While we’ve just returned from vacation, it’s never too soon to be daydreaming about another–right? Jennifer asked me to contribute to her Wanderlust series on her beautiful site, Luster, and I took the chance to imaginary-plan a trip to Vietnam. (I would love to go!)
Check out my pretend-itinerary and one-day-soon packing list, here.
Also, some post from my baby blog, Baby Mine, that I hope you’ll enjoy:
Have a great weekend!
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
lovely blog – babymine – thank you for sharing! Have a happy Easter!
I love your dream itinerary. My husband and I have been wishing for a trip to Vietnam as well, so I was so stoked to see a such an exciting, well-researched post! I'm also encouraged by the fact that your son was listed on your packing list. I don't have any babies yet, but whenever it comes up, someone adds their two cents about how a baby would put an end to our traveling days. I always thought that was ridiculous, and I'm looking forward to your future travelogues as a family of three.
-Johanna
Thank you both so much!
You've got me convinced. When to we leave.
I have always wanted to go to Vietnam, someday!
My fiancee and I are trying to decide where to go on our honeymoon. We've considered many, but Vietnam, Bali, Cambodia, and Perhentian Islands top the list right now. Thanks for posting this info!
~lindsey
http://lulabelles.tumblr.com
I have never wanted to go to Vietnam until this moment. It looks incredible!
Thanks everyone–Ashley is a master trip planner! I just wish we had tickets already.
Lindsey, if you are considering SE Asia, be sure to check out our travelogue (on the right side of the blog) on Thailand. That is where we ended up going on our honeymoon and we loved it!
The waterfalls with the monks is an incredible photograph! I've seen Bourdain's episode on Vietnam and it seemed pretty cool. Would love to eat pho there..
My mother and her family are from Vietnam. They left 4 days before Saigon fell. Sadly, she's never been back. My husband and I are planning a trip there, hopefully within in the next year or so, with my mom and lots of other family members! My uncle was there recently and his baby got very ill from a stomach bug that was going around. I'm wondering, with all of the traveling that you both do, do you do anything to prepare for that sort of thing?
I hope we both take our trips there very very soon!!!
No you got ME wanderlusting about Vietnam!!!
Me too! I spent 3 months in Thailand living on the beach when I was 19, which was great at the time, but I so regret not going to Vietnam.
xo
Hi sarah-mai-
Sorry to hear about your cousin.
We try to do a couple things to prepare, especially if we are going to a country with known risks.
eat yogurt before and during the trip
take lactobacillus pills on the trip
Bring rehydration salts in case we get sick
always drink bottled water if the tap water isn't safe and are careful about fruits
are careful about what foods, especially street foods, we eat.
Bring a first aid kit.
You can go to a doctor with knowledge of travel medicine before your trip–he or she can prescribe you abx in case you get sick, and can advise you of any other risks (malaria etc), how to avoid them, and give you any immunizations you may need.
This said, brining a baby will definitely make us feel double concerned–we'll probably try to bring everything we can to be extra safe!
I'm planning a brief trip to Asia, and I'm putting Vietnam on my list because of your post. Looks so beautiful!
Aron – Thanks so much for the info! We'll definitely keep all of those things in mind
We're off to Turks and Caicos next month for our anniversary…I highly recommend it if you've never been!
i loved vietnam
I have never really considered Vietnam for vacation but you've made it look so fabulous! I think this wanderlust business is contagious!
beautiful images! our travel time begins in June. I feel so inspired after re-reading Rolf Potts "Vagabonding" some days ago. Happy Easter!
Ah, Vietnam, how could I refuse such beauty. It would be great if the plane tickets are ready.
I have been to Vietnam in 2009 and it was beautiful. we traveled from hanoi to halong bay, then took the train down south the danang and hoi an. further on to hcmc and some relax time on the island of phu choc! and then further on to cambodia, which is beyond beautiful as well!!
happy easter! kristina
I would love to go see Vietnam! I hope you make it there.
My husband and I just got back from Vietnam (and Laos) and I would absolutely encourage you to go. We concentrated mainly on the north of the country because we wanted to go overland to Laos, but I hope we'll visit again someday and go southward.
Personally, I like Hanoi, but it's polarizing. It's chaotic and not always friendly, but I think it has great character. I ate nothing but street food and it was absolutely one of the highlights of the trip. And not a whiff of illness, either! My husband and I both remarked on the number of families traveling, with kids of all ages, so I think you would be in good company with your son.
We also went to Ha Long Bay – don't miss it under any circumstances. We ended up using Handspan Tours, but Buffalo Tours and Indochina Sails also looked very nice. If ever there was something to splurge on, it's this.
As for Sa Pa, I wish we could have seen more. The town was enveloped in the thickest fog I've ever seen throughout our stay – if you want views, skip February.
Still, it's a wonderful place, particularly if you get out into some of the smaller villages. We rented a motorbike, which was fantastic, but probably not advisable with a little one.
I wouldn't want to put anyone off, but I would say that it is very important to be aware that traveling Vietnam is challenging. Romanticize it too much and you're in for a shock.
I think this blog post (http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/why-ill-never-return-to-vietnam/) goes too far, but it's worth a read (particularly the comments) for anyone considering a trip.