Vietnam – the land of ascending dragon!

Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries in Southeast Asia, and I got an opportunity to visit this land in the summer of 2023. We planned the trip along with our big group of family and friends, and everyone was super excited. We all had been talking about it for a long time, and finally, it had materialized. 

We landed in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, and were welcomed by a very cheerful tour guide assigned by our travel agency to show us the place. Hanoi had an old-world charm, and we almost fell in love with the city as soon as we arrived. It was vibrant, colourful, and had a cool vibe. We could leisurely walk around the streets at our own pace and explore places that showcased rich Vietnamese heritage.

The first to-do list was to visit the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre near the Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi city to watch one of the most popular puppet shows that depicted historical tales and old legends of Vietnam in a most enchanting manner. The folktales were beautifully depicted with wooden puppets in a pool of water and an enthusiastic Vietnamese orchestra playing traditional music and songs in the background.  Visual effects such as water splashes, smoke, lighting and mythical creatures jumping out of the water added much fervour to the vibrant performance. It was indeed a great start to our trip, and we were all smiles when we headed out of the theatre to spend time in the Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street.

Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street was one of the most lively and bustling places with a wide range of live performances, music, and dance shows entertaining the crowds. Everyone was soaking in the carnival-like vibe and enjoying the relaxed evening with their loved ones. We also let our hair down and danced our hearts out on the street before heading for some retail therapy in the night market that sold a variety of items, such as clothes, shoes, accessories, souvenirs and handicrafts. Shopping at the night market was really a fun way to end our first night in Hanoi.

The next day was reserved for visiting the Temple of Literature, which is built to honour the Vietnamese scholars, followed by a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential palace, and several museums that beautifully define the architecture of the city and showcase its rich history, art and culture. One of the coziest features of the museums was the outside cafés where one could enjoy high-quality espresso, cappuccino or iced coffee with condensed milk along with croissants and pastries. The coffee culture in Vietnam is a must-experience and reflects the city’s leisurely pace and community life. The open-air cafés along the sidewalks give a great view of the streets and one can relax and chit chat comfortably while sipping their favourite brew.

We had decided to spend the evening in the Old Quarter of 36 ancient streets which is one of the most important destinations of Hanoi, quaint with traditional architecture and design. The streets are lit with lanterns in the evenings, making the Old Quarter look almost magical.  One can shop leisurely and enjoy street performances around the corners. One of the most fun experiences was dining on the sidewalk beer corner where people gather and sit on tiny plastic stools to eat and drink into the night. We ate noodles, fried rice and fresh salad made of raw papaya topped with crunchy peanuts. The experience was mind-blowing as all of us relaxed and chilled in the breezy evening, laughing and chatting and enjoying each other's company.

We headed towards the most spectacular destination of the trip – The Halong Bay, which was about 160 km from Hanoi, the next day. Famous for its scenic beauty, with clear waters, limestone caves and marine cliffs, it is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites and is a paradise for visitors. Upon reaching the Bay, we boarded a luxury cruise and were welcomed by quite professional and friendly staff. The boat was beautiful and the scenery around was stunning. After an elaborate seven-course meal, we headed for kayaking in the bay. It was once in a lifetime experience paddling through the pristine, clear waters and limestone caves. In the evening, the children dived into the sea, went fishing and immersed themselves in the ocean, while we spent a cool time in an open-air jacuzzi on the top of the deck. The cruise had also arranged a master class for making rice spring rolls, one of the novelties of Vietnam. The night was just as perfect as the day with light music, delicious food, great company and a lot of chatter.

We had planned to visit the Sung Sot caves in the morning which are one of the biggest limestone caves in Ha Long Bay. It was quite an adventurous trip walking through dense forest and foliage, and we had to climb 100 steps to reach it, which surely felt like a pilgrimage. Sung Sot in Vietnamese means ‘amazing’ and surely the caves lived up to their name. The formation of the caves itself is a geographical marvel and left us enthralled.

We bid goodbye to the cruise and thanked the staff for their warm hospitality and left for Saigon, the economic center of Vietnam, a bustling cosmopolitan quite in contrast to the laid-back city of Hanoi. We had planned to visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels that were built during the Vietnam-France War. The tunnels were a tactical hideout, stretching over hundreds of kilometres and provided refuge to the Vietnamese soldiers during the war. These were quite narrow and dark, and it was quite unbelievable to imagine how the soldiers must have spent their time in such tiny holes.

Later in the day, we visited the Saigon Notre Dame Basilica and the War Remnants Museum, which is of huge historical significance and exhibits a collection related to the Vietnam War. It was quite heartbreaking to see the horrific images of the war, the brutalities that the people had faced during that time. The disturbing photographs left us numb and in shock to see the extent of destruction and human suffering caused. It also made us realize how resilient the Vietnamese people had remained and stood their ground to expel the invaders and achieve victory over their enemies.

Mekong Delta, one of the largest deltas in Asia, was the last major destination of our trip to Vietnam. Known for its lush paddy fields, huge rivers, floating markets and mangrove forests, it offered a glimpse of the rural side of Vietnam. We took a boat ride on the Mekong, tasted yummy tropical fruits and sweet honey tea that is unique to the region. It was just great!

Vietnam offered us a diverse range of cultural experiences. Every place had its own charm and significance and left us spellbound. The people were simple, warm and friendly. It was one of the most memorable trips and we enjoyed it thoroughly with our friends.  I would like to end this blog with a famous quote: “Happiness is a collection of joyful experiences shared with soul friends. Get together and have some fun!”