Journey 

So originally, Da Lat was not on our travel plans however due to the upcoming Reunification Day there were no buses going to Hoi An. We were left in a conundrum; do we wait it out in Mui Ne or divert our journey. We decided to divert our journey to Da Lat and then go from there to Nha Trang before going to Hoi An. I am so pleased we did because we got to see so much more of this beautiful country. 

We ended up booking the bus with a lovely woman who owned one of the convenience stores of the main streets of Mui Ne. I can honestly say she was the most lovely woman I have ever met. She gave us so much advice and even checked availability for our next buses etc. The bus she booked was a fraction of the price of the one quoted at both hostels and we had been treated with respect and kindness. 

The bus picked us up from our hostel, bright and early. I will not lie, the journey to Da Lat is bumpy and not always comfortable. However, this is due to no faults of the driver but of the roads themselves. However, the journey is not long so you cannot complain too much. 

You are dropped off at a hotel who help you to get a taxi or to fix a room. The taxi we then had was a disaster as the driver was the slowest driver on earth and did not know where they were going...perfect. We refused to pay him the full fare which he attempted to argue but he didn't really get much chance. 

Crazy House

After dropping our bags off, we were ready to explore! I had heard about the Crazy House from other travel blogs and thought we should definitely check it out. 

The Crazy House is the work of a Vietnamese architect who created the buildings that are still being developed today. I can only describe it as entering a different world. Think Alice and Wonderland meets Hobbiton meets Harry Potter. It is fascinating to look around and a great way to spend your afternoon. You can also book to stay at the Crazy House, which I would definitely consider if you are coming to Da Lat. 

Canyoning 

Da Lat is known for canyoning because it's so cheap. Although, after reading travel advice for Da Lat whilst tired and absent minded I had actually thought it was canoeing. Imogen really winning at life yet again! 

After talking to people staying at our hostel, we thought we would really be missing out if we didn't go. So after a few drinks, we booked it at our hostel for the next day. For those of you who are unsure what canyoning is (don't worry I didn't), it is basically a string of activities including water sliding, abseiling down dry cliffs and waterfalls etc. I had an amazing day! I am not what you would call outdoorsy either but it was so good. I didn't do every challenge just because fear for the better of me but I don't regret this at all. The instructors try to make you feel at ease and keep momentum and spirits high all day. 

Also, the lunch they provide is amazing. There are baguettes to make sandwiches with pork, tofu and salad but the main event is all the fruit. The mango was amazing I had to much of it! They also provide water so you don't have to carry it around with you. 

I would say to wear either a dark coloured bikini or a bikini you don't really care about. Although, mine was not damaged there is the risk of discolouration. Also, wear shoes you don't plan on wearing for the next few days. I wore converse because if I am honest my converse have seen better days after struggling through my travels, never mind what they had been through before. The shoes themselves are not ruined now and I reckon with a quick blast in the washing machine they will be back to gleaming white...

Dalat Friendly Fun

The hostel that I stayed at did not put on activities as such but everyone in the hostel would hang out every night. The hosts of the hostel would also provide dinner every night. The first night it was a noodle and fish pho which was lovely and I must admit I have not been the greatest advocate of pho so far. When people were hungry later Duc (the owner/manager) went and cooked up some noodles for everyone. 

The second night was even better. There was a feast with DIY spring rolls with an amazing peanut sauce, sticky chicken rice with floss, a chicken soup/broth, deep fried broccoli and courgette. All cooked by Duc's amazing wife. This meal was probably the best meal I have had in Vietnam, maybe even during my time in Asia. I was so full but I wanted to eat more!! 

Absolutely loved Da Lat, it was nice to visit a place which we hadn't planned to go to and be so pleasantly surprised! 

Love Imogen xoxo

Da Lat Hostel Review

DALAT FRIENDLY FUN HOSTEL

Facilities 

The wifi here works well although it's the best near the kitchen and reception, in case you need to do payments etc. 

The rooms here are never locked but you are provided with a small locker for valuables. Plus, passports are taken as a deposit. 

The outside area and part of the inside is treated like a social area. When you stay here you become part of the family. It feels like you are staying in someone's home which after 3 months of being away is welcomed. 

Showers and Toilets 

On every floor there is a toilet and shower...not quite the ensuite we booked but I was not going to complain too much. The showers were pretty good pressure although they took a long time to drain. 

