Day 14: Phnom Penh by Night – River Strolls, Sunset (Sort of), and Chicken BBQ Cravings
Back in Phnom Penh, with the journey from Angkor behind us and my stomach settling down, we were ready for a gentle evening out. Lizz had considerably more …
Lizz and Andi
Day 11: Da Nang – Saigon – Phnom Penh: Airports, Airplanes, and Arrival in Cambodia
Day Eleven was mostly about airports. After our short stay in Da Nang, we were heading through Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh. There would be plenty …
Day 9: Sun, Sand, Lanterns & Cake – Andi’s Birthday in Hoi An
Day Nine was my birthday, and we had a very satisfactory programme: An Bang Beach, a seafood lunch, coffee, cake and lantern shopping. No mountain climb required. Given …
Day 8 – Hoi An Museums, Heritage Houses & Lantern-Lit Nights
At last, a proper night’s sleep: around eight hours. After the recent short nights, we were in no hurry to complain about a quiet room and a comfortable …
Day 7: Hoi An – Slow Steps and Golden Moments
The morning began with sore muscles from feet to thighs—a lingering souvenir of Hang Mua. My knee was still recovering too, so we agreed on short outings. The …
Day 6: Hoi An – Hospital Detour & Slow-Motion Wandering
Our first full day in Hoi An began after another short night. I had managed about two and a half hours of sleep, with the knee I injured …
Vietnam Travel Diaries: Day 5 – The Hang Mua Challenge (or, How Not to Injure Your Knee at Sunrise)
After yesterday’s decision to choose lunch over a mountain, we set the alarm for 5 am and gave Hang Mua another chance. The idea was to reach the …
Day 4: Rainy Reflections, Mua Cave (Almost), and Much-Needed Rest
After yesterday’s rather ambitious sightseeing programme, Ninh Binh gave us a convincing reason to slow down: thunder, heavy rain and a sky offering absolutely no encouragement to leave …
Day 3: From Hanoi’s Bustle to Ninh Binh’s Tranquility—And a Lesson in FOMO
Our third day in Vietnam began with another enthusiastic alarm clock. Pick-up was booked for 6:30 am, but we were already in the hotel lobby at 5:45. Apparently …
Day Two in Hanoi: Pagodas, History, and a Train Rush
From our April 2025 travel diary. After our very sleepy first day in Hanoi, a proper night’s sleep made quite a difference. The appetite, however, needed no recovery …