Was my Vietnam trip worth it?

Answering that question is tough.

Let’s start with what happened in Vietnam.

It began with something really basic – I was getting bored with life. You might think I’m crazy (it’s okay if you do), but life was becoming too easy for me. I had a good job in a nice company, a great boss, and cool coworkers. The office was just 2 kilometers from my home, and we worked well together. But something was missing – the kind of challenges I really enjoy. I was tired of the same old routine: wake up, get ready for work, go to the office, work all day, come home, rest, and then do it all over again. I was getting too used to it, which is something I’m always afraid of. I’m not very productive when I’m too comfortable.

So, I needed a change. To make that happen, I took a big step I never thought I’d be brave enough for – I quit my full-time job to backpack through Vietnam. The whole plan and how things worked out is a story for another time – I’m going to write about it in detail in my book, where you’ll find all the information you need about Vietnam from my personal perspective.

I spent 84 days in Vietnam, which might sound like a lot, but honestly, I wished for more. During those 84 days, I tried to step out of my comfort zone whenever I could. In this blog, I’ll just highlight the main experiences and won’t dive into all the details – this blog could easily turn into a huge book.

Right after arriving in Saigon (also known as Ho Chi Minh City), the first thing I did was stay with a local. It turned out to be a great advantage, and I consider myself really lucky for that chance. I used CouchSurfing (with awesome help from Miss Mai – her real name is Mai Hương, but I prefer Miss Mai). I stayed with Hoàng Nguyễn and his wonderful family, and got a firsthand taste of Vietnam’s culture – amazing food and incredible hospitality.

On the day I arrived, I met up with Anastasia, Thanh, and the Totbrand team. I was there to assist with photography for a workshop they were hosting. The event was fantastic, and I had a wonderful time capturing moments. Here’s a sneak peek of the event and the amazing team behind it:

On that same day, I decided to visit Daisy baa, my sister’s childhood friend, who happened to be in Vung Tau, a serene city in Vietnam, along with her husband, Kunal da. It turned out to be an excellent choice as the city’s peaceful ambiance and beautiful beach were truly refreshing. The contrast in population between Vung Tau and HCMC, just a few hours’ drive away, was quite striking.

During that period, I received an invitation from Miss Mai to participate in a Charity Event at a small school in Tây Ninh province. The experience was truly delightful as I had the opportunity to spend an entire day with children. Despite the language barrier, we managed to connect through universal languages like smiles, music, and dance. It was indeed a fantastic and fulfilling day.

In the midst of enjoying delicious meals at my host’s place, I also had the opportunity to visit the Củ Chi Tunnels alongside Miss Mai, who served as both my main tour guide and an incredible companion during my time in HCMC. I had the chance to venture into the tunnels just like the soldiers did during the Vietnam War. Exploring the tunnels gave me a profound insight into the soldiers’ daily lives and how they navigated through those challenging times. It was a truly enlightening and memorable experience.

The Củ Chi Tunnels, located near Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, are an intricate network of underground passages that played a significant role during the Vietnam War. These tunnels served as hiding spots, supply routes, communication channels, and living quarters for the Viet Cong soldiers. Exploring the tunnels provides a unique glimpse into the harsh conditions and ingenious strategies employed by the soldiers during the war. Today, the Cu Chi Tunnels stand as a historical site and a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of the Vietnamese people.

After a few days, I explored the entire city, uncovering its hidden corners and diving into Vietnamese culture. Along the way, I forged new friendships, gaining an extensive insight into their customs. I adapted to local eating habits and struggled with the nuances of the language. Vietnamese was unlike any other language I’d encountered; its tones carried meaning. Saying the same word with a different tone could change its interpretation entirely.

Da Lat was my next destination – a hill station with a pleasant climate and friendly locals. Despite various adventures there (like I didnt have a place for stay for 2 nights), I’ll save those stories for another time, I had an amazing time there. My initial plan was to stay for two days, but I ended up extending my visit to over two weeks because I cherished the people, especially the hostel owner at Dalat Note Hostel. He taught me about the Tet festival – the Lunar New Year celebration – which coincidentally occurred during my stay. I got to meet his family, savor festive foods, and had a truly enjoyable time.

Then came Đà Nẵng, a true highlight of my entire journey. My stay there extended for a whole month, during which I had a unique role – teaching. Here’s how it unfolded: I connected with Đô Đô, thanks to a mutual friend. He runs an English center that offers free accommodation to foreigners in exchange for our help in guiding his students through English conversations and pronunciation practice. Each class involved spending about an hour whenever needed. This innovative approach allows students to practice English with travelers like us, granting them fresh insights into traveling, other countries, and diverse cultures. This concept, which is quite widespread across Vietnam, particularly in major cities, is a remarkably ingenious way of teaching.