Staff

The staff here were on another level. Honestly, the best staff we have ever experienced on all of our trips. They go out of their way for you to organise trips, buses, you name it and they will try to help. Every night they have family dinner which are amazing and such feasts. I even learned how to make spring rolls! 

Breakfast 

Breakfast was really good. I am not normally an omelette  but this was on point. You also get a baguette and the choice of tea and coffee. 

Value for Money

Coming out at just over three pounds a night, this is most definitely good value for money!!

Dorms 

Dorms were slightly small I have to admit. Nothing we couldn't handle but when it's full and everyone has big bags it's quite hard to get around. The lockers are also quite small as well but the positives really outweigh these negatives. 

Location

Location is alright. It's quite a walk from the big supermarket and the lake but it's doable. 

OVERALL, I could not recommend staying here more. I loved my time here and I am so glad we decided to go to Da Lat in the end. 

Love Imogen xoxo 

The second stop of my whistle stop tour of Vietnam is Mui Ne. 

Journey

We organised the bus journey with our hostel. We were picked up at 7:30 by a mini bus and taken to our bus. We were booked on a sleeper bus. From travel blogs, I haven't always heard the best things about the sleeper buses. However, I found it them to be okay- in fact comfier than normal buses. The only issue is they are made to fit the general height of the Asian population which is smaller than the average Western especially males. I was fine due to only being 5.5 but I could see it being a real issue for tall people. Many encourage trying to get a back seat however there are no boundaries or bag compartments so there is no easy way to do this. Plus, if you are travelling in a busy period you will not have such a choice as to be able to pick and choose which seat you have. 

We arrived in Mui Ne in good time and the bus even dropped us off at our hostel- RESULT!

Sand Dunes Extravaganza 

On the reviews for our hostel, the tour they offer for the and dunes was said to be really good. So we thought we would give it a go. For the $4 you pay, you basically get a driver to take you to all the places. The places themselves are pretty self explanatory but still it would have been nice to know a little bit more. Just to make you aware, they pack you in to the van like sardines. If you can, try and get the front seat next to the driver. 

Fairy Stream 

This is a bit of a non-stop. It is a trickle of water that looks dirty due to the red canyons. It is one of the only points that the dunes/canyons has water. At the end of the walk you can see where it transitions from blue/green to brown. 

When we first arrived, the local people attempted to charge us to get in. We refused and waited outside until they let us in for free. I am now very used to contesting prices because it has happened so frequently whilst we have been travelling Asia unfortunately. 

On the walk, there is also the opportunity to ride an ostrich if that interests you. The ostriches are kept in a small play pen and honestly look vicious. I did not like the idea of getting on one at all. 

The end of the walk, is a bit of an anti climax. However, it's the only the first stop and the best is yet to come. 

Be aware, stick to the driver's timings because a girl in our group didn't and he replaced her with someone else from a different group in our hostel. 

Mui Ne Fishing Village 

So whilst still being in shock that our driver had ditched and replaced a member of the group, we arrived at the Mui Ne Fishing Village. Honestly, you can get an alright picture but you don't get to go down and explore because you only have about 10 minutes here...or our driver just had somewhere to be so wanted to hurry us along!

White Sand Dunes

This in my opinion, is the main event. Despite being told beforehand, I was not impressed at having to pay extra to get in to the sand dunes. I mean what we paid was the equivalent of about 40p but still. When you arrive you are given the choice of getting a quad bike. Be aware that the driver of your car will probably get commission for the one you go to and it may not necessarily be the cheapest. 

The dunes and the Lotus Lake are beautiful. You can get some amazing pictures here and I think it's what makes Mui Ne different. Honestly, without it there is not a terrible lot to see here. 

Red Sand Dunes

In comparison to the white sand dunes, the red do not seem as spectacular. There are also significantly more people which takes away from the beauty of the dunes. Especially because at the others you almost feel secluded. There are also several children attempting to sell you turns on their 'sleds'. I say 'sleds' because they are a piece of card. I wish I was exaggerating. We were supposed to stay here till sunset however the driver got restless... 

I would definitely recommend doing the trip because the White Sand Dunes are so worth it.

