Vietnam, a familiar neighboring country to many, stretches from north to south. With a cost of living comparable to our own, a rich history, and captivating cultural identity, it's no surprise that many people adore this nation. Numerous international land border crossings facilitate travel, making it a popular destination for those seeking repeated visits.

This time, we took a relaxed trip to Central Vietnam. Most of the main attractions we had already visited on our previous trip, so this time we didn't focus on sightseeing as much. Instead, we focused on observing the people and wandering around aimlessly.

Sometimes, when we travel without a strict plan or stress about it too much, we see things from a different perspective. These may not be anything new or special, but here are 5 small things that made us want to embrace Hue with all our might.

01. Kinship Relations at the Lao Bao Border Gate

After a long overnight journey, we arrived at the Heaven Gate checkpoint in the afternoon. The Savannakhet bus gradually approached the Lao-Vietnamese border (Lao calls it Heaven Gate, Vietnam calls it Lao Bao). We started preparing our passports, confident that we would have to get off soon.

However, the driver did not stop. What's going on? Why didn't he stop? We're already past the Lao checkpoint and about to reach the Vietnamese checkpoint. Walking back is tiring, uncle!

As the car came to a stop, we couldn't help but ask the driver if we needed to go through Laotian immigration first. The driver, with a knowing smile, pointed to the Vietnamese immigration checkpoint ahead and said, "This is it. You're not mistaken."

As we followed them, we finally understood.

The Laotian immigration counters for departures are located next to the Vietnamese immigration counters for arrivals.

It may not seem surprising, but how many places have you seen two countries' checkpoints set up side-by-side like this? If they weren't close friends, they wouldn't be able to do this. Plus, it's super convenient. Once you're done stamping out of Laos, just take two steps to the right, hand over your passport, and get stamped into Vietnam!

While it may seem like a minor detail, the close proximity of the immigration checkpoints in these two countries is quite remarkable. It's a testament to the strong and amicable relationship between the two nations. Although we were unable to capture a photograph due to security restrictions, the sight was truly impressive.

02. Affordable and comfortable accommodation!

Vietnam: Affordable and Quality Accommodation

Vietnam offers a plethora of affordable and high-quality hotels across the country, from the north to the south, including popular tourist destinations. For as low as 12-20 USD, travelers can find comfortable rooms with amenities, and some even include breakfast.

Typically, when we travel, we prefer not to book rooms in advance. If we have the time and it's not a peak season, we opt for walk-in accommodations. This is because...

1. Change your mind, change your plan anytime.

2. Photos on booking websites often do not match the actual condition of the room, which can be disappointing. Therefore, I prefer to see the room in person before making a decision.

However, in Vietnam, booking rooms in advance through online booking platforms can sometimes lead to free room upgrades at the same price. On two occasions, we encountered cases where the hotel was fully booked before online booking closed. The hotel usually solved this problem by upgrading our room or moving us to another hotel in their chain, which had better rooms than the one we had booked!

The intense competition among hotels in Vietnam necessitates a strong focus on customer retention. Addressing complaints and concerns promptly is crucial to avoid losing valuable customers. As a result, we benefit from this commitment to customer satisfaction.

This time, I booked a standard Superior room, but I got a Deluxe room for $12 with breakfast! It was a great deal!

We do not recommend this as a reliable trick, as it is not always effective. We are simply sharing this information for your awareness.

03. The Mute Uncle and the Journey of the Bottle Opener

Lac Thein appears to be a long-standing, ordinary nem nuong restaurant in Hue, offering delicious food and several signature dishes (we particularly enjoyed the nem nuong and the steamed fish with soy sauce). However, its popularity among Thai people likely stems from the film "We Three," starring Somchun Sunchuri and Ter, along with their jeep gang, who filmed almost the entire movie in Vietnam.

The walls, ceiling, and even the refrigerator are covered in signatures from customers all over the world, including Thailand. This is a testament to the restaurant's popularity and the number of people who have visited.

The highlight of the shop is Uncle Lac, the owner. Despite being mute, he has a unique way of attracting customers, leaving a lasting impression even after they've left. But how does he communicate, being mute? He does it "with a single bottle opener."

"Out came the beer, served by Uncle Hooda himself. He brought the bottles to our table with a flourish, extending his arm as if performing a traditional Thai dance. With a loud "pop!", he expertly opened the bottles, drawing smiles and cheers from the tourists who were thoroughly entertained by his enthusiastic presentation."

