Day 10: Da Nang – When the City Isn’t Your Scene
After Ninh Binh’s valleys and several days in Hoi An, Da Nang felt like quite a change. Bigger roads, taller buildings and a much more modern seafront made …
Travel Diaries
Come along as we explore, get lost, find something good to eat and occasionally discover that the day has other plans. These are our travel diaries, following the journey day by day through places such as Vietnam and Cambodia.
We write down the small details while they are still fresh: the discoveries, the tired feet and the moments we might otherwise forget.
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 …
Day One in Hanoi: Tired, Hungry, and Wide-Eyed in the Old Quarter
We landed in Hanoi at 12:45 a.m. By the time we reached our hotel in the Old Quarter, it was around two. A sensible couple might then have …