Backpacker Village 

The swimming pool at the Backpacker Village is a great way to spend lazy mornings or afternoons. For a hostel, the pool is on another level...why aren't all swimming pools infinity pools!? The accompanying bar along with its two happy hours, definitely helps. Although, for hostel guests anyone could use the pool and I would recommend you do! Especially because the beach is not the greatest. 

Bon Bo

This is the restaurant with the tanks of live fish outside where prices for noodle and rice dishes start at 50 dong. I say this because there is another on the same street but this is considerably more expensive. I had heard that the sea food was good here, so thought it was rude to not try it. Although good, the food was a bit bland and it was a god send that there was soy sauce and chilli sauce on the table. Beers here are also cheap at 10 dong a pop for a decent sized bottle. Although it didn't happen to us, keep an eye on your bill because I saw many people dispute theirs.  

Mystery Restaurant 

This restaurant is next to Mui Ne Backpackers Resort. It is off the road a bit on the beach side. It is very popular with locals and we were actually the only Western people in there. I call it the mystery restaurant because I cannot remember it's name. I know, I am awful before you say anything! We got some spring rolls and vegetable noodles. The noodles were good but the spring rolls were a bit on the greasy side. I would definitely recommend checking it out though! 

Love Imogen xoxo

Mui Ne Hostel Review Part 1

MUI NE BACKPACKER VILLAGE

Facilities

Wifi quality here changed it seemed by the hour. If you need to process payments etc, I would recommend trying near the reception. The wifi near the pool is okay and the bar is sometimes really good but sometimes poor. 

Security is non-existent. You don't need keys to get in to the hostel and the dorms are not locked either. There also have lockers that you need your own lock for. They do have a security guard at night but I don't really know what he does. I never felt unsafe here though and did not have an issue with theft etc. 

The swimming pool at this hostel really made it what it was. It was an infinity pool with an abundance of sun loungers. This is so good especially because the beach nearby is not the greatest at all. 

They had a bar and restaurant at the hostel also which was reasonably priced. They had two sets of happy hours where cocktails and certain spirits were 241. 

Showers and Toilets

We were not in an ensuite here but the toilets and showers were clean and although there was not loads, you never had to wait. The showers themselves heated up quickly and the pressure was decent. 

Staff 

Staff here are hit and miss. The younger women on reception are often rude and unhelpful. There is also a slight language barrier, so the organisation of buses etc is not always easy. There was an older woman who was at reception once whilst I was there and she was really helpful and welcoming. The bar staff are also really efficient and friendly. 

Breakfast 

Breakfast was not included at this hostel. They did offer a range of breakfasts for 30dong, however we did not try them instead opting for banana bread from a shop down the road. 

Value for Money

For what you get, this hostel is value for money just don't necessarily think you will be getting service with a smile.

Dorms 

For once, the dorms did not have bunk beds which was a nice change. They also had a plug and an individual light. The dorm itself was big with plenty of space for bags etc. The dorms had lockers which you needed your own lock for, I personally prefer this because then you don't have to look after a key. The one bad thing about this room is that it was always freezing- I slept in a hooded jacket every night. 

Location

Mui Ne is just one large street so it's hard for a hostel to be in a bad location. Plus the buses that we got, dropped us off and picked us up from our hostel. 

OVERALL, I would recommend staying here just be aware that the reception girls are not reflective of all the staff. 

Love Imogen xoxo 

Mui Ne Hostel Review Part 2

MUI NE BACKPACKER RESORT 

So the only reason we actually ended up staying here was because all the buses were full due to the independence holiday of Vietnam. We decided to stay an extra night here to give us some more time to decide what we wanted to do. 

We booked it the night before and actually went in to book it. When we came to check in the next day we were informed they only had one dorm bed left. We were very annoyed because it just meant they had oversold the room, they offered us a solution where one of us stayed in a 2 bed on a mattress whilst the other was in the spare bed. We had no other option but to accept although they did give us a reduced price. Be careful because the detergent/cleaner/something they use can cause an allergic reaction!!

Facilities

The wifi was better than Mui Ne Backpacker Village. It had a strong connection throughout the resort. 

Security was still not great here. It would be easy to get on to the property. The dorms are left unlocked although there are lockers in them to keep your valuables. 

Showers and Toilets 

Staff 

The woman behind reception when we came to book was really nice however the following day was unhelpful. She also would not accept that the mix up was a fault of her own. 

