7-Day Vietnam Itinerary
Do you wish to journey to expertise different cultures?? In that case, you might be in for an actual deal with. The Busbee household simply headed to Vietnam and China for an thrilling and once-in-a-lifetime 14-day journey! Erin’s traveled to over 35 international locations and is unquestionably a journey professional. She loves experiencing completely different cultures, making an attempt new meals, studying about historical past, and taking in all the stunning surroundings. This journey had all of that and extra! In at present’s submit, we’re breaking down the Busbee household’s Vietnam itinerary together with what they did, the place they stayed, and extra. Discover out extra in regards to the second half of the Busbee’s journey and their full China itinerary right here.
In search of all the things Erin packed for her 14-day journey?? Be sure you try this submit subsequent! Plus, all of Erin’s carry-on suitcase packing ideas right here.
Day 1 – Arrive in Hanoi
The Flights to China had been so costly that the Busbee’s determined to fly into Vietnam to begin their journey. Erin discovered one of the best costs flying into Noi Bai Worldwide Airport in Hanoi. Hanoi was the only and most reasonably priced flight they might discover from Colorado, however relying in your location, you could possibly discover a higher deal at a unique airport. They flew from Denver to Tokyo after which Tokyo to Hanoi.
Erin had Kensington Excursions assist plan this journey since there have been so many shifting elements, journey days, and so forth. They assist hold all the things organized and ship you an in depth itinerary earlier than your journey. Kensington helps with issues like arranging transportation, organising excursions, and extra. One observe about touring to Vietnam is that you’ll have to get pre-approved Visas for anybody touring into the nation. Kensington Excursions helped with this in addition to fast-tracked safety companies. Kensington is expensive, however if you’re taking a posh, aggressive journey like this, it is perhaps value the additional expense to maintain issues as easy as potential.
In Hanoi, the Busbee’s stayed on the beautiful Capella Honoi. The 5-star resort was completely stunning, and Erin actually liked all the artwork deco particulars. She described it as charming, distinctive, and particular. In the event you’re headed to Hanoi, it is a fantastic place to remain. On the primary night time, the household relaxed and rested up after their very lengthy journey day and received prepared for the remainder of the journey…
Day 2 – Hanoi Sightseeing
On their first actual day in Hanoi, the Busbee’s loved a 4-hour tour that consisted of a TON of sightseeing, numerous historical past, and exploring iconic landmarks. Erin was most enthusiastic about visiting Vietnam to study extra in regards to the tradition and historical past and she or he actually liked how eye-opening and completely different it was.
They began at Ba Dinh Sq. the place they noticed the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the resting web site of revolutionary chief Ho Chi Minh. They waited in line for about 2.5 hours to see Ho Chi Minh, which Chris and the youngsters had been actually enthusiastic about. But when they did it once more, they’d go at a unique day/time as to keep away from the strains. Once they had been in line at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, there was a bunch of college youngsters who reacted to seeing Elizabeth as if she had been a rockstar by screaming and grabbing her arms. They don’t see many blonde-haired folks so the Busbee’s received requests for photographs very often in each international locations.
The remainder of the day consisted of strolling by means of markets, seeing the stilt homes (very distinctive Vietnamese architectural fashion), One Pillar Pagoda (initially inbuilt 1049), and the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature (the primary college in Vietnam).
However Erin’s favourite a part of the day was the Instagram viral prepare café! It was actually cool…but additionally actually terrifying! She informed us that it’s laborious to totally perceive or clarify how scary, thrilling, and loopy it’s to be sitting inches away from a prepare going by. They received to take an image on the prepare tracks too! She mentioned this was undoubtedly a worthwhile expertise. One factor they observed, even at an Instagram viral web site like this…they didn’t see many American or European vacationers. That was true all through their whole journey to Vietnam and China.
After their sightseeing, they went again to the resort to clean up after which headed out that night time to a Vietnamese Folklore Present with Water Puppetry. This present was nostalgic for Chris as he noticed it when he went to Vietnam for the primary time many years in the past. In addition they went to a “snake” restaurant the place you guessed it, they ate snake. Erin mentioned she nearly threw up.
However, the most important problem in Hanoi…? Crossing the road. You typically simply must go, not look, and hope for one of the best. Severely.
