and a healthy selection of craft beer.

Monalisa Restaurant - Good egg coffee to get you going before you hike up to Mua Cave

Linh Chi Craft Beer Pub - Just like the name implies, lots of beer to choose from and decent food.

Things We Enjoyed

We opted for the shorter Tam Coc boat tour through rice fields and under caves, renting scooters and exploring the surrounding area. Visiting the Mua Cave and Bich Dong Pagoda.

Ha Long Bay

The famous bay with towering limestone islands is yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most visitor opt for a 1 or 2 night cruise using one of the many tour operators. If you prefer less boats and people, Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay are good options.

Orchid Cruises - We opted for a 3 day 2 night cruise on a luxury ship with an awesome crew and no more than 10 guests. One night would be sufficient, we chose 2 simply because we wanted to relax.

Hanoi

The capital of Vietnam, this city has so much history and charm. From the old quarter, cathedrals, and the delicious food it is a must visit if you are planning a trip to the country.

AirBNB - A one bedroom fully quipped with a kitchen, laundry, tons of space and amazing views. Just on the outskirts of the Old Quarter, walkable to almost everything within the city.

The Hafflington - A speakeasy style cocktail bar with an alchemy feel and dinosaur skeleton hanging from the ceiling.

Tannin Wine Bar Old Quarter - Small space with a great selection of wine, charcuterie & light bites.

Metropole Hanoi - An ultra fancy hotel, originally built in 1909 with a laid back pool cafe & delicious French onion soup.

Xofa Cafe & Bistro - A cute little brunch place

Pizza 4Ps - This place was one of our favorite restaurants in Vietnam. There are locations in Saigon, Da Nang & Hanoi.

The Hangout Tattoo Studio - If you are in the market for some ink, this place is fantastic.

Things We Enjoyed

A cooking class with Rose Kitchen, The Old Quarter & beer street to take in the sights and cheap pints of beer. Visiting the the John McCain Memorial memorial on West lake and the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton). Grabbing a drink onTrain Street,

Read about our adventures here in my Vietnam South to North blog.

Additional Vietnam Travel Websites, Podcasts & YouTube Videos:

Below are some great resources on what to do, where to go & overall planning advice for your adventure in Vietnam.

Want more? …Check out my Vietnam South to North travel blog for more details and photos on Vietnam, or my Resources page for more great information on travel planning