The fun didn't stop there. In addition to demonstrating how to open the bottles, he also gave each table a bottle opener with the date and the name of the restaurant printed on it as a souvenir, playfully encouraging them to think of him when they used it.

"How do you know they'll miss you? Honestly, I don't know either. Haha. But seeing the photo albums they proudly showed off, filled with smiles from people all over the world, makes me think maybe they will."

Some people use bottle openers in their daily lives, while others carry them around as a travel accessory. Some photos show people holding up their bottle openers, as if to say, "Look, Uncle, my bottle opener has climbed this mountain with me!" Others have even gone so far as to create photoshopped images of astronauts using their bottle openers on Mars.

We can sense the strong camaraderie and shared emotions between you and the travelers who have visited Hue and this shop.

At that time, we secretly envied the handmade bottle opener, which was simply assembled with a long square wooden bar and a screw. We envied that it had traveled more than us.

The uncle smiled and handed over the bottle opener, which was stamped with the date. We received it with a sense of mission, even though we didn't even wonder if the uncle himself had ever been to the place. But even if he hadn't, he had entrusted the bottle opener to travel with us as his representative.

Anyone visiting Hue should stop by his shop, leave their signature on the wall, and grab a bottle opener. Oh, I haven't mentioned the food yet, haha. Well, as I said, the food is delicious, but I have a favorite restaurant in Hue that I'll share with you later. 04

Note: There are two shops next to each other, both run by deaf uncles and featured in Lonely Planet. However, we believe the shop on the left is authentic. It has been open for a long time, and we found a foreign blog where the author confirmed its authenticity after asking locals. The other shop is run by a fake deaf uncle. We don't mind, but we wanted to note it down in case anyone was curious.

Translation:

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04. My Favorite Dish: Bun Thit Nuong!

Culinary Delights of Huế: A Gastronomic Journey

Huế, the former imperial capital of Vietnam, boasts a rich culinary heritage renowned throughout the country. This passage delves into the city's gastronomic scene, highlighting its signature dishes and the reasons behind their acclaim.

The author begins by emphasizing the importance of food in Huế, stating that it is a topic worthy of discussion. They then introduce the concept of "món ngon," which translates to "delicious dishes," and specifically mention those that have earned Huế a reputation as the culinary capital of Vietnam.

The phrase "อย่างงั้นเลย" expresses surprise or disbelief at the claim that Huế's cuisine surpasses all others in Vietnam. This suggests that the author may be skeptical of this assertion and invites further exploration of the city's culinary offerings.

The passage concludes without providing specific examples of Huế's signature dishes, leaving the reader eager to discover the flavors and aromas that have captivated the nation's palate.

This refers to Bun Thit Nuong (บุ๋น = vermicelli noodles, ทิ่ด หน๋อง = grilled pork), a ubiquitous dish in Vietnam, with prices ranging from approximately 20,000 to 40,000 dong.

The dish lives up to its name, featuring thin rice noodles topped with grilled pork and various vegetables, all drizzled with a light sauce. Before digging in, be sure to mix everything together to ensure the sauce coats the ingredients. The flavor profile leans towards the sweet side, but each restaurant typically offers fresh or roasted chili peppers as a condiment for those who prefer a bit more heat.

The menu may seem simple, but the highlight is the grilled pork and the dipping sauce. Each restaurant has its own recipe for marinating the pork and making the dipping sauce. As for the vegetables in Vietnam, you don't have to worry, they are fresh and crispy in every restaurant. Most of the restaurants I've been to have equally delicious dishes.

However, there is one particular restaurant that we highly recommend. It is located on the ground floor next to Dong Ba Market and only opens in the evening until late at night. We are unsure of the exact opening hours, as we arrived early in the evening to avoid the crowds.

The restaurant is located by the roadside in a typical Vietnamese style. There are small tables and chairs for customers to sit on. The owner sits and cooks, while the customers sit and eat. Opposite the restaurant is a section where pork is grilled, creating a smoky atmosphere. The atmosphere is lively and local. There are no signs, but it is easy to spot because it is always crowded with both dine-in and takeaway customers. Most of the customers are locals, which is a testament to the deliciousness of the food.

We love the grilled pork vermicelli at this restaurant because the pork is marinated with a flavorful and well-balanced taste, unlike other restaurants. In addition to this menu, the restaurant also offers nem nuong, which is equally delicious. The prices are also very affordable. Grilled pork vermicelli costs 20,000 Dong per bowl, while nem nuong is sold per skewer for 10,000 Dong.

