BEST THINGS TO DO IN VIETNAM
- Anthony
- Jul 24, 2018
- 5 min read
Buy/ Rent a Motorbike
Easily the best way to see the country of Vietnam is to rent or buy a bike.
Your best bet to buy is to buy off another backpacker.
You will get a better deal they will be honest with you if there are any problems.
There are companies who do rent them and sell them too. I bought mine off a guy named John. Check him out on Facebook, here.
The benefit of buying off a local is maybe they will treat you to a party afterwards.
John has a company called easyrider.. here is his Facebook. Honest guy, and will teach you how to ride too!
There are repair shops everywhere, as you will have do repairs to your bike. You will also need to change the oil every 400-600 km as the machines may be old and won’t run well without good oil. Gas is cheap and repair parts as well!
Always negotiate the price of the repair BEFORE it happens to prevent “extra charges.”
*WARNING* many travelers do get hurt riding, as the traffic laws in Vietnam are non-existent and it is not “NORMAL” driving. Please be careful and drive slow. Also try to do most of your driving during the day as it can be quite scary and more dangerous at night.
Visit Sapa
Sapa was, and may be still my favorite place I visited in Vietnam. The landscape is incredible! Rice terraces everywhere you look! I also had an awesome guide. I was fortunate enough that my guide took us into her family's home to show us how they live. You will also get the chance to meet a local family at a homestay and eat and drink “happy water” with them.
Happy water is Vietnamese alcohol and it tastes… “POWERFUL!” Enjoy it with fellow travellers and local to make the greatest memories.
Make sure to wear proper trekking gear as it may be tricky to walk in sandals. Also bring lots of bug spray and sun lotion.
*WARNING* as soon as you start the trek, you will be followed by lovely old Vietnamese ladies who will try to sell you various things including bracelets, blankets, purses, etc. If you have no intention on buying anything, kindly tell them you are NOT interested in shopping. If you say “Maybe later,” they will find you later and call you a liar if you do not buy from them. Just be honest right away. It will save you stress in the long run. But even if you don’t plan on buying from them, chat with them and hear their story.
Drink EGG Coffee
This may be my favorite type of coffee ever made. Although the Israeli baristas who I met said eggs should never go in coffee, you MUST give it a try. Egg coffee is basically breakfast in a cup. It is an espresso with frothed eggs, sugar, condensed milk and a bit of cocoa in it. You can usually find it for around $1-$3 depending on what city you are in. I am craving some right now!
Eat Banh Mi at Banh Mi 24 in Hanoi
Banh Mi 25 is the best Banh Mi to eat in all of Vietnam. You can find it here.
You can select different types of meats of just veggies too. It is basically a baguette sandwich, but super tasty. This is the best tasting one I that I ate in all of Vietnam.
Eat at Mr. Son's in Hoi An
Here is the exact location.
First off, Mr. Son is the friendliest restaurant owner, ever. He runes this fine operation with his wife and they use only fresh, local ingredients.
You can find a full blog on what to order and eat at Mr. Son's here! Easily the best overall meal I ate in Vietnam!
Go Abseiling in Dalat
Other than buying at motorbike, this was one of the coolest things I did in Vietnam. There are many companies, but I went with Highland Sport Travel. You can find their 5 star review here! The guys who take you are super funny and entertaining. And they love to take PHOTOOOS!
You will become a master abseil-er once these guys are done with you ;)
Cruise the Hai Van Pass
Although there are more beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, this one can easily be done by a novice rider. There are companies that can rent you a scoot from Hue to Hoi An and carry your bags for you too! You will be able to follow in a group too, if you don't feel comfortable. If you an experienced rider or feel more confident on your bike, go on your bike and take your time cruising and stop at all the sights.
Take a Cooking Class
I did a cooking class in Hoi An. Although it is quite expensive, it is well worth it. There are many companies that do it so check TripAdvisor for the best deals at the time. You start the day at the local market buying fresh ingredients. Then you go on boat ride to the secret location where your cooking class will begin. You will learn different types of Vietnamese food, but make the fresh spring rolls was my favorite!
Wander the Mekong Delta
I actually celebrated my birthday on the Mekong Delta and stayed in a homestay. During the Mekong Delta tour, you can actually buy fresh fruit or other goods right in the floating market. Although the floating market has significantly decreased in size over the years due to the use and ease of motorbikes, it is still amazing to experience.
Buy Custom Clothes in Hoi An
Okay, so it wasn't in my budget to buy any, but my friend Justin bought 2 suits with shirts and ties for under $500 USD. The ladies in the shops will do anything to make you buy something. They are very persuasive. For example, my friend Justin went in with the intent of just buying ONE dress shirt and ended up with 2 full suits. Make sure to negotiate the prices and get your best deal!
*WARNING* When looking for a shop to buy from, don't talk to any random lady on the street who can take you to a shop. She works for them and usually they will charge you extra because they have to pay her a commission. Also, the material and clothing made at these places are poorly done and quite a rip off. Do your research on TripAdvisor and find the best place. Also ask your accommodation if they can recommend any place. But please avoid the ladies on the street. They say just want to "TALK FRIENDLY" but they want to scam you!
Also spend a few days in Hoi An. It is beautiful and nothing like you see in the rest of Asia.
Visit TamCoc, Nihn Binh
Tamcoc is a very underrated place in Vietnam. I actually think it is more beautiful and cleaner than Ha Long Bay. It is a quiet place to spend 2 days in exploring all there is to offer. If you are looking for a great place to stay, stay with my friend Thanh at Mai's Homestay! You will absolutely love this place!
In Tamcoc, make sure to get a motorbike to explore places like the Bich Dong Pagoda. There is a small trail you find and have a view of the entire city!
Also you can do a Tam Coc boat ride. Although I didn't do this, I regret not doing it as many people say wonderful things about it.
I hope you enjoy Vietnam as much as I did. There is all of this plus even more to do in Vietnam! If you have 1-3 months you can see SO MUCH MORE!
Thanks for reading all! I appreciate it! If you found this helpful, share with friends!
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