Journey 

So to get from Hanoi to Vientiane we embarked on a bus ride which took us 27 hours....no joke. There  are a lot of people that complain about the bus from Vietnam to Laos however since we had not come across any issues from our previous heavily complained about buses. Plus when you put it in to perspective its $15 vs $100 minimum. It's a no brainer. 

We were 'picked up' from our hostel. I use the term loosely because a man turned up shouted Laos and we had to follow him on his scooter to a minivan. The mini van was cramped to say the least. We were dropped off down the road from the bus station and divided in to our various destinations. From here we then had to wait for our 'leader' to buy the tickets for us. 

Despite confirming that the bus would have a toilet with the travel agency we bought our tickets with...it did not. However, apart from at- no complaints. We then began to travel with a few pit stops and a food stop along the way. 

I was awoken by the driver/staff shouting passport at us and I figured we were at passport control. Although, they did make us get out earlier than necessary. It is also very muddy around passport control so dress accordingly. 

Like so many land crossings there were additional charges. The first of which was a $1 exit stamp from Vietnam. Something you need to cross into the Laos border. There is no way around it...unless your Vietnamese. This robbery happens at the Laos border, which is a bit of a walk away. At this border the price of visa increases for the weekend, again there is not a lot you can do. Be sure to check you have a Visa card and a stamp in your passport because if you don't, when you go to leave you will have alot of difficulties/you won't be leaving unless you pay a hefty price.

After this debarkle, we finally got back on the bus for the rest of the journey. When we arrived finally in Vientiane, we were first dropped at some random carpal before getting a free tuk tuk to the bus station courtesy of the bus company. From here, we got another tuk tuk to our hostel for 20kip.

Dream Home Hostel Facilities

We wanted to take some time to relax, especially after that whopper of a journey so we took advantage of the hostel facilities. 

Swimming Pool 

The newly built swimming pool was perfect for the day when temperatures were reaching 40 degrees!! The pool is just round the corner from the hostel. As swimming pools go it was actually quite a decent size. They do sell drinks here but they are cheaper from the shops. As there isn't any staff around, I don't know if they have an issue with you bringing your own but we never had any difficulty. 

Restaurant 

Within the hostel, they have a restaurant which sells a few Asian dishes but also burgers.it is bad but after 2months nearly of noodles and rice- I was over the moon for a burger. I had the chicken one and it was amazing. Thoroughly enjoyed it and if you are missing western food I would recommend you trying it especially because so many horror stories of eating western food whilst away and it ending badly shall we say...

Love Imogen xoxo

Vientiane Hostel Review

DREAM HOME HOSTEL AND SWIMMING POOL

Facilities 

Despite there being several wifi points, the strength and signal is not great. 

To enter the initial part of the hostel is very easy. However, to enter the rooms you do need a swipe card.  The lockers here are odd... They are basically sheets of metal with a make shift lock device-not the safest, to say the least!

The swimming pool is around the corner from the hostel. Although nice, you can tell that the outer parts i.e the bar were still in construction. It was nice at the time but no doubt by now it will really add to the atmosphere in the hostel. I think without a swimming pool, Vientiane would be unbearable because it is just so so hot!

Showers and Toilets 

All facilities are downstairs which is okay but annoying if you need the toilet in the middle of the night! The actual showers themselves are good with decent pressure plus because there are so many you are never left waiting to shower. 

Staff 

The staff here are very friendly and are helpful. Their English abilities differ but all in all it is never difficult to communicate when booking transport or asking for directions. 

Breakfast

Breakfast here was included and was really good there was a selection of what you could have including pancakes- I urge you to try these as I personally thought it was the best way to start the day! You also have the option of eating Al fresco- what more could you want ay!?

Dorms

Despite the rooms being basic they did the job. I did like that each bed had a mini light- a feature I missed when I returned back to hostel living in Australia! The air con is strong here so make sure you have some warm clothing for night time! 

