My image of Vietnam years ago was shaped by the cinema films and news items of the past. To be honest, it was difficult to form a picture of contemporary Vietnam. Time for a new experience!
From Schiphol with KLM to Singapore is a relaxed flight and well taken care of. Arriving at your destination in the morning will give you a very first day. One of the southern islands under Singapore is Sentosa Island where I stay overnight at Capella Hotels & Resorts. Beautiful location in nature and yet close to the city centre. Enjoy during dinner at the Knolls Restaurant, the atmosphere is complete.
After Singapore, the journey continues towards Hanoi. To get a good idea of life outside the city, we opt for a bike ride along the Red River. Cycling through the narrow streets of Bac Bien I get the chance to take beautiful pictures and taste the atmosphere of the countryside. We cross the Duong River with a local
Ferry. Along the way, we’ll have another cup of Vietnamese tea with a local family who have displayed bonsai trees in their garden that vary in form and spiritual significance.
Vietnamese icing on the cake
As the icing on the cake, I was allowed to watch a Vietnamese ceremony called Len Dong. Beautiful clothes and a live band, a very special experience. The medium that led this ceremony was an imposing appearance with his dance moves and his ability to take the audience into a trance.
The evening we end with a culinary city tour and a walk through Old Quarter. Here are enough seats, bars, eateries and hustle and bustle on the street to enjoy an unforgettable evening.
The next day after an early breakfast by going to Hoa Lu. There you will find the ruins and tombs of the former citadel. During the walk we are treated to spectacular views of the surroundings of Hoa Lu.
We continue our way by vehicle through beautiful landscapes and local villages to Tam Coc River. Here I take a trip across the river with a private sampan. The Trang An nature reserve is beautiful and soothing, with a trip along the karst mountains and through the caves this is an absolute must. The many colours of green form an imposing landscape. After an overnight stay in the beautiful Tam Coc Garden, the journey continues over the water this time.
Just enough
Upon arrival at the port of Halong Bay I board the Paradise Elegance for a three-day cruise. Anchored at Coconut Tree Island in the evening and during the day there’s time to kayak to the Sung Sot Cave and take a dip in the water.
A sundowner on the upper deck and the beautiful surroundings make this a valuable experience despite the tourist character of this destination. The kitchen is good, as are the drinks and spa treatments on board. In the morning Tai Chi at the L’Odyssée Sundeck followed by a light breakfast at Le Piano Bar and the day has started well again.
Two nights are just enough to experience the surroundings of Halong Bay and the Dau Go Caves. After arriving in Halong Bay it is the turn of Ho Chi Minh (Saigon). The transfer with Vietnam Airlines runs smoothly and with a road transfer through the streets of Saigon I arrive at Hotel des Art. A beautiful hotel within walking distance of the centre.
Scooter Paradise
The next morning it is confirmed again, Saigon is ‘Scooter Paradise’. I too go through the city with a Vespa accompanied by a local guide. Passing the ‘Bird Lovers Club’ where locals listen to the singing of the caged birds while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee. Past the monument of the Vietnamese monk who burned himself in 1963 in protest against the persecution of Buddhists. Then a walk through the flower market Ho Thi Ky. Through China Town and the Nhi Phu Temple I return to Hotel des Art for an excellent lunch.
Afternoon with a private guide to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Impressive to see up close what happened here. The tunnels, the method and the hardships appeal to the imagination.
Early the next day towards Ben Tre,a small town on the Mekong Delta and known for its fruit orchards. With a rickshaw we drive past rice paddies and coconut plantations toCa Ro Dyke. Here I visit a family that makes incense sticks and sells them to temples and local houses where one comes to worship both Buddha and their ancestors. Back with a sampan over Coco River and a lunch with the specialties of the Mekong Delta as a finishing touch for my visit to Vietnam. On to Cambodia.
Siem Reap has grown tremendously in recent years and that is noticeable. It lives and bustles and there is of course a lot to see in the area. From my hotel Shinta Mani Angkor everything is accessible on the run. The next day there is a bike ride on the program and I notice how nice it is to experience everything even more intensely. In the days that follow I visit by vehicle Angkor Wat Temple, Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, Tonlé Sap Lake and the Bayon Temple. It sounds a bit disrespectful to mention all this in one sentence, but for the connoisseurs this need no further explanation. All of them are breathtaking locations that are definitely worth seeing. Go early in the morning then there are not many tourists yet.
The next day a trip by ox cart through the local village and to the local market. On the way back, local monks wish us luck and success. It is a practice in which monks stand by the roadside and receive gifts in the form of food and gifts and express their gratitude by wishing us good luck and success.
Spiritual self-enrichment
After an overnight stay at Jaya House Riverpark I once again experience the unrelenting hospitality of the Cambodians. Then I visit by boat to Kampong Phluck, an authentic village on stilts that has not yet been uncovered by mass tourism. It’s another party to be able to photograph here. That said. My picture is clear and has little to do with Vietnam’s past.
Those who are looking for adventure and a piece of history, want to stay in other spheres and are open to hospitality will get their money’s worth in both Vietnam and Cambodia, as far as I am concerned a healthy form of spiritual self-enrichment.
