New experiences in Vietnam

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They say that travel expands the mind, and my first trip to Southeast Asia has certainly proved this true! I’ve written up some of my favourite new experiences from each country, kicking off here with fascinating and tasty, Vietnam

 

For our belated honeymoon, my husband and I decided to opt for a mixture of adventure and relaxation. We settled on Southeast Asia as neither of us had visited the region and we looked forward to exploring it together. We started with Thailand in mind but expanded our plans to include Vietnam and Cambodia, opting for a “taster” of each country before diving deeper on future trips.

 

Taking time to observe the streets of Hanoi

 

The trip went so well! I was my best self. Back in cultural geographer mode, alert and observing the world around me, alive and eager to experience as much as possible. In Hanoi, I spent time standing at a road intersection watching people set up kitchens on the pavements, right next to thousands of scooters narrowly avoiding disaster, beeping their horns like submarines navigating by sounding. In Cambodia, I came face-to-face with amputees who had been the victims of landmine explosions and spent two days with a guide who’d narrowly survived a genocide. In Thailand I was moved to tears when finding myself in the thick of New Year’s Day “traffic” at Buddhist Temples, overwhelmed with gratitude to experience this part of life so different to mine. 

 

Here are some of my “firsts” from Vietnam.

First time in a Communist Country 

Vietnam’s modern history is a story of struggle and resilience: from exploitation under the colonial rule of France and Japan, division under different political ideologies backed by opposing global superpowers, to decades of war on domestic soil, before finally uniting as a Socialist Republic in 1976. This history is deeply woven into contemporary Vietnamese culture and daily life.

 

Ho Chi Minhaffectionately referred to as “Uncle Ho”…

One figure stands out in particular- Ho Chi Minh, affectionately referred to as “Uncle Ho.” A revolutionary leader who rose to prominence in the 1940s, Ho Chi Minh’s vision of national independence, inspired by Marxist-Leninist ideals, eventually led to a unified and independent Vietnam decades later. His legacy is tangible: his image graces currency, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City, and his life is immortalized in museums, preserved homes, and even his embalmed body at a grand mausoleum complex in Hanoi.

 

Uncle Ho lay perfectly preserved, wearing plain khaki clothing, his hair and beard immaculately combed…

Visiting the mausoleum was both surreal and moving. After queuing alongside thousands of visitors (the complex attracts over 15,000 visitors per week!), we passed through the military-run security, who ensured we were dressed modestly and behaved appropriately, and walked silently into the simple, marble-lined chamber. There, Uncle Ho lay perfectly preserved, wearing plain khaki clothing, his hair and beard immaculately combed. Despite his wish to be cremated, preserving his body in 1969 allowed future generations to pay their respects and act as an ongoing figurehead of national identity – a gesture reminiscent of Lenin’s mausoleum in Russia. I had never seen a dead body before and this was a powerful experience, respectfully presented.

 

The Ho Chi Minh Museum

 

The simplicity of Ho Chi Minh’s preserved stilt house, a traditional wooden structure similar to those we’d observed in towns and villages across Southeast Asia, further reflects his ethos of modesty and equality. The house has no kitchen or bathroom as he used the collective facilities alongside other government workers at the site, again, aligned with his and the nation’s collective values.

 

Ho Chi Minh’s house in his later years

 

This philosophy extended to Vietnam’s contemporary spiritual practices. We were told that most people are not religious, but instead “worship the culture”.  In temples, traditional deities have often been replaced with statues of historical figures embodying Party values like hard work, unity, and humility, and who are considered to have contributed to the country. These are “worshipped” similarly to Buddhist or Animist deities: brought offerings and asked to bestow good luck.  Even in spiritual spaces, the country’s collective identity comes across, blending practical political values with a “leap” of faith or superstition in wishing for favourable luck.

 

At the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, Confucius is “worshipped” instead of Buddha

 

First time bathing on boat

On a lighter note, we went on our first cruise on Hạ Long Bay, a gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of over 2,000 limestone islets in the South China Sea off the coast of Northern Vietnam. Hạ Long translates to “descending dragon” and the islands are thought to resemble scales along a dragon’s back as it dives into the water- very beautiful!

 

Bathtub with a view!

 

We shared a funny moment when another boat manoeuvred a little too close…

Cruising through Hạ Long Bay was magical – a honeymoon highlight! Our cabin had a private terrace, a four-poster bed, and an epic bathroom with a freestanding bath facing the ocean. As the ship glided past limestone islets glowing in the sunset, we soaked in the view- literally- bathing in warmth and wonder. We shared a funny moment when another boat manoeuvred a little too close, leaving us no choice but to smile, style it out, and wave at passengers enjoying wine on their balconies!

