Diterbitkeun: 26.11.2017
On 15/11, we made our way to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
Hanoi immediately captivated us with its chaotic charm.
Just two hours after our arrival, we met two Vietnamese locals, Huong and Tuê An, while eating at a street kitchen. They took us on a scooter tour of the city and showed us some amazing places.
After two nights, we took a bus to Cat Ba in the Ha Long Bay. We stumbled upon an old military base while visiting a viewpoint.
It felt like being in a movie scene. The old bunkers and tunnel systems are well-preserved and there are no barriers, you can explore everything yourself. It was incredibly mystical.
The next day, we took a small boat tour of the Ha Long Bay with a local. The nature is truly beautiful and we saw floating fishing villages. As the tour came to an end, we were dropped off on a Monkey Island. The cheeky, cute creatures had a lot of fun stealing from the beach visitors. We also climbed a mountain and had a fantastic view of the island.
Our next adventure was the train ride to Nha Trang - 24 hours in a 6-bed compartment. Here too, we met super friendly locals. Everyone in our compartment wanted to share their food with us and we were able to admire beautiful landscapes. However, we both now suffer from a slight train phobia as we chose the top bunks when booking and couldn't find any rest due to the air conditioning and the cramped space.
When we arrived in Nha Trang, we were initially a little disappointed because the place is full of hotels. We rented a scooter and explored the beautiful landscape on our way to Doc Let Beach.
At Doc Let Beach, we witnessed the terrible aftermath of the tsunami that hit the area a few weeks ago. We don't have words to describe it, please let the pictures speak for themselves.
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Our journey then took us to Mui Ne. Here, we visited a desert by the sea (White Dunes) and the Fairy Stream, where Sophie's leg briefly disappeared. Unfortunately, Eike didn't have the camera ready in time. We also enjoyed beautiful hours at the beach.
The last stop on our route was the Mekong Delta in Ben Tre. Once again, the country overwhelmed us with its incredible beauty. We took a tour on the Mekong, visited a coconut farm, and enjoyed a great meal in great company.
We explored the mainland of the Mekong Delta on our own with the scooter. It was beautiful and indescribable to see the jungle and its small villages with our own eyes. Banana trees and palm trees grow everywhere.
We would have liked to see more of this country, but the constant heavy rain in the Hoi An area thwarted our plans. However, this gives us a reason to come back soon.
Vietnam has left incredible impressions on us. The way of life, the friendliness of the people, and of course the overwhelming landscapes make it a definite highlight of our journey.