Category: Vietnam

Vietnam rice fields & mountain is a common sight when anyone speaks about the country. The place has been through enough during the war. However, crawling back to the feet this place is worth a visit.

Great Vietnamese Festivals Every Tourist Should Experience

AnandPatel
Vietnam City Mark My Adventure
One way to make your tour of Vietnam a memorable one is to plan it around the country’s festivals. Through these festivals, you get to experience and be part of the Vietnamese culture first-hand. Most of them are held at the beginning of the year. Below are some of the most celebrated Vietnamese festivals that are sure to turn your holiday into an extraordinary one.


1. Tet Nguyen Dan

Tet Nguyen Dan is an important traditional festival in Vietnam and celebrated to thank their gods for the onset of spring. The festival is marked by locals paying respect to their ancestors and getting together as families to usher in the New Year. During this festival, bustling cities like Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi are less crowded as most people usually head to their rural hometowns to celebrate the festival with their families.


2. Perfume Pagoda Festival

Perfume Pagoda is an important pilgrimage site that welcomes pilgrims to its sacred caves to pray for a happy and prosperous year ahead. To get to the caves, you will have to pass through a scenic landscape that consists of limestone mountains and rice paddies. You will also walk past hundreds of stone steps and historical shrines before you arrive at your ultimate destination.


Pagoda Vietnam Mark My Adventure

3. Hue Festival

Hue Festival is a music event held any time between April and June every two years in Hue city. At this festival, you will enjoy a fantastic array of performances, cultural events, and games that last a week. You will never experience a dull moment during the Hue Festival as there will be kite flying, boat racing, human chess, fashion shows, poetry, percussions, and drums. Also, you get to enjoy street performances, puppetry, acrobatics, film screenings, and art exhibitions.


Sunset In Vietnam

4. Buddha’s birthday

Buddha’s birthday is an important festival celebrated by many devotees across Vietnam. During this festival, temples across the country are lavishly decorated, and locals bring fruit, flower garlands and Vietnamese dishes as an offering. You can choose to visit Hoi An, which is considered as the best place to celebrate this festival, and participate in street parades and prayer sessions.


5. Hoi An Lantern Festival

This festival is held on the 14th of every month. During this festival, paper lanterns of various shapes, colours, and sizes are displayed. All restaurants, businesses, shops, and bars in the Ancient City stop using electricity and light up using lanterns and candles instead. Although the festival itself is held in Hoi An, it is most colourful in the Ancient Town.


Vietnam Festivals To Attend Hoi An

6. Mid-Autumn Festival

This colourful festival is held in mid-September, and adults and children come together to enjoy many festivities. During the night, locals light lanterns. Here, you will get to enjoy biscuits, jellies, moon cakes and other foods. To top it all off, you will witness the famous Lion dance.


7. Wandering Souls Day

This festival is held on the 7th of September during the full moon. In Vietnamese culture, it is believed that ancestors pay their families a visit. The families go to Buddhist temples to offer respect to their loved ones and eat cakes and other food.


Vietnam Random City Mark My Adventure

8. Lim Festival

Lim Festival is held on the 12th and 13th of February to celebrate ‘Quan Ho’ singing. During this festival, people play local games such as wrestling, bamboo fighting, and tug of war. The main highlight of the festival is when the choir performs. Also, locals wear colourful traditional costumes as they sing their local folk songs. Through this festival, you get to learn about the rich culture and traditions of Vietnam.


9. Phu Giay Festival

This festival is held in Phu Giay Temple in honour of Mother Saint Lie Hanh . It is regarded as the most significant and original of all festivals in the Vietnam calendar. People dress in traditional costumes and carry bamboo relics decorated with beautiful ornaments. You get to participate in various local games and cultural activities during this festival.


10. Tet Han Thuc

This is a unique Vietnamese festival held in honour of Jie Zhitui, a loyal underman to the 7th Century Duke of Quin. Jie suffered neglect by the Duke, forcing him to retreat to the woods together with his mother. Later, when the Duke requested Jie to return to the city, he declined, prompting the Duke to light his house to force them back to the city. Jie refused and instead died in the fire.

The many festivals in Vietnam are a clear manifestation of the rich culture of its people. Taking part in these festivals will leave you with unforgettable memories of Vietnam’s beautiful landscape and admirable culture, before you go, remember that Visa’s are essential when visiting Vietnam.


Handy Resources:

Below are the few resources you should check before making an itinerary.

Cheap Internation Flights: Best place to find cheap international flight tickets.

Best Deals On Hotels: Places to find best deals on hotels.

Amazon: Best place for all your needs. Also, find best travel accessories.

Agoda: Best place to book hotels of your liking. Agoda provides the best solution & great offer while booking a hotel.

Skyscanner: Skyscanner compares various sites & sort the flights based on the rates. A great way to check flight cost. Although the only drawback is that rates are flexible. Hence, the cost might change while you are making the payment.

