Day 1 – Arrival in Saigon: A City That Never Stands Still
The minute I stepped off the plane in Saigon, the air felt alive — thick with humidity, the faint scent of incense and diesel, and the rhythmic hum of motor bikes. Even after all my years in travel, few places match that first jolt of sensory overload that Vietnam delivers.
I was whisked through the airport by Destination Asia’s fast-track service, an absolute gift after a long journey. My guide, Mr. Vu — though everyone affectionately calls him Romeo— greeted me with a huge smile and that signature Vietnamese warmth that makes you feel instantly welcome. Along with our driver, Dan, we drove into the heart of Saigon as Romeo shared stories of the city’s history and its infectious, ever-changing energy. They dropped me off at the Hotel De Arts and Romeo kindly offered to grab me a bánh mì from his favorite street stall — a massive sandwich nearly the length of my forearm, since I was short on time until my first tour began. It was my first meal in Vietnam, and what a beginning it was — warm bread, crisp pickled vegetables, rich pâté, and the perfect balance of sweet and spice. That sandwich set the tone for what would become an unforgettable culinary adventure.
Later that afternoon, I climbed onto the back of a vintage Vespa for an “Alleyway Stories” tour — a ride through the veins of Saigon itself with my guide Linh and driver Coung from Vespa Adventures. It was the perfect way to shake off jet lag — weaving past hidden temples, mural-lined walls, and the irresistible scent of butter-roasted coffee beans. It was here I had my first sip my first Vietnamese coffee at a local stall, chatting with Linh and the third-generation roasters who seemed genuinely delighted to share their craft.
Pulling back up at the hotel right as the sun dipped down and rain started to fall, I felt that familiar travel thrill — the mix of wonder, gratitude, and anticipation that comes from knowing you’ve just begun something extraordinary
Day 2 – Cu Chi Tunnels and the Spirit of Resilience
Mornings in Saigon start early — the city stirs before sunrise — but I let myself sleep in a bit and linger over breakfast, watching life unfold below from the hotel SkyLounge.
By midmorning, I boarded a private speedboat along the Saigon River bound for the Cu Chi Tunnels. The boat ride alone is worth the trip: skyscrapers giving way to lush palms and fishermen casting lines from narrow wooden boats..
Arriving by water felt special — peaceful, even reverent. That serenity made the contrast of what lay ahead all the more powerful. Beneath the ground stretched an immense labyrinth of tunnels — dark, narrow, and suffocating — that once sheltered thousands of soldiers and civilians during the Vietnam War. Crawling through even a short section was humbling. The air was thick and heavy, and it was impossible not to feel the weight of history pressing in on every side. The traps displayed above ground were gruesome reminders of ingenuity born from desperation. It’s hard to fathom what it must have been like to move through that dense forest in wartime, not knowing what waited beneath your next step.
Above ground again, sunlight filtered through the trees and birds sang — a haunting juxtaposition of horror and hope. The Vietnamese have an extraordinary ability to honor the past while facing the future with quiet grace. On the boat ride back, I sat at the back with a cold Saigon beer, fruit plate beside me, the warm wind drying my face as I reflected on the resilience that seems woven into the very soul of this country.
That evening, back in the city, I met up with Jeff, the General Manager of Destination Asia’s Vietnam offices, who is the preferred supplier partner I planned this trip with. He took me to a restaurant called Blanc — a dining experience run entirely by deaf and hearing-impaired staff. The menu included illustrations showing how to sign each item, turning the meal into an interactive language lesson. The food was delicious, but what made the evening unforgettable was the joy and pride radiating from the staff. It was humbling to see how this restaurant not only empowers its employees but also opens guests’ hearts to new forms of communication. Over dinner, Jeff and I talked travel, upcoming client trips, and the creative new experiences Destination Asia was curating — an inspiring end to a remarkable day.
Day 3 – A Saigon Slow Day
The third day of my trip took a bit of an unexpected turn as Typhoon Kajiki was set to hit Vietnam directly where I was supposed to be flying to for a 5 day Jungle Cave Trek. The team at Destination Asia called to inform me of the storm the day before and the potential that we might need to change my itinerary/let me know they were keeping an eye on the storm. As a born and raised Floridian used to dealing with Hurricanes I have a little experience with storms and how they can move at the last minute but it appeared this one was set to be one of the biggest storm of the year and making a direct landfall to sweep across my trekking route. Vietnam Airlines ended up cancelling my and all other flights to Dong Hoi due to the storm hitting so I was temporarily stuck in Saigon. Destination Asia jumped into action immediately and within a couple hours had completely rerouted me to Hanoi and planned activities for the extra days I would have there as there was no way to reach my trek at this point. Their quick thinking turned what could have been a logistical nightmare into a smooth, stress-free pivot.
With the rest of the day open, I explored Saigon at my own pace — sending postcards from the grand colonial post office, admiring the Notre Dame Cathedral, and wandering along Book Street, a charming lane lined with open-air bookshops and cafés. Though the storm had altered my plans, Saigon gave me a gentle farewell day filled with unexpected calm.
