rusticroamer.blogspot.ie: Vietnam baby- Hanoi, Hoi An, Nha Trang!!!

Hoi An tailors

Crazy traffic in Hanoi

On the 17th of January (Suzanne's birthday) we landed in Hanoi in Vietnam. Hanoi airport was not a nice experience and I have absolutely no problem saying that. So for anyone going you have been warned!! For any prospective backpacker thinking about travelling to Vietnam and Cambodia be aware that not everyone speaks English and communication can prove difficult at times. Thailand is far more westernised. Having said that, change is good and we should try embrace all opportunities presented to us.. so yes I would say go for it! You will get by!
We were pissing ourselves laughing driving into Hanoi city centre. Honestly we had never seen anything like it. They literally drive anywhere. There is no traffic system whatsoever and very few cars. It is easily 80 percent motorbikes. We stayed in a hostel called Hanoi backpackers which I must say was one of the best hostels I stayed in travelling. It had a bar downstairs which served cheap food and drink and had a great atmosphere. One of its notable factors was a shot scoreboard. It was a daily competition to see which country could top the leader board and prove to be the best drinkers. Surprise, surprise the competition ended up being between the Irish and the English. It was close but we just pipped the English at the post. It was Suzanne's birthday after all!! :)

Scoreboard

Nerves kicking in for the Irish

To be honest apart from drinking and a great hostel I haven't much else to say about Hanoi. Two days was more than enough in the place. From there we embarked on a 17 hour overnight train down the east coast to De Nang station and got a taxi to our next destination which was Hoi An. Hoi An is an old trading port town famous for its tailors and many backpackers have suits and dresses made there as it is super cheap. We were told there are over a thousand tailors in the town so best to shop around. We stayed in a hostel called sunlight hotel. It was cheap and cheerful no complaints.
After one night in Hoi An we got an overnight bus to Nha Trang which is situated on the east coast of Vietnam overlooking the south China sea. This was definitely the worst bus trip I have ever endured. The driver literally did not stop beeping the horn for the duration of the journey. IT IS 14 HOURS FROM HOI AN TO NHA TRANG!!!! Later on I asked a local about why Vietnamese people feel the need to constantly beep the horn on road journeys. He told me that is their way of informing fellow road users that they are there. It sounds absolutely ridiculous but I swear that was the reason he gave me. He was amazed when I told him if that was in our country the guards would probably be doing you for noise pollution!!!! Needless to say I didn't sleep a wink on that journey. So.. what did this experience teach me?! Ear plugs and sleeping tablets are essential for overnight bus journeys in Vietnam. Got that?!! Don't say you haven't been warned!!
Nha Trang has really nice beaches and offers a little more as regards shops and restaurants. In essence it has more of a modern vibe. We stayed in a place called HQ cafe. Again no complaints. One of our highlights of Nha Trang was our visit to a water park called Vinpearl. To be honest I am not a water baby. I can't swim and you would not want to see me attempt a length of a pool however I did enjoy this park. Even if I was a little out of my comfort zone.
I believe that it's good to face your fears. It's very healthy to challenge yourself and I think that's what travelling is all about. Why not feel the fear and do it anyway?!