March 2020
Rough Draft: Vietnam
Our big trip of 2020 and our first trip to Southeast Asia – Vietnam!
Well it did not happen – Coronavirus apocalypse canceled it for us.
But I did all this work planning what I was hoping to be a perfect itinerary through Vietnam so I wanted to share it in case others are able to go. I am hopeful we will get to try this on out next year. For now, enjoy these beautiful photos from our Boston turned San Diego Sunshine friends who made it there just broke travel restrictions amped up in February – thank you Lauren and Ben for the pictures!
| Activity | Food | ||
| Day 1 | Morning | Land HCM | |
| Afternoon | Check into Airbnb
Tao Dan Park Binh Tay Market |
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| Evening | Saigon Food Tours | ||
| Day 2 | Morning | Mekong Delta | Pho Ngoc |
| Afternoon | Lunch on tour | ||
| Evening | Quan Anh Vu (bun cha) |
| Day 3 | Morning | War Remnants Museum
Notre Dame Cathedral / Post Office |
Nam Giao Restaurant |
| Afternoon | Independence palace
Ben Thanh Market |
Bánh Cuốn Bà Hanh (Banh Cuon) | |
| Evening | Bún thịt nướng – Nguyễn Trung Trực (bun thit nuong) |
| Day 4 | Morning | Flight HCM to Dalat | Little HaNoi Egg Coffee (Góc Hà Nội) |
| Afternoon | Check into Airbnb
Crazy House Xuan Huong Lake Lam Vien Square Cable Car |
Ms. Xi Noodle Shop (mi quang) (2-4PM) | |
| Evening | Nem Nướng Dũng Lộc (nim duong) | ||
| Night | Hanh Sua Viet Anh (soy milk) |
| Day 5 | Morning | Rent motorbike
Pongour Waterfalls Elephant falls (Thac Voi) Coffee plantation (La Viet Coffee / Me Linh Coffee) Flower Farm Coaster/Datanla falls Tuyen Lam Lake |
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| Afternoon | Nem Nướng Dũng Lộc (nim duong) | ||
| Evening | Tiem Mi Tau Cao (wonton soup) |
| Day 6 | Morning | Pho Tien (pho) | |
| Afternoon | Flight Dalat to Hanoi | Xoi Gia Truyen Ba Thu | |
| Evening | Check into Airbnb
Hoan Kiem Lake St Joseph’s Cathedral Train Station (1500 or 1900) |
Bún chả Hương Liên (bun cha) (Obama place) Bai Hoi (Beer) |
| Day 7 | Morning | Ninh Binh and Mua Cave | Cafe Giang/ Phở Thìn Bờ Hồ |
| Afternoon | Lunch on tour | ||
| Evening | Quan An Ngon | ||
| Night | Chapa Train departs at 2200 |
| Day 8 | Morning | Train arrive at 0605
Ethos Center check in 0800 |
Cộng Cafe |
| Afternoon | Sapa – Mountain Experience | Lunch on Tour | |
| Evening | Little Sapa restaurant | ||
| Night | Check into Airbnb |
| Day 9 | Morning | Ethos Center check in 0800 | Fansipan Terrace Cafe |
| Afternoon | Lunch on Tour | ||
| Evening | Dinner on Tour |
| Day 10 | Morning | Sapa – Ta Phin Homestay | Breakfast on Tour |
| Afternoon | Lunch on Tour | ||
| Evening | Bus to Train 1700 | Chapa Lounge | |
| Night | Chapa Train departs at 2140 |
| Day 11 | Morning | Arrive in Hanoi at 0530 | Pho Gia Truygen Bat Dan (Pho) |
| Afternoon | Halong Bay – Bai Tu Long Junk Boat | Food on Tour | |
| Day 12 | Morning | Halong Bay – Bai Tu Long Junk Boat | Food on Tour |
| Afternoon | |||
| Evening |
| Day 13 | Morning | Halong Bay – Bai Tu Long Junk Boat | Food on Tour |
| Afternoon | |||
| Evening | Arrive Hanoi at 1700 | ||
| Night | Check into Airbnb | Bahn Mi 25 (Bahn Mi)
Quán Gốc Đa (dumplings) |
| Day 14 | Morning | Hoa Lo Prison
Temple of Literature Train Street (1500 or 1900) |
Pho Thin (pho) |
| Afternoon | Quan An Hung Lau (bun cha) | ||
| Evening | Tran Quoc Pagoda / West Lake | Banh Cuon Gia Truygen Thanh Van (rice pancake- banh cuon) |
| Day 15 | Morning | Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (0730-1030) | Bánh Bao Quán Thánh (soy dumpling) |
| Afternoon | Flight Hanoi to HCM | Nhà Hàng Miến Lươn ĐÔNG THỊNH (eel noodle) | |
| Evening | Flight home |
If you have been to Vietnam, let me know what I missed and what your favorites are!
Don’t forget to check out all DESKRIB itineraries here!