Jetradar: Jetradar is a comparing site which is just like Skyscanner. But, is much more accurate & much more handy in use.

Booking: Best place to book hostel rooms. There are plenty of options available & with so many properties booking becomes much easier.

Travel Insurance: There are numerous options available to get one. So, you can choose anything which suits your requirement. Make sure you read the terms & conditions before buying one.

Hoi An Experience

AnandPatel

Hoi An by far is the best place in Vietnam solely for its beauty. The moment I searched for Vietnam . Hoi An is mentioned in literary each post. After seeing so many posts one feels obliged to visit the town. Hoi An can be reached from Da Nang on a motorbike. It is hardly 30 Km from Da Nang town. Da Nang is a modern city with all the modern infrastructure & perfect town city. Hoi An, on the other hand, is beautiful & will take you to vintage Vietnam. Small houses located beautifully around the river. So, here is my Hoi An Experience.

The Beach

The road from Da Nang to Hoi An is pretty straight & without any potholes. On the way to Hoi An, one will find lots of resorts & also marble mountain. The road is pretty scenic & the ride is enjoyable. The fun starts after entering the town. The old town (the most beautiful part of Hoi An) is a bit far from the city entry point. The beach is welcoming you to the city, clean beach with blue water is a great place to relax from the city’s hassle.

Once the person enters the Hoi An town, the roads are running through the lush green landscapes, at some point, one will witness lush green paddy fields, tree branches falling on the roads & if you are not amazed by the beautiful sites then you can also ride your motorbike on a path running parallel to the estuaries. The fun of riding a motorbike at such beautiful sites are always memorable. The tourists are riding cycle to enjoy these beautiful paths. If one has enjoyed riding motorbike or cycle. The most famous attraction of the place. Old Town is waiting for you.

Hoi An Lanterns

Old City Hoi An

The best way to explore the old town is by walking across the lanes. There are 3 to 4 lanes which are beautiful & worth visiting. The old town is painted in the yellow color & sky is covered in colorful lanterns. The evening is pleasant & much more colorful. Different color of lanterns lits up during the evening which makes it much more pleasant & much more delightful. The beauty of the place can only be experienced. There is no better site than sitting at some roadside cafes near river & enjoying vibrant evening colors with local drinks. Sit in some cafe enjoy some random conversation or better enjoy nature. This can be one of the best things to do in Hoi An.

The old shops are beautifully decorated from both inside & outside. The evenings are much more beautiful & colorful. Shops are crowded with the tourists & once the lanterns are lit the view of the city is transformed to the good. Walk across the lanes & enjoy the pristine views & experiences.

  • Hoi An Lanes Mark My Adventure
  • Local Shops Hoi An

The place is beautiful & a lovely getaway from even traveling. Enjoy local food, local cuisine & let your self to soak this beautiful town. You can check Hoi An Travel Guide here.

Hoi An Vietnam Travel Guide

Here are few handy resources to help you in a better way.

Agoda: Best place to book hotels of your liking. Agoda provides the best solution & great offer while booking a hotel.

Skyscanner: Skyscanner compares various sites & sort the flights based on the rates. A great way to check flight cost. Although the only drawback is that rates are flexible. Hence, the cost might change while you are making the payment.

Jetradar: Jetradar is a comparing site which is just like Skyscanner. But, is much more accurate & much more handy in use.

Booking: Best place to book hostel rooms. There are plenty of options available & with so many properties booking becomes much easier.

Travel Insurance: There are numerous options available to get one. So, you can choose anything which suits your requirement. Make sure you read the terms & conditions before buying one.

Things To Do In Da Nang

AnandPatel

Da Nang has all the making of an expat town. A riverfront, great beach, world-class hotels & fantastic nightlife. The place is not so populated compared to the cities like Ho Chi Minh & Hanoi but still has great infrastructure, to say the least. Even though the place checks most of the boxes for traveling. The place somehow is not in the traveling list of the people visiting Vietnam. Enough said about the place. Here is the list of things to do in Da Nang.

Marble Mountains:

There are five elements in the world & each element has a peak dedicated to it. There are many caves in here & if you are mentally strong you can climb to one of the peaks of the mountain to enjoy the beautiful views of the city. The place was used by the Buddhist monks to pray & glimpse of it still visible. The best cave to visit in Marble Mountain is definitely Huyen Khong Cave. Many people lit a candle at this place & offer their prayers. A nice place to enjoy some peace. The view of sun rays falling from small patches of the hole on to the ground is a memorable experience to witness. Do visit this gem of the place.

View From Top Of Peak

Hai Van Pass:

Hai Van Pass is a major tourist attraction near Da Nang. The pass is very picturesque & mesmerizing. An unending landscape on one side & mighty hills on the other side. The pass demand to be driven on. During the monsoon, the place gets as beautiful as it can get. There are few patches in the route which is a glimpse of the best of Vietnam. The whole to & fro trip from Hai Van Pass to Da Nang will take a few hours. So, take some out to witness this bliss.

