30th January 2023:
I had ten days off work due to it being Tet in Vietnam. This was a fantastic opportunity to travel in Vietnam while engaging in new experiences, so I had to take it. It took strenuous periods of planning with my friends, but we got there in the end.
I could finally live it out.
I first caught a flight to Hanoi, the very north of Vietnam. It was cold, much more than Ho Chi Minh city, but it felt very familiar to Auckland weather in New Zealand, so I quickly got used to it. The architecture was more ancient/traditional, and there were many more tourists than in Ho Chi Minh. We visited tourist attraction sites like Train Street (where we ate frequently; the food and vibes were excellent) and Imperial Citadel. We also took tours to Ninh Binh and Halong Bay. Ninh Binh was definitely the highlight of my holiday because I found it relaxing, just lying down on those boats while breathing in the natural air. My whole body was calm and composed after it, and I felt rejuvenated.
We spent the next two days in Da Nang. The first day was spent in Asia Park. The whooshing sounds of rollercoasters and the bright lights thrilled me with adrenaline. I went on all the big rides just before the rain started pouring heavily. The second day’s weather in Da Nang was not much different. We went to another theme park called Ba Na Hills, and it was foggy. However, we could still see the famous hands and the Love Garden. Luckily, the fog cleared out on our way down from the mountains, so we got a nicer view in the cable cars.
We spent the last few days in Hoi An. Spas, boats on rivers, and tailoring stores come to mind when describing the city.
It was truly a fun and beautiful trip.
