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Lan Ha Bay Cruise from Cat Ba
To see the beauty of Vietnam's northern coast, without the hoards of tourists, unregulated cruise ships, multiplying hotels, gigantic resorts and all the trash you will find nowadays at Ha Long Bay you can visit Lan Ha Bay instead. Part of me wanted to keep this a secret since the more people know about it the fuller and less beautiful…
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Cat Ba Island – Add this island paradise to your travel plans now
Before "tourism development" takes over. With its serene nature, a bay that isn't yet as overrun as Ha Long Bay and the sprawling national park Cat Ba has been a hidden gem for the longest time. And it still is as of now. However Cat Ba Island has become more of a trend-destination among the rich, inspiring investors to buy…
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How to get from Hanoi to Sapa
Getting from Hanoi to Sapa is an adventure in itself. You basically have three choices: Bus, Private Van or Train. While you can book all three on the same platform, the prices, departure and arrival times and the experiences will vary greatly.
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Sapa – In between mountains, fog and rice fields
When you follow travel pages on Instagram or TikTok and are interested in south-east Asia you will come across Sapa. Currently there seems to be a hype about this little northern Vietnamese mountain town. I had Sapa on my radar since 2019 and this year I went there. This is my honest experience and an overview of what to do…
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Silversmith Workshop – Hanoi
Always on the lookout for unique things to do and more things to learn I stumbled upon a silver smith workshop in Hanoi. In the silver crafting village Dinh Cong, about 30 minutes from the Old Quarter of Hanoi inside a community house this workshop takes you back to the time where Hanoi was still called Thang Long (1010).
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Three weeks in Vietnam – Everything you need to know
After three trips, all of varying length, I want to share what I would choose as an itinerary if I only planned one trip and only had normal vacation days. I choose three weeks, because everything else is far too rushed for a country as long and diverse as Vietnam.
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Visiting the Independence Palace in Saigon
The site has seen French occupation (twice), Japanese occupation, the “Republic of Vietnam”, a coup d’état and not one but two wars that were decided right on its doorstep. If only walls could talk... visiting the Independence Palace in Saigon would be even more fascinating.
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Cu Chi Tunnels – Tunnel systems of the Viet Cong
You can find an extensive system of tunnels all over the country. At several locations those tunnels have been preserved to a degree that locals and tourists can visit them. The Cu Chi Tunnels, originally built during the French occupation and later enlarged and used more extensively during the Vietnam war can be visited at two locations Ben Dinh and…
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Breakfast Food Tour in Saigon
The best thing to do in a new city, in my opinion, is taking a food tour with a local guide (not a travel office tour) to taste the best food spots. With saigonhappytour, I went on a breakfast food tour in Saigon and enjoyed every second of it.
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Five Star Resort in Central Vietnam – TUI BLUE Nam Hoi An
The TUI BLUE Nam Hoi An Resort is not actually in Hoi An, despite the name, it's much closer to Tam Kỳ. This resort is not the choice when you want to explore Hoi An. However it is a great choice to spend a few days relaxing, surrounded mostly by quiet nature.
