By I have taken some time away from the blog to get settled back in our Denver home, but Vietnam was a trip I knew I had to share. Our two week trip was one of the most incredible I have ever taken, and we fell in love with the landscape, food, culture, people and overall vibe of the country!
November 2017 was a complete whirlwind, and we are now officially living back in the United States. We got the news that my husband would be getting transferred back to Denver, Colorado right after we got back from our trip to the Maldives, and it was such a mix of emotions. We were excited to go back to a city that we love, and extremely grateful for him to still have a job in the rocky oil industry, BUT at the same time we were not ready to leave Malaysia. We have had a truly incredible, unforgettable and life-changing experience being ex-pats and that was hard to give up so much sooner than anticipated. If I’ve learned anything being an ex-pat (and I have learned A TON!), it is that you never know what will happen, and you have to go with the flow. So that is exactly what we are doing, and embracing the change and staying positive. But, before we said goodbye (for now) to SE Asia, we knew that we had to visit Vietnam.
Lucky for us, my husband had a bunch a vacation days that he needed to use before we made the move back, and we decided to spend two weeks exploring Vietnam. Our first stop was the capital city of Hanoi, and what an introduction it was!
Hanoi is a bustling city, full of so much life. People buzz around the city on motorbikes, women carry baskets of produce on long poles down the streets, men scream loud cheers as they enjoy the local beer, kids run along the streets playing and selling different items, smells of cooking oil, incense, motorbike fumes, and fragrant Vietnamese herbs fill the air; the city is teeming! We were watching all of these scenes as we drove the crowded streets in the Old Quarter to our hotel, and we couldn’t wait to get out and explore.
We stayed at the O’Gallery Hotel and Spa, which was a great deal (around $70/night), right in the middle of everything, and had impeccable service. We got settled, and immediately went out for something to eat. As most of you know, our favorite thing to do in a new city is just stumble upon some amazing looking street food, and that is exactly what we found. A big pot on the corner of a busy street, with tiny little stools looked like the perfect stop. I could not even tell you the name of this dish, but it was the most flavorful broth I have EVER tasted! A base of stock with tomatoes, green onions, pork skins and herbs, then loaded with noodles and chilis, it was definitely a tastebud explosion! And the woman carefully watching over it, stirring every few minutes was just as delightful. It was definitely a great way to be introduced to Vietnamese food, some of our favorite food in the world.
After dinner we had a wonderful night out on the town: smelling all the pungent, wonderful scents, drinking Bia Hoi, the local 10 cent keg beer, talking and laughing with locals, and witnessing some of the best, most hilarious people watching.
Day two started off with a trip to what the Vietnamese call “The American War” Museum, an interesting place filled with propaganda and mis-information. It was eye-opening to witness the Communist spin put so blatantly on display, but definitely worth visiting. As an American, it makes me really think about how much the Vietnamese people suffered throughout the war, and just how bad things were for all parties involved. However, through it all, it gives me hope and happiness to see just how far our country’s have come. Fifty years ago, my parents could never have imagined visiting Vietnam when they were growing up, so the fact that we are now able to visit is pretty incredible.
The rest of the day was spent exploring more of the Old Quarter. Motorbikes whiz by all around, and just crossing the street is risking your life! But man, did we have fun! We walked and walked, noticing the French influences, spotting all kinds of alleyways with rows and rows of food carts and then we stumbled upon a local Hanoi specialty: Bun Cha. A fatty, delicious grilled pork patty over white rice noodles, in a gorgeous, yummy sweet/sour broth that is served with crisp lettuce, herbs and chilis for you to add as you desire. Talk about a little bowl of heaven!
We enjoyed our Bun Cha where Anthony Bourdain dined, a little street-side restaurant called Huong Lien. The delicious flavors really represented the culture, and it was another memorable dining experience in Hanoi.
Our last night was spent at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the beautiful lake in the heart of the Old Quarter. Every meal we had was phenomenal, and on this night we enjoyed some grilled prawns with rice and fresh spring rolls. Tomorrow, we would be heading off to the famed Ha Long Bay, which we were very excited about, but there was something that made us not want to leave Hanoi. Even though it was just the beginning of our trip, we knew this place was special, and right then we began to fall in love with Vietnam. From here, our love affair would only grow for this incredible country…
Stay positive, love your life, and get out there and see the world!
Happy travels,
Courtney
OFF THE BEATEN 'EX-PAT'H 