One Month Family Trip to Vietnam

• We stayed at Riverside Serviced Apartments in District 2. It was about a half hour commute into District 1 where most attractions are. They offer free water shuttle into town, free laundry machines available, pool and small playground.
• I would recommend staying somewhere in District 1 to be closer to attractions.

• Bên Thanh Day and Night Market - A large market with everything you can think of, from textiles, to food stalls, to groceries, to souvenirs, etc. Definitely a fun place to explore, try new food/snacks, laugh at punny Vietnamese shirts, and get souvenirs. Cost: Free to walk.
• Cu Chi Tunnel tour - Purchased through Klook (about 2-3hr drive from district 1, which was included in the tour). Great activity for the entire family to learn about countries war history. Cost $72 for our family.
• Water Puppet Show - Despite being entirely in Vietnamese, my family still enjoyed it. This was a fun cultural performance to watch. Cost $55 for our family.
• Suoi Tien Theme Park - A mix of cultural and carnival style attractions. After spending a day here, we were not thrilled about the experience. There was a fun indoor snow tubing experience that was fun for a bit and also a crocodile fishing/feeding area that was interesting at most. There was a Harry Potter castle that looked amazing from the outside. My daughter is a huge fan, so we paid extra to enter, only to be terribly disappointed. It was a dark maze of loud, wanna be scary displays on repeat. It was horrible.  It was located in district 9, about 45 mins from district 1. They did have a waterpark/wave pool that looked very crowded, which we didn't go to. Even though, it was affordable, I would not recommend it unless you have extra time on your hands and need a place to entertain the kids for a few hours. Costs $45 for our family.
• Nguyen Hue street - A walking street with talented street performers playing music instruments, singing, break dancing, and even rapping. Cost: Free to walk.
• War Remnants Museum - Included military vehicles outside and photographs inside, many of which were very graphic. It was a bit too graphic for my kids in some exhibits. Costs $2/adult, $1/child 6-16, free for kids under 6.
• Com Tam Moc - We enjoyed this restaurant with traditional Vietnamese food.
• Malls - Many of which have huge arcades and activities for kids like rock climbing walls. These are great opportunities to get a break from the heat, walk in AC and use clean bathrooms facilities.

	Riverside Serviced Apartments in District 2 (nice, but a bit far to commute daily)
	Cu Chi Tunnels

Dalat

Overall, I loved Dalat for its lush green mountains and quaint town feel.

Linh Phuoc Pagoda	Datanla Waterfall
	Mongoland

Can Tho

Going to Cantho, Vietnam, where my family’s ancestry is rooted, has been heartwarming and humbling.

Accommodations:

• We stayed at my cousins house with my family. It was a treat for us all to be together in one home.

Our Adventures Included:

• Passing out rice and supplies to local villages, by boat.
• Strolled through Ben Ninh Kieu. Enjoyed the night market food and souvenir shopping.
• Christmas Eve dinner cruise (celebrated my mom’s birthday on board)
• Paying respects to my late grandparents and elders.
  
• Pampering myself (gel manicure for $5, 50 min shampoo/facial for $7, 2hr massage $20)
• Motorbike rides
• Visit to My Khanh Tourism Village - watched the monkeys perform.
• Boat ride on the Mekong River to experience the floating market.

Bringing my husband and kids to Cantho to meet and be with my family was incredibly meaningful and special to me.

Mekong Delta Floating Market
Downtown Ben Ninh Kieu	Christmas River Cruise

 

Da Nang

I’m so glad we spent the longest stretch of our trip in Da Nang, Vietnam. It was both relaxing and fun. We stayed minutes away from the gorgeous beaches that stretched for miles. I especially loved the mild temps and the slower tourist season.

Accommodations:

• We stayed at White Sand Boutique Hotel. Includes an indoor pool and breakfast was great (large spread of Vietnamese food).

