Vietnam – Between lanterns and endless rice fields
Hoi An, the city of lanterns
Hoi An is a small UNESCO-listed city, known for its beautifully preserved colonial houses and streets decorated with countless colorful lanterns.
The best way to explore the city is by renting a scooter or bicycle, just remember to bring your international driving license and always wear a helmet! 🪖
Hoi An is a walkable city with plenty to do, here are our favorites:
Full Moon Festival: Once a month, the city transforms into a magical place where dreams and wishes come true. The historic center goes dark, lit only by countless lanterns hanging from the houses, creating a timeless and enchanting atmosphere. During the festival, you can enjoy traditional performances and buy lanterns to set free on the water, asking for luck and prosperity. 🌕🏮
Lantern-Making Workshop: Taking part to a lantern-making workshop is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in a local experience to bring home a unique souvenir! We made two beautiful lanterns, following every step of the process from A to Z, and had so much fun creating them. 🎨🏮
Ancient Town: Walking through Hoi An’s streets is a one-of-a-kind experience. Step into charming artisan shops, visit the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, and buy tickets to explore the city’s traditional ancient houses. Two of the most beautiful ones are Tan Ky House and Phung Hung House. 🚶♂️🏯
Cooking Class: Joining a cooking class is one of the best ways to dive into the local culture and connect with the people. We believe it’s a must in every country! But we have to be honest, the Vietnamese cuisine was really not our favourite, and unfortunately, the class didn’t change that. 😅 So, if you're unsure whether you’ll love it, our advice is to give it a chance. Some people are absolutely obsessed with it… maybe you’ll be one of them! 🍜👩🍳
Golden Bridge
If you’ve ever searched for images of Vietnam, you’ve probably come across the famous Golden Bridge, a suspended bridge held up by two gigantic stone hands. Fascinated by its design, we decided to visit it, only to be surprised to find that it was actually located inside Sun World Ba Na Hills, an amusement park.
Not entirely convinced, we still decided to give it a try, but we found ourselves in an artificial, European-themed setting that felt far from Vietnamese culture. While the day was enjoyable, it wasn’t the authentic experience we were looking for.
For this reason, we recommend exploring other destinations, especially if your time in Vietnam is limited.
A rainy welcome from Hanoi
Remember our overnight bus experience? Well, not satisfied, we decided to take another one to Hanoi, this time more prepared and armed with a lot of toilet paper. And to our surprise, it went way much better!
Arriving in the capital was a different story, though. Hanoi welcomed us with a massive downpour. We were sleepy, hungry, dirty, without an umbrella, and two extremely heavy backpacks. We had no idea how to get to the city center, and we must have looked so desperate that a kind lady offered us shelter under her tiny umbrella.
After what felt like an eternity standing in the rain, we finally made it to our guesthouse, only to find out that our room wasn’t ready yet. So, drenched and disoriented, we wandered the streets looking for a shelter. It took us half an hour of dodging puddles and battling the wind before we found a place to dry off. And, of course, just as we finally got inside, the rain stopped!
Despite this rough start, the following days rewarded us with sunshine and perfect weather, allowing us to explore Hanoi at its best.
Exploring Hanoi
What to Know About Hanoi? The most important thing: SIDEWALKS DON’T EXIST.
Well, they do exist, but they’re used for everything except walking! You’ll find them turned into parking lots, restaurants, shops, and social gathering spots. So, be prepared to walk mostly on the road, but be aware of cars and motorbikes zooming in every direction! 🚶♂️🏍️
Hanoi is a vibrant and chaotic city, where thousands of motorbikes speed through the streets nonstop, making crossing the road quite an adventure. Our advice? Just go for it! No one will stop to let you pass (not even at a red light), so the only way is to move forward with a steady and confident pace. I used to close my eyes while Giorgio guided me through the honking motorbikes!
Despite being one of Vietnam’s most touristy cities, Hanoi still has many authentic corners, untouched by Western influence.
Here are our favorite places that we recommend for a first visit to the capital:
Old quarter: A maze of narrow streets filled with vendors and artisan shops. In the past, each street was dedicated to a specific trade, and in some areas, you can still feel this tradition. Best explored on foot, it’s perfect for an intense souvenir shopping spree! 🏮🏙
If you love Vietnamese food, this is the ideal spot to try local street food. But be warned, you might come across dishes made with animals that aren’t exactly common in Western cuisine!
Train Street: One of Hanoi’s most iconic spots. Several times a day, a train passes incredibly close to the houses and cafés, creating a unique and surreal atmosphere. 🚂✨
📌 Tip: Check the train schedule, then grab a seat at one of the cafés along the tracks, sip on Hanoi’s famous Egg Coffee, and wait. You’ll be amazed!