 

 

Good times! (that boat in the distance gets a LOT closer…)

First Tai Chi at Sunrise

I’m usually not the type of person to get up anytime close to sunrise. Staying up past sunrise, yes, but hauling myself out of bed at 6am isn’t my style! But when in Hạ Long Bay and the cruise puts on a Thai Chi class outside on the sundeck as the sun rises over the ocean and gorgeous islets, I had to try it. 

 

Sunrise over Ha Long Bay. Worth getting up very early for!

 

Yep, it was pretty magical! I enjoyed the Tai Chi practice, too, although obviously, I need much more practice to master the vocabulary and fluidity of the motions. Something to seek out back in London.

 

First time experiencing foot rowing at Tam Croc

We visited the Ninh Bình province, the location of the ancient capital of Vietnam on the Red River Delta. We toured various beautiful temples with our guide, climbed a full-on mountain (casual!), and enjoyed a boat trip with a difference in Tam Coc. Here, the sampan boat rowers use their feet and legs to propel the boats and take visitors on trips along the river. 

 

Our cheerful guide!

 

The pilots are extremely skilled, especially as the river runs through a series of caves (one is 60m long) with low-hanging stalagmites to navigate through, and the tours take around 90 minutes. The stroke is similar to a reverse froggy leg kick in swimming, and the professionals made it look smooth and easy. Our guide even kicked back to check his phone while rowing!

 

A special journey

 

This journey was a special element of our trip, travelling peacefully through the beautiful landscape with rice fields and water lilies flanking the river, and appreciating the scale of the mountains dipping down into the water (one of which we’d scaled that morning!). 

 

First time visiting a lotus farm

At a Ninh Bình lotus farm, I discovered the beauty and versatility of this iconic flower. They are large, pink blossoms floating serenely on pools, and they are significant to both cuisine and spiritual life across Southeast Asia.

 

Lotus farm from above with walkways through the water

 

I’d never seen one before, but we encountered them in some way on pretty much every day of the trip. Almost all parts of the plants are used, from spicy lotus stem salads, to lotus flower tea. While this is also popular in China and Korea, the Vietnamese version is traditionally a green tea flavoured with an infusion of lotus flowers.  We were served this tea sweetened and chilled as a refreshing treat. 

A beautiful lotus farm (not in flower during winter, but still very pretty!)

First time eating delicious new foods

Food became a window into culture on our trip- having pho for breakfast, snacking on tangy “o mai” apricots, and egg yolk coffee as a new indulgence!

 

Our first hotel treated us to a unique experience as we arrived: a welcome drink of lotus tea and a snack of “o mai, delicious sweet, salty, and sour dried apricots.  I love a dried apricot and a sour taste (Tangfastics are my Kryptonite), so combine these ideas and throw in some salt, and I’m in heaven! We picked up some from the airport to snack for the rest of our travels.

 

A famous Hanoi Pho restaurant with 2 Michelin nods!

 

My next adventure was eating something familiar but in a new way: pho for breakfast! I learned that this is traditionally eaten in the mornings, and we gave it a go several times on our trip. As we’d landed at around 5am on our first morning, we wandered around our local area and stumbled upon a Pho restaurant with Michelin nods in 2023 and 2024 – a good place to try this out for the first time! I found the rich beef broth extremely warming and nutritious, while still being relatively light thanks to the fresh herbs and the noodles (a less stodgy carb compared to Western bread and pastry). 

 

Delicious Pho! I added lots of chili and garlic

 

Sticking with the breakfast theme, we became addicted to egg yolk coffee!  A Hanoi invention, this coffee is served with whipped egg yolk, sugar, and condensed milk, formulated in response to a fresh milk shortage in the 1940s.  We also tried several other coffee drinks: coconut coffee with coconut milk and fresh coconut pieces, and mango coffee, which shouldn’t work, but it just did!

 

Egg yolk coffee. This was a “deconstructed” version – we had to do some research to work out how to put it together!


For dinner, there was a lot of “DIY” cuisine in northern Vietnam. We learned how to properly prepare different types of spring rolls during a cooking class on our cruise, and we often constructed the food we ate at restaurants from a delicious cornucopia of vegetables, sauces, and other ingredients (the serving staff were kind enough to give us tutorials!). For example, Bánh Xèo is a type of egg pancake that is shredded and wrapped in rice paper, along with delicious fresh herbs, then dipped in glorious sauces according to the your preferences.

 

A feast, including Bánh Xèo on the left and a wrap in progress on the plate…

 

I absolutely loved our short visit to Vietnam and have it on my “must go again and explore more fully” list! The culture and political history is fascinating, alongside the different religious traditions, and stunning natural beauty. The food was a real highlight and we treated ourselves to colourful feasts, brimming with vegetables and dripping with delicious sauces. Next time I’ll share some of my “firsts” in neighbouring Cambodia!

 

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Zoë

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