Circuit Les Merveilles du Vietnam

We spent our first night in a five-star hotel in Hanoi city centre. The welcome dinner in a local restaurant was excellent. We then met the two faces of Hanoi: on the one hand, the crowded traffic-filled bustle and urgency of a modern city and on the other, the timeless serenity of ancient pagodas and temples. We visited One Pillar Pagoda, the Dong Xuan market and some wonderful ancient temples. A cycle rickshaw tour and a visit to the 6th century Tran Quoc Pagoda rounded off our day, and then, tired but thrilled, we returned to our second night in the Hanoi hotel.


On our third day, a long drive was rewarded as we found ourselves in a junk (traditional Chinese sailing ship), gliding over the waters of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay. It was truly breath-taking: eerie and magical, with the strange alien shapes of the rocks jutting out of the misty waters. A blissful afternoon spent swimming in the clear water and visiting impossibly beautiful caves was followed by dinner on board and a very deep sleep. And then the sunrise over the bay, seeing it at its most ethereal and magical was an unforgettable experience of pure natural beauty. 


Our next few days were an experience of different worlds. We had a chance to cycle through rice fields in Hoa Lu, we cruised on a traditional boat through the magical landscape of Thung Nham, an area of astonishing limestone caves and strange mountain peaks. On day 6 in the beautiful town of Hoi An, we took a boat along the lantern-lit Thu Bon River – another magical voyage!  Onward to the imperial city of Hue, with its ancient culture and astounding historical structures. We felt really fortunate to have a taste of the culture and art of these cities, as well as the delicate cuisine, which we never tired of. That night in Hue we were back in the lap of five-star luxury before flying to Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon) the next day.


We spent two days in the ‘Pearl of the Far East’ on a historical journey. The most populous city of Vietnam shows its history of French colonial past, Chinese immigration and the long struggle for independence. We visited Chinatown, centred on the Cho Lon market, and the French colonial quarters. Most poignant for people of our generation are the underground tunnels of the Cu Chi network created as hiding places during the Indochina and Vietnam wars. It was well worth while for the insight into recent history.


Our final two days in the Mekong Delta revealed another facet of Vietnam: the reality of rural life and work in the Mekong Delta. Touring by boat, bike and tuk-tuk, we saw the hand making of bricks, coconut processing, a rice husking mill, and were delighted with the hospitality and friendliness of everyone we met. Yet another highlight was the floating market of Cai Rang: the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta, and a rich potpourri of colourful sights, sounds and aromas of spices.

We will treasure our memories of Vietnam, its rich culture and artefacts and wealth of natural beauty, always. Thank you VeryChic for organising what we could not have done on our own!