⚠️ Warning: Train Street can be dangerous, so always follow safety rules and listen to the locals' instructions.
Dong Xuan Market: Visit the largest covered market in the city, where you can find almost everything! Here, you’ll see locals going about their daily shopping. A truly authentic experience. 🛍
Hoàn Kiếm Lake & Ngọc Sơn Temple: Perfect for a relaxing sunset stroll. 🌅
Hoa Lo Prison Museum: Originally built by the French, this prison later became a detention center for American prisoners during the Vietnam War. Today, it’s a museum open to the public, offering deep insights into its history.
Getting a Haircut at a Vietnamese Barber Shop: Giorgio did it, and let’s just say, it was a mystical experience! ✂️💈
Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay
Hanoi is the perfect starting point for exploring some of Vietnam’s most fascinating destinations. One of the best day trips we recommend is Ninh Bình and Hoa Lư.
Hoa Lư was Vietnam’s ancient capital and is well worth a visit for its stunning temples set in the lush nature. Many tours combine a visit to the old capital with a trip to Ninh Bình province, highly recommended!
We explored the Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Lê Đại Hành temples, then cycled through breathtaking, untouched landscapes before heading to Tam Cốc and Hang Múa for an unforgettable experience! 🚴♂️🌿
In Tam Cốc, we sailed on small boats along the Red River Delta, passing by stunning pagodas, natural caves, and breathtaking mountains.
Hang Múa, on the other hand, requires a bit more effort: 500 stone steps will take you to an incredible panoramic viewpoint! The climb is challenging, especially due to the humidity, which makes the air heavy and the trekking more exhausting, but it’s absolutely worth it. From the top, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view of Tam Cốc’s rice fields and the famous stone dragon that sits atop the mountain, adding an extra touch of magic to the landscape. 🐉🌿✨
Visit also the UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay, or, even better, stay for a few days and spend the night aboard one of the boats that anchor in the bay. You’ll enjoy delicious fresh seafood and witness a dreamy sunset. 🌅⛵✨
Sapa
After our time in Hanoi, we headed to the final stop of our journey: Sapa, a mountainous region on the border with China, home to various ethnic groups with distinct cultures and languages from the rest of Vietnam.
Here, you can hike through towering mountains, vibrant green rice terraces, and watch locals working in the fields. We chose to explore Sapa with a local guide, who led us on a trekking from the town center to a remote village hidden among the rice paddies.
We walked for miles in the rain, listening to fascinating stories while smiling children helped us avoid slipping, seizing the chance to practice their English. Along the way, between buffaloes and (probably) snake, we got a glimpse of the region’s slow-paced life before finally reaching our accommodation for the night. 🌿🥾🌧
That night, we stayed in a traditional homestay, where a hot meal and an incredible view awaited us. After weeks of travel, we finally enjoyed a truly delicious Vietnamese dish, though the Chinese influence in the flavors was undeniable! We bonded with fellow travelers, sharing stories over shots of the famous rice liquor… which, unfortunately, had some unexpected side effects on Giulia during the night. Only later did we find out it was the famous "Happy Water", rice liquor infused with snake! 🐍🥃
After a sleepless night, we spent our second day exploring Sapa’s rural life, this time under the warm sun, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. We witnessed everyday moments: women working in the fields with babies strapped to their backs, men tending the land, and children going shopping in tiny village stores. It was a glimpse into a simple yet deeply rich way of life, one of the most unforgettable experiences of our trip. 🌾☀️✨
Our time in northern Vietnam was short, but it opened our eyes, making us realize that the reality we know is not the only one existing.
We saw women of all ages, adorned with large earrings and dressed in traditional clothing, walking over 40 kilometers a day with heavy loads on their backs. We met children practicing their English with tourists, weaving bracelets to earn a few coins to bring home.
Experiences like this teach us, leave a mark, and help us see the world with greater awareness. 🌍❤️
Our conclusions
Vietnam is a country with so much to offer, and even though it was the most challenging destination for us, it pushed us to discover our limits and adaptability. Every encounter, every landscape, and every challenge along the way shaped us into more mindful and aware travelers.
We left Vietnam with our hearts filled with gratitude, knowing that everything we’ve learned there will stay with us forever.
So, if you love vast, lush green landscapes, bold and spicy food, and truly authentic experiences, grab a ticket and set off for Vietnam. you’ll fall in love with it! 🇻🇳✨