A Week in Vietnam - Vietnam Journal #2

Hello Travelers in the world...

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This is my trip last year. Just like Japan, I never considered Vietnam as one of my destinations until the beauty of 'winter in Southeast Asia' filled my Instagram. There were so many beautiful views in Sa Pa, Vietnam that I finally flew there. Plus, the Vietnamese Dong exchange rate was lower than the Indonesian Rupiah, so I wanted to experience what it would be like to vacation in a country with a lower exchange rate. So, this is a recap of my vacation in Vietnam.

Day 1: Jakarta to Hanoi

It was a bright sunny day when my friend and I arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Our flight was scheduled for around 3 p.m., arriving in Hanoi around 5 or 6 p.m.

Upon arrival, the sky was already dark and it was raining heavily. We began our journey by free shuttle to the meeting point, a cafe. That evening, we would continue our journey to Sa Pa by sleeper bus.

A little review about the Hanoi-Sa Pa sleeper bus, this is my first experience traveling by sleeper bus abroad. The trip to Sa Pa takes 5-6 hours. The sleeper bus is clean and comfortable, although the front bus cover looks cute—I mean like a bus in a cartoon, pink. Then inside it is very neat and comfortable. Luckily I am not tall so my feet did not touch the barrier. And I have become very addicted to using the sleeper bus wherever I go because it makes the trip comfortable without the effect of back pain.

Day 2: Sa Pa Lake & Sun Plaza

After a long journey—I fell asleep all the way so I didn't feel anything during the trip. And finally arrived in Sa Pa earlier than expected. Sa Pa was still dark, around 4 am. Luckily there was a cafe that was open 24 hours, so we could stop by before finally checking in the hotel.

Sa Pa at 4 am was so cold. I wanted to drink warm ginger tea. While waiting, I continued my reading. When the sun began to brighten the earth, we were ready to explore Sa Pa.

Our first stop after stopping for a cup of ginger tea was downtown Sa Pa, filled with restaurants and cafes. We then spent some time by Sa Pa Lake. It was still 8 a.m., so we took advantage of the time before dawn to explore the area. Sa Pa Lake was very clean; I loved its clean, tidy, and lush shores.

Around Sun Plaza

Sun Plaza is a prime spot in Sa Pa, where many Instagram users create content. Of course, I didn't want to miss the opportunity. My friend and I even sat for a while—while waiting for check-in—looking around Sun Plaza.

There's a church there, and a service was in progress, so we just stopped in front. We didn't even check to see if it was open. Instead, we chose to stay quietly and enjoy the Sa Pa atmosphere from here.

After checking in at the hotel and taking a short break, I went back to explore Sa Pa, especially its gardens. Despite the scorching heat, I couldn't afford to miss a single moment. When traveling like this, time is of the essence.

Since Sa Pa has many souvenir shops, we stopped by and bought some things. Besides the shops, there were also many souvenir sellers, like this mother with her child in her arms. She was selling souvenirs like bags, bracelets, and so on. I bought a bracelet there.

Day 3: Sun World - Fansipan

In Sa Pa, Fansipan is a must-see destination, as it's home to Southeast Asia's snow. Yes, Fansipan does have snow during winter, but unfortunately, we didn't have that opportunity. However, we were fortunate to have a beautiful view due to the clear weather. Some visitors were disappointed because it rained, making the view less beautiful.

In Fansipan itself, there are many destinations to explore besides the iconic Fansipan peak. There's also Sun World, a place of worship, a cafe with mountain views, and a massive flower garden. To reach all of these, you'll need to take a cable car, which is quite expensive. But for so many destinations, the price is well worth it.

Day 4: Cat-Cat Village

After visiting Fansipan, I took a short break. My friend and I woke up late because we were really exhausted the day before. My legs were still sore. Yes, Fansipan has a lot of stairs, which made my knees and calves sore the next day. So, our stay at Fansipan was short. Before it was even late afternoon, we returned to the hotel to rest. It started raining until the evening. We went out for dinner, shopping, and then returned to the hotel because we had to return to Hanoi the next day. Bye bye Sa Pa…

Day 5 & 6: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

On the fifth day, we left for Hanoi in the afternoon. We didn't go anywhere else that day. After checking in, we went shopping for a while and then waited for the bus to Hanoi. We arrived in Hanoi that evening and went straight to our hotel. We had dinner at a nearby restaurant, then the next morning we headed to Ha Long Bay. This is a key destination in Hanoi and a favorite among visitors.

After a 2-3 hour journey from Hanoi, we arrived at the pier. Our boat would cruise along Ha Long Bay, stopping by historical sites like the caves and Tip Top Island. It was a memorable—if tiring—trip.

Day 7: Last Day

On our seventh day in Vietnam, we relaxed again by the lake until the afternoon departure for the airport. We stopped at a cafe famous for its egg coffee, rested by the lake, shopping, and when the sky had darkened, we headed to the airport, where we spent the night until our departure in the morning.

My vacation to Vietnam was one of the best trips of last year. I fell in love with Sa Pa. The atmosphere, the weather, and the views. I really want to go there again and spend more time. Sa Pa is a beautiful former Portuguese colonial town.

Hasta La Vistaa....

Thanks in advance, to read my blog and hope you like my post!
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