Have you always wanted to explore Vietnam? Flight Centre’s Lindsay Simpson recently travelled there to explore the sites and the food of this beautiful country, and shares her highlights with us:
I recently spent 7 days travelling Vietnam with Intrepid Travel. This was my first trip to Asia and my first experience travelling with a tour company, so needless to say I had no idea what to expect. What stood out to me the most throughout my journey was the food, the people, the traffic, and the history.
Food is always a large part of my travel experience and Vietnam did not let me down! From small family run places to large swanky restaurants Vietnam has a lot to offer for everyone, including those travelling on a budget. Our amazing tour leader Bien was born and raised in Vietnam so he always had the best recommendations for places to eat.
While in the Mekong Delta we got to experience the wonderful hospitality and cooking of the local people. Spring rolls with fresh vegetables and fried fish that were made right in front of us was the first experience where I was a little hesitant but pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
In Hoi An there was a great little family owned restaurant directly across the street from our hotel the Phu Thinh 2. We ate many delicious meals there and most for approximately 45,000 Dong, which is equivalent to less than $3.00 Canadian. Another great find in Hoi An recommended by Bien was a cooking class by Gioan Cookery, a fantastic family run restaurant that also offers classes. The cooking class was very affordable plus we got to eat everything we made! From fried spring rolls, fish grilled in banana leaf, and caramelized eggplant we made it and then enjoyed eating it.
Halong Bay is an amazing place on its own with its beautiful scenery, interesting history and fascinating wildlife; you wouldn’t expect it to also be a great place to try some new interesting food. We took an overnight boat cruise in Halong Bay and after a day of exploring caves, kayaking, spotting monkeys and swimming, the fantastic meals our crew made for us were above and beyond all expectations. From fresh crab and prawns, to spring rolls, fish, soups and amazing fresh fruit, we had it all!
Hanoi was the last stop on our tour, a great place to take in a view of the city and a delicious fruit shake is the City View Café. For our last night together we all went out to a high-end restaurant called Green Mango. It’s definitely the most expensive place we ate at in Vietnam, but the food was absolutely fantastic. And realistically it was still less expensive than eating out at home.
Overall Vietnam and Intrepid wowed me beyond anything I could have imagined and this experience has given me a taste for a country that I would love to see again.
Looking for more information on travelling to Vietnam or with Intrepid Travel? Contact Lindsay Simpson a Travel Manager with Flight Centre Annex based in Toronto by connecting with her online or calling 1 866 378 4297.