Hai Van Pass Da Nang

Hoi An:

Most people spend a couple of days at this UNESCO world heritage site. The beauty of the place is hard to ignore & the pleasant evenings are memorable & will have a lasting impact on your life. Most of the people will sit near Japan bridge & enjoy the calming impact of the place. The place is too beautiful to be missed.

Lady Buddha:

A white sculpture of lady buddha can be seen from most part of the Da Nang the place is located at such height in Da Nang. A short drive to this hill will amaze you with its view. The whole city can be seen from the point & most of the people apart from paying homage to God, people click their next display picture. The beauty of the place is breathtaking.

Dragon Bridge:

Probably the most famous spot in Da Nang. As the name suggests dragon bridge got its name for its shape. The dragon breath fire & water during special occasions like Sat & Sun. The show is pretty unique to watch & enjoy.

My Khe Beach:

One part of the city is surrounded by the water & its clean & long beach is pretty popular among the locals & tourists. The water is clean & so is the beach. One can enjoy time at the beach.

Nightlife:

Da Nang nightlife is as good as Ho Chi Minh. The parties last till early morning hours & one will not be disappointed with the discs & pubs. Although the clubs are on the costlier side. But, one can have a great time during the nights.

Market:

There are a number of flea markets in Da Nang & is easy to find anything you are looking for. Con Market is locals delight, it is kind of a supermarket where you can find most of the stuff for daily use. So, if you are looking to shop in Da Nang this landmark will be important to you.

My Son Sanctuary & Hue are two more places that one can visit while staying at Da Nang. My Son is the site of ruins left of Indian Hinduism, the temples are estimated to be constructed between 4-13th century. A place for historic significance. On the other hand, Hue town was the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty.

These are the best things to do in Da Nang. This post is meant to help you plan your trip in a better & fulfilling way.

Do subscribe & comment on the post. This will help me to keep on working & publishing articles.

Also, A trip is incomplete without the pics. During the time of this trip, I had iPhone 4 which didn’t have a great camera. Hence, photos are bit weird. But, last year I bought iPhone 6 which drastically improved my pictures. So, I would recommend you buying a great camera phone to take some breathtaking pics.

Apart from a phone camera, I use GoPro an adventure camera to shoot video & click photos. The product is pretty handy & captures mind blogging videos. GoPro is easy & handy to use, which makes it a must buy.

Is Nha Trang Worth Traveling To?

AnandPatel

Nha Trang is not very famous among the tourist visiting Vietnam. Many cover this destination while covering the major cities in between the two worldclass famous cities Ho Chi Minh & Hanoi. I started my journey from Ho Chi Minh & after that, I traveled to Mui Ne & Nha Trang was my third destination during the trip. Even I was skeptical about visiting this place. So, after staying for a couple of days does it was worth it?

Vietnam Mark My Adventure

Nha Trang Experience

Nha Trang boasts a terrific coastline & a wonderful ocean. Most tourists travel to this place to enjoy some water & beach. But, if you are into some quiet time at the beach then you will be disappointed. The beach is crowded most part of the day & it is really tough to find some peaceful space for oneself. So, the beach in the city is not an ideal place to spend some time. However, if you are willing to ride a motorbike. There is a nice beach available at Doc Let which is much more beautiful & pleasant compared to Nha Trang beach.

Doc Let Beach Mark My Adventure

Nha Trang has a limited number of activities to attract tourists. Out of the group of activities the only activity which is worth doing is cliff jumping for those who have not tried this before. I particularly enjoyed the cliff jumping part of the trip. Apart from this, all the other activities were an ok experience. So, if one feels Nha Trang will ruin you with the choices then you will be disappointed.

Nha Trang offers delicious vegetarian food. There are many restaurants which are worth trying out. I have hardly seen so many veg serving places in cities outside India.

There was one minor incident which had an impact on my impression of the place. Other than that, the people were nice & very helpful. However, it is recommended to be careful to avoid any mishaps.

So, after considering all the points mentioned above was the stop at Nha Trang worth it?. For me, it was for two simple reasons first one was the cliff jumping. I wanted to do this since long & I was looking for the opportunity & Nha Trang provided me with that opportunity & second reason was the beach; even though the beach was crowded with the people. Beaches are the beaches you will enjoy the sunsets & also the breeze. A wonderful relaxing feeling is hard to miss by. Hence, I liked the place. But, will I travel again to the place? I highly doubt that I think one time was enough for me to get the feel of the place.

People often check reviews before visiting & it makes sense as nobody wants to spend money on a dull shits. However, the only problem with reviews is that it is based on the people perspective which might differ from your interests. So, I would suggest not to change decisions based on reviews. If someplace excites you even a small bit; just give it a try. Life is too short to not try the things you like. So, explore the unexplored, travel the less travel & make your own stories & be your own heroes.

