Vietnam Journey

The beautiful Trang An, Ninh Binh

I traveled through Vietnam for 16 days, starting my journey from the south in Saigon and travelling to the north to Hanoi (Saigon ➡️ Can Tho ➡️ Dalat ➡️ Nha Trang ➡️ Hoi An ➡️ Da Nang ➡️ Hue ➡️ Hanoi). I had a very good time in Vietnam and was able to run two Half Marathons, the Mekong Delta marathon and Da Nang Midnight marathon. I met with a lot of other travellers from all around the world. Here are some of the things that I noticed in Vietnam.

Vietnam is making great progress in infrastructure and economy, and Tourism is on the rise in Vietnam.
Most of the Vietnamese cuisine includes pork.
I enjoyed eating Pho Bo, a soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and sliced beef (bò). Very nutritious and healthy, can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Travelling within Vietnam is easy, a lot of buses operate between major cities, but a long journey on a bus might not be the most comfortable one. I used Futa bus for most of my travels within Vietnam.
7-Eleven stores in Saigon are very helpful, but 7-Eleven doesn't have a presence in other cities, there are other convenience stores e.g. Circle K, GS25 and others.
Local people use motorbikes for commuting, I used Grab bike whenever I couldn't walk. Many bike riders do rash driving.

VietJet counter at IGI Airport, New Delhi

Boarding pass for VietJet flight from Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City

Flight Departures display at IGI airport, Delhi

VietJet flight from Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City

Cho Ben Thanh (Ben Thanh Market), Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh statue

Nasi Lemak at Jamilah restaurant near Ben Thanh market, Saigon

Trying different tea at 7-Eleven store near Ben Thanh market, Saigon

Eating Pho Bo at Halal Amin Pho Muslim, Saigon

Prayed Jummah prayer at Jamia Al-Muslman Masjid, Saigon

Met Waleed after the Jummah prayer, a Palestinian born in Nazareth

Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee building

The beautiful Saigon Central Post Office

Saigon Central Post Office

An artist sketching a portrait of a girl, Saigon

War Remnants Museum, Saigon

Futa Bus ticket from Saigon to Can Tho

Travelling from Saigon to Can Tho with Futa Bus

Trying Durian (I liked it, it tastes a mix of Jackfruit and bit of Mango)

At the expo center to collect my bib for Mekong Delta Marathon 2024, Vi Thanh

My Bib for the V^th Mekong Delta Marathon, Hau Giang

Running 21 KM in the V^th Mekong Delta Marathon, Hau Giang

V^th Mekong Delta Marathon, Hau Giang

I finished my run in 2:47 hours

Musa Karim restaurant, Saigon

Eating Pho Bo at Musa Karim restaurant, Saigon

Independence Palace, Saigon

Independence Palace, Saigon (Unfortunately it was closed, couldn't go inside)

A poster in Saigon to mark the 70 years of Dien Bien Phu victory (1954)

