Vietnam

Best Things to Do in Da Nang and Hoi An – With Savings From Citi Credit Cards

July 13, 2022 by Bino Leave a Comment

While not as popular as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang in Central Vietnam offers a great variety of things to see and do. These range from some of the country’s most spectacular beaches to ancient old towns, mountain retreats and even a peek into Vietnam’s imperial history. Throw in a strong regional culinary tradition and you’ve got yourself a compelling travel destination.

I have personally been to Central Vietnam 4 times! It is one of my favorite places in Southeast Asia and I look forward to each trip as I always get to discover something totally new. Without further ado, here are some of my suggested things to do in Da Nang and Hoi An.

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The Perfect Hanoi Itinerary (2022) Travel Guide for Vietnam’s Capital

March 21, 2022 by Bino 1 Comment

Vietnam’s capital may be known more than anything for its chaotic and motorbike-filled streets but I have to say that Hanoi remains to be one of my favorite Southeast Asian capitals. There is something about the city that always puts it at the back of my mind as a destination I’d want to visit again. It may be the excellent food or the fascinating history or simply the pulsating and distinctively Vietnamese energy. Whatever it is, each visit to Hanoi always leaves me with new finds and restaurants that I won’t hesitate recommending to friends.

For those looking to visit, I have come up with this suggested Hanoi itinerary. Depending on whether you intend to visit Ha Long Bay and Tam Coc, this itinerary is something you can execute in as little as 2 days if you’re coming here only for the weekend or up to 4 days if you intend to make it a short getaway.

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The PERFECT Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary – Saigon Travel Guide

March 17, 2022 by Bino Leave a Comment

Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial hub of Vietnam. Although less traditional than the capital, Hanoi, and possessing less potential in terms of outdoor activities compared to Central Vietnam; the city which is also still called Saigon to this day offers a lot of diversions to keep the traveler busy. From quirky concept cafes to marvelous architecture as well as ultra-happening rooftop bars, Ho Chi Minh City is perhaps better thought of as the place to go in order to experience modern pleasures. If you are making your way around the country, this city is a nice complement to the other parts and personally, I would think of Ho Chi Minh City as the best place to end a trip around Vietnam.

Other than that, if you are here just for a short getaway, Ho Chi Minh City also has plenty of activities to keep you preoccupied for 2 or 3 days. This Ho Chi Minh City itinerary shows you where to go and the places to eat during that jaunt.

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The Perfect Itinerary For Hoi An, Da Nang and Hue In Central Vietnam (2022 Updated Travel Guide)

March 17, 2022 by Bino 15 Comments

The central part of Vietnam where the cities of Hoi An, Hue and Da Nang are located, is considered to be one of the main touristic centers of the country. The region contains a diversity of attractions ranging from a UNESCO World Heritage town to archeological sites and even Vietnam’s former imperial capital. For outdoorsy types, the area also has plenty to offer in terms of beaches and you can find plenty of award-winning luxury resorts here. The world’s largest cave – Hang Son Doong – can also be found in the region.

If you are also visiting Hanoi during your trip to Vietnam, check out my suggested Hanoi itinerary HERE

If you are visiting Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue and thinking how long you need to spend in the area, I would suggest you go for 5 days / 4 nights minimally. The three cities are accessible from each other to be day trip destinations but I would suggest spending at least a night per city to really appreciate the distinct vibe in each place.

Where you start really depends on your personal preference and where you are coming from. During my trip to Central Vietnam, I arrived via Da Nang International Airport and headed to Hue right away as it was the farthest of the three cities. From Da Nang, Hue is around a 2 hour drive.

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Hue: A City Echoing Vietnam’s Imperial Past

May 25, 2013 by Bino 6 Comments

Deep in the heart of Vietnam lies Hue, a city that’s a bit out of the way for most travelers (which may actually be a good thing) but is a treasure trove of cultural attractions. Hue was the imperial capital of Vietnam in the 1800’s, during a time when the country practiced a dynastic form of government with emperors at the helm. Imperial life then centered on the royal court, and elaborate buildings were built in and around the city’s citadel to host all the pomp and pageantry. With that undeniable Chinese influence, the Imperial city at Hue consisted of hundreds of buildings which served as government offices, residences for the emperor and his concubines and temples. Most of the Imperial City was destroyed however, during the Vietnam War, and today, barely a dozen buildings remain.

palace of supreme harmony, hue

It is perhaps the extent of the ruins which lead many to skip Hue while in the country. Truly, it would take a lot of imagination for one to recreate what court life would have looked like during the peak of Imperial Vietnam. Nevertheless, the imperial monuments in Hue were declared as a single UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. I decided to check this out during my third visit to Vietnam.

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Ha-Ha-Ha Long Bay

August 31, 2011 by Bino 10 Comments

The sole reason why we decided to have a 3-day Hanoi trip instead of making it a Saturday-Sunday affair was because of Ha Long Bay. The name has been entrenched so strongly in many a travelers’ minds that it’s become one of the must-visit places in Southeast Asia. With a name that literally means “Descending Dragon’s Bay,” how could one possibly pass this up?

While limestone karst formations are not peculiar in the region (Guilin in China; Krabi in Thailand and Coron in the Philippines all come to mind), what separates Ha Long Bay from the rest are the sheer number of these rising up from the sea – there’s over 3,000 of them! It makes for a very fine view, especially during sunset where the scenery can appear like a painting baked by the golden colors complementing the limestone silhouettes.

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Exploring the Streets of Hanoi, Pt2

August 28, 2011 by Bino Leave a Comment

ho chi minh mausoleum

On our last day in Hanoi, we again ventured to see what the city has to offer – this time focusing on the western portion. As it was a sunny day (a rarity by Hanoi’s standards as it is one very cloudy city), we started early in the morning and made our way to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Most people make the mistake of assuming that this mausoleum, by virtue of its name, is located in Ho Chi Minh City. But actually, it is in Hanoi. The building faces Ba Dinh Square, which is one of the few places one gets to see such a wide open space right at the heart of the city. Compared to the Old Quarter, this part of the city featured large squares and wide boulevards that were more in keeping with modern communist capitals. From the outside, the memorial reminds me of the Anitkabir in Ankara, Turkey. It was closed when we visited so there was no chance to go in. Not that we wanted to, since all one gets to see inside is Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed corpse.

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Exploring the Streets of Hanoi, Pt1

August 27, 2011 by Bino 2 Comments

Hanoi is one of those cities that I kept at the back of my mind for the longest time, like a page bookmarked for future reading. I had initially “bookmarked” it in 2007 when I first visited Vietnam but only had the time for Ho Chi Minh City. I was reminded about it in 2009 when a colleague from New Zealand was raving to me how great his weekend break in Hanoi was. But it was only last week that I finally got to visit this thousand year old city during a self-imposed 3-day long weekend.

emerald waters of Hoan Kiem Lake / Lake of the Returned Sword

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