Day 4 – From Saigon to Hanoi: A Change in Tempo
Leaving Saigon felt a little like saying goodbye to an old friend — one who’d shown me her energy, chaos, and charm in equal measure. Romeo and Dan picked me up in the early afternoon, and before long I was boarding a Vietnam Airlines flight north to Hanoi. Though I was disappointed to miss the Jungle Cave Trek, I was deeply grateful for Destination Asia’s seamless handling of everything. Their care allowed me to simply enjoy the journey.
As the plane descended, the landscape shifted — Saigon’s dense urban sprawl giving way to the soft greens of rice paddies and the muted mist that seems to hang permanently over the north. Hanoi greeted me with slightly cooler air and an entirely different rhythm.
My guide, Thuy, met me at the airport and we drove into the city. Hanoi feels like a place that remembers — every corner carries the weight of history, from the crumbling French villas to the tree-lined boulevards and tiny tea shops tucked behind mossy walls.
After checking into The Lapis Hotel, I took a quick inventory of all my dirty clothes and immediately sent out laundry. Since I had planned to be trekking for the next 5 days I wasn’t prepared with more clean normal clothes and needed to wash what I had already worn so far. Laundry in Vietnam luckily is super cheap and I was able to wash and dry some clothes right in the bathroom so I didn’t need to wait to get them back the next afternoon/evening. I had dinner and immediately headed off to bed as I was exhausted from the earlier flight delay.
Day 5 – A Day of Discovery and Reflection
Today was what I like to call a “working wander” — an inspection day visiting seven partner hotels across Hanoi. But in truth, it was anything but ordinary. Aurel, the VIP Experience Manager at Destination Asia Vietnam, met me in the hotel lobby, and together we set off into the Old Quarter’s mosaic of history, chaos, and charm.
Traveling as a luxury advisor means seeing through two lenses: my own sense of wonder as a traveler, and the perspective of my clients seeking something exceptional. Hanoi makes that balance easy. Each property we visited carried its own distinct soul — from small boutique sanctuaries adorned with local art to colonial-era landmarks that felt like stepping into another time. Between stops, Aurel and I spoke about how the city’s luxury scene has evolved while still fiercely protecting its authenticity.
That evening, I took Aurel’s suggestion on his favorite tucked-away Pho stall frequented by locals. I took at seat on a low metal stool at long table with a few other locals and waited for my food. The broth was rich with star anise and cinnamon, and it struck me how food here isn’t just nourishment — it’s storytelling in a bowl. A few older Vietnamese ladies came in and sat with me at the table and we all kind of smiled awkwardly at each other until one turned to me and spoke a little English asking where I was from and what I was doing there. They were all very surprised to hear I was there for three weeks traveling solo. Some amazed I think and a couple looking a little terrified haha The oldest one who looked like she was in her 90s just sweetly kept smiling at me as we ate. I tried out a few Vietnamese phrases, and though my pronunciation earned some laughs, they responded with patience and kindness. Sharing that pho with those women — laughing, gesturing, connecting despite language — reminded me why I love to travel. Food brings people together in a way nothing else can.
As I walked back to my hotel, lanterns shimmered in puddles from a fresh rain, the reflections doubling the beauty around me. Hanoi had wrapped me in its quiet magic — a blend of nostalgia, grace, and life humming softly between every street.
Day 6 – A Slow Day in the Capital
After a stretch of early mornings, I allowed myself to sleep in a little and indulge in a long, blissful massage — a much-needed pause after countless flights and days of exploration. Later, I met up again with Aurel for lunch at Madame Hien, a restaurant that captures the essence of Vietnamese cuisine with both refinement and warmth. I swear, every dish I’ve had in Vietnam so far has been extraordinary. The country doesn’t just cook — it tells stories through flavor.
With no official plans for the day, I gave myself permission to wander and Aurel kindly volunteered to give me a quick tour of his favorite parts of the Old Quarter (keep in mind I will be back in Hanoi at the end of my trip and have more official tours already planned for that time). We started near Hoan Kiem Lake, where locals were out and about and everywhere it seemed. I had totally forgotten that National Day was coming up, the 80th anniversary of Vietnams independence, and there was a HUGE military parade set to take place in Hanoi to mark the occasion. It turns out there were so many locals out everywhere in their Vietnamese flag shirts because there was a practice for the parade happening that evening. This was truly the only time I’ve seen another country with so many flags up, people dressed up in Vietnamese themed shirts and people so patriotic over an event, usually I only experience this at home when it’s the 4th of July or a similar holiday. There were flags EVERYWHERE that gave the whole city and country such a festive air. You could feel the energy buzzing off the local people who were all so excited and proud.
Later that afternoon, we stopped at Maison Marou Café for chocolate and tea — a must-visit spot for anyone in Vietnam. Their locally made chocolate is divine and makes for the perfect souvenir, though I can’t promise it’ll survive the flight home uneaten.