Value for Money

I was impressed with his much you got for your money here. It made the perfect first stop in our penultimate Asian country! 

Location 

Location wise it is good. Although it's not in the main part of the city not many of the good hostels in the area are. It was close to amenities and fit its purpose perfectly! 

OVERALL, I would definitely recommend giving this place ago whilst staying in Vientiane.

Love Imogen xoxo

Journey 

So to get from Hoi An to Hanoi it takes around 16 hours. It is weird because in the UK if you asked me to do more than I reckon 4 hours on a bus I would have point blank refused but you know here I am buzzing for it. 

We were picked up from our hostel in Hoi An before being taken to the bus. We had a few issues getting an alright price for the tickets anyway due to the apparent celebrations of reunification day...that happened days ago. I swear sometimes in Asia you get fed up of the bartering!

We eventually found a bus called Trekking who would take us to Hanoi! Online, reviews for this company are horrendous and do not get me wrong it was not as bad as it was made out...but then again it was not much better! The start of the journey started well, the bus was nice-comfortable and then things got weird...

So when we arrived at Hue we were made to get off the bus for 'cleaning'. Now I don't mean to sound rude but that was a blatant lie. Once the bus came round again they then tried to assign us to seats. Not happening. After experiencing several night buses and reading blogs etc online it became clear that there is no friends in the seat game. If I was going to recommend it would be to get a window, top bunk which is not at the back. The reasoning behind this:

-Window> you can use this to lean on, making sleep a lot more comfy!

- Top bunk> it is more secure, plus you are not going to wake up in the middle of the night face to face with a randomer sleeping in the aisle

-Not at the back> This depends to be fair on how tall you are, I am 5ft5 and not being at the very back meant that the top bunk was comfortable. However, if you are taller I would imagine the back would be nice. However, take in to consideration that three people sit across the back and there is no separations between 'beds' so unless you are a group of three or you just love getting close to strangers it just may not be for you.

I know I sound prissy/like a flashpacker/spoilt...however you are embarking on 16 hour journeys, don't take the decision lightly!

Anyway, back to the situation...after a heated discussion we sat where we wanted. A couple who had been on the first bus with us however were asked to sit in the aisles, they refused which caused issues. The staff at this point were what can only be described as horribly rude.

I won't lie, I went for a short nap here and when I woke up the aisles were yet again filled with locals. G R E A T! The one beside me, then had the cheek to fiddle with my aircon...I don't think so buster! Not happening. 

We had a stop at a random cafe, where the toilets were not awful. That is all I will say about that. Talking of toilets, there was actually one on the bus this time...hooray! It was alright although the sink was not working but there was toilet paper. 

At one point in the journey we appeared to stack up on crates of beer...none of which was shared with the passengers..BOO! 

We arrived bang on time at half 6 in the morning in Hanoi and for that I can't fault them. Honestly, the journey was fine but the staff need to learn to be polite because the way they spoke to some passengers was just not on. Ignore the online reviews though, bus travel is absolutely fine! 

New Day

At our hostel, we asked for a recommendation on where to get food. We were informed to go to New Day which was only round the corner. I ordered sautéed claims with chilli and garlic with steamed rice. It was amazing and cost around £2.50! 

We returned there the next day for dinner and it was packed! I had some Saigon spring rolls...before you ask I don't know the difference between Saigon and Hanoi spring rolls but you got more for Saigon so we stuck with this. I also ordered the steamed aubergine clay pot dish with pork which was so good! 

The service here was good although they struggled when busy especially because half of the staff appeared to have a team dinner half way through the busiest serving time. 

I would really recommend this place, try something new-you won't regret it! 

Net Hue 

We were recommended this restaurant by an employee at the hostel we were staying at. I ordered the grilled pork noodle and although nice it was definitely lacking sauce. Overall, the service was a bit hit and miss especially in comparison to the service we had received at New Day. By all means, check the place out but if you have to choose between the two, I would 100% go for New Day! 

