September 22nd 2024.
I was faced with a tough decision when it came to planning our honeymoon with my new husband, Jack. We both wanted a mix of adventure and relaxation, as well as delicious food. After much consideration, we decided on Vietnam. We had previously fallen in love with Southeast Asia during a trip to Thailand for our anniversary, and our friends who had explored Vietnam during their gap years couldn't stop raving about it even after 12 years.
However, I immediately faced a challenge: I had no idea where to start when it came to planning a trip to Vietnam. The country is quite long, with varying climates and a plethora of options ranging from cities and mountains to beaches and historical sites. In my confusion, I turned to the Unforgettable Travel Company for assistance. After a call with their Asia specialist, Luke Stapylton-Smith, I was excited to see the detailed itinerary he had put together for us on a slick app.
Our journey began in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, after a long 17-hour flight. Despite the 35 degree heat and bustling streets, we were revitalized by the colorful buildings and sound of beeping horns. Our local guide, Lee, took us on a tuk-tuk food tour where we indulged in sticky pork skewers, water buffalo, and other delicious dishes. We even tried 20-day eggs, which was quite an interesting experience.
Next, we boarded the Aqua Mekong for a three-night luxury cruise down the Mekong River to Ho Chi Minh City. The boat boasted a 1:1 staff ratio and luxurious amenities such as a pool, gym, cinema, and spa. Our room was wood-paneled and spacious, with a double bed, sofa, and armchair. The staff, who were all Vietnamese or Cambodian, took great care of us with personalized water bottles and a free laundry service. Our days were filled with excursions to floating fishing villages, markets, and pagodas, giving us a unique perspective of Vietnam.
One of our favorite excursions was a bike ride to My An Hung village, where we were greeted with Aperol spritzes and a traditional unicorn dance performance. The chef on board, Phaera, also impressed us with her culinary skills as we indulged in dishes such as laksa, pho, and grilled river lobster.
Leaving the Aqua Mekong was bittersweet, but our next destination, Ho Chi Minh City, had plenty to offer. We stayed in District 1, surrounded by skyscrapers, designer shops, and must-see spots like Notre Dame, Saigon Central Post Office, and the Café Apartments. Our guide, Bien, showed us the local morning activities such as dance classes and bird competitions, as well as the bustling Chinatown where we had a tasty breakfast of noodles.
In the evening, we went on a street food tour with Hai in a vintage Jeep, trying dishes such as banh xeo and banh khot, and finishing with delicious coconut ice cream. The next day, we flew to Quy Nhon, a popular destination for Vietnamese tourists. Our resort, Anatara Quy Nhon, had luxurious villas overlooking a private beach. We indulged in elevated dishes at their restaurant, Sea Fire Salt, and even had a private market tour with the sous chef who prepared a personalized menu for us.
We were sad to leave Quy Nhon but excited to travel in style on the luxury train carriage, The Vietage, to our next destination, Hoi An. The six-hour journey was unlike any first-class train experience, with a three-course fine dining menu and private sleeping cabins. It was the perfect end to our unforgettable honeymoon in Vietnam.
When my husband Jack and I were planning our honeymoon, we were torn between a safari or a trip to the Maldives. We both wanted an adventure mixed with some relaxation and, of course, amazing food. Suddenly, it hit us - Vietnam. We had fallen in love with Southeast Asia during our anniversary trip to Thailand, and our friends who had explored Vietnam during their gap years couldn't stop raving about it even after 12 years.
We decided to ditch the hostels and night buses and upgrade to luxury hotels and taxis for our trip around the country. However, there was one major obstacle - I had no idea where to begin planning. Vietnam is a long country with diverse climates and so much to offer, from bustling cities to stunning mountains, beaches, and historic sites. That's when I reached out to Unforgettable Travel Company and spoke with their Asia specialist, Luke Stapylton-Smith. He immediately got to work on creating the perfect itinerary for us, and when it arrived in a sleek app, I couldn't contain my excitement.
Our adventure began in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, after a grueling 17-hour flight. The 35-degree heat and chaotic streets cured our jet lag, and we eagerly embarked on a food tour with our local guide, Lee. We hopped on a tuk-tuk and zoomed around, stopping to enjoy delicious treats like sticky pork skewers, water buffalo, chicken noodle soup, papaya salad, and a flaky baguette. We even tried the infamous 20-day eggs. The abundance of food made us sleepy, and we were grateful for a good night's rest before heading to the port for our next adventure.
Our next stop was on the Aqua Mekong, a luxurious boat that boasts a 1:1 staff ratio, a pool, gym, cinema, and spa. We were blown away when we saw our wood-paneled room with a double bed, sofa, and armchair. It was a dream come true. The next three days were filled with exciting excursions, including visits to floating fishing villages, market tours, and pagodas. We got to experience a side of Vietnam that many tourists don't. One of my favorite moments was a scenic 18km bike ride from Gieng Island to My An Hung village. We even got to witness a traditional unicorn dance and indulge in delicious meals prepared by Chef Phaera.
As much as we didn't want to leave the Aqua Mekong, our next stop was Ho Chi Minh City. We stayed in District 1, surrounded by towering skyscrapers, designer shops, and buzzing mopeds. Our guide, Bien, took us on a busy morning tour, where we watched locals participate in morning dance classes and bird-singing competitions. We also visited temples and heard Bien's fascinating stories about growing up during the Vietnam War. We even stopped in Chinatown for some delectable breakfast noodles. That evening, we joined Hai for a street food tour in a vintage Jeep. We sampled dishes like banh xeo, banh khot, and Vietnamese pizza before ending the night with refreshing coconut ice cream.
Next, we headed to Quy Nhon, a favorite spot among Vietnamese tourists. The tranquil atmosphere was a welcome escape from the bustling cities. We stayed at the luxurious Anatara Quy Nhon, where our villa had an indoor and outdoor shower, a massive bed, and a tub overlooking our private ocean-side pool. The hotel's restaurant, Sea Fire Salt, offered elevated dishes made with local ingredients. We even got to enjoy a surf and turf tower cooked on a million-year-old chunk of pink Himalayan rock salt. But the highlight of our stay was a market tour with the hotel's sous chef, who created a personalized menu for us based on our likes and dislikes. The squid and shredded mango salad and the fish cooked in a spicy turmeric broth were simply divine.
Our final stop was Hoi An, and we traveled in style aboard the Vietage, a luxurious train carriage operated by Anatara between Quy Nhon and Hoi An. The six-hour journey was unlike any first-class train experience we had ever had, with a fine dining three-course menu featuring dishes like duck terrine, Hoi An chicken rice, and passionfruit tart. It was the perfect end to our unforgettable trip to Vietnam.
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