That evening, I joined the locals as we all poured into the streets to watch the practice of the military parade. There were locals who had camped out on the side of the street since 3am just to get a spot along the parade route to watch the practice. I just popped out after dinner to walk down to the Opera House where there was a large screen set up where locals can watch the parade making it’s way through other parts of the city. This was the only place I could find that had even remotely a little space for me to squeeze in and get a glimpse. The police had cordoned off the entire square at the Opera House and everyone gathered round the perimeter overflowing into the local park to stand and watch the parade from the giant screen that had been erected for the occasion. I was shoulder to shoulder in a huge crowd with all locals and needless to say I stood out. Everyone was so kind though as I got a lot of curious glances and smiles and one lady who had brought her own step stool to get a higher view saw me standing behind her for a while and stepped down and offered for me to get on her stool to get a better view. It warmed my heart that even as a foreigner the locals were excited to share this experience with me. I didn’t stay too long, maybe 30 minutes, to watch a little, but I’m not one for massive shoulder to shoulder crowds in the heat and humidity. It was an experience I will never forget and I doubt I will ever come across such an extravagant military parade anywhere else in my travels so it felt like such a special experience I was honored to be a part of.
Day 7 – Into the Countryside: Ninh Binh’s Timeless Beauty
Today’s adventure took me two hours south of Hanoi to Ninh Binh — often called “Halong Bay on Land.” The drive itself was a moving postcard: rice paddies glistening in the morning sun, farmers in conical hats tending their fields, and water buffalo grazing lazily near lotus ponds.
When we arrived, it was off to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam. The stone temples here tell stories of emperors and unification, of wars fought and peace regained. I climbed a steep set of steps to a hilltop viewpoint and looked out over the entire valley — green, endless, and serene.
That afternoon, I boarded a small wooden sampan and drifted along the Boi River. My rower, a petite man with a brilliant smile, paddled with his feet — an incredible display of balance and skill. The limestone karsts rose dramatically from the emerald fields, mirrored perfectly in the still water. It felt almost cinematic, a scene too perfect to be real. Small Vietnamese flags lined the river in preparation for National Day, fluttering proudly among the lotus leaves which just added to the ambiance.
After a local lunch it was back to Hanoi, the countryside gave way to city lights again. I couldn’t help but think how Vietnam constantly shifts between energy and tranquility, never staying still for long.
Upon my return I WhatsApped one of the managers of Hanoi 1990s Café to find out the train schedule for that evening and make a reservation for a seat right off the tracks on Train Street. It had been raining all week, but when the forecast finally promised a dry evening, I hopped on a Grab bike (Vietnam’s version of Uber) and headed out I Grab Biked (like our version of Uber) and headed out to Train street. The Café staff came out to greet me on arrival and show me to the perfect seat/table right under an awning of the café right off the train tracks. I ordered a Hanoi beer and a Bahn Mi and sat watching the tracks as people wandered up and down from all directions. After getting a few photos I settled in with my food/beverage and waited for the trains, which were set for two trains to be coming back to back in a 10 minute span from opposing directions. All of a sudden we all heard this low thundering noise and thought maybe it was the train, but no, the sky let loose and started pouring which sent everyone on the other side of the tracks and not under an awning running for cover. I was very glad to have my seat under the awning so I didn’t get wet and people squeezed in all around me right before the first train came by. Suddenly, the café staff sprang into action — pulling in tables, shouting instructions for everyone to tuck their legs in tight and turn to the side. Then, we heard the horn of the train before we saw it, charging through the narrow alleyway just inches from where we sat. The rush of air, the roar, the laughter — it was exhilarating. The train passed and the energy around us buzzed with excitement and some locals congratulated us on surviving haha As an easy/fun souvenir I had placed my beer bottle cap on the track right before the train came and when the train passed we all jumped up to grab our caps that were now smashed flat by the train and became a prized possession to take home. There was barely enough time for some people to quickly leave while others poured in and more drinks orders were taken before a train horn could be heard coming in the opposite direction and the second train passed sealing the night with another rush of adrenaline. After two trains passing most of us had the thrill we came for and promptly wandered out of the café in the rain to let the next set of brave souls in to experience the train passing.
Day 8 – Crossing Borders: From Hanoi to the Temples of Cambodia
There’s a special kind of anticipation that comes with travel days — that feeling of standing between worlds. My last morning in Hanoi was slow and quiet, spent repacking and wondering how everything had possibly fit into my suitcase to begin with.
The two-hour flight to Siem Reap felt like more than a border crossing; it was a shift in rhythm. Cambodia greeted me with warmth — both in temperature and in spirit. Upon arrival, I was met airside by Destination Asia’s fast-track and visa team, who guided me smoothly through immigration. My guide, Sovan, waited just beyond the arrivals hall with a cool towel, a smile as bright as the Cambodian sun, and that same genuine hospitality I’d come to treasure across Southeast Asia.
The drive into Siem Reap was peaceful — the hum of night cicadas, soft rain tapping on the car windows, the world outside dark and still. My hotel, the Shinta Mani Angkor, was everything I hoped for and more: contemporary Khmer design surrounded by lush gardens, blending luxury with soul. The staff greeted me by name, offered an upgrade, and escorted me to my room with effortless grace.
As I settled in, the sound of rain became my lullaby. Tomorrow, a new chapter — and a new country — would begin.