We travelled by boat from Cambodia through the Mekong Delta to Chau Doc in Vietnam. On route we passed by the brilliant green rice fields and the amazing floating markets where the local boat people sell their wares daily. It was absolutely amazing to see how these delightful and friendly people live. We did a month trip of Vietnam, visiting Hoi Chi Minh city, or Saigon as most of the locals still call it, Hoi an, Da Nang, Na Thrang, Hue, Hanoi and Sapa.
Halong bay is definitely a must if you go to Vietnam. It is one of the five of UNESCO World Heritage sites with thousands of limestone islands emerging from the waters of Halong bay. We went kayaking, swimming and visited the hidden caves and grottos, and did an overnight on the boat and admired the stars of Halong bay by night.
The highlight of my trip was Sapa which lies in a valley close to the Chinese border and is home to a number of hill tribes. We did a trek from the main town and did a home-stay and experienced how the ethnic minorities lived.
Vietnam has everything to offer whether you are looking for bustling cities, history, deserted sandy beaches, trekking and of course their delicious cuisine.