Nha Trang Solo Travel Guide Mark My Adventure

Best Things To Do In Nha Trang

AnandPatel

Nha Trang is a coastal city & highly crowded during the festive time. The city dons a beach which is very famous among the tourists. So, not wasting any more time. Here is the list of best things to do in Nha Trang .

Best Things To Do In Nha Trang

Ba Ho Waterfall:

Cliff jumping is considered a dangerous sport & it is tough, trust me it is; especially if you are afraid of the heights & the depths of the unknown. But, if you have guts & love for adventure, do visit the place Ba Ho near Nha Trang. A great place to try cliff jumping. A series of 3 waterfalls appropriately placed in the middle of the jungle. So, what are you waiting for head towards this natural masterpiece & test your guts. Read more about Ba Ho Waterfall here.

Best Things To Do In Nha Trang Ba Ho Waterfall

Doc Let:

If Nha Trang beach is too crowded for you. Then, don’t worry head to Doc Let a place near Nha Trang. One needs to cross scenic landscapes to reach a secluded beach. The water is clean & the beach is crowded at only a few places, unlike Nha Trang beach. Doc let has a flurry of resorts. But, the beach is the main attraction here.

Mud Baths:

A unique experience is Mud Bath. There are numerous mud bath options available in Nha Trang. Mud baths are known for its organic & for therapeutic use. A great way to spend some time relaxing after a day’s hard work.

Nha Trang Beach:

The city has a terrific coastal line to boost off. But, crowds almost ruin the calmness of the place. Always crowded with the tourists, the place is always chirpy & vibrant. Evenings are the best time to visit the place.

Night Market:

All the girls, you have a perfect opportunity to buy something at this place. A local flea shop is an appropriate name for the night market. Located just opposite the beach is a go-to destination during the night. There are lots of options to buy, so if any one looking to buy some collectibles or articrafts can visit this place.

Other attractions:

Long Son Pagoda & Cathedral Church are two other attractions which tourists visit. These can be witnessed with ease & can be covered in few hours. Nha Trang as a city doesn’t have much to explore. However, these attractions can be covered in a couple of days.

Rooftops:

Rooftops are a luxury event in Nha Trang. There are numerous high rise buildings which organize rooftop parties. Great views, great music are the common features of the place. If craving for a more romantic & classy evening. Do visit some of the rooftop bars & pubs while in the city.

Scuba diving is one more activity which is famous among the tourists. However, I didn’t do it hence can’t say much about it. Further, the place is decent for one time visit. But, is not exceptionally placed on the list of great touristic destinations.

Above is the list of the activities you can do while your stay. The place doesn’t have a great nightlife. Although, good enough to keep you interested. I stayed for a couple of days here & then moved to the last destination of my trip. Da Nang. Before Nha Trang, I was in Ho Chi Minh City & Mui Ne.

If you like my work do comment & subscribe to my blog. Also, I click most of my pics from a phone camera & apart from that I use GoPro an adventure camera to shoot video & click photos. The product is pretty handy & captures mind blogging videos.

Things To Do In Mui Ne: Mark My Adventure

AnandPatel
Mui Ne is a small town in Vietnam. Mui Ne can be reached from Ho Chi Minh or Nha Trang via a bus or train. I chose bus as my commutation option as it was the most feasible option for me. In my previous post, I have explained about my experience of this place. In this post, I will cover the topic things to do in Mui Ne. Usually, a place has several activities to offer. But, is it worth trying each & every one of them. For some trying each & every activity is must, but for some, it is not. I often shortlist the activities at a place & try to enjoy only them. So, here is the post on the offers by Mui Ne.
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Things To Do In Mui Ne

Mui Ne is a perfect destination for a day or a couple of days if one is short on time. However, if one is looking to spend some relaxed time. Then, the person can choose to stay for a week. I covered the activities in a day & on the next day, I was heading towards the Nha Trang. So, during that one day stay here is a list of activities that I experienced.

Red Sand Dunes:

Red sand dunes are the place that everyone should visit in Mui Ne. The best time suited to visit this place is just before sunrise. It is mesmerizing to watch the sun glowing to the fullest in the background & red sand slowly reflecting its true color in front of you. Nature gifts to human society. Red sand dunes got its name due to its red appearance. The sand is spread across the acres & is very beautiful to watch. I booked a cab from the hostel which took us to the place. If one wishes to stay for a longer duration then it is advisable to get their own vehicle. As the private tour cab only allows you to stay for an hour or so. Although, the time duration is enough to enjoy the place. But, in case someone wants to enjoy it more then its a problem. Red sand dunes are perfect for a pre-wedding shoot & there were few couples who came in a proper wedding dress & getting clicked. The scenes are too beautiful. The unending sand dunes & glowing sun makes a perfect blend for the eyes. Apart from clicking display pictures & photos. One more activity which is famous is sand surfing. A cupboard big enough to fit you in will be slid from the top of the dunes. I still wonder why people will try something like this. But, people do.
Red Sand Dunes Mark My Adventure
The cab driver will drop at the beginning of the entrance & from there one needs to walk to the top of the dunes. The walk is difficult & tiring if a person feels that he or she will not be able to make the walk. Then, they can choose to travel via a quad bike. There are plenty of options available at the entrance to take you to the top of the dunes. I preferred walking over a quad bike & reached the top of the dune in approx 30 mins.