Our Adventures Included:

• Connecting with another family from the worldschool community for lunch and pool time.
• Treating ourselves to foot massages and body massages for $8/hr, which included hot tea and fresh mango before and fresh fruit smoothies/juices after. Ngoc Linh Spa was our favorite.
• Relaxing at My Khe beach
• Exploring the Son Tra night market (there is a fun little spot next to the market that has mini electric scooter/go carts)
• Seeing the dragon bridge Fire and Water show
• Visited Linh Ung Pagoda on the Son Tra Peninsula, home to the tallest lady Buddha statue in Vietnam.
• Explored the Marble mountains, five marble and limestone mountains, named after the five elements: Kim (metal), Thủy (water), Mộc (wood), Hỏa (fire) and Thổ (earth). Temples have been carved inside the mountain and accessible through caves and tunnels throughout the mountains.
• Went on the longest cable car in the world up the mountain to Ba Na Hills to the iconic and majestic golden bridge held up by large hand.
• Enjoyed Sunworld theme park with 4/5D rides
• Indulged in lobster dinners for $8 at the Son Tra night market..
• Acted silly in a 3D art in paradise museum.
• Surprised the kids with Le Petit Chef at the Hyatt Regency. A 5 course meal prepared by a 6cm tall chef.
• Played at the Mikazuki Waterpark and soaked in the Japanese hot baths and saunas.
  
• Tried some delicious new Vietnamese food and indulged in some of my favorite dishes.

Thanks for the amazing memories, Da Nang. Next stop, Hoi An, Vietnam!

Dragon Bridge	Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills
Le Petit Chef	My Khe Beach

Hoi An

Lit up by lanterns, Hoi An was the sweetest, most charming little town we visited in Vietnam.

Accommodations:

We stayed in this connecting room at the Night Market Villa. Accommodations where nice and staff was excellent. Walking distance to downtown Hoi An.

Our Adventures Included:

• Nearby out hotel, we had the best family dinner of Banh Cuon Thit Nuong for less than $9 at Miss Anh's Banh Xeo.
• Walking thru the lantern filled, bustling and beautiful, romantic downtown.
• Practiced our bargaining skills at the night market and local shop.
• Explored the town on bicycles, riding past rice fields and water buffalo.
• Had some amazing Banh Mi sandwiches for just over $1 each. Banh Mi Sum & Madame Khanh
• Searched for sand dollars at An Bang beach. Ordered food and dined on the beach.
• Tried Vietnamese coconut coffee for the first time at Cong Caphe.
• Learned how to make silk lanterns at a local workshop.
• Went to a darling teahouse, Reaching Out Teahouse, that was managed solely by the hearing impaired and sketched in our journal
• Rode in a coconut basket boat through the coconut forest and fished for crabs.
• Took a cooking class and made some delicious egg rolls (chả giò), green papaya salad (gió du du), clay pot fish (ca kho to), and crepe/pancake (banh xeo)
• We used Cam Thanh Family Tours for the coconut basket boat and cooking class tour - all in one day.
• Had the ultimate 2 hr spa treatment (body massage, facial, shampoo) for $20. My favorite spot was Muoi Bien Spa.
• Visited the Japanese Bridge but unfortunately it was under reconstruction.
• Strolled through ancient Hoi An and enjoyed the many art studios

Hoi An was one of my favorite cities we visited while in Vietnam. Next stop, back to Can Tho to celebrate the Lunar New Year with my family.

Coconut Basket Ride	Downtown Hoi An
Cooking Class	An Bang Beach

Back to Can Tho

What a treat it was to celebrate Tet in my family’s hometown of Can Tho, Vietnam.CHÚC MỪNG NĂM MỚI

Accommodations:

• We stayed at the gorgeous Resort Cồn Khương Cần Thơ - The grounds are beautiful and picturesque, especially during Lunar New Year. The breakfast was delicious with large spread of Vietnamese food.

Our adventures included:

• Eating fresh fruit and lunar new year treats.
• Relaxed, poolside
• Had a delicious Tet dinner at Lua Nep along the water. Food was great.
• Within walking distance from Lua Nep, there was a place for racing go karts which was so fun. Felt like a mini version of the organized chaos that is in the streets of Vietnam.

That completes our whirlwind two months of travel in Vietnam and the Philippines! Read about our month of travel in the Philippines.

There were…

moments that were tough

moments of pure bliss

moments of awe

moments of fear (of crossing the streets in Vietnam)

moments of utter chaos

moments of belly aching (from a bug or a laugh)

moments of discomfort (from bed bugs and mosquito bites)

moments of homesickness

moments of magic and wonder

I am so grateful we had this opportunity to explore and create lasting memories with my family. What an unforgettable trip of a lifetime.