A Backpackers Guide To Vietnam

One of the most fascinating areas of Southern Asia is Vietnam. With its fascinating history, gorgeous landscapes, tasty food, and vibrant energy, Vietnam will awaken all your senses and pull you in from all angles. Being my first solo trip, I was a bit apprehensive and underestimated Vietnam as a place itself, but it blew me off my feet.

 

Vietnam is most exotic and compelling during summers, its natural beauty is different from all of Asia. I visited Ho Chi Minh and Hoi An in my 6-day visit. Both the cities were poles apart. One comprised of chaos and the other a sense of peace. 

 

Ho Chi Minh is a chaotic city, with street hockers and two-wheelers in every corner of the road. Walking is the best way to discover the place. The small alleys are the jewels, with authentic old rustic houses; where clothes are hanging out of the window. The elderly sitting outside in groups chit chatting, with aunties selling cart food, sipping coffee. Ben Than Market is one of the best markets to see the culture of the city as well as a good place to shop. Late evening the outside area turns into a night market, with stalls set  up in no time; selling food, clothes, accessories and home products. All locals gather, playing music as well. Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office is next to each other. A stroll in the evening would help you discover both. Go before 7 as the post office shuts by then.

              

A day trip to Mekong Delta is a must. A change in the scenario will be clearly evident. The major attraction is sitting on the sleek boats and moving through the many canals. A short trip off canoeing by yourself through the canals would help you discover many hidden beauties through the canal. The floating market is one of the highlights as well. Buy some fruits off the boats, its super juicy and fresh to eat. I would recommend My Tho over the rest of the regions in Mekong Delta. You can boat along with the floating market, canoe through the canals and do a quick Vietnamese cooking class. It was one of the most adventurous days in Saigon for me. I went to Backpacking street at night and left in the morning. With beer costing between 33-50 INR and unlimited bars to visit, time flies. Try as many different local beers possible because you ain’t getting any outside Vietnam. Backpackers street was one of the best nights I had in Saigon. With the hustle bustle of tourists, the local food carts, music playing at every bar, outside seating, its a treat to all your senses. The food scenario is the highlight of Saigon. Vietnamese coffee is one of the most famous things one should try (the egg coffee as well as the Vietnamese ice coffee). Fruits are one of the must tries, especially Mangosteen, Rambutan, Langon and Dragon Fruit. Being a vegetarian I had assumed I would be having limited options however, turns out there were umpteen number of vegetarian restaurants with delicious food to offer. My top favourites were, Pizza 4 P’s, Pho 2000, L’usine Cafe, Propaganda, Secret Garden and Royal Saigon.           
 

 

Next stop was Hoi An. The ancient town was the most atmospheric and delightful town to visit. It boasts with grand architectural structures with a simple riverside night market and lanterns selling at every corner. It thrives on tourism itself, with Japanese bridge, houses and temples the town oozes with culture.  

       

Cycling along the paddy fields to go for a hands-on Vietnamese Cooking Class is an experience by itself. The teachers will take you cycling along the food market to buy fresh produce and then through the paddy fields around 3-5 km, finally arriving at the cooking class. The experience was magical. A must do.

     

The lantern city is famous for its Tailoring as well. Do try and get a garment stitched. However, try doing this on the first day as they will take 48 hours to give your product back. Hoi An has its own historic charm with umpteen places to eat and food to try. A must try is Bhan Meh the local sandwich made by this lady called the queen. Her family is serving Bhan Meh and Vietnamese coffee for 100 years. A few top recommendations for food would be Morning Glory, Broccoli, and La Tonnelle. 

 

Travel Tips: Vietnam, in general, is one of the most inexpensive countries to travel to. Petty theft is common so its better to take care of your belongings. Looking after your money is important, especially when it comes to taking your change back from the waiters. The currency ranges up to one lakh dong, so confusion is inevitable. Sunscreen lotion, hats, pee spray, and glares are a must to carry. Cabbing is easier than Public Transport and not expensive. Drinking water should always be mineral bottles. Shopping is insane from jute bags and custom made clothes to home decor, with good quality being inexpensive. Overall, I recommend going to Vietnam. I would visit it again and explore the different regions like Halong Bay. The friendly environment and beautiful boutique hotels makes the stay easy. You can buy some local sauces and experiment back at home. Carry some local fruits along as well to enjoy them later. 

By Esha Kayan