Halong Bay 

So Hanoi is very much a stopover city for Halong Bay and/or Sapa. We didn't have time to do Sapa and we were very much limited for Halong Bay. 

The packages available for Halong Bay often consist of; 1 day tours, 2 days 1 night and 3 days 2 nights. Popular among backpackers is the castaway tour. I have not heard a bad thing about it. Unfortunately, due to our unexpected extended time in Vietnam we have just not been able to fix this in to our plans. However, if you have the time do it! It would be one of the overnight trips that I would recommend. It is probably the more expensive option but you do have a great time!

If you are going do an overnight your, splash a bit more cash because at the end of the day you don't want to be staying on a horror boat. 

We ended up doing a 1 day tour. Be aware that the journey to Halong takes about 3 hours so if you aren't in to that, opt for a 2 day trip or don't go. We bargained for our price and were quoted from 20 to 40 dollars for the tour that we did. We managed to get it down to 19 before booking. 

On the day, the bus actually forgot about us. Why does this always happens us!? Anyway, they came and got us and we were packed on the mini jus like sardines. It is good that you are aware that they often just put all the one day trip holders together but not necessarily on the buses together...organisation needs improving. This also means that the person say next to you may have paid double the price for the trip you are on..awkward. My only advice is to haggle as much as you can, go to leave and believe me that price will come crashing down. 

After a long journey, we arrived at the port ready to go where we met our new tour guide for the day. We were then shown the boats. Do not be under the impression that these boats will be the grandeur you are presented in the brochures because they just won't be! The thing is with a lick of paint and love, they could all look really good but there just isn't the care for it. 

So as we boarded the boat we were served our seafood lunch which consisted of a fish, clams in a tomato and chilli broth, a cabbage dish, peanuts, sticky rice, a scrambled egg dish and spring rolls. All of which were nice but we're not quite as grand as I would think. 

Then on to our activites! 

So first we went to visit the Thien Cuhn Cabe also known as the 'Heavenly Cave'. This is truly beautiful and it is nice that they are lit. Unbeknown to us, this would be the only cave that we would be visiting today despite being promised more but c'est le vie.

From here we went to the floating village where we were supposed to kayak. However, due to a serious accident a few days before we were unable to. Along with a few others on the trip we were not happy about this because we had paid extra for it. The tour guide was very dismissive of us saying that it was not his fault.

 

From here, we went to explore the remainder of Halong Bag and it is really beautiful. With a bit of sunshine it could have been exquisite but you cannot have everything in life can you? 

From here we embarked upon a cruise back to shore and our bus ride home. On arriving home we were quick to go and see the travel agent that we booked with who quickly gave us a refund...RESULT!

I would recommend going on a Halong Bay trip but be sure to know what you want, ask what's included, ask to see he boost, ask fellow travellers what they recommend and personalise your trip to ensure the best for you! 

Lake 

If you are unsure what to do in the day you can always chill by the lake. Bring lots of water though because you will be sweating buckets! Take advantage of the little street vendors and get yourself some donuts or even a drink! 

Bahn My Kebab 

-Note how tanned my leg looks...

There was a Bahn my Kebab outside my hostel and I am not going to lie I was curious. It was 30 thousand aka £1 so I thought I would give it a go. I didn't regret it either! I don't really know what was in it (quite a theme with the street food that I eat) but it was such a good lunch time food. I would definitely recommend giving it a go. If you want to try the one that I went to then it was the one on Mahn Street.

Although not my favourite destination in Vietnam, I did enjoy Hanoi and the things that we did! 

Love Imogen xoxo

Hanoi Hostel Review

HANOI RIVERSIDE HOSTEL 

Facilities 

The wifi here was hit and miss. In the reception it is really good but in the dorms it is often hit and miss. Santander appears to be blocked off their wifi aswell..weird. 

