Vietnam Trip: 9 Days of Adventure Across the Country

We were 3 friends who randomly decided one day to visit Vietnam after seeing its natural beauty. We were pretty much tired from our work life and needed a break. We went in the third week of November, and what an incredible journey it turned out to be.

Day 1: From New Delhi to Hanoi

Our flight was at 11 PM to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, and thank god we booked Vietnamese Airlines. We reached Delhi Airport T3 around 7 PM itself, expecting a long queue at immigration, but it took only 20 minutes. Went straight to the international lounge, and to be honest, it was a complete disappointment. Maybe in the future, we'll go for the business lounge instead.

Vietnamese Airlines is famous for its luxury and comfort, and they lived up to the reputation. We got everything: pillow, blanket, a good meal, a good drink (the red wine was awesome), and a final coffee. The 4 hours just went by without us realizing it.

We landed in Vietnam around 5 AM local time. And the worst of all? The immigration line there. Worst and worst and worst! It took us 1.5 freaking hours to pass through that line. OMG, if we were in business class, this could also have been skipped.

Finally exited the airport at 6:30 AM, went to money exchange, got some local currency, a SIM card, and a cab, and headed to our hotel. Good experience overall.

We reached our hotel at 8 AM, kept the luggage, and went straight out to explore the Old Quarter. It was a pleasant experience, roaming there. We got our breakfast, and I grabbed a quick iced chocolate while walking around the Old Quarter temple and lake. What an experience it was, an awesome one. We visited temples, some street places, and museums, and came back to our hotel around 12 PM.

We checked into our room and went for a massage therapy straightaway. A good full-body massage is just what you need when most of your time goes sitting in one position. Came back, took a shower, had lunch, and rested for some time. Around 7 PM, we went out to the famous Train Street, had some snacks, and watched the train go by just 5 meters apart while having a drink. Not the nicest experience, but definitely a different one.

Next, we went to the Old Quarter nightlife and had some food. Just walking in that area itself is therapy. People dancing and enjoying their time in the city. WOWOWWW!

Anyways, we were back in the room by midnight, as we had our cruise the next day.

Day 2: Hanoi to Halong Bay

Woke up at 7 AM, took a shower, and got our breakfast. Although options were limited for vegetarians, it was still decent. Around 8 AM, our cruise limousine came to pick us up, and it was a damn comfortable ride. Massages at each seat and complimentary water and snacks. We reached our cruise in about 2 hours. It was at least 70km outside the city. Good ride, I would say! Good views and stuff.

Finally reached our cruise lounge, had a drink, and when the call for us came, we went through a mini boat to our grand cruise ship. Oh man, what a beauty it was. It had literally everything in it. And the view from our room was just awesome. You are in the middle of Halong Bay, surrounded by mountains and ocean. Out of your room is just heaven.

We had our lunch and then went to the middle of Halong Bay, where we could do kayaking. As it is a World Heritage Site, you can expect the place to be just straight out of dreams. We did kayaking for around 2 hours, going through caves and seeing the beauty that place holds.

Came back to our ship around 5 PM and went for our evening drinks and activities, where they teach you to cook seafood and stuff. I just enjoyed my drink while my friends participated in that. Just lying at the top of the ship while looking at a clear starry sky in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by mountains, is just something you can't feel anywhere else on the planet.

We had a candlelight pineapple dinner, I guess that's what they call it. Again, an awesome experience. The staff was very helpful and professional. Done for the day, went to sleep.

Day 3: Halong Bay to Da Nang

Woke up for our last activity on the cruise. We went to Monkey Island around 7 AM for exploring caves. Indeed, the caves were beautiful, nestled between forests and mountains. An awesome morning walk.

Came back for breakfast around 9 AM. Had our breakfast, clicked some last pics on the cruise, and went back to the mainland. We returned to Hanoi by noon, had some rest, and went straight to the airport around 4 PM. We had our flight to Da Nang at 7 PM.

We booked the rest of our trip flights with Vietjet, which I kind of don't like. It was a little bit cheaper than Vietnamese Airlines, but comfort was the last thing in that flight. Although it was just a 2-hour flight. Reached Da Nang around 9 PM, checked in, and got our dinner at our hotel around 10 PM. Done for the day.