White Sand Dunes:

Like the name suggest while sand dunes are named due to its white appearance. White sand dunes are located approx 20 or 30 mins drive from the Red Sand Dunes. It is amazing to see that both of these places located a few kms from each other.  A  natural phenomenon which is hard to explain. White sand dunes are not as famous as the red sand dunes however, it is worth a visit & like red sand dunes, sand surfing is also an option here. It is funny to watch people surf from the top of the dune. 20 mins are enough for this place, the main thing is to walk to the top of the dunes & enjoy the views of the ocean.  There are few places which offer the best views to click some pictures. After enjoying red sand dunes, this place will find it hard to please you. Maybe after watching the magnificent sunrise from the red sand dunes, visiting this place hardly had any advantages. Anyway, the place is still worth a visit, just to see the natural variance at a single place.

Fairy Stream:

The name is exciting enough to try this activity. For the starters, there is no fairy in this place. However, walking on the stream of water is surely some scene from the fairy tales. The place is only for walking. A stream of water only covering your ankle or up to knee length at few small patches is walk everyone should take. The length of the stream is approx 1 or 1.5 km which cuts through the jungle adjacent to some rock formation which is an ideal location to click some pictures. The stream starts from the waterfall, which is the end point of the walk. Most of the tourists only walk till the rock formations & head back towards the entry point. The walk is refreshing for the tiring feet. There are few shops on the way which allows tea or coffee over the stream. A fancy experience to say the least. The trees overlooking the stream seems like the scene from the movie scene. I enjoyed my walk & I feel this should be experienced by everyone.

Fairy Stream

Fishing Village:

Fishing Village is the place to check out the local living. The village is located on the coastline overlooking the ocean. The moment you will enter the village you will witness a round shape boat trying to catch some fish. The site is perfect to click some pictures. Also, there are lots of restaurants which allows you to taste some local delightful fish sauce. Covering the place will hardly take 15 to 20 mins. I spent around 15 mins, clicked few pictures & came back to my jeep. Visit this place only to watch the local lives of the people of Vietnam. But, the most exciting part is watching those round shaped boats floating over the ocean to catch daily living. A pure joy to watch.

Kite Surfing:

Kitesurfing is a seasoned sport. Thus, checking the season is a must. The time I was visiting the place, the season was closed. However, I have heard that people came from different parts of the world to enjoy this thrilling sport.

Restaurants & Cafes:

The best part of any coastal city is its restaurants & cafes. Nothing is best in comparison to lazy afternoon sipping tea, coffee or beer & enjoying the breeze overlooking the unending sea. Traveling to beach city is a must on any trip; the reason for it is the thoughts that come into the mind. The whole journey just flashes in front of the eyes. Hence, I love visiting such places.
I spent one night at this place which I felt was sufficient to visit the whole town of Mui Ne.  I am sure this post will inspire you to pack your bags & plan a holiday to Vietnam. Don’t wait anymore & make the bookings at the earliest. As there is no better time to visit the place than now.

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Mui Ne Travel Experience

AnandPatel
Mui Ne is a beautiful beach city in the Phan Thiet region of Vietnam. The coastline of Vietnam is much celebrated & it is a delight for the tourists & this city is located at one such region. The never-ending coastline with untouched nature is one of the things people look up to while traveling to Vietnam. Mui Ne extends the legends of Vietnam to another level. The place has few surprises which makes it a must visit place in Vietnam. Most of the tourists start their journey either from Ho Chi Minh or from Hanoi & travel to opposite direction via road. There are lots of operators who provide motorcycles on rent. So, finding a motorbike won’t be an issue. However, driving inside the city is not for everyone because of insane driving practice & no traffic sense. However, if you are willing to take chance & more than confident about your driving; you can try driving here.
Mui Ne is approx 4 hours bus drive from both Ho Chi Minh & Nha Trang. I started from Ho Chi Minh & reached Mui Ne via bus. Luckily my hostel, backpackers village was at the highway. Thus, there was no issue in finding my hostel. A coastal road running adjacent to the mighty ocean & overcast climate was my first impression of the place.
There are fabulous resorts all along the way & staying there is kind of dream for most of the people. The grandness of the resorts is hard to believe till the time one experience it. If I will visit the place next time, I will surely try to spend at least one evening at one of these megastructures. Some of the best property as per hostelworld.com are as follows:

Anantara Mui Ne Resort

Aroma Beach Resort & Spa

The Sailing Bay Beach Resort

Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa

The Cliff Resort 

These beach resorts are one of the best resorts available at your disposal. The mighty stay is worth it if you are in for some luxury travel. Mui Ne Vietnam is such a place where one can enjoy luxury due to its location & vibe. The city has great coastline & chilling is the prime activity here.

