Travelling to Southeast Asia from Barbados is a proper long haul. Vietnam had been on my list for a long time, and with two weeks of vacation to work with and a genuinely great flight deal out of London, we decided to go for it — one week in Vietnam, one week in Bali. We flew Barbados to London on Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin, a birthday upgrade from my parents, before the long haul out to Southeast Asia properly began.
Arriving in Hanoi
After three legs of seven-hour flights — the worst possible way to do it, we both agreed — we finally reached Hanoi. The jet lag was intense. We headed out that evening for food and found a spot called Linh's Kitchen for our first Vietnamese barbecue. An excellent way to start the week.
Hanoi: Days 1-3
Hanoi did not disappoint. The hustle and bustle, the chaotic streets, the friendly people — we fell completely in love with Vietnam almost immediately. Our plan was to visit Ha Long Bay the following morning, but a storm ruled that out. Instead we spent our days wandering Hanoi, eating and drinking our way through it — Pho at Pho 10, Bun Cha at a small local restaurant, and far too much Bia Hoi.
A view of Hoan Kiem Lake
We spoiled ourselves with massages between wandering the streets, and every hour in the city we got more confident crossing the roads with the advice our hotel receptionist gave us: walk with confidence.
Hanoi to Hue
On our last day in Hanoi, the hotel let us stay a few extra hours before we caught the overnight train to Hue. We got to the station early, boarded, and met our cabin mates for the night. The train was an experience in itself — we had one moment where a conductor came through checking the cabin, and thankfully one of our new travel companions was awake to handle it while our bags stayed locked and close.
Overnight Train Tip
Keep your bags locked or within reach on the bed overnight. It's a simple precaution and one of the few things worth being deliberate about on the sleeper train.
Where we stayed: Calypso Suites — genuinely excellent service on a roughly $30 USD a night budget. The best hotel of the whole trip, entirely because of the staff.
Where we ate: Linh's Kitchen and Pho 10, both in Hanoi's old quarter.
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Hue: Days 4-5
We arrived in Hue around 9am and it was noticeably quieter than the chaos of Hanoi. Our plan was to explore the Imperial City and then get on a motorbike for the Hai Van Pass.
A view of the Imperial City, Hue
The Imperial City was extraordinary — there's genuinely enough history to spend a full day, though we managed around four hours. We walked there and back, which was a mistake given the heat — grab a bike or a taxi instead.
That evening we wandered the riverside market before an early night, ready for an early pickup from Easy Riders the next morning, who took our main luggage ahead and left us with day bags for the ride.
Hue to Hoi An — The Hai Van Pass
This was my first time on the back of a motorbike and I was genuinely nervous. Once we hit the highway I started to relax — a coffee stop at a roadside shop helped — right up until the biggest bump in the road caught me completely off guard.
We continued down the highway, stopping for Pho at a roadside restaurant, before finally reaching the Hai Van Pass — the moment we'd been waiting for. The traffic cleared and it was just us and our guide climbing the mountainside, passing a handful of other riders before reaching the top, where busloads of tourists had gathered for the view. Riding the Hai Van Pass was one of the genuine highlights of the entire week.
The start of the Hai Van Pass
From there we rode through Da Nang, stopped at the Marble Mountains, and arrived in Hoi An.
Where we stayed: Alba Hotel
Tour: Easy Riders
Must see: The Imperial City
Hoi An: Days 5-7
Hoi An might be the most charming town we've ever visited. We went out that evening for food and fell instantly in love — lanterns strung across every street corner, building and tree. From the moment we reached the Old Town, that was it.
Street views of Hoi An
We spent the day walking, souvenir shopping and drinking Vietnamese coffee — with lanterns firmly on the shopping list too. Lunch overlooking the river with a bucket of mojitos, chatting to a street vendor selling snacks, was one of the highlights of the whole week.
Our last day was spent by the hotel pool as the weather turned dodgy — a massage and a relaxed final afternoon before flying from Da Nang to Singapore. The perfect way to close out the trip.
Where we stayed: Sunshine Hotel
Must see: The Japanese Bridge, the Old Town
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Why We're Going Back
We loved this week so much that we're genuinely dying to go back and see more — the south of the country, further north than Hanoi. I have rarely met more hardworking, friendly people than we did across Vietnam, and one week only scratched the surface.
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Frequently Asked Questions
One week is enough to get a genuine taste of the country if you focus on one region — we did Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An, all in the north and central regions. It's not enough to also cover the south, but it gives you a properly rich introduction and a reason to go back.
