Journeying Through Vietnam: Exciting Recommendations From A Traveler

1. Intro [0:09 - 1:41]

Ananya: Hi, I’m Ananya. I’m a junior content manager with Trip101. Today, we’re going to be discussing an exciting location, something that I’m personally very excited about because I want to visit this destination, Vietnam, which is a hot favorite for many Indians, I think, right now.

And joining me is Aditi, who is presently in the beautiful Indian state of Goa. So, welcome to this session with us, Aditi. We’re excited to know a little bit more about you first. And then let’s deep dive into Vietnam, the destination of your travel.

Aditi: Yeah, I’m happy to be on your series. My name is Aditi. I work as a software engineer, and right now, I work remotely, so that allows me to travel around the world. I like to travel on my own mostly. I do like to travel with people, but it’s not always possible to coordinate. I like to travel really slow. When I get to a place, I like to just be there for a while, go to the grocery shop, get some stuff, and talk to the locals. That’s not always possible on a one-week trip. For that reason, I usually travel solo, but I travel in transit sometimes.

Ananya: And you post about your travels on Instagram, right? You have a special love for beaches, I think, because your handle just states that.

Aditi: Yeah, I’ve just accepted the fact that no matter where I go, I look for the nearest beach, and that’s where I’ll be. I’ll focus on that. All around the world, I’ll probably just be covering the beaches.

Ananya: That’s quite fun, and it makes selecting a vacation spot easier as well because you know where you’re going.

2. Trip to Vietnam [1:41 - 3:14]

Ananya : So, tell us about your trip to Vietnam. When did you go?

Aditi: I went to Vietnam two years ago, I think August 2022. The reason I picked Vietnam was Southeast Asia is so much closer to India, and flights were cheap. When I started looking more into Vietnam, I realized it’s actually a huge country.

It’s almost the vertical size of India. It takes a very long time from Saigon to Hanoi. Vietnam has a lot of beaches and interesting countryside. The more I started looking into it, the more I found places that haven’t been explored that much but are actually really interesting. I’ve seen those places getting more popular among travelers. It’s an interesting place to go to.

Ananya: Yeah, for sure. So, how long were you there? What was the duration of your trip?

Aditi: It was about 10 to 12 days, I think. This was just my first trip to Vietnam. So, I went from the south end of Vietnam, which is Saigon, to Hanoi, so south to north.

Ananya: And did you also explore some beach towns when you were there, or were you mostly in the interiors?

Aditi: I went to this beach town called… I think it’s closer to Saigon. It’s not that popular, but it’s a very small beach town. Then there is Hoi An and Da Nang, which are both very popular. And yeah, there’s a lot to talk about there.

I think we’ll go into that a little bit. Vietnam is famous for Halong Bay, which is seen in a lot of movies. There’s the bamboo night cruise there and more. So, I did a lot of beach exploration in Vietnam as well.

3. Expectations from Vietnam [3:14 - 4:15]

Ananya: We’ll discuss more about what you did when you were in Vietnam. So, did Vietnam live up to your expectations when you were doing your research? How did it turn out to be?

Aditi: I don’t think I went with too many ideas about what Vietnam would be like. But it did surprise me. At the end of the day, the place becomes about the people. I’ve heard that people in Vietnam actually don’t speak English that much, so you have to use Google Translate a lot. It’s a very nice, welcoming country.

A lot of people are very helpful, even though you cannot speak their language. It was actually full of surprises for me because there wasn’t much information available about Vietnam. Thailand or Bali, you’ve heard a lot about those destinations, but you don’t hear that much about Vietnam. So really, I was just being surprised the whole time.

Ananya: That’s a fun experience to have. I also noticed that you described your trip of 10 to 12 days as a short trip. So, what are your usual trip plans?

Aditi: My usual plan is to stay as long as the country would let me.

4. Job & travel [4:15 - 4:58]

Ananya: And you mentioned that you work remotely. So, when you’re traveling, do you usually work during your travels as well?

Aditi: Yeah, usually I do have to. That’s another reason why I have to travel slow somewhat, because I do have to work during the day. I need a good place to settle down. I have my regular calls for work and all of that during the day, and side by side, I’m exploring the location in the evenings or on weekends, holidays, all of that.

