I first went to Vietnam in 2011. I had just finished grad school and decided to spend a few months traveling Asia with various friends that decided to join me for different parts of the trip. After a few months, I ended up in Vietnam and took a sleeper bus from Saigon to Hanoi with stops along the way. When I ended in Hanoi, I met up with a good friend who had just started a summer teaching job. They were looking for a few more teachers and I decided I would stay in Hanoi for a few months and teach English. I lived with my friend in one room in a Vietnamese family’s home on the 3rd floor. Needless to say, my time in Vietnam was on a serious budget. Now, I have a real job and went back to Vietnam and did a very boujee trip and took the husband along. Here’s my story.
Day 1-2: Exploring Hanoi
Day 1 – Hanoi –To begin our adventure in Vietnam, we spent our first three nights at The Capella Hanoi. Our flight landed in Hanoi quite late at night, and we reached our hotel around midnight. I had initially reserved a junior suite. However, I was upgraded to a Capella suite upon arrival thanks to my Amex Platinum. The room was incredible. On our first full day in Hanoi, we strolled around Hoan Kiem Lake in the morning. We also visited The Note Coffee. This café offers great views of the square and the lake. I am often paralyzed with making food decisions. To solve for that issue, we often do food tours which lets us sample tons of local and traditional foods and often the guides provide restaurant recommendations. These recommendations help us make dining decisions for the rest of the trip. We took an afternoon food tour, which I highly recommend! It’s an excellent way to get familiar with the food culture and sample a variety of dishes in Hanoi. Here’s the link to the food tour that we thoroughly enjoyed: The BEST Hanoi Food Tour.
Day 2 – Hanoi – We took a private guided tour with @rosehanoitourguide, who showed us all the main attractions in the city, including Ho Chi Minh’s House, the Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, the Temple of Literature, and Train Street. Train street is so interesting because when I lived here in 2011, I never went here and didn’t even know it was a thing #thepowerofinstagram. We also had lunch at a well-known spot where President Obama once dined. It was an excellent tour, and afterward, we visited a fun cocktail bar called The Haflington.
Day 3-4: Ha Long Bay Cruise
We arranged a 2-day/1-night tour with Elite of the Seas Cruises to spend the night on Halong Bay. Elite of the Seas was extremely luxurious. We thoroughly enjoyed it. There are many excellent cruise companies to choose from. They pick you up from your hotel in the morning, drive about 2 hours to the coast, and then you board the boat for the afternoon. We went kayaking in the afternoon and relaxed on the boat, which has a pool. I believe all meals and some beverages are included. You really don’t need more than 2 days/1 night. It was the ideal amount of time.
The highlight of my cruise was kayaking through the caves and floating fishing villages. The views were nothing short of spectacular.
The following morning, you enjoy breakfast and lunch. There are boat excursions available in the morning, after which you return to shore and are transported back to Hanoi. The only disappointment of the cruise, though not their fault, was the large amount of trash in the water. It really affected the mood and was quite sad to witness. In the evening, we took a flight from Hanoi to Danang to make our way to Hoi An.
Day 5-7: Hoi An’s Charm
We traveled to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its well-preserved Ancient Town. We stayed at a luxurious resort just outside the town, which made it easy to relax while exploring. We spent three nights at the Four Seasons Hoi An. It quickly became one of the top hotels I have ever stayed in. This was my first time ever staying at a Four Seasons and I get the hype. On our first full day in Hoi An, we played golf at Montgomerie Golf Links. It was conveniently close to the hotel and very fun. I was sort of dragged to play golf and in the end I had a lot of fun. The golf experience included female caddies, and the Asian food delivered to the cart was excellent. After golf, we spent the afternoon at the pool. The hotel provided shuttles into town, so we took one to explore Hoi An at night and enjoy some banh mi. The night scenery in Hoi An is stunning with lanterns adorning the area and the river, creating a beautiful view. We also visited Yaly Couture to get fitted for some clothes. It’s very popular to do in Hanoi if you’re looking for a new dress, suit, or anything else.
On our second full day in Hoi An, we dedicated time to relaxation. We did yoga and enjoyed the spa at the hotel. Afterward, we spent some time at the pool. In the evening, we took the shuttle to Hoi An to explore the shops and have dinner.
