Explore vibrant cities like Hanoi, Da Nang, Da Lat, and Ho Chi Minh. Visit local cafés, coffee farms, markets, & world heritage sites in a 7-night, 8-day.
It was my first time visits to Vietnam. It costs about ¥200,000 / $1,288 from Tokyo. This was to gain a brief understanding of Vietnam’s living conditions and sights for my work in real estate development. Also, I had a good time on experiencing coffee, cafe, and world heritage besides my works. For a first time trip, it’s useful to know what to see in Vietnam. Explore from North to South.
City View, Hanoi
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. It is the second-most populous city. The city is located in the northern region on the banks of the Red River. Hanoi remains historical sights in the central city with nature to explore. Ha means Rive. Noi means Flow. Long means Dragon. Hanoi named as life circle like river flows, and the city describes as it is. Feel Vietnam decorated by red & yellow lantern with kaos traffic around you. The city seems never sleeps. So you can enjoy from early morning to late night life here. Significantly interesting sight was how restaurants & clubs approaches to police patrol at night. They start closing tables, chairs, & even shutters for some stores when police comes at a moment. And they re-run their business after police is gone. My favorite place was Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. It was nice escaping place to calm down in peaceful space from being noisy place all day. It’s free too.
World Heritage: Ha Long Bay
Took a tour to see Ha Long Bay, Sung sot cave, Luon Cave, & Ti Top Island. Picked up passengers at the Old Quarter. Then, Headed to Cảng tàu khách quốc tế Tuần Châu for cruise tours. It was 6 hrs tour to cover trekking caves, hiking a hill, boating, canoe or kayaking, & swimming at beach. It costs ¥5,400 / $35 with buffet lunch included. It was well planned to visit islands with activities.
The Marble Mountains & My Khe Beach, Da Nang
Da Nang is a coast resort city like a small Hawaii. It’s nice to enjoy beach life & cruise to see city lights or go for night markets. There are an amusement park & the World Heritage sites of Hoi An and My Son. I’d love to visit there for vacation for a week or two to just chill out there. My plan started from the marble mountains. Walk along Beach & rest at spa. Go to a city crossing a dragon bridge, and enjoy night market. The airport is so close to the city that you can start your travel right after you arrive here. The Marble Mountain was natural art museum for me. Amazing creating worship space & karma story telling by sculptures. There is an elevator to go up to see a mountain view & another caves & temples there. It’s like 2-3 hrs walk to cover the place at 75,000VND/¥450/$5.
Coffee farms, Da Lat
Da Lat is 2nd biggest coffee city in Vietnam. There are a lot of nature like waterfalls, mountains, farms like coffee & fruits, & arts in this town. The top of the mountain view is tremendous. Learning about coffee procedure with their passion was very enlightening. It requires a car or bikes to experience nature here. Fortunately, a nice tutor teacher offered me taking around Da Lat by bike for a day. The airport is very far from the city. So it’s better to use a bus to visit here from Ho Chi Minh for next time.
Mountain View & Market, Da Lat
I wanted to go for hiking to view sunrise, but I didn’t have enough energy. But, Hotel TalaDalat’s view was perfect for me to view a wonderful view of sunrise and sunset from the balcony. It’s not too far from the market & city surrounded by lake. I def. love to visit this place again to take a deeper view.
Tour Cu Chi Tunnel, Mekong River, & Beer Street, Ho Chi Minh
Took a bus to get to Ho Chi Minh. Recommend to buy a bus ticket at trip.com safely instead of 12Go although price is higher. It’s convenient to move around city to city using bus since the airport is far. Ho Chi Minh, another name as Saigon, is the economical city. Cu Chi Tunnel strategy was interesting experience to know & actually see it, and Mekong River was fun. Ho Chi Minh is the city like other countries that it’s easy going around. Cars and bikes actually stop at red lights. It was more of a relief crossing over the street compared to other cities above.
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