4th Country on My World Tour: Vietnam | Lanterns, Motorbikes, and Stunning Views
The fourth country on my world tour is a nation swirling with the 'heat' of Southeast Asia, Vietnam. Actually, the reason I decided to go to this country is incredibly simple,
I heard that a friend from university was coming to Da Nang for a business trip so I decided to go.
With a 'Well, I'll just head over there then' attitude, I clicked to buy my plane ticket.
As a result, Vietnam became one of my top 5 favorite countries during my world tour.
Da Nang, Hoi An, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay... they all had such distinct personalities and were so intense.
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Da Nang: World's #1 for traffic volume and ignoring rules
The first place I landed was Da Nang.
From the moment I left the airport, I was swallowed by a swarm of motorbikes and a storm of honking horns.
They honk every time they approach an intersection,
so it's really noisy.
And traffic lights are basically just for show.
Even at a red light, if there are no pedestrians,
they just keep charging through.
At first, I genuinely felt like my life was in danger.
Accommodation at an incredible price of 1,200 yen per night
I stayed at a place called Seahorse Tropical Da Nang Hotel, which was a surprising 1,200 yen per night. It was cheap but the room was clean. It was also close to My Khe Beach, so the location was great.
There is a pool on the roof that you can use for free.
The staff were all very kind, so I highly recommend it.
I used this place as a base for sightseeing.
The God's Hands and the Dragon Bridge
A must-see spot for Da Nang sightseeing is a theme park called Ba Na Hills, specifically the
Golden Bridge (God's Hands bridge).
The visual of the bridge being held up by two hands is very photogenic... but it was incredibly crowded.
I took the photo above with this camera! 🔻
I went to see the Dragon Bridge because it breathes fire at night, but what was even more shocking was that two male security guards on the bridge were holding hands. Isn't Vietnam just too free?
My first haircut abroad
Actually, I challenged myself to my first haircut of my world trip here.
It had been nearly a month since I started my world trip, after all.
I asked the manager of a restaurant near the beach,
"Where's a good hair salon?"
He called a young staff member from the back and had that person explain it to me.
I didn't mind who I asked, but to my surprise,
that person was bald.
I wanted to retort, "You don't even have any hair!" but I went to the shop they recommended anyway.
The price was about 600 yen. Since I was there, I asked for "the most popular hairstyle in Vietnam."
The result looks like this. Well, it's okay! I guess.
They even shampooed my hair after the cut. It was a bit rough, though, haha.
It was fun because I felt like I could blend into the country.
Climbing the Marble Mountains drenched in sweat
I also climbed the Marble Mountains.
Apparently, they are the inspiration for the mountains in Journey to the West.
There were so many stairs it took half a day.
Plus, it was so hot that my T-shirt was soaked like a waterfall.
But the view from the summit was truly breathtaking. It's the kind of thing you can only see if you make the climb.
Hoi An: A magical town wrapped in lanterns
A 40-minute taxi ride from Da Nang brings you to Hoi An.
This place completely blew me away.
It's an ancient city registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site,
where Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese cultures harmonize.
It's in my top 5 cities visited on this trip around the world.
The whole town is decorated with colorful lanterns, and everywhere you walk is one photogenic spot after another.
Every time I walked, I kept thinking, 'Wow, this is nice,' or 'No, this is even better.'
It's truly a magical town.
At night, there's a tradition of floating lanterns along the river, and travelers, couples, and families alike all light them with their own wishes.
It's the kind of space that makes you think, 'Ah, I'm so glad to be alive.'
By the way, I also successfully reunited with a college friend here.
I'm grateful for such a coincidence. You can visit Hoi An on a day trip from Da Nang.
Hanoi: Orderly Living Amidst the Chaos
Traveled from Da Nang to Hanoi by overnight train.
12Go I booked through the site, and it was a 2nd-class 4-person cabin.
It cost about 12,000 yen, but it was clean and comfortable, and I was able to make friends with other travelers in the same room.
My first overnight train since starting my world trip.
Flying quickly is nice, but
taking it slow and enjoying the scenery is also great.
Where I stayed in Hanoi and daily life
The hostel was Trang Tien Hostel. 900 yen a night for 4 nights. Too cheap.
But this city is, as expected, noisy.
Motorbikes, horns, touts, and the clattering sounds of street food stalls.
It's chaotic, but strangely, you get used to it.
During the day, I didn't have any specific plans and just strolled around the city as I pleased. Eating local food, popping into cafes, and feeling the breeze. It really feels like "I'm properly traveling now."
Ha Long Bay Tour: Truly a "Stunning View"
During my stay in Hanoi, I joined a one-day Ha Long Bay tour.
I booked it through Klook, the one with a Japanese-speaking guide.
Tour itinerary
In the morning, after being picked up in Hanoi city, we took a bus for several hours to Ha Long Bay.
There were bathroom breaks along the way, which was a relief.
Once we boarded the boat, it was truly like a scene from a movie.
I was overwhelmed by the unique landscape with rocks jutting out of the sea everywhere.
Lunch was served on board, and eating pho while gazing out at the sea was incredible.
After that, we went ashore to explore a limestone cave. It was incredibly spacious inside, and the lighting was beautiful.
Finally, we climbed a small hill to get a panoramic view of Ha Long Bay.
This was truly amazing. A 360-degree panorama of a landscape filled with rocky outcrops spread out before me, and I suddenly felt the reality of my journey, thinking, 'I'm really here now.'
Summary: Vietnam has an incredible 'intensity of travel'.
The heat of Da Nang, the kindness of Hoi An, the chaos of Hanoi, and the serenity of Ha Long Bay.
I was surprised by how much the 'flavor' of travel can change within just one country in Vietnam.
In reality, red lights are ignored, motorbikes are buzzing everywhere, and it's noisy. But because of that, the people, the scenery, and the food were all raw and energetic.
Next, I'm taking a night bus to Laos. But I think I will definitely return to Vietnam.
Thank you, you chaotic paradise of Asia.
*Next time: Continuing to 'Around the World Country 5: Laos' 🔻