Security wise, anyone can get in to this hostel but the staff knows everyone by eye. Plus there are lockers outside the room. 

There are not really common area as such but there are sofas in reception, a small computer area and there are balconies off the rooms.

Showers and Toilets

We were in ensuite and the shower was not bad at all-good water pressure and it heated up quickly. The toilet was okay although due to you not being able to flush toilet roll and there being 10 people in the dorm they definitely needed to empty the bin more often. 

Staff 

The girl at the front desk is really lovely and will help you with anything from tours, bus tickets, taxis, restaurant recoemdations etc. Despite taking to her about the tours and bus tickets we actually booked wih someone else. However, she was not offended by this and helped us out when our tour bus was late and when we returned checked we had a good time. 

There is another front of house guy who is okay br his english is not as good so he comes across snappy. 

Breakfast 

So on Hostelworld it states that there is free breakfast regardless of what room you stay in. However, we found out after eating two breakfasts with them that this was not the case. We got in to a slight discussion because they were trying to say that we knew and we didn't. Anyway this was sorted in the end and they acknowledged that they would pay for the breakfast we had already had because we had not known. 

The breakfast itself is okay. You have the choice of jam, bread and butter, eggs, bread, cucumber and tomato, pho and instant noodles. I always went for the eggs which were two fried eggs with three slices of bread and the veg mentioned earlier. It was alright, nothing particularly special and not worth paying for.

Value for Money

At just under £4 it is not bad at all but if you add breakfast on to this that would be an extra £1. 

Dorms

The dorms were a bit cramped but the air con worked very well. They had a balcony to enjoy the last of the sun. The beds were average actually in general it was all abit average.

Location

This hostel is in old town which is good for restaurants and where you will be picked up from for tours. Many companies won't pick up from other areas of Hanoi. 

OVERALL, I enjoyed my stay here at Riverside there were a few teething issues but the staff especially the girl goes the extra mile for you. She even apologised for the misunderstanding. It is nice to be looked after in a hostel especially because many owners simply do not care. 

Love Imogen xoxo

Journey

So the journey over to Hoi An, meant that we were faced with our first over night bus! Now I admit I was a bit dubious about taking the night buses because on the internet they have the worst reputation; for not being able to sleep, stealing and general odd behaviour. However, I would say that they were not actually that bad!

We were picked up by a mini bus and taken to the bus 'station'. We had decided to go with Nam Phuong because they were quite cheap and the timings worked for us because we would get in to Hoi An in the morning rather than the middle of the night!

The journey itself was not that bumpy and there was less beeping. However, in the middle of the night I woke up to see the aisles filled with locals sleeping. It was odd to say the least but unfortunately nothing that you could really do about it. 

We arrived an hour later than planned however this worked out quite well for us because it meant that we were closer to checking in time!

Central Food Market

We were recommended this place by both hostel workers and guests so thought it was best to check it out. The food was really good and an absolute bargain; you would be getting decent portions for the equivalent of 60p! I would recommend the local delicy of a Cao Lau (a noodle and pork dish with crackling and rich sauce), White Rose (type of dumpling; honestly no idea what was in it but it tasted amazing!) and the Wonton (spicy ratatouille on a bread/cracker similar to a poppadom). Try to get here before half 8 as that is when things are starting to close down and you might find yourselves in the dark whilst eating!

Nightlife

Nightlife here is good and best of all cheap. Most people start in Old Town and take advantage of the drinks deals. I am pretty sure that before 11 you pay a set price and then get the most amounts of drinks possible. Yes you heard it here first- unlimited drinks...I have a feeling that is not coming to England anytime soon! If you are really struggling for money-buddy up! It just means more time at the bar but then again with a buddy with will probably be about the same!

After Old Town, most people then head to the infamous Why Not Bar. A great name, whoever chose it should be happy. If you get here a bit early do not panic it goes off later on. The alcohol tastes like petrol...who knows, maybe it is but at this point you will be quite drunk so hopefully do not need it or do not care.

