Beyond the Dot, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City Revisited

My first visit to Ho Chi Minh City was in 2010 on a short weekend trip. It was a whirlwind experience rushing from one sight to another trying to take in as much as I could. In December of 2024, I had the opportunity to visit the city again at a more leisurely pace. This time I was more selective on what to see and not revisit places that I’ve already covered in my first trip. At the same time, I was also amazed by how much the city has developed over the last 14 years when I was away. Modern skyscrapers jostle alongside colonial architecture, and a new metro line had just started operating a few days ago.

Beyond the Dot, Hue - First Impressions, Vietnam

Hue – First Impressions

I had only planned a day trip from Da Nang to Hue, which was the imperial capital of Vietnam from the 19th century until the mid 20th century. Now that I’ve been there, I think a day trip is too short and Hue deserves a proper visit of 2 to 3 days to really take in its ancient history and culture. So this trip will have to be a first impression for me.

Beyond the Dot, Hoi An Ancient Town, Vietnam

Hoi An Ancient Town

While Da Nang is the gateway to central Vietnam, Hoi An is probably the main hall where most visitors will end up staying. This UNESCO world heritage site is famous for its well preserved old town and an example of a 15th century trading port in South East Asia.

Beyond the Dot, Danang, Vietnam

Da Nang

I’ve been longing to visit the central Vietnamese cities of Da Nang and Hoi An for some time. But Covid19 had put a more than 2 years hiatus on all overseas trips until now. With the reopening of unrestricted tourism in most Southeast Asian countries it was time to plan my visit this August.

Beyond the Dot, The Prison Island, Vietnam

The Prison Island

When it comes to islands and beaches in Vietnam most people will immediately think of Phu Quoc Island which is really popular with tourists. However, there is another island which lies much further and hides a dark past. This is the relatively unknown island of Con Dao which you won’t find in travel brochures, or on the usual tourist maps.

Beyond the Dot, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Perfume Pagoda 2011, Vietnam

Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Perfume Pagoda 2011

It is not often that we can go on a family vacation. Trying to fit everyone’s conflicting schedules and preferences together and agreeing on a place to visit can be a major headache. My extended family finally went on a holiday to Hanoi in 2011 during the December school holidays. Due to everyone’s tight schedules, we managed to squeeze in 5 days of vacation time between Christmas and New Year. But this meant that we could only go somewhere nearby and doesn’t take up too much time. Since we all had not been to Hanoi, this was an ideal place to visit given our short time requirements.
Continue reading “Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Perfume Pagoda 2011”

Sapa, Vietnam

Sapa, Vietnam 2014

Well, my brother-in-law had been bugging me to visit this place with him for some time. We finally decided to pack our bags during the last Vesak Day long weekend and hustle over. Sapa is located in the mountainous region north of Hanoi and close to the Chinese border. It’s famous for rice terraces scenery and the minority ethnic tribes with their colorful costumes.

Presently, the journey to Sapa is as interesting as the destination itself. Continue reading “Sapa, Vietnam 2014”

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