Vietnam: A Story I Walked Into — Xin Chào!

Vietnam isn’t just a destination — it’s a whole mood. The moment you land, life becomes a game of Frogger: dodging scooters, following invisible crossing rules, and rewarding yourself with hot or iced coffee in tiny cafés tucked between chaos.

One minute you’re lost in the city, and the next you’re standing on a beach, wondering how life suddenly looks like a postcard. Or maybe you’re cruising through Ha Long Bay, floating past giant limestone dragons rising from emerald waters. From Hanoi’s old-school charm to Da Nang’s breezy calm and Ho Chi Minh City’s nonstop buzz, Vietnam keeps switching personalities — and somehow, they all work.

Vietnam isn’t just one place. It’s drama, culture, flavour, noise, beauty, and emotion — all served in a single trip.

Hanoi, the capital in the north, felt like history put on sneakers and went for a walk! As Vietnam’s political and cultural heart, it carries the weight of the past while running straight into the present. The Old Quarter was alive: tangled streets filled with the smell of pho and grilled meat, shopkeepers shouting prices, and scooters squeezing through spaces meant for humans. It was loud, messy, heavy — and strangely poetic.

The first thing that hit us in Hanoi? The cold.  We all had to rush to buy warm jackets to beat the cold! After that, we explored the Ho Chi Minh Complex ( few of us), the Temple of Literature, and the famous Train Street — where a train passes through a narrow residential lane just inches away from cafés and homes.

What truly stood out were experiences like Tam Coc, where locals row small boats with their feet along the Ngo Dong River, gliding past rice fields and towering limestone cliffs. And of course, Ha Long Bay — a UNESCO wonderland of karsts and caves.

Our Ha Long Bay cruise took us past iconic formations like the Fighting Cocks, through caves such as Sung Sot (Surprise Cave) and Thien Cung, and onto Ti Top Island for sweeping views. We passed floating fishing villages and paddled through Luon Cave on small boats. Even the meals on board were memorable — vegetarian food! 

We also visited Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital, where rice fields could be found everywhere between limestone mountains, making time feel slower and softer.

In Hanoi, you can see men deep in board games, street vendors yelling prices, French-style buildings standing next to temples, and about a million motorbikes racing past your knees. It’s beautiful chaos.

We had stayed at the Sunway hotel   on Pham Dinh Ho Street near Hoan Kiem Lake.

Then came Da Nang, where city life shakes hands with beach life. My Khe Beach, a ten-kilometre stretch of pale sand and blue water, looked like it belonged in a romantic movie scene. Da Nang felt calmer than Hanoi and revealed a gentler side of Vietnamese culture. We stayed at Mangata Beachfront Hotel, just a 1-minute walk from Pham Van Dong beach.

Here, we visited the stunning Ba Na Hills and the famous Golden Bridge. We travelled by cable car up Nui Chua Mountain, passing over forests and clouds, and explored the Orchid Garden, Fantasy Park, and Dinosaur Park — places that felt like it was straight out of a dream.

If Hanoi was poetry, Ho Chi Minh City was a rap battle. Loud, fast, and constantly hustling, it pulsed with car horns, skyscrapers, rooftop bars, designer stores, and restless energy. What I loved most were Ben Thanh Market and the Cu Chi Tunnels — where everyday life and history collide.

Vietnam truly has everything: history, beaches, cities, mountains, culture, affordable travel, and unreal food (mostly non-vegetarian and always addictive).

Hanoi makes you think.
Da Nang makes you breathe.
Ho Chi Minh City makes you feel alive.

We stayed at Happy Life Hotel -  on Tran Hung Dao Street near the Pham Van Dong beach, and on my final night, I experienced pure luxury at La Vela Saigon — complete with an infinity pool at the top, which I absolutely had to try. I went to Bến Thành Market. This is a typical Vietnamese market.  While I really didn't want to shop (but ended up buying two bags), I still wanted to see the vibe over there.

Vietnam didn’t feel like a trip. Not at all!
It felt like a story I walked into.

What also stood out across the country were the traditional leaf hats — Non La — crafted from palm leaves and bamboo to protect people from the sun and rain. More than just hats, they represent culture, history, and everyday Vietnamese life.

This was my first trip to Vietnam, and I travelled with WoVoyage — a travel company for women. People joined from across India and even Dubai. We arrived as strangers who loved to travel and left with memories that will last a lifetime.

Vietnam’s charm lies in its contrasts: ancient trading quarters beside grand colonial buildings, all watched over by modern glass skyscrapers and rooftop skybars.

Vietnam is not just a place to visit.
It is a place to remember!