Breakfast

Again, breakfast is not offered but you can purchase it if you so wish to.

Value for Money 

Dorms 

The dorm here was very small and unless you can fit all your belongings in the locker? Your bag will take up quite a bit of space. The air con was on very high. Although, the beds were comfortable.

Location 

Like I said previously, it's hard to be in a bad location in Mui Ne. 

OVERALL, don't stay here if you can stay at the Village because the Village has a nicer social area and swimming pool. 

Love Imogen xoxo

Ho Chi Minh City or as its referred to by some; Saigon, is the first stop on my Vietnamese adventure.   

Journey

We booked our bus from our hostel in Phonm Penh. There was a pick up for the bus from the hostel which appears to be common in Asia and I personally think it should be a worldwide practice! After boarding the bus we were quickly given a bottle of water and a snack. Again, another practice which other bus companies should pay attention to! 

The bus journey itself, went without an issue. The border crossing seemed a breeze in comparison to previous. The only annoying part was that you have to take all your belongings with you. The bus company itself slowed the process down because they took all the passports, got them stamped then read out everybody's names. This was an ordeal within itself because the interpretations of names were interesting to say the least. Plus, there was no synchronicity of what names he would all-some would be by their last names, some their first and I was referred to by my middle name. This was all done whilst dying under the weight of my bag. Before anyone says anything, trying to pack your life for months at a time and keep under 20kg is a difficult task!

Anyway, border done and we were off. We were joined by a man who had been refused at the border. This was because he had failed to get a stamp in to Vietnam. Be careful when you are crossing borders to ensure that you have all your stamps eye in order because this man looked to be in a world of trouble. 

When we arrived in Ho Chi Minh/Saigon we were greeted by the usual mob of taxi drivers. Be sure to check your hostel directions because many taxi drivers will scam you. We were within walking distance, thus were able to get to our hostel stress free. 

Independence Palace

We decided to have a walk around and see what this city had to offer. With Reunification day coming up we thought we should take a visit to the independence palace. Outside the palace preparations for the holiday was in full swing. 

The palace itself is grand and despite not being the complete original is a real part of Vietnamese history. The museum inside is informative and it is interesting to see the rooms in all their glory. I felt slightly guilted due to my lack of knowledge regarding the Vietnam war but this just gave me the opportunity to research I guess.

Notredamn Cathedral

We had planned to visit the cathedral, even dressing conservatively in preparation. However, they only allow visitors before 11 and after 4. We arrived at 1. So do be warned, especially because the website contradicts this. 

Ben Thahn Market 

This market is well known within Saigon. There are multiple stores inside selling clothes, shoes, jewellery, trinkets and a lot of fake designer goods. Vendors here are relentless, if you approach their stores too closely they are over you like a rash. Unless you are really interested, keep a distance. 

We went around the food bits here and I treated myself to a very tasty mango smoothie. I must admit, the cheapness of the smoothies are just another thing that Asia manages to get so right! 

Pho 24

We stumbled across this place, which happens to be quite a popular chain across Vietnam. I had seen that pho had been recommended ok quite a few travel sites so thought I would give it a go. Pho is in simple terms a noodle soup with varying veg and meats. Pho 24 has a deal at lunch hour times to get a 'small' bowl of noodles with meat for 29 thousand dong;about one pound. What a bargain! 

I ordered the brisket pho. The pho itself was alright but it was quite bland and definitely needed the soy and chilli sauce. The meat was not the best but on overall it was not bad. However, we also decided to try sweet tarp which is similar to coconut rice pudding but at the same time very different. It is served differently across regions. I really liked the dessert though, I found it refreshing and they give you the perfect amount. 

We also ate at two other places but unfortunately the names were in Vietnamese and they have totally gone from my mind. However, the first one was on the main road where the bus drops you off and they are one of the only restaurants where you can eat comfortably for around 50dong each. They season their pork really well and give decent sized portions. 

The other restaurant is on the same road, it's  white and it's always busy. Due to already trying pho, I thought I would go for something different- in the shape of a Vustnsnese beef stew. However, it was very similar to pho. Although, the meat was tender it was very fatty and the rest of the meal was not great. I was disappointed because the place was always so busy. Maybe we just tried it on an off night who knows. 

Apologies for my lack of knowledge on names but when you go you will know what I mean. Until next time...  Love Imogen xoxo