Sand Dunes:

Who would have imagined, that Vietnam will be having sand dunes?

Yeah!!! I was thrilled to learn about the Vietnam Sand Dunes in Mui Ne. At first, I thought it would be a small portion of the land which will be covered with sand. But, my thought soon vanished when I reached the place. I booked a trip from my hostel, it was an early morning trip as I wanted to watch a sunrise. The cab or jeep was historical in itself. The  vehicle model was pretty vintage. The thrill of sitting on such a vehicle is something. I sat in the front & out journey to the sand dunes started. The driver had to pick a couple from a hotel. However, there was a huge miscommunication & we lost valuable time.  It was 5:45 am & we were yet to start from the place. Finally, we were able to find the couple & started our journey. The sun was ready to break the shatters & sun in full flow. We could see light taking its course from the far. We rode till 40 mins before we took a left turn to the site. The red sand was just in front of us.

The Experience:

Red Sand covered the place for miles it seems. The light has totally muscled the darkness. However, the sun was yet to come out of the horizon. But, we have to walk to the hill to watch the beautiful sunrise. The distance itself was about 1 Km. First time in my life I touched the sand dunes with my bare foot. The softness of the sand can only be experienced & one more thing I experienced was walking on the sand which is a tough job. The power to climb the small hills is tough. After a difficult walk of 10 to 15 mins. I realized that walking on the already made path by other people is a better option than walking on a new path. So, I tried to walk on the footprints left by the other people. So, at least for this particular instance, the quote which states travel the untraveled route was not true :D. I continued walking & soon reached a relatively high point compared to the landscape. And just in the time, I was able to witness the sun shining fully. The image of sunrise is one of the beautiful sites one can ever imagine. Further, the location added to the beauty of the place. The redness of the sand can now be felt & its color was only getting bright. I sat there silently & enjoyed the view. I clicked few photos but I mostly sat quietly at the place & enjoyed the sceneries. After watching the sunrise, it was time to head back to the other points.

Red Sand Dunes Mark My Adventure

Other Experiences:

Red sand dunes are the prime attraction of the place. After that, we headed towards the white sand dunes, it got its name due to its color. No guessing required here. The place is not as big as red sand dunes. But, one thing is worth remembering which both these places are located a few km’s apart. So, one can say that nature has its way of showing magic & saying, Humans, you still need to grow. After the white sand dunes, it was time for the fairy stream. A walk over the flowing water, first I thought that it would be only for few meters only. But, once I started walking it took at least half an hour to reach the end of the stream. The stream crossed several beautiful places. It might seem childish at first to walk on the stream. However, after a few meters, you will start to enjoy it. The constant tickles of the water & beautiful surrounding landscapes add to the beauty of the place. After all these activities, I felt walking on stream & watching a sunrise from the red sand dunes are the things worth doing while staying in Mui Ne.

The Nightlife:

I only stayed here for one night, hence I can’t write much about it. However, like every coastal city, there are hardly any pubs or clubs here. But, one thing that keeps night happening is the live music. The restro on the beach, where people sit & enjoy the music in slow music. Live music in an open area has its charm, especially in the place like this where the city gets silent at 8 or 9 pm. These bars are the best options available to the tourists. Apart from these experience, there is nothing much to do. I went to one place, which had beach access & live music. The guy who was singing was perfect in his art. The songs he chose were of the best qualities & I enjoyed the place.

Sandy beaches don’t have much of a say here. As most part of the coastline is covered with concrete. However, there are few patches of sandy beaches which can be accessed by anyone. It is worth noting that most of the sandy beach has private access. The water is muddy & maybe not appropriate for a dip. But, don’t get disheartened as there are other places where one can swim.

Concrete Beaches Of Mui Ne

Mui Ne is one of the towns which is perfect to relax. No rush, not crowded & coastline. A perfect getaway from the hustling & bustling city like Ho Chi Minh. The calmness in the air is much appreciated. This was my experience of the place.

I clicked the photos either from an iPhone or GoPro. I rely on these two products while traveling. Both the products are handy & easy to use. Hence, makes it must have during the trips.

I have earlier written articles on the following topics. If you want to gain some experience, do read some of these.

Vietnam Visa For Indians

Ho Chi Minh Travel Guide

Also, I mostly rely on the following websites to satisfy my basic needs

Amazon For Basic Needs

Jetradar For Flights

Agoda & Booking For Hostel Booking

If you like my work, do subscribe & comment on it.