Ananya: I quite like that. You work during the day and then take your time to explore at your own pace, almost settling into life as a local in that destination and also seeing it from the eyes of a tourist and traveler.

5. Weather [4:58 - 5:54]

Ananya: So, let’s go back to August, the month that you traveled. Was it a good time to be in Vietnam? What was the weather like when you went?

Aditi: August, yeah, it was a good time. I remember researching the temperature, and the weather in Vietnam seemed very similar to India. Even while being there, I don’t really remember noticing any particular difference or feeling uncomfortable in any way. The weather was very similar to India in August, at least. It was raining a lot in Hanoi.

For that time, I think the weather was not an issue for me. Vietnam does get cold during December, I think. Hanoi especially does. That’s definitely not a bad thing because most of Southeast Asia is really hot during that time. A lot of people go to Hanoi to explore it around then.

Ananya: So, the weather was fine as you traveled from south to north, and more or less throughout the country, it was similar to what you expected.

6. Journey of Vietnam [5:54 - 7:15]

Ananya: I think we can now start off with the journey that you actually took and what you did when you were in Vietnam. Did you start in Hanoi or Saigon? Tell us what you did when you got there.

Aditi: Actually, I didn’t have too much time in Saigon. I had a couple of days there, but when I arrived, I remember being completely flabbergasted because it was a different country but at the same time, very similar to back home in India in some ways. So, it was a little strange being in that city.

Ananya: Similar and yet not similar.

Aditi: Exactly. I was really excited about Vietnamese coffee, so the moment I landed in Saigon, the first thing I did was grab a coffee. That’s one thing I do whenever I land in Vietnam. So yeah, a lot of coffee exploration around Saigon. I visited a few places like the post office and some historical landmarks, but I had very little time, so I couldn’t really explore the historical sites related to the Vietnam War, which are quite famous. You need to take a day to go there, which I didn’t know before I left. So, that’s something people should do, but I didn’t get the chance.

7. Exploring cafes & coffees [7:15 - 8:40]

Ananya: So, during the couple of days that you were there, you mostly explored cafes or coffee shops?

Aditi: Yeah, I had very little time, actually, probably just a day. I visited another place the next morning. We took a trip to this nearby beach town called Vung Tau. We were there just to explore a particular property, so we didn’t explore the town that much. It’s a beautiful ride along the coast, and that’s where I got my first glimpse of the Vietnamese Sea, which was amazing. From there, we eventually moved on to Hoi An and Da Nang. I didn’t know before going to Vietnam that these two would turn out to be so interesting. They seemed like just a couple of destinations in the middle of Vietnam that you pass through, but Hoi An is the first place that’s really touristy yet really beautiful. It has a unique charm, as it feels like an old town with narrow streets, bicycles, and a river flowing through. There are lanterns, street food, and shopping—a lot of things to explore. So, Hoi An was really beautiful, and I think we spent entire evenings in that market. I wanted more time there.

8. Vibe from Hoi An [8:40 - 9:09]

Ananya: Just seeing the pictures, it looks like a magical and quaint little town. That’s the kind of vibe Hoi An gives.

Aditi: It’s not just in the pictures. Sometimes you see magical pictures of a place, but when you go there, it doesn’t live up to that. Hoi An is the opposite; it’s actually as magical as it appears in the photos. Quite an interesting place, Hoi An.

It was a pleasant surprise.

9. Da Nang & seafood [9:09 - 12:15]

Aditi: Then we went on to Da Nang. One thing you need to know about Vietnam is that it’s very fond of seafood. Being a coastal country, it’s big on seafood, beef, and pork. If you’re a seafood lover or a shellfish lover, you’d really love Vietnam.

We reached Da Nang and just wanted to have some food on the way. We went to this restaurant that had around 20 different types of crabs and seafood. There were hundreds of dishes just waiting to be prepared. I’m a seafood lover, so I enjoyed that a lot. Especially from Hoi An to Da Nang, which are both beach towns, there’s a lot to explore in terms of food. In Da Nang, we went to the night markets and had really affordable seafood, like lobsters, for a fraction of what it would cost in India.

Ananya: So, did you enjoy the food there?

Aditi: Absolutely, the seafood was amazing.

Ananya: What else did you do in Da Nang?

