We left Hanoi and flew to Da Nang, where we were meeting Adam and Lydia. We had arranged to go by jeep up in to the hills in to the real Vietnam to meet the ‘Village People’ as they were called by the locals.

Vietnam is a gorgeous country, but it is quickly and very sadly becoming over run by tourism. As we were driving out of the city, our guide was explaining that a lot of Vietnamese people have no interest in living in the hills and want to be around the hustle and bustle – literally, they want to be on the main road. Small children roaming next to the traffic – I just couldn’t understand it!

Lots of houses are currently being knocked down so that the roads can be widened to make way for the increase in cars. Currently 90% of people travel by moped, but that is changing and the streets can’t really cope with it. Who knows what they are going to do about parking!!!?

As we headed up in to the hills and left the busy city behind, the views were breathtaking and this really was ‘The real Vietnam’. Our guide had a very good relationship with the different villages and families and the kids absolutely loved him as he often brought sweets and toys.

Everyone smiled and welcomed us, running up to us in the jeep and showing us around. They were so interested and happy! People with so little in many peoples eyes, but really with so much – Self sufficient villages, happy families and healthy children! They got a huge amount of joy and gratitude from receiving a new football!!

The ‘Village people’ were amazing and we got to see their houses, what they did every day, whether it was growing vegetables, drying rice or weaving fabrics. It was so insightful and an incredible experience!

It also puts things massively in to perspective! We really do have it so easy…..We met a woman who was carrying 25 kgs of firewood on her back and had been carrying it for a good few hours – but she was happy, smiley and greeted us as we went past. Oh and she was at least 55!!!! Did I forget to mention that!

The scenery was breathtaking too – everything was so green, fresh and luscious! A massive contrast to the smoggy city down the hill. I felt very lucky to have had this experience and loved seeing the real Vietnam!

Our last stop in Vietnam was Hoi An, a Unesco Heritage Site, which thankfully could not be touched by the Vietnamese government. The yellow city would stand for a long time to come.

Strangely mediterranean, Hoi An has French influence and is probably one of my favourite places in the world. Many of the buildings are yellow and the small streets are lit with so many colourful lanterns! Our hotel was hidden within the allotments and was completely gorgeous. A lovely pool, beautiful rooms and a delicious restaurant, which used fresh produce from their veggie garden. Bliss!

After becoming very zen by the pool we ventured in to town to explore!

We had been told that Hoi An was the place to have your clothes made and after receiving a helpful recommendation from our hotel, we headed to BEBE to get measured up! I would highly recommend getting a few garms made if you are ever in the area – the fabrics are amazing and SO CHEAP! Ryan had a linen jacket made along with a few shirts and the quality was really really good!

Wandering around Hoi An was just lovely and it felt like nowhere I had been before. The buildings themselves were gorgeous and then there was the the river with its colourful boats, decorative bridge, markets and so on and so on! I just couldn’t get enough.

The next few days consisted of exploring, relaxing, eating and just generally enjoying Hoi An. I was so pleased we had decided to spend a good few days here, enjoying the scenery and just doing as the locals did. We had a few more garms made here and there, ate gorgeous food at the hotel restaurant and whizzed around on the mopeds, terrifying just doing what the locals do – whatever the hell they wanted to!. I just hit behind Ryan most of the time!

The night markets were gorgeous and it was nice to go out when it was a bit cooler. The colourful lanterns were my absolute favourite and I really wished I could have bought them all.

The buildings looked just as pretty at night and it really did feel strangely Mediterranean. Hoi An – we will definitely be back !!

After having a delicious coffee in a sweet little cafe – Ryan told me how much he liked his espresso cup, which I think he probably realised later on, that was a big mistake. I asked the waiter if the cup was made locally and the nice man kindly told me that the shop was actually just down the road. Well! It would have been rude not to have a little look wouldn’t it!

Obviously I wanted everything and was trying to work out how we could get everything shipped back home as all of the products were completely gorgeous!

The indoor/outdoor building was a shop come art gallery come cafe. It had it all! We selected a few cups and saucers and I also couldn’t leave without buying a teapot which came with about eight other cups. Ryan didn’t stand a chance – Sorry!!!

I was sad I couldn’t buy more, but I am sure we will back and I can’t wait to use our teapot and cups when we get home – at some point.

So many gorgeous hidden gems in this part of the world, I love that we are able to have a collection of precious items that we have found on our travels. We can look back on our lovely memories and reminisce. —- This is how I justify buying these little trinkets!

Before leaving we hired mopeds again to whizz around the streets like maniacs on! Here are some of our gorgeous views – along with one showing the average trip for a Vietnamese moped driver.

Vietnam has been a highlight and I am so pleased we managed to add it on to our travels. I really hope many of you get to explore it like we did.

The people, the colour, the hustle and bustle along with the zen, the scenery, the coffee and of course, the food, was all incredible and I can’t wait to go back and explore some more.

‘The heart of traveling, leaving things behind and keeping other things with you forever’

Written in the hotel book, I loved it, see below…

R & E xx