Five awesome things to do in Vietnam

Vietnam is a country that is quickly becoming a ‘must see’ tourist destination and it’s not surprising – there is so much to do and see here. It has emerged from French rule and the ‘American War’ and is changing at such a rapid rate that NOW is the time to visit. Having ventured to Vietnam twice in the past 12 months, hosting tours for Two’s a Crowd, here are five things that made Vietnam such a memorable destination for me.

Street Eats Tour in Ho Chi Minh City

If you’re one of those people that isn’t too sure about eating from street vendors, then this tour is for you. The street eats tour in Ho Chi Minh was included as part of our Two’s a Crowd solos trip to Vietnam. We dined out on Vietnamese pizzas, Pho and Pancakes. Fresh, fresh and fresh. The food was amazing. Highly recommended.

We’ve been back a couple of times and always do the Saigon Street Eats tour while we’re there, if not travelling with Two’s a Crowd. Trust us when we say this tour is amazing.

If you do one thing in Ho Chi Minh, let it be this. And do it on the back of the motorbikes if you can, it’s the best way to see Ho Chi Minh. Trust us, everyone we have recommended this tour to has said it was their highlight.

Explore the Markets in Old Town Hoi An

Central Market is your usual Southeast Asian Market, in that it has everything you might want, even a food court (of sorts). Except maybe fresh fish. If you need that head to the Market on the bank of Thu Bon River, it’s right next door. If, after all your shopping and bargaining, you are a little tired, head to Phan Boi Chau for some coffee and people watching. Try the little cafe right opposite the Hoang Dieu bridge for a traditional Vietnamese coffee or wander a little further down to Mia Coffee and grab a latte or Macchiato.

Take a short river cruise at Sunset in Hoi An

For somewhere between 40,000 and 80,000 dong (depending on your bargaining skills) you can take a 30-minute boat ride on the Thu Bon River. It’s a nice way to take in the lights of the old town and gives struggling locals a little helping hand. I like to get on a boat and chat to the locals – taking photographs every inch of the way.

Take a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake at night

The lake in Hanoi is beautiful enough during the day but at night it really comes to life. Thousands of lights reflecting off the still waters give it an almost magical feel. If it’s not too busy, take a moment to enjoy the tranquillity of Ngoc Son Temple across the red bridge and learn about the legend of the Turtle and the sword.

Wander the old town of Hanoi

During the day many of the little alleyways are chocked full of shops and stalls selling just about anything. There are plenty of restaurants and bars that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner or well into the evening. And of course, it’s a great chance to do some people watching.

Read more about our adventures in Vietnam here.

Fast Facts

We travelled in 2016 and 2017 and again in 2023.

We were there for 10 days.

Was it long enough? There is so much to see and do in Vietnam you can always spend more time here.

Highlights: The food!

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