Is Ho Chi Minh Safe For Solo Travel

AnandPatel

Safety of the place is a concern before traveling to a new place.  If the place is not safe  one is reluctant to travel to that place. For eg. Lots of people conveyed to me that Vietnam is not safe for the solo tourist. So, I wanted to check this fact, Hence I decided to write a post on Is Ho Chi Minh Safe for solo traveling?

Saigon or Ho Chi Minh is basically a safe destination for the tourists. There are hardly any violent activities against the tourists. However, there are few points which should be engraved in the mind before traveling to Ho Chi Minh. Some of these are as follows:

Snatching:

The most common form of crime is snatching. However, the account of such incidents is fairly on a lower side compared to some of the other Vietnam cities. Ho Chi Minh is one of those cities which is pretty safe to travel to. But, there are few such incidents hence one needs to be careful.

Taxi or motorbike:

Taxi or motorbike taxis are common forms of commutation in Ho Chi Minh. It has been observed the driver tries to ask for a higher price than the actual price; if the price is not pre-registered. This happens is most of the travel. I would recommend to fix the price first & then start your journey or go by meter. Apart from this, there is one app “Grab” which is kind of uber of Vietnam & can be used for commutation.

Late Night:

Parties often run till late hours & when one is drunk & with little conscious. It is hard to maintain a stable condition. Sometimes the situation goes out of the hand & it is very obvious that people will support locals compared to the tourists. Thus, the best would be to follow the rule & avoid any mishaps. If you are getting the feeling that something bad will happen then best would be to avoid the situation & move ahead. Don’t try to fight back until & unless it is a must. But, these incidents are very rare still worth remembering.

These are some of the things one should be kept in mind while traveling to Ho Chi Minh for being safe. As being safe is the most important part of solo traveling.

Ho Chi Minh Travel Guide Mark My Adventure

My Experience:

This was my first time in Vietnam. I was nervous at the start of the trip as many people asked me about the safety in the city & I was like why there is so much ambiguity about the city’s safety, as I have had not heard anything ill about the place. For me, Ho Chi Minh city was perfectly safe (touchwood). I traveled by public transport & strolled at the night in not so lively streets surrounded by supporting people. The best way to have a smiling face & greet everyone. This has worked perfectly with me in all my travels & I hope it remains so for the future endeavor as well. 

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Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh City

AnandPatel

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the biggest cities in Vietnam & managing activities is often necessary to fully utilize the time. As people usually visit one place for one time (until & unless is worth going again & again), thus shortlisting the activities is important. To cater to this need, here is the guide to THINGS TO DO IN HO CHI MINH.

The following activities are based on my experience & my knowledge; if someone differs it’s totally cool.

Cu Chi Tunnels:

The foremost activity in Ho Chi Minh is surely the Cu Chi Tunnels. If you wanna taste the conditions during the war & what all it takes to fight a war. Then, this place is perfect. The tunnels are engineering marvel & should be on the list of every traveler visiting Ho Chi Minh. A half day tour to this place is worth visiting & if you have enough braveness in you; do try crawling in the tunnels I bet it will surprise you beyond your expectations. Click here to know more about Cu Chi Tunnels.

Entrance fee of 90,000 VND is applicable.

Cu Chi Tunnels Mark My Adventure

War Ramnant Museum:

Vietnam has to suffer a lot due to invasions from the western countries. At one point during the time they were struggling to stay afloat. However, with the focused mission, the people of Vietnam were able to overcome one of the mightiest powers of the world. But, every war has its side effects & it is the people who feel them. War Remnant is one such museum which will present the war. I personally was emotional while walking through the sections. I would recommend visiting this place to get the feel of the war.

Entrance fee of 15,000 VND is applicable for the adults.

 

Independence Palace:

South Vietnam was ruled by Republican party while North Vietnam was ruled by a communist party. The war was raged due to the difference in the ideologies of the two groups. Reunification Palace or Independence palace was the place for the president of South Vietnam. While proving the dominance over the population North Vietnamese crashed the gates of this Palace to put the final nail on the coffin. The tank is still placed in the garden & is a major tourist attraction.

Entrance fee of 30,000 VND is applicable for the adults

Central Post office & Notre Dame Cathedral:

One of the architectural attractions of the city is the Cathedral Notre dam which is a copy of the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. However, the version is a bit minuscule in front of the real Notre Dam. Just adjacent to this place is National Post Office of Ho Chi Minh. One of the oldest post offices, which is still functional. If you want to fancy to send a post to any part of the world. This is your place. A great place for a half day tour.

