Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam & Bangkok, Thailand

I’ve recently returned from a trip to Asia that took in Ho Chi Minh and Bangkok. I’ve wanted to visit both places for quite a while and to say that I was excited was an understatement!

We flew via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. It was my first time to fly with them and I was pleasantly surprised, the journey was very comfortable with excellent food, plentiful drinks and friendly cabin crew. Istanbul airport was great to transit through, very modern with lots of shops and restaurants.

Before we knew it, we had arrived! Ho Chi Minh was a heady mix of old and new, traditional and trendy. We were only there for three nights but we packed plenty in! We took a terrifying (but fantastic) Cyclo Tour through the centre of the city in rush hour traffic. Not for the faint hearted but it was an excellent way to see the city.

We visited the Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast network of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. It was an incredible labyrinth of living quarters, hospitals, armouries and command centres. It truly was an unforgettable experience and a must do for any visitor to the city. We also cruised on the Mekong Delta which was a highlight for me, so tranquil and beautiful, I could have stayed for much longer. We had time to take in the markets which had a huge selection of goods, as a self-confessed shopaholic I was in my element.

Bangkok was as busy and bustling as I had expected. I have to say that I loved the energy of the city. We spent an evening on a river dinner cruise. It was quite a sight watching the city sail by us, all the temples and buildings lit up and looking beautiful. Bangkok is a shoppers dream with endless malls and markets. There are plenty of other attractions also to keep you busy including the floating markets, Grand Palace, Ayutthaya and Bridge on the River Kwai.