During our final full day in Hoi An, we participated in a cooking class at the Four Seasons, and it turned out to be just us, which was quite nice. We traveled into town with our guide and chef, visited the Hoi An market to gather our ingredients, and then returned to the hotel to learn how to make Pho and spring rolls. We enjoyed a large lunch consisting of banana blossom salad, spring rolls, and pho. It was delicious! Later, we went back to town for dinner and to collect our clothes.
Days 8-10: The Pinnacle of Luxury – Amanoi
On the 8th day of our trip, we caught an early morning flight from Danang to Nha Trang. The hotel had arranged a taxi to take us from the airport to Amanoi, located about 90 minutes south of Nha Trang airport. We chose an early flight to maximize our time at Amanoi. Upon arrival in the morning, we had breakfast, enjoyed the pool, and explored the property. The location features several restaurants and pool/beach areas. We had lunch at the beach club. This was our first time staying at an Aman property. Many Aman properties are insanely expensive but several Aman properties in Asia are more affordable for such a luxury hotel. It’s definitely worth the splurge for a few nights.
The next morning, we had prearranged a guided hike in Nui Chua National Park. Our guide from the Amanoi led us, and it turned out to be a highlight of our trip. Our guide, My, was incredible. Before we set off, they had someone prepare a picnic at the waterfall. A member of the hotel staff literally ran up the mountain to prepare this picnic for us. I was blown away. The hike covered a total of 6 miles. In the afternoon, we visited the hotel beach club, and our same guide took us by boat to the floating village, where we enjoyed fresh seafood caught right before our eyes. We spent the late afternoon and evening back at the hotel, enjoying cocktails and dinner.
On our final day at Amanoi, we rose early for a brief 20-minute hike to Goga Peak (located on the property) to catch the sunrise. Before our evening flight to Ho Chi Minh, we opted for a luxurious spa experience at Amanoi.
Day 11-14: Ho Chi Minh City
From Nha Trang, we flew to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. This bustling metropolis is a captivating blend of history, culture, and modern energy. I chose a luxury hotel in District 1, right in the heart of the action, The Caravelle.
Since this was my second visit to Vietnam and Zach had a conference for a few days, I didn’t take a Saigon tour. However, I strongly recommend hiring a guide for a city highlights tour. We explored on foot and visited some major attractions, including the Opera House (right across from our hotel), the central post office, and Independence Palace. Independence Palace is rich in history, and during my previous visit, I took a guided tour of the area. We did enjoy a nighttime motorbike food tour, which was fantastic—it led us beyond the main tourist spots to explore other neighborhoods in the city. This tour, operated by @xotours, is the first female-run tour in Vietnam, with all female guides.
On our second full day in Saigon, I enjoyed a relaxing morning while Zach attended his conference. In the afternoon, we visited the War Remnants Museum, which is an excellent yet deeply moving place that everyone should see. I also explored the Ben Thanh Market, where I enjoyed some retail therapy. I picked up unique souvenirs while immersing myself in the vibrant atmosphere, surrounded by the buzz of locals and tourists alike. That evening, we dined at Anan Saigon, the city’s first Michelin-starred restaurant.
On our final full day in Vietnam, we took a full-day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta. I could have skipped the Mekong Delta; it was alright but not particularly exciting. The Cu Chi Tunnels, however, were definitely worthwhile, and I recommend a half-day tour there. The Cu Chi Tunnels was an extensive underground network used during the Vietnam War. It was eye-opening to learn about the resilience and ingenuity of the Vietnamese people during such difficult times. Climbing through the tunnels, I was struck by their complexity and the stories that unfolded within. After our full-day tour, we wandered along the main street right outside the hotel—it’s lively with crowds, lights, and ideal for people-watching. We explored various rooftop bars in the area.
On our last day, we headed to the airport and said goodbye to Vietnam.
If you enjoyed our trip, leave me a comment below or let me know if you have any questions. Follow me on instagram and tiktok for more pictures and videos about our travels with helpful tips and guides – TikTok @travelwithmeagle, instagram @travel_with_meagle.
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