Aditi: Mostly explored the beaches, night markets, and food. There’s the Dragon Bridge, which is quite famous, and they have a show there. It’s an experience—you should go on a Saturday or Sunday at 9 p.m. when it happens. I don’t want to say too much because it’s something people should experience for themselves.

From there, I went to Hanoi, but I didn’t get to experience Hanoi as much. It might have been the weather or something. We had a trip booked to the Halong Bay cruise from Hanoi, so there are different cruises you can do there that take you to the islands. They offer one-day, overnight, or even three-day cruises. We did a luxury cruise, where you get a nice cabin with a deck, and you’re on a one-day-long cruise. They serve a five-course meal, and there are activities on board like fishing, cooking classes, and cave exploration. There’s a lot to do on those cruises, and they can also drop you off at Cat Ba, where you can stay and explore more. The weather wasn’t great when we went, so we couldn’t go to Cat Ba, but the cruise was a highlight of the trip.

Ananya: How long was the cruise?

Aditi: We did it for two days and one night, and it was fun. There were a lot of activities, and the place was so beautiful.

10. Hoi An [12:15 - 13:09]

Ananya: After the cruise, did your trip end, or did you visit other places?

Aditi: I had a couple more days in Hanoi. Hanoi has Beer Street, where I spent a lot of time. It’s like the party street of Hanoi, where people sit outside on the sidewalks with small chairs, beer, and seafood. It’s like a big party happening every day.

Ananya: Does that happen during the day, or is it mostly nightlife?

Aditi: Mostly evenings. So, I was at that party street, along with some landmarks and cafes. It was mostly just chilling, not really doing much.

Ananya: Did you go to any attractions in Hanoi?

Aditi: Not that much. I don’t remember why; maybe I was just too tired.

11. Overall feeling [13:09 - 13:48]

Ananya: So, what was your overall feeling after the trip?

Aditi: I felt like it was just a basic introduction to Vietnam for me. I came back with a longer list of things I want to do. There’s a particular bike route in the north that goes through small towns and mountains, which I’m looking forward to doing. I came back with a longer list of things to explore.

Ananya: So this was like an introduction to Vietnam, and there’s more to come.

12. Transportation [13:48 - 14:35]

Ananya: When you were moving between these towns, were you mostly taking private taxis, or did you take trains?

Aditi: We took a few flights. Other than that, there were taxis like Grab or Gojek. In Hanoi, we didn’t hire a bike.

Ananya: Flights between which destinations did you have to take?

Aditi: From Ninh Vinh to Da Nang I think. Hoi An and Da Nang have the same airport because they’re closer

Ananya: So, those two destinations you took flights. And from Saigon to the first spot, you had taken a train?

Aditi: That was a train.

13. Language barrier [14:35 - 15:10]

Ananya: And you were mentioning earlier how very few people in Vietnam actually speak English. So how was it navigating that? Was it quite challenging at certain points, or were you able to manage it?

Aditi: It depends on how you’ve taken it. It is challenging that you have to go to Google Translate for every conversation. But again, the people in Vietnam are very welcoming. They do make an effort to talk to you through the app. If you’re not bothered by it, if it doesn’t annoy you that people cannot speak English, then it’s fine for you. And there’s a lot of funny incidents that have happened because of this as well. You just have to build up your patience.

14. Accommodation [15:10 - 17:01]

Ananya: And what about the stay that you did? What type of accommodations were you staying in these various locations when you traveled?

Aditi: A few of the accommodations were these deals that my friend had, which were really nice, really beautiful accommodations. Mostly luxury accommodations. So these were, like, of course, the top-notch ones. And other than that, we stayed mostly at hostels and smaller hotels because on those days, we were mostly just exploring outside and not really staying in. Easier to do it that way. I am very comfortable with hostels as well, so that’s always a good option to go to.

Ananya: Especially if you’re going on a budget-friendly trip, I think it’s more budget-friendly to take a hostel.

Aditi: And at the same time, you meet a lot of people at the hostels who are also traveling solo, so it works out.

Ananya: So when you started out, you mentioned that in Saigon, you were staying in a hostel?

Aditi: Yeah, for a day or two. It was a pretty short stay.

Ananya: Did you like one of your stays, or how was it in each of these destinations?

