Kimmie

Together with my sister, I flew to Vietnam after three beautiful weeks in Indonesia, this marked the start of three more adventurous weeks!

Our journey didn’t exactly begin smoothly. The flight was a bit chaotic… my sister had accidentally entered the wrong passport details for her visa. With only three hours left before departure, we had to fix it and apply for an emergency visa. What followed was a stressful race against the clock. Everything that could go wrong with the online paperwork did go wrong. Luckily, a very kind woman helped us over the phone, and somehow… we made it onto the flight. Only then could we finally relax and realize: we were actually going to Vietnam!

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Our first stop was Ho Chi Minh City. As we flew in, it honestly felt like we were landing on top of the houses; the city stretched endlessly in every direction. After arriving, we quickly dropped our bags at the hostel, grabbed a SIM card, and headed out for food. Right away, we noticed how massive the city was, but it wasn’t until the following days that we truly understood its scale.

The next day, we joined a Mekong Delta day tour. To be honest, we were a little disappointed. We had expected to visit a floating market, but that turned out to require traveling deeper into the delta and waking up very early: Something we hadn’t researched properly. Instead, we took a boat ride, visited a few islands and a temple, and met some locals. While it wasn’t a bad experience, it felt quite commercial, and we wouldn’t necessarily recommend this particular tour.

Later that day, we visited Landmark 81 to watch the sunset and that completely made up for it. Watching the city transform from soft, neutral tones into a sea of neon lights was incredible. The endless horizon of buildings really put into perspective just how large the city is. It’s impossible not to be amazed by it. We also explored the Café Apartments and did a bit of shopping before heading out for dinner.

On our last day, we hopped on two scooters (with drivers!) and rode to Chinatown. We wandered through local markets, taking in the local culture while searching for souvenirs. It was also my sister’s birthday, so of course, eating cake that day was involved!

That evening, we visited Đường Bùi Viện and wow. We were completely flabbergasted. Loud music blasting, people dancing everywhere, and promoters trying to pull you into bars, this was the craziest street we had ever seen. We stayed for a drink and some live music, but it quickly became a bit overwhelming, so we headed back. 

Overall, we really liked the city. The mix of historic colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers, the vibrant street food scene, and the endless stream of motorbikes make it incredibly unique. Still, after a few days, we were ready to trade the chaos for something a bit more peaceful… so it was time to head to the airport again.

From chaos to calm: Hoi An

At the airport, things slowed down, but not in a good way. We waited in line for quite a while, checked in our luggage, and then… waited. And waited. Our flight was delayed for over two hours, with no clear explanation, which definitely made me a bit stressed. But after a short 1.5-hour flight, we finally arrived in Hoi An. From the moment we reached our hostel, the atmosphere felt completely different. Our host was incredibly kind and gave us great tips for exploring the area. After a quick dinner, we went straight to bed.

The next day, we wandered through the city center and immediately noticed the endless tailor shops. Of course, we couldn’t resist and had some clothes made! The city center contained cute little cafes and restaurants, with bright colours and lights everywhere! Later, we headed to the beach. After a week of 40-degree heat with intense humidity, we were more than ready for a refreshing swim. We also stopped by the Mister Bean Bar this evening, which was a fun little spot.

We were lucky to be in Hoi An during the full moon, as it was the Full Moon Lantern Festival, which is celebrated every month and transforms the city. The streets fill with glowing lanterns in every color imaginable, and electric lights are dimmed to let the warm candlelight take over. 

We absolutely loved Hoi An. The atmosphere, the friendly people, and the nearby beach made it feel like the perfect balance after the intensity of the city. If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, don’t skip this place!

The following day, we visited My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site dates back to the Champa Kingdom, which ruled central Vietnam from around 200 to 1700. They built impressive red-brick Hindu temples using a unique technique, without cement, that still puzzles scientists today. My Son served as an important religious and political center before being reclaimed by the jungle and later rediscovered by the French.

Sadly, much of the site was damaged during the Vietnam War, but what remains is still incredibly powerful. The ruins, along with structures like the Po Nagar towers, tell a story that blends ancient craftsmanship with the visible scars of more recent history. What fascinated us most? Even today, no one fully understands how the original bricks were made. Modern restorations don’t quite match the same color or quality.

What surprised us in our first week

• There were fewer backpackers than expected (we later realized it wasn’t peak season)
• Everything stays open late
• We have never seen so many scooters in one place in our lives

After an amazing first week, it was time to pack our bags again and move on to the next destination… but that’s a story for the next article!