The classes were a blast, covering a wide array of subjects like music, relationships, and food. The topics could be anything, as long as the students had the chance to express themselves in English. These sessions connected me with over 100 students, giving me deeper insights into Vietnamese culture and its people – a golden opportunity indeed. The students and I shared coffee outings, played together at the university, enjoyed meals, and the best part – they guided me around Đà Nẵng. This city showered me with friendships, travel experiences, and invaluable learning.

During that period, a remarkable opportunity presented itself: participating in an open mic event. I summoned my courage to sing in front of an international audience, performing both a Hindi and an Assamese song. This was a significant moment for me, as I had rarely sung in public before, apart from those childhood school functions.

Here is a glimpse of it: the video.

I had the chance to join two camping trips to two secluded beaches with Đô Đô, an amazing organizer. These beaches were so hidden that they were solely ours – just for our group. With around 20 participants, a mix of foreigners, students, and Đô Đô himself, both camping experiences were a blast. We enjoyed food, music, dancing, and plenty of wood for fires. It marked the first and second times I ever slept on a beach, right under the open sky, with the soothing sound of crashing waves just 50 meters away. It was an unforgettable adventure that I would eagerly repeat if given the opportunity.

During my time in Da Nang, I also had the opportunity to visit the enchanting cities of Huế and Hội An. These cities left me truly impressed with their allure and uniqueness. Wow!

Huế is a captivating city for those who are fascinated by ancient culture and architecture. It served as the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors, boasting prominent attractions such as the 19th-century Đại Nội Citadel. This complex includes the Imperial City with its palaces and shrines, the Forbidden Purple City (Tử cấm thành), which was once the emperor’s residence, and a replica of the Royal Theatre.

I went on the Hội An trip with Persi, right after we had a class at Đô Đô‘s. Just an hour’s drive from Đà Nẵng, Hội An is an ancient city with a blend of eras and cultures. It features wooden Chinese shophouses, temples, vibrant French colonial buildings, intricate Vietnamese tube houses, and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda. The distinct character of Hội An is beautifully illustrated by the streets adorned with lanterns everywhere.

Fast forward a few weeks, and I found myself in the intriguing city of Vinh. Vinh is a modest city with limited tourist attractions, to be honest. Its appeal draws fewer travelers, yet it stood out as one of the main highlights of my entire journey.

Skipping the details of this trip, here are the highlights: I stayed at Vien Quang Pagoda in Nghệ An province, interacted with monks, practiced Phật Quang Quyền with them, and exchanged Muay Thai knowledge. I cooked alongside the people at the pagoda, learned breathing techniques from an 80-year-old kind lady, formed countless friendships, and received an abundance of love and care. At one point, I questioned whether I truly deserved such affection. I was even invited to another pagoda by friends I made there. I felt like a celebrity when 10-20 people queued up to take pictures with me, while others stood in front, eager for photos. Woah! It was truly wonderful 🙂

Let the pictures speak for itself –

It was only 4 days in Nghệ An province, but it was truly wonderful. Really!!! The next time I’m in Vietnam, visiting this place is something I definitely won’t miss.

The next and lengthy stop was Hanoi. Initially, after visiting Vinh and Đà Nẵng, Hanoi didn’t capture my interest right away. However, it eventually grew on me quite strongly. I began with Couchsurfing, staying with Aman, a senior game designer from India – a fantastic person. Later, I resided at Homestay Prime, where I contributed English help in exchange for free lodging and lunch. I formed friendships with Raul, JoJo, Alex, and more (apologies for not mentioning everyone, but you’re all in my heart). And oh, the students – I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful they all were. Wow! I had an amazing time teaching them, engaging in long music sessions, devouring bánh mì and nem nướng, indulging in plenty of midnight ice creams, befriending birds, and so much more. In the midst of this, Alba, the Spanish girl (Alba – you’ll appreciate the joke here) and I ventured to Cát Bà Islands, opting for it over Hạ Long Bay. We hitchhiked (thanks to her), even spent a night in a hospital waiting room due to lack of accommodations, strolled for hours, explored the entire island, and met Piotr, the Polish traveler who crossed oceans – ocean hitchhiking (Update: Piotr visited us in 2023 at stayed for a week with his friend Wiki).

Eventually, we returned to Hanoi.

After some weeks, it was time for me to leave. The journey came to an end.

So coming back to the main question – Was my Vietnam trip worth it?

You be the judge!

Feel free to drop your comments down below or contact me for any further information about Vietnam.

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Your Friendly Neighbourhood Traveller