Day 3 – Ha Lengthy Bay
The subsequent day, the Busbee’s left early within the morning to drive to Ha Lengthy Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Website. It was a ~4-hour drive so that they did make a number of stops together with manner. One cool factor they noticed throughout one of many stops was how pearls are made. Erin discovered it very fascinating and didn’t understand how a lot went into it and that it’s not natural or pure. They primarily fertilize the oyster to create a pearl after which they put it again into the water (they’ve a system to make it simpler to take them out and in of the water after a sure period of time). She additionally realized that pearls have completely different high quality ranges like diamonds do.
Once they received to Ha Lengthy Bay, they boarded the Bhaya Legend Cruise which set sail towards Bai Tu Lengthy Bay. The household opted for a personal ship which was a welcome respite after the bustle of Hanoi. Ha Lengthy Bay was mysterious, magnificent, and actually distinctive. The inexperienced water was so stunning and the well-known limestone formations had been so cool. That afternoon, they visited Thien Canh Son Cave, a pure cave with rock formations and a glowing gemstone ceilings. After that, they went again to the ship to loosen up and swim within the water. Then they loved conventional Vietnamese dishes and watched the sundown earlier than heading off to mattress.
Day 4 – Ha Lengthy Bay to Hoi An
The subsequent morning, they awakened, had breakfast, after which headed out by kayak to go to the standard fishing village of Vung Vieng. There are 4 important fishing villages in Ha Lengthy Bay, however this one solely has about 50 households dwelling there so it was the least touristy. After that, they headed again to the ship and had been then taken again to the marina to disembark.
This was an enormous journey day as a result of after getting off the ship, that they had a driver take them again to Hanoi (~4 hrs.), then boarded a flight from Hanoi to Danang (~1.5 hr.), then had a driver take them to Hoi An (~1 hr.).
They checked into the 4 Seasons Resort The Nam Hai. Kensington Excursions stunned the household with a room improve, so that they ended up in a stunning 3-bedroom villa proper on the seashore that additionally had its personal pool. Erin shared that it was one of many nicest 4 Seasons she’d ever stayed in.
Days 5 & 6 – Hoi An
Erin shared that Hoi An was the most important shock and her favourite place on your complete journey! The city was so magical, there have been numerous colourful lanterns lit up at night time, and a lot vitality and pleasure. There have been numerous folks, however it didn’t really feel overwhelming as a result of it’s a smaller metropolis. Once they had been strolling down the streets and seeing all of the outlets and meals distributors, Erin may scent night-blooming jasmine, which is one in every of her favourite scents. Between the appeal, magnificence, cleanliness, vitality, lights, and smells, it was only a actually fantastic metropolis. Total, Hoi An was a a lot nicer and cleaner metropolis than Hanoi, however each provided a really distinctive perception into Vietnam’s tradition and historical past.
On their first day in Hoi An, Erin determined to ditch the 3-hour day tour as a result of the previous couple of days had been so exhausting (though she did shoot some photographs for the weblog 😉 That night time, they went on a sundown dinner on a bamboo raft alongside the Coco River. First, they took a 25-minute trip in a bamboo basket boat that took them to the restaurant the place they loved dinner on a bamboo raft. It was a neat expertise, however Erin mentioned she may have skipped this expertise and would have most popular to have dinner in Hoi An.
The subsequent day, they loved extra time at their beautiful resort, did extra exploring of the streets and markets of Hoi An, after which returned again to their resort to organize for one more lengthy journey day…
Day 7 – Hoi An to Beijing
The Busbee fam packed up and headed out for one more lengthy journey day and the following leg of their journey…China! From Hoi An, that they had a driver take them to Danang (~1 hr.) and boarded a flight to Beijing (~8 hrs.). After going by means of customs, a driver took them to their resort, The Peninsula Beijing.
Reflections
We needed to go alongside a few of Erin’s reflections about Vietnam. She shared that she all the time felt protected and welcome in Vietnam. The household walked round freely by means of crowded markets and streets with no downside. Erin says she was uncertain how the Vietnamese, particularly the older era would really feel about Individuals given the historical past, however she didn’t really feel any friction. In truth, she talked about that the folks she met had been all extremely useful and type.
She was stunned in any respect the loopy issues they eat, together with absolutely anything on a stick. And, she famous that it’s not likely a communist nation. The Vietnamese are fairly free economically and whereas they’ll’t shout their disdain for the federal government from the rooftops, they do appear to have the ability to discuss likes, dislikes in a extra intimate setting.
Do you will have your individual reflections about Vietnam? Or perhaps extra questions in regards to the journey?? Tell us within the feedback beneath…we’re joyful to assist!
Try the following leg of Erin’s journey…China! Discover all the small print right here. Ensure you’re subscribed to the e-newsletter so that you don’t miss it!
