Adding Vietnam to your travel list is definitely a good idea and one you will not regret. This country is one of the most beautiful countries I travelled to. And yes the landscapes, views and activities in Vietnam are absolutely breathtaking. But the people and their positive mindset is another main thing which made this trip one of the best ones I went on in a while and put Vietnam really high up my "best countries to visit" list.
One of the things that really embody the Vietnamese way of life is their selflessness and hospitality towards other humans and also visitors of their country. Even during the Vietnamese War 50 years ago, they showed the world and the Americans what makes Vietnam and the people so special. During the visit of Hoa Lo Prison, I read lots of examples, how the Vietnamese treated the American soldiers. From giving the American soldiers cigarettes, to cooking their food differently so the Americans like eating it, to allowing them to receive letters and parcels from home. They did a lot of things to treat the Americans humanly and showed them the kindness humans should show other humans. I think this is very telling on how truly remarkable the Vietnamese are.
Next to the amazing people, Vietnam is a very diverse country. From mountains to rice fields, bays to beaches, calmness of the villages and bustling cities, you can enjoy a lot of different activities while traveling. One day you can relax on the beach, the next you can take a bike tour through the mountains. Or you can hike in the mountains of Sa Pa or enjoy an egg coffee while sitting under lanterns in Hoi An. I truly believe Vietnam is for every kind of traveller.
To be honest, 3 weeks aren't nearly enough to experience all of Vietnam and I think one of the things I also learned during this trip is to take your time and don't rush through destinations just to have them ticked off your list. I'll definitely return to Vietnam and explore lots more of this beautiful country and experience a lot more of the culture. But 3 weeks are a good amount of time to experience a first glimpse of Vietnam and focus on one part of the country. The itinerary I created is therefore also about taking your time and just relax in one location for a little bit to get a deeper feeling for the culture of Vietnam.
You can find the quick guide below, the in-depth blog post will follow shortly.
Comments