I would never call Vietnam "relaxing," though it is an interesting place with an interesting history. It's a long, thin country, which makes it very easy to travel through. It also has some very good local dishes, particularly Pho (noodle soup) and Banh mi (French influenced sandwich) and is an affordable country by nearly all standards.
However, unlike in the nearby countries of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, there were not many places I'd hurry to return to. The cities were enjoyable in many respects, but I never felt inclined to stay in any one city for a long period of time (with the exception of Saigon). I think a lot of this is due to the country's bustling attitude, which seems very obsessed with making money. More so than in other countries I've been to, touts and shop owners seemed to see only dollar signs in my eyes. It can become exhausting and depressing after a while, being so frequently objectified and overcharged. Nevertheless, I only found this to be a problem when buying things (food, drink, etc). The majority of people I met were kind and courteous.
Like in any country, there are plenty of places I have not yet seen, so I'd never rule out returning to Vietnam!
Budget (2014): Like most of Southeast Asia, Vietnam can be very cheap. A budget of $20 per day should be more than enough if you stay in budget hostels, eat mostly street food, and take public transport.
However, unlike in the nearby countries of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, there were not many places I'd hurry to return to. The cities were enjoyable in many respects, but I never felt inclined to stay in any one city for a long period of time (with the exception of Saigon). I think a lot of this is due to the country's bustling attitude, which seems very obsessed with making money. More so than in other countries I've been to, touts and shop owners seemed to see only dollar signs in my eyes. It can become exhausting and depressing after a while, being so frequently objectified and overcharged. Nevertheless, I only found this to be a problem when buying things (food, drink, etc). The majority of people I met were kind and courteous.
Like in any country, there are plenty of places I have not yet seen, so I'd never rule out returning to Vietnam!
Budget (2014): Like most of Southeast Asia, Vietnam can be very cheap. A budget of $20 per day should be more than enough if you stay in budget hostels, eat mostly street food, and take public transport.
Blog Posts