A Grab, Be and Gojek driver taking a break, Saigon

Inside a 7-Eleven store, Saigon

Mooka's Home, Dalat

Bourne Ultimatum book at Mooka's Home, Dalat

Hiking LangBiang mountain, Dalat

Radar peak at LangBiang mountain, Dalat

Entry to LangBiang mountain, Dalat

Green tea with Jasmine at Mooka's Home, Dalat

A local market in Dalat

Xuan Huong Lake, Dalat

Lâm Viên Square, Dalat

Dalat Railway Station

Dalat Bus Station

Bai bien Nha Trang, a beautiful beach

Sunset at Bai bien Nha Trang, a beautiful beach

Nha Trang Railway Station

Enjoyed the pool at Fuse Hostel, Nha Trang

Beef Pilaf (Plov) at Ресторан Восточный Уют, Nha Trang

Fuse, Nha Trang

Futa Bus Ticket from Nha Trang to Da Nang

Futa Bus from Nha Trang to Da Nang

One of the many bridges in Da Nang

Basket Boat ride in Coconut Farm, Hoi An

Vietnamese Salt Coffee at Thi Cafe, Hoi An

Hoi An

People releasing lanterns in the Hoai river from the boat

Hoi An Old town in the night

Hoi An, the city of lanterns

Thi Cafe, Hoi An

Egg Coffee at Thi Cafe, Hoi An

Hoi An Old Town

Dragon Bridge, Da Nang

Collected my Bib for VnExpress DaNang Midnight Marathon 2024

Race kit for VnExpress DaNang Midnight Marathon 2024

Karim Restaurant, Da Nang

Enjoyed the pool at Seahorse Hotel, Da Nang

At the start line of VnExpress Da Nang Midnight Marathon 2024

Finishing Half Marathon in VnExpress Da Nang Midnight Marathon 2024

VnExpress Da Nang Midnight Marathon 2024

Half Marathon finsher medal in VnExpress Da Nang Midnight Marathon 2024

Finished Half marathon in 2:43 hours

Refueling after the race, ate Pho Bo at Karim restaurant, Da Nang

Da Nang Beach

MyAn Beach, Da Nang

Dragon Bridge, Da Nang

Beautiful view of Han River from Dragon Bridge, Da Nang

Coy Tea, Da Nang

Bus from Da Nang to Hue

Hue Imperial Citadel

Da Nang Bus Station

Futa Bus ticket from Da Nang to Hanoi

Futa Bus from Da Nang to Hanoi

Hanoi Bus Station

Ate at Nan n Kebab restaurant Hanoi, all the workers at the restaurant were from India and Pakistan

West Lake (Ho Tay), Hanoi

The beautiful Hoan Kiem lake, Hanoi

To mark the 70 years of Dien Bien Phu victory, near Hoan Kiem lake, Hanoi

Tea at Tea Expert, near Hoan Kiem lake, Hanoi

Hoan Kiem lake, Hanoi

Hanoi

Jasmine Tea

Halong International Cruise Port, Halong city

Beautiful Halong Bay

Halong Bay

Kayaking in Halong Bay

Ti Top Island

Beautiful view of Halong Bay from top of the mountain, Ti Top Island

Halong City

Hang Mua (Mua Cave), Ninh Binh

Taking a break while climbing the stairs to reach Mua Peak, Ninh Binh

The beautiful view from the Hang Mua mountain, Ninh Binh

The Dragon at the Hang Mua Peak, Ninh Binh

View from the Hang Mua Peak, Ninh Binh

Lily Pad, Ninh Binh

Girls in local Vietnamese ethnic dress, Ninh Binh

Trang An

On Friday morning ran two laps around Hoan Kiem lake, Hanoi

A Mango smoothie after morning run

Al Noor Mosque, Hanoi

Prayed Jummah prayer at Al Noor Mosque, Hanoi

Maison Centrale (Hoa Lo Prison), Hanoi

Bus stop for Hanoi Airport Express Bus number 86

Bus ticket to Hanoi Airport

International Departures Display, Hanoi Airport

Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi

VietJet Check-in counters at Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi

My boarding pass for VietJet Hanoi to Bangkok flight

Hanoi Airport

Vietnam Airlines Plane, Hanoi Airport

VietJet Plane, Hanoi Airport

Boarding gate for VietJet Hanoi to Bangkok flight

I had a very good time in Vietnam ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ , this was my itinerary.

Day 1 : Arriving in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city)
Day 2 : Jummah prayer in Saigon & exploring Saigon
Day 3 : Travelling from Saigon to Can Tho
Day 4 : Running 21 KM in Mekong Delta Marathon 2024
Day 5 : Unwinding in Saigon & Overnight bus from Saigon to Dalat
Day 6 : Exploring Da Lat
Day 7 : Travelling from Da Lat to Nha Trang
Day 8 : Exploring Nha Trang & Overnight bus to Da Nang
Day 9 : Da Nang to Hoi An & Exploring Hoi An
Day 10 : Hoi An to Da Nang
Day 11 : Running 21KM in VnExpress Da Nang Midnight Marathon
Day 12 : Exploring Hue & Overnight bus to Hanoi
Day 13 : Exploring Hanoi
Day 14 : A day trip to the beautiful Ha Long Bay
Day 15 : A day trip to the beautiful Ninh Binh and Trang An
Day 16 : Jummah prayer in Hanoi and exploring Hanoi
Day 17 : Travelling from Hanoi to Bangkok