November, 2025
On the road again …
After visiting Mongolia and China just a few months ago I chose Vietnam for this year’s November dark days get away.
Now this nation is one of the uprising economic powerhouses in all of Asia. With over 100 million people and a booming economy producing everything the world wants from cloths, sneakers to electronics including iPhones. And of course tourism, with a coastline of over 1500 km, an ever changing climate and landscape from North to South, Vietnam has something to offer for most travellers.
Yet the best part of any visit are for sure the locals, always very polite, help and joyful, curious, one always feels welcome and safe in this country.
Hanoi
The capital has seen a huge transformation since the reunification. Yet old town and the French Quarter have still kept a lot of their flair.
We hired a local guide who showed us around which I can really recommend, only like this does one get to see the hippen gems and great stories, thank you Mai.
Ha Long Bay
This bay is like a must in any itinerary and it does not fail. However it is important to stay a least two night on a ship to not only see the last formation but to experience the tranquility still to be found in certain bays.
Sa Pa & the mountains
Nested in the mountains of the Northwest at 1600m altitude, Sa Pa was already the go to place for the French when escaping the summer heat. The landscape is dominated by mountains and rolling hills covered with terraced rice fields. There still is a community of indigenous people living in the valley which is mostly self sufficient and it’s very interesting to see how it’s being done.
Nha Trang
One of the crown jewels along the coast with pristine beaches, ample entertaining and shopping facilities. These days dominated by Russian tourists who like a warm getaway and find Sochi not so safe anymore. The once beach town has grown into a mid-size city. The islands in front of the coast are much calmer and more exclusive with the exception of the main one connected by a cable car and boasting a huge entertainment park.
Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon, as everybody still calls it, is even more busier than the capital, traffic even more heavier, and the weather not so my taste, it’s mostly hot and humid. The city is growing on every corner but like everywhere the people are kind and friendly. Besides city life with countless rooftop bars the nearby Mekong-Delta offers ample possibilities to immerse into jungle life.
