September was (finally) holiday time so we dusted off our backpacks and hiking shoes and headed off to the North of Vietnam for two weeks of exploring.
Hanoi was our base with trips to Halong Bay with its limestone outcrops, the rice terraces in mountaineous Sapa and the historic trading city of Hoi An.
Exploring started in Hanoi at the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh's house,
and the One Pillar Pagoda.
We loved the sculptures everywhere!
Beer street in Hanoi, the place to get a cold one at the end of the day.
Beer and street snack food!
In Hanoi we did a day trip to the Perfume Pagoda, one of the most sacred Buddha Temples in Vietnam. We had the whole place to ourselves so it was very peaceful. During the festival of Tet thousands of Vietnamese tourists make a pilgrimage to the Pagoda every year, can't imagine the craziness at that time. Definitely visit out of Tet season!!
Sculptures at the Perfume Pagoda.
Boib selfie!
Squat toilets :o
Not our favourite and fortunately only on this day.
We highly recommend the Women's museum in Hanoi celebrating the lives of hard working Vietnamese women.
Queueing up for Pho at apparently the best place for Pho in Hanoi.
The best thing the French left behind: pastry skills!
Trying out the local favourite: moon cakes!
Our boat for 3 days in Halong Bay.
We loved our cosy cabin and were well looked after with so much good food!
The limestone outcrops of Halong Bay.
We highly recommend a two night stay, the middle day we enjoyed an almost private tour around quieter boat free parts of the bay.
Spring roll making lesson!
After Halong Bay it was back to Hanoi and then a night train to Sapa for hiking in the mountains and rice terraces.
It was seriously muddy and steep,
but also incredibly beautiful.
We hiked for 2 days and enjoyed a homestay with a local family in a traditional village along the way.
Cooling down with a sugar cane juice.
One of the excellent lunches we enjoyed while hiking in Sapa.
Our chopstick skills improved tremendously!
We had a free afternoon in Sapa Town and took the opportunity to visit Fansipan Mountain, the highest summit in Indochina.
It was cloudy and cool but still worth going. The views on a clear day must be breathtaking.
Justin in the cable car on the way up compared to everyone else!
From Sapa we took the overnight train back to Hanoi and then a flight to the historical city of Hoi An in central Vietnam.
The Japanese covered bridge marking the entrance to Hoi An Old Town.
We used our Old Town entrance ticket to visit the Museum of Trading Ceramics,
Assembly halls with their interesting sculptures
and many bonsais,
and historical old houses.
Our favourite place for lunch: Madame Phuong's Banh Mi.
Banh Mi is a sandwich fashioned on French baguettes and packed with loads of fresh herbs all for $1. It's as amazing as it sounds.
The newly opened Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum by the French photographer Rehahn.
Look him up on social media, marvel at his amazing portraits and then visit this museum in Hoi An, it's an absolute must.
Sunrise trip to My Son Sanctuary, the temple complex of the Champa Kings about an hour outside of Hoi an.
The sculptures that survived the Vietnam War (known locally as the American War) are really cool and whet our appetite for Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Market tour during our cooking class.
Hoi An was hot and humid so we were really happy with the first rainy day of the holiday and also an excuse to stay indoors and do a cooking class.
Justin being super brave trying pig brain!
There are many cooking classes available and we highly recommend the Morning Glory one at Vy's Markey Restaurant (and also dinner there and their cookbook).
Cooking class selfie!
Vietnamese chicken skewers and green mango salad, good effort!
And then all too soon it was time to leave =(
But first the traditional farewell Starbucks.
Thank you Vietnam for a very special two weeks!
We loved your friendly people, the amazing food, and the incredible beauty of your land.
We can't wait to be back to explore Siagon (apparently no one says Ho Chi Minh City) and the Mekong Delta in the South soon!
More on our time in Vietnam coming soon!
x
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