American tourist recounts three unforgettable days traveling in Vietnam.

Street food stalls in Hanoi . Photo: Jack Solomon .

Chamidae Ford said she had dreamed of visiting Vietnam for many years because she loved the food and scenery so much. This fall, she joined a trip with Lonely Planet magazine.

A cross-Vietnam trip allowed the American female tourist to explore the S-shaped country for the first time, traveling through many regions with very different lifestyles, nature, and people.

The constantly changing weather made the trip even more unforgettable. The morning was sunny, but by afternoon the city was engulfed in rain and storms. Vietnamese cuisine surprised her with its diversity and rich flavors. From peaceful rice fields to bustling city streets filled with motorbikes, each place offered her unforgettable experiences.

Hanoi

Ford, along with her mother and boyfriend, flew from New York to Hanoi, booked a car service to pick them up at the airport, and mostly used ride-hailing services to get around the city.

On the first day, she chose a walking tour to explore the capital. The railway street with its cafes right by the tracks was a stop she particularly enjoyed, especially the moments when she had to duck into a cafe as trains passed by, which happened several times a day. From there, the group of tourists crossed tree-lined streets and dense streams of motorbikes to reach Hoa Lo Prison.

The train crosses the railway-side coffee street in Hanoi. Photo: Scott Campbell.

In the afternoon, a sudden storm forced the cancellation of plans to visit the Temple of Literature - National University. Just 30 minutes of rain caused severe flooding in many streets.

Ford stayed at Mr. Thanh's pho restaurant and enjoyed a steaming bowl of beef pho. She was surprised to learn that Northern pho has a light, delicate broth that highlights the flavor of the beef, completely different from the Southern style pho she usually ate in America.

Afterward, she called a taxi to Giang to try the famous egg coffee. On the way back to the hotel, the tourist came across a small, unmarked temple and decided to stop by to learn more, observing the altars and the meaning of the traditional offerings.

That evening, Ford and her family ate at Pho Cuon 31, where they tried everything from beef pho rolls and banana blossom salad to braised beef served with fried rice noodles and even frog dishes. These flavors piqued her curiosity about Vietnamese cuisine.

Ford dined at a pho roll restaurant, savoring intriguing flavors. Photo: Chamidae Ford.

Hoi An

Compared to a bustling city like Hanoi, Hoi An appears like a different world: peaceful, ancient, and unhurried. In the morning, Ford cycled through the lively Hoi An market, where she found rose apples – a fruit she loved but rarely found in America.

Crossing the bridge leading to the countryside, tourists cycle through green rice fields, encounter buffaloes and cows along the way, and then visit a family making rice noodles. Here, Ford gets to experience everything from grinding rice and making noodles to cutting them into strands. The manual work requires patience.

They continued their journey in bamboo basket boats, a typical type of boat in Central Vietnam, which can only be paddled in a figure-eight pattern. Later, the group visited a family that made traditional sedge mats, where Ford observed the rhythmic and meticulous weaving movements.

Female tourists learn indigo dyeing and eat bread. Photo: Chamidae Ford.

In the afternoon, she walked through the old town, visited the Fujian Assembly Hall, one of the oldest symbols of the Chinese community, and then learned about ancient customs at the Folk Culture Museum.

Ford didn't forget to enjoy Banh Mi Phuong, a place once praised by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, before visiting artisan Le Thuy's home to learn indigo dyeing and make his own scarf to take home.

That evening, she cycled back to the old town to try on the boots she had ordered the day before. Dinner at Morning Glory, featuring duck and banana blossom salad, bread, and pan-fried chicken, left her satisfied.

The Mid-Autumn Festival scene, with its lion dances and lively drumming, concludes a perfect day.

Ho Chi Minh City

Upon arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, Ford had lunch at Pho 2000 restaurant and then visited Ben Thanh Market, where she bought a set of lacquered chopsticks as a souvenir. The group then continued on to the Saigon Central Post Office and the Independence Palace, buildings associated with many historical milestones.

Ford's mother is pictured riding a vintage Vespa through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Chamidae Ford.

Her final stop was the War Remnants Museum, where she was moved by the images and stories of war crimes and the devastating effects of Agent Orange.

In the evening, Ford rode a vintage Vespa to begin a "food tour" around the city. The feeling of sitting on the back of the classic scooter, weaving through the busy traffic, made her feel like she was "immersed in the rhythm of Saigon life."

They stopped at a dim sum stall, enjoying pineapple-flavored sugarcane juice, fried banana fritters sprinkled with black sesame seeds, and shrimp and pork pancakes wrapped in vegetables and dipped in a mild fish sauce. The final item was a baguette sold by an old man who had been selling them for decades. Ford asserted that this was the best baguette he had ever had on his entire cross-Vietnam trip.

After 8 PM, the group watched the AO show at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, a performance combining storytelling and acrobatics reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil. They ended the evening at Firkin bar, where Ford enjoyed whiskey in a lounge setting, followed by another stop at the famous Lost bar with its striking design.

Source: https://znews.vn/khach-my-ke-3-ngay-de-doi-khi-du-lich-viet-nam-post1610852.html