Post Office Ho Chi Minh

Ben Thanh Market:

Ben Thanh Market is probably the most visited market in the Ho Chi Minh city. A place which holds hundreds of shops is a place to go for a local shopping. There are shops for literary everything. The market is open even in the night & night shopping is one of the activities promoted by the local people. Along the market, there is a small street to comfort your tasting buds. A street food market. The variety of foods & tastes are explicit. A haven for the foodies a must place to visit.

Pham Ngu Lao Street:

A vibrant place for the young souls. This place is a must visit for parties. Based on the theme of Khao San Road in Bangkok. On either side of the road, there are numbers of restaurants, bars, pubs & what not. A place which starts to party at 11 pm at night. Get your dancing shoes on & visit this evergreen street.

Coffees:

Ho Chi Minh is in love affair with coffees. Coffees are sold at every corner or literary at every shop. There are tons of shops with varieties in the taste. Once in Ho Chi Minh tasting a coffee is often essential. Do try some of the best coffee shops & sip your worries away ;).

Coffee Shop In Ho Chi Minh

Rooftop Bars:

These are a bit luxurious outing for the most. Climbing to the top of the building & enjoying few drinks during the evening is one of the most done activities by the travelers. If you have enough cash in hand. This activity should be on your list.

These are some of the things to do in Ho Chi Minh from Mark My Adventure to help you plan your trip in a better way.  Apart from the above-mentioned activities, one can also try Mekong Delta which is at some distance from Ho Chi Minh (roughly 5 hours journey).

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All the pics have been clicked by me through my iphone. You can buy one from here. 

Cu Chi Tunnels Guide: Mark My Adventure

AnandPatel

Cu Chi Tunnels is one of the major attraction in Ho Chi Minh city. It is a half day tour & is must visit place. These tiny tunnels were used by Vietnamese forces to tame down American forces.  A complex network of tunnels running across 250 Km underground is an engineering marvel of those times. Currently, only 100 Mt long route is open for the tourists, which are made taller & wider deliberately to accommodate tourists. Here is the guide to this fascinating place “Cu Chi Tunnels”. It is astonishing to even imagine that at one point of time whole community used to reside below the earth. There were rooms for kitchen, bedroom etc & all these below the earth surface. Therefore, it became much more important to visit this place.

Cu Chi Tunnels Mark My Adventure

How To Reach:

Cu Chi Tunnels is located some 40 odd km from Ho Chi Minh city. The best way to reach this place is through a tour agency or via self-driving motorbike. I chose to take the option of tour agency as they arranged everything from pick up to drop & a guide. The amount I paid for the services was 1,50,000 VND which was excluding entrance fees which was approx 90,000 VND.  

After Entering:

Your guide will take care of everything for you. He will start the tour from the famous entry or lookout point. An opening big enough only to accommodate one person & that too in a particular way. I tried to enter this opening & was successful. However, it is very compact inside & one can’t move freely inside the chamber. This is just one small opening perfectly camouflaged with the leaves & dust. After showing this guide will cover various other points & showing things like booby traps, ventilation techniques (which by the way is brilliant). There is one tank stationed at the site for the tourists. It is said that this tank was left behind by the Amercian forces.

Cu Chi Tunnels Mark My Adventure

There are also some automated models to show various aspects of people life during the war times. Walking past all these points often take you to the past or more precisely to the war days. It is tough to imagine how Vietnamese force survived in such harsh conditions.

Shooting Range:

Anyone who is interested in some shooting will be overwhelmed by the fact that there is one shooting range which has guns like AK 47, M-16 & Machine Gun. One just needs to pay for the bullets which is a bit pricey to the liking. However, if you are adventurous enough, you should try it once.

Booby Traps Mark My Adventure

Tunnel:

To give the taste of the place, there is one tunnel opened for the tourists. A 100 Mt tunnel constructed little wider & taller to accommodate tourists is open for testing skills. I tried my hand on the same. For the start the path seems to be easy, I could walk with a little bend &  after a few meters, the place got narrower & the height reduced. Now I had to sit & walk (one of the toughest part of the route). After 50 meters the going gets tough, I rested quite a few times before I could see the end of the tunnel & after completing this difficult route I could take a sigh of relief.

Entrance To Tunnels Mark My Adventure

The Experience:

The moment I saw that pit, I was sure that people of Vietnamese had a very tough time during the war days. It is heartbreaking to see the impact the people have on their lives during such horrendous time. I was stunned to see the model where people used to sleep, a bunker with beds one above the other & all inside the earth. One can only imagine how tough it was during wars.

Tunnels Mark My Adventure

These tunnels run approx 250 Km & connect to Saigon river on one part. The engineering by the Vietnamese people was surely ahead of its time. Right from using rubber shoes, to ventilating tunnels, provisions for high & low tide & also booby traps. They thought possibly everything which could have impacted their glory. A must place to visit.

Following links are for your benefits:

Book Cu Chi Tunnels Tour

Ho Chi Minh Travel Guide

Vietnam Visa For Indians

 

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