Banh Mi Phuong 

If you are a fan of Anthony Bourdain you may know of this restaurant from a show he did a few years ago. However, for those who are not, banh my phuong sells some of the best sandwiches I have ever tasted. Now I am not particularly a massive sandwich fan but these guys put together a very tasty meal! If I was to be honest, not 100% sure what comes in it I just asked for everything because it seemed easier. However, after taste it appears that obviously there is a mini baguette, with marinade, chilli, meat, salad and just pretty much a taste sensation. 

River Restaurant 

We went to a really nice restaurant which was at the bottom of the street near the hostel. It had a beautiful lookout on to the river which I really enjoyed. Although a bit more expensive than the market the food was still of good quality and in the grand scheme of things not exactly breaking the bank. 

Tailoring

So Hoi An is famous for tailoring! My words of advice if you are thinking of getting items tailored:

1. Research before you go- it is overwhelming being faced with dozens of books and not much idea of what you want!
2. Have a price in mind- the key is bartering but if you don't have a price in mind you are going to feel bamboozled
3. If you want something that is complex make sure you have the time because it is likely that the tailors will need extra fittings!

You will find the cloth markets in the main town over the river close to the central market for food. I went to store 41 because I had been recommended it by a fellow traveller! There are all very similar if honest so unless there is a particular fabric then I would not think it would make a massive difference.

After deciding what I wanted and bartering the price, it was time for measuring! We then left and were told to come back the next day. We only paid half and I think it is important to do so in case you need extras doing or you don't like it etc.

On our way back to the hostel, a lady who specialises in shoes cornered us. We started to have a look at our shoes and then I saw these over the knee boots which honestly were to die for! I had not planned on getting them and then all of a sudden I was being measured and dreams were coming true. Again, we only paid half the amount here aswell.

The next day we went back and tried all items on. I had some alterations done to my playsuit and then we returned back to collect.

When we went back to get the boots, we were abit nervous because the woman was nowhere to be seen. Not going to lie, we paniced and then she came running through the stores- boots in hand. The boots by the way, fit like a glove and I was possibly in love. I was surprised at how much I loved them if only because I had not even planned on getting them but oh well!

I absolutely loved Hoi An and wished we had time for a bit longer there if honest!

Love Imogen xoxo

Hoi An Hostel Review

HIDEOUT HOSTEL AND BAR

Facilities

When we first arrived, the wifi was really good everywhere. However, by the second day we could no longer get a connection in the rooms and it would take longer to connect outside. 

You are provided with lockers in your room but honestly anyone wandering in from off the street could easily get in to your rooms. I never heard of any incidences but I would keep your valuables locked away to be safe. 

The pool was not great here and lost sunlight by about 2 'o clock but it was refreshing all the same. There are also bean bags dotted around the place to keep comfortable whilst you are enjoying the sun. 

There is a social area near the bar and reception which gets lively at night. Furthermore, there is an upstairs room with a view which also has a television in it. They don't really advertise this as well as they could. There is also a pool table next to the kitchen. 

There is always something going on at night at this hostel and with the free beer between 7-8 and various drinks deals, there is normally always someone around the bar. 

Showers and Toilets 

The showers provided have good pressure and heat. You never have to wait for the shower but you may have to for the toilet. The facilities are cleaned regularly, no complaints here!

Staff 

The staff here are good, it's ran by a mixture of Western and Vietnamese people. Some of the housekeepers don't believe in service with a smile but it's nothing personal. They help with trips and buses although they were quite expensive.

Breakfast 

You have the choice between an omelette, fried or scrambled egg, with a baguette, sliced tomato and a hash brown. Although, the hash brown is not a hash brown more a criss cross potato fritter. The breakfast quality can differ from day to day. Not to say it was not nice, more that it was just not always at the same great quality we experienced on the first day we were there. 

