Counting Down the Days! Our Wacky Adventure: Discovering Vietnam and Cambodia

From the archive: written in March 2025, before our Vietnam and Cambodia journey. These were the plans. For what actually happened, follow our Travel Diaries—because travel does occasionally enjoy correcting the itinerary.

We are counting down to Vietnam and Cambodia, and the sensible part of me knows I should be checking practical things. Instead, I am imagining street food, limestone mountains and wandering around places I have spent far too long looking at on a screen.

Lizz and I have quite a journey ahead of us. Whether our energy levels have received the same itinerary remains to be seen.

Hanoi: straight into the deep end

We will begin in Hanoi, with the Old Quarter, its busy streets and plenty of opportunities to stand somewhere looking slightly confused. Finding dinner should be an adventure in itself. I am optimistic about the food. My ability to understand every menu is another matter.

Hoan Kiem Lake is also on the list. An early morning walk sounds lovely in theory. Let us see what the alarm clock has to say about it.

Ninh Binh: a change of pace

After Hanoi, we are looking forward to Ninh Binh: limestone scenery, rice fields and a boat trip around Tam Coc. A chance to sit down while somebody else handles the transport has obvious attractions.

Of course, there will also be photographs. Probably rather a lot of photographs. At some point I may remember to look at the scenery without a camera between us.

Da Nang and Hoi An

Da Nang brings the prospect of beaches and the Marble Mountains. The name suggests scenery. The word “mountains” suggests my legs may want to discuss the matter first.

We also hope to see the Golden Bridge, with those enormous hands, before moving on to Hoi An. Lanterns, riverside walks, local food and perhaps a cooking class: this part of the plan sounds particularly agreeable. Whether the cooking class will agree with me is something we will discover together.

Saigon, Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat

Saigon—Ho Chi Minh City—is another place we are eager to explore, including the War Remnants Museum and the city’s older buildings. Then there is Cambodia, with Phnom Penh and the temples around Siem Reap.

Angkor Wat is one of the places I am especially looking forward to. Sunrise there sounds magnificent. It also sounds early. Apparently, the most beautiful light has very little respect for people who enjoy sleeping.

The plan is ready. More or less.

There will be new places, new food and the usual collection of small surprises that never make it into a carefully prepared itinerary. We will try to write along the way, while the details are still fresh and before every meal becomes “that lovely thing we ate somewhere.”

For now, we are excited. A little impatient, too. There is only so much travelling you can do by looking at your own packed bag.

Read what happened next: start with Day One in Hanoi: Tired, Hungry and Wide-Eyed in the Old Quarter, or browse the complete Travel Diaries.