Foreign writer shares experience on travelling to Vietnam

The travel writer said that he has travelled to the country six times over the past decade and has always been blown away by Vietnamese people’s welcoming and open-hearted acceptance of outsiders who are visiting their homeland.

In his piece, McRae shares that the highlights of his trip include a visit to Ho Chi Minh City and the city’s lifeblood of the Mekong river. He noted that the fishing villages and stilt houses which line its banks contain many interesting stories.

“A highlight for me is an on-river jaunt in a hand rowed Sampan. We will also take to the streets of Saigon on a form of transport known as a cyclo, a three-wheeled bicycle taxi that was introduced in the French period as a form of luxury transport and is a really cool way to visit some of the iconic landmarks of the city,” he says.

The travel writer adds that Hoi An is definitely one of his favourite destinations when visiting the nation.

While in Hoi An, he suggests that guests visit the World Heritage site of My So and take part in an excellent half day gastronomical adventure on a guided tour of Hoi An’s colourful central market and a boat trip on the Hoi An river. This can then be wrapped up with a two hour hands on cooking class, following which visitors can enjoy their meals at lunch.

McRae described Hanoi as being a city of controlled chaos that doesn’t intimidate guests, but instead seems to draw visitors into its exciting atmosphere.

“A highlight for me and you I believe, will be the walking foodie tour, where we take in Hanoi’s old quarter which has an amazing history. Sometimes it’s difficult to find some local food stalls and mini restaurants in hidden alleys and sidewalks, and this night in town gives you a taste of cuisine, culture, the people and the language,” Scott McRae added.

“Finishing off the night in Beer Street also has its bonuses!” he concluded.