Aditi: I did actually. The properties that we explored, they were absolutely out of this world, so it was no question of not liking them. And the first hostel was fine. I don’t remember much about it because we didn’t spend much time there. Even in Hanoi, we landed in Hanoi and then booked a hostel or hotel there because we were leaving for Halong Bay the next morning. So we just needed a place to crash. Not really much to think about in terms of the hotels because we didn’t really spend much time there except just dropping our bags and…

Ananya: Okay. So accommodations were not the focus of your stay when you were there?

Aditi: Yeah, mostly. We were out and about exploring most of the time.

15. Tips & advice [17:01 - 19:23]

Ananya: Okay, and then that’s great. What would be your tips for people who are planning their trip to Vietnam? What would you tell someone who is looking into going there? What destinations they should pick or anything that they should know before they land up in Vietnam?

Aditi: One thing to know about Vietnam is we might think it’s a small country. It’s not. So give it the same kind of credit for being a diverse place that you would give to India. Probably not as diverse, but still, it’s a big country, and there’s a lot of different things to do. So you will need time to get from one place to another, and the things in Hanoi and the things in Saigon are pretty different. Think of them as separate destinations and look into each. And then, there’s a lot of things to do in Vietnam that I haven’t done. A lot of people don’t know because we haven’t explored that much. So just research, look into what you like, and then go for that.

Ananya: Instead of trying to cover everything or just going to all of the popular places, I think one needs just a little more time to search and find out exactly what they want to do in this new country.

Aditi: There’s a friend of mine in Vietnam right now doing some cave explorations, and that looks beautiful as well. And he heard of this. So, there are things that you will be learning about Vietnam.

Ananya: Any other tips?

Aditi: If you’re a vegetarian, you need to think about it because Vietnam, as a country, is very much non-vegetarian. It is true that a lot of places smell of non-vegetarian food. If that’s intolerable to you, then you’re going to have a hard time because it’s unavoidable. It’s just everywhere. But if you can’t tolerate something, then you should think about it. It’s not wrong—it’s just their way of life.

Ananya: Is it possible to find vegetarian food while in Vietnam?

Aditi: Possibly. If you ask them for “Buddhist food,” they understand what you mean, and they can point you towards vegetarian food. Then you’ll get by. On the flip side, if you are a seafood lover—if you do love shellfish, oysters, and all of that—then you should definitely go to Vietnam. You should definitely live with it, as it has a lot to offer for you.

16. Currency exchange [19:23 - 19:59]

Ananya: That sounds pretty big. And anything about the currency or anything else that people should know?

Aditi: The currency exchange you should take care of before getting to Vietnam. But I think it’s possible to get currency at the ATM as well. That’s what I do sometimes when I don’t know. So it’s not much of an issue with the currency.

Ananya: Did you have cash on you, or was it possible to do digital transactions as well?

Aditi: Not really for me. Some Southeast Asian countries have their own systems of digital payments. It’s just that we are not linked to their systems, so I had to use my card and cash.

17. Souvenirs [19:59- 20:56]

Ananya: Did you pick up any souvenirs from there? Any shopping that you did that you liked?

Aditi: Yeah, I did. We picked up Vietnamese hats, coffee, and we found these helmets in Vietnam. There’s one helmet which has Pikachu on it, and a pink little helmet with some cartoons on it. So these were quite interesting to see in Hanoi. A lot of people are wearing these things.

That’s what we did in Hanoi. We went searching for the best helmet. I got those from there. I still ride around in Goa with that helmet sometimes and get a lot of looks for that.

Ananya: Sounds fun! Must be cute.

Aditi: Yeah, it’s really cute.

Ananya: That sounds pretty great. Anything else that you picked up or anything else you would like to highlight about your trip?

Aditi: There’s a lot to talk about if you sit down and talk about it. But I think I covered most of the things at least.

18. Outro [20:56 - 21:56]

Ananya: Okay, I think that’s pretty great. I hope our viewers find the information you’ve shared about Vietnam helpful. For sure, I’ve made note that one should visit with the mindset that it’s a huge country and you’re not going to be able to see all of it in one go, so probably multiple trips are needed to visit Vietnam. Do you plan to go again anytime soon?

Aditi: Yeah, sometime. I haven’t really planned when, but at some point.

Ananya: I hope you’re able to visit again and see more, especially the spots you’ve noted down that you want to explore in more detail.

Thank you so much for joining us. It was really great to have you here.

Aditi: Thank you.