Day 4: Bana Hills & French Village

Went straight to Bana Hills & French Village early morning. The place is just magical. It is around 1 hour away from the city, but the most worthy thing to do in Da Nang. I can go there again anytime. Just BEAUTIFUL!

The place is a whole fairytale-like thing built on top of the mountains, with fog all around and French-style hotels, homes, restaurants, and a fairytale world around you. IN YOUR LIFE, JUST VISIT THIS PLACE ONCE.

It has only one hotel at the top, owned by Accor. That's the only way you can roam this place at night; otherwise, everyone has to get down by 6 PM. It has mini trains, cable cars, a castle, good food, the Golden Bridge, flower gardens, incredible architecture, an alpine coaster, literally everything. This place is divided into several worlds: Sun World, Moon World, and more. Just don't miss anything, and do stay there at night.

Day 5: Da Nang City

We checked out from Mercure French Village and just had one last look at the place before finally coming down from the hills. We came to our beachfront hotel in the city, and it was an awesome place, I would say.

Went cave hopping and got some really, really awesome pics and city views from the top. Finally, it was evening, and we spent at least 4-5 hours on the beach, roaming around, having snacks and drinks in cafes with direct beach views. One of my life's best experiences. We played volleyball and enjoyed the tides. Around 11 PM, we had our dinner and called it a day.

Day 6: Da Nang to Phu Quoc

We had an early morning flight to Phu Quoc. Again Vietjet, so yeah... Landed at the island around 10 AM and reached the hotel by 11 AM. Went straight to the private beach, as this is the reason we booked this one. Although this one was expensive, it had everything: a bar at the swimming pool and later at the beach, with the whole hotel's restaurant dedicated to it. So just chilled out, a very good experience.

After that, we went to our room. As we booked a 2-bedroom suite, it was just grand and had a huge viewpoint and balcony as well. LUXURY DEFINED. And yeah, this one was an Accor hotel too. I love Accor and have been a loyal member for a long time.

After that, we had our lunch and got ready to go to Sunset Town. A good place, I would say, for the evening, just having the vibes and views. We had our tickets booked for the Kiss of the Sea show. Although our resort provided us with free business tickets, so again, yeah... What a show! Water, fire, and visuals were just awesome. From ABBA to 70s classics, they had everything. Came back around 10 PM, had our dinner, and again called it a day.

Day 7: Hon Thom Island

We went to Hon Thom Island. This has the longest overwater cable car on Earth right now. It is around 3 km long, from Phu Quoc Island to Hon Thom Island. A good island for an amusement park and water park.

Please always get an express pass. I always do. If I am on holidays, I am never in the mood to get into a line. We enjoyed water rides, roller coasters, and mango dishes there. Yeah, this island has tons and tons of mango dishes: sweet, cold, hot, everything.

We got back by 6 PM, as we had our spa booked. It was a 2-hour spa, and I can say, anyone working on desk jobs, get a full-body massage every 1 or 2 months. It is really good and healthy for you. It will help both your body and mind a lot.

Had some drinks and dinner at the beachside restaurant while they were doing live music and singing classic 90s songs. A lovely experience.

Day 8: Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh

Had our breakfast. Obviously, Accor will offer at least 100+ varieties every morning. Then we took a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. We checked in to our hotel around 12 PM.

After that, we were just roaming the city, went through some souvenir shopping, and had some good food. The city looks absolutely beautiful at night. We had some awesome desserts and got more souvenirs for friends and family.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh to New Delhi

In the morning, we skipped breakfast at the hotel, as we decided to go to the famous Cafe Apartment, which has more than 30 cafes in a single apartment, and we got some snacks and food there. Food was good, and views were even better.

Finally, it was 1 PM, and it was time to leave the country and go back home. Took a cab to the airport. To be honest, the airport ending is not good. The lines are really long, and the same for immigration. If possible, get a business class ticket while going back from Ho Chi Minh, or even skip the city.

Landed in New Delhi around 11 PM at night and was home by 12:30 AM.

Final Thoughts

Vietnam exceeded all our expectations. From the stunning Halong Bay to the magical Bana Hills, from pristine beaches in Phu Quoc to the vibrant streets of Hanoi, every moment was worth it. This trip was exactly what we needed to break away from our routine work life.

The natural beauty, rich culture, amazing food (even for vegetarians!), and warm hospitality made this journey unforgettable. Vietnam is definitely a country I'd love to visit again.

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