Every time I go, I order seconds. Most Vietnamese food is vegetable-based, so you can eat as much as you want without getting fat.

If you have the opportunity to visit Hue, be sure to try this dish. If you have time, I highly recommend this restaurant.

05.424 Km. Motorcycle Diary | Ho Chi Minh Trail

Many of you may have heard of Uncle Ho, Ho Chi Minh, right? The Ho Chi Minh Trail is the path that Uncle Ho used to march during the Vietnam War, part of which winds its way along the mountainside from north to south, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, a distance of over 1,000 kilometers.

The path is currently maintained and named after Uncle Ho in his honor.

The Ho Chi Minh Trail is a classic motorcycle route that retraces the journey of Uncle Ho. It is popular with tourists, especially foreigners. The route starts in Hanoi and ends in Ho Chi Minh City, covering over 1,000 kilometers. Riding the full route takes at least 7 days, which is only suitable for those who have the time and passion to follow in Uncle Ho's footsteps.

According to numerous foreign tourists who have reviewed the Ho Chi Minh Trail on Tripadvisor, the most scenic section of the road is between Hue and Prao. This section is preferred over the entire route due to its shorter distance and the concentration of the most stunning scenery in this area.

Initially, we planned to take a bus to Hoi An. However, we saw many signs offering one-way motorbike rentals from Hue to Hoi An, which piqued our interest (as we could return the motorbike in Hoi An).

However, upon further research, I discovered this route, which sparked a desire to follow in the footsteps of Uncle Ho, à la Che Guevara in Motorcycle Diaries.

From Hue to Hoi An and back to Hue again, a distance of over 424 kilometers. We experienced everything, truly everything, that you wouldn't find if you just took a regular car.

The journey was a rollercoaster of emotions, encompassing scorching heat, blazing sun, salty sea breeze, cascading waterfalls, dusty roads, torrential downpours, and ferry rides. It brought us face-to-face with a diverse array of people.

It was a short but incredibly memorable journey (not to mention the five punches I took, haha). This doesn't even include the time we spent exploring Hoi An.

The return trip was amazing. We were hot, so we jumped into a cool waterfall on the way back to the city.

**Points of interest along the way**

- The road passes through residential areas, farms, and construction sites, with conditions generally good. The traffic is light, mainly consisting of local motorcycles and tourists. We felt safer riding on this road than in the city.

Translation:

• Upon reaching the fork in the road between the Lao-Vietnamese border, we turned left and entered the initial section of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This early stretch resembled a Karen village, with local Vietnamese residents weaving fabrics in a charming and endearing manner. We even encountered a hot spring. Initially, we considered staying overnight in this village, but the lack of accommodation forced us to continue for nearly 100 kilometers.

- As we left the village, the landscape began to change. The road started to climb and wind its way up the mountain, offering stunning views along the way. Lush green moss and towering ferns lined the roadside, creating a dense, almost 100-kilometer-long tunnel of greenery unlike anything we have back home.

• Visit the World Heritage Site of Mi-sön.

- You can also visit Bac Ma National Park or Ba Na Hills.

- From Hoi An to Hue, we took the coastal route, which offered stunning views of the sea from the mountains. It was a unique and beautiful experience. Additionally, about 60 kilometers before reaching Hue, we came across a waterfall where we saw Western men and women in bikinis enjoying the water. It was a delightful sight. If you have time and are comfortable riding back, I highly recommend this route.

Paragraph 5 contains extensive details. We have provided a summary of the information here, with detailed descriptions and images provided in a separate thread. This will allow for a clearer understanding of the route's features. Due to the length of the content, we have opted to provide a full review in the separate thread. Please refer to the following link for the complete review:

424 Km. Motorcycle Diary | Ho Chi Minh Trail:

Link to Readme.me page

Here are 5 small but memorable things about Hue, collected from our own perspective (we didn't mention any tourist attractions, sorry!).

During our eight-day trip, we did not encounter any Thai tourists. The popularity of Vietnam as a tourist destination appears to have waned significantly compared to the past.

For us, Vietnam is one of the countries we visit most often. It's close to home, the cost of living is similar to ours, it's easy to get to, and it has its own unique character. Most importantly, it's suitable for travelers of all ages, especially those who want to start backpacking. Vietnam is one of the top choices we would recommend.

Thank you for reading.

Oil / Wanderer Error

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