Dorms 

I was in the riverside room which is a 10 bed. The nicer of the 10 beds I think. The only issue is the wifi is not always great and the beds are quite high. There is air on but its on a timer so even if you want to sleep in...you are going to overheat. 

Value for Money 

All the hostels in Hoi Ann are slightly more expensive...I mean not overly but in comparison to other places. For what you get I would say it's a decent price. 

Location

I think this is a great location; not too far away from the old town, the bars, the tailor shops, restaurants etc. it's far from the beach but if you really want to go just hire bikes; push or motorised.

OVERALL, I would really recommend staying here, I had a great time. This place gets booked up quick so book before you arrive and think about how long you want to stay because we saw several people turned away. 

Love Imogen xoxo

Journey 

The journey to Nha Trang is quite simple. We were picked up by a taxi and taken to the bus 'station'. We were travelling this time with Viet Nat. From here we were on a sitting bus. I personally prefer sleeper buses because there is much more room. On a sitting, if someone leans their chair back you actually cannot move. You stop in quite a decent place for food and with decent toilets. So if you haven't brought food it's not the end of the world. When we arrived,we actually walked to the hostel. Nha Trang is not the largest of cities- it's more like a large town. 

Beach 

We spent every day here. It's quite a nice beach and there's plenty of stalls and activities if you so wish for them. It was really busy on the days that's we went because of Reunification Day. Reunification Day is the celebration of, as the Spice Girls would say, two becoming one aka when Vietnam because one country again rather then the previous split of North and South. There were lots of families and celebrations going on which made the atmosphere so lively. 

Street Markets 

We ate at street markets every night. I am not going to lie, I have been living of noodles and rice since being in Asia and I am starting to get a little bored. So we treated ourselves to a beef steak dish which had a lovely rich sauce that was served with an egg and a baguette. It sounds like an odd combination but it was really nice. Plus it cost just over a pound!

We also divulged in a baguette from one of the stalls for lunch. There are stalls everywhere and you can get a baguette with everything on for 20 dong which is less than a pound. I would not be able to tell you what everything consists of but it tasted damn good! 

Nha Trang does not always have the best reputation amongst travellers but I really enjoyed my time here. Furthermore, it was really nice to have a few chilled days after Canyoning! 

Love Imogen xoxo

Nha Trang Hostel Review

HQ CAFE

Facilities

The wifi is pretty good here. There are different modems for each level so it's pretty strong for payments and bookings-perfect. 

You don't need a key to get in to the initial building but you do need a key to get on to your floor. They provide lockers with a key for you to out your valuables in. 

There is not a great deal of communal space but there is a common area for your floor. This has a television, sofa and free water. 

Showers and Toilets 

There are two showers and toilets on each floor. The showers themselves have a good pressure and heat but sometimes due to the plumbing smell a bit off. 

Staff 

Staff here are friendly and helpful. They managed to book our bus for us and gave us help and directions without us even having to ask. They also give you a map when you book in which is good and useful although a smart bit of advertising for themselves. 

Breakfast 

For breakfast you have the choice of fruit and yogurt, toast and a banana or noodles and a banana with tea or coffee. The fruit was nice but the portion was quite small. Whereas the noodles, which on the picture look really nice actually are instant noodles. Not that there is anything wrong with instant noodles but when you think you are getting something else it's disappointing. 

Value for Money 

The room was around £6 per night. The free breakfast and water was a great point of this hostel although many were unaware of the deal so would buy water themselves. 

Dorms 

The dorms were big. However, the beds were not that comfortable, personally they were too soft. There is also a plug beside most beds and there are two ACs in the room. 

Location 

It's a two minute walk from the beach-what more do you need!?

OVERALL, this hostel was decent and makes a great place to stay in Nha Trang. It's not the most social of hostels but it is still nice. 

Love Imogen xoxo