5. BE THRILLED AT THE THEMED PARKS

VinWonders themed park is a must-visit. It lies 28 km north from the town center. There are public buses every 30 minutes but for your convenience, a taxi or a private car will be the best way to go. 

This place is perfect for kids and kids at heart. You can enjoy a variety of heart-stopping adventure rides and child-friendly ones. It also features an aquarium with diverse underwater creatures. 

The best way to book a ticket would be online or through the hotel staff as there could be discounted packages that include passes to both VinWonders and VinSafari. 

More of this trip here:

6. VISIT THE SAFARI

VinSafari Phu Quoc is the largest and the most diversified one in the country. It has an extensive collection of species and a better environment for its inhabitants. Tickets for the safari could be bought as a bundle with VinWonders Theme Park passes. The theme park and safari are in two different locations so you can either take the taxi or the electric buggies as a cheaper option. 

check out more of this on Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc - YouTube

Taiwan cradles a plethora of budget-friendly hostels and BnBs so finding the perfect accommodation that suits your budget and needs should be as easy as pie.

TIPS!

Booking a place to stay is often a requirement upon entering Taiwan with a tourist entry visa. Upon arrival you will most likely be asked by the immigration officer (IO) to show a proof of booked accommodation.

Get paperless!
I used to print on paper the reservation details but I found it really inconvenient and impractical when you can just use your phone. I worry that my phone would die so I won't be able to show my documents but really it was just 'me' being paranoid.

Get an app on your phone for hotel bookings so it'll be more convenient for you to open your reservation details especially when an IO asks for it.  I usually save a screenshot on my gallery just in case I won't get internet connection yet.

Read the reviews!
Before you feel giddy with paying for a place to stay, it's imperative to read reviews and view photos to get a glimpse of the place. Most of the time negative comments are true and can really cause an inconvenience even how trivial it was presented.

I experienced booking on a hostel because it was cheap and the location was excellent. There were great feedback from guests. Although I've read some negative comments, I disregarded them thinking these were just trivial matters that can be overlooked or perhaps the guests who left the feedback were 'just too picky'. Guess what, I was wrong. I learned.

Pay when you stay
Opt for 'pay-when-you-stay' accommodation if possible. If anything comes up unexpectedly that would necessitate for a change of hostel, it would be easier by then to cancel your reservation without charge. Some may charge for cancellation a day or two before your expected arrival. Although it's not always good to be a 'joy reserver' or so they say, I don't want to risk being charged on my card.

I'm sharing my reviews and experiences with the budget accommodations in Taiwan. I toured around  two cities in Taiwan for a week and stayed in three different hostels.

Mini West Hotel - TAICHUNG

YAY! 💯

✅ economical - it was just around 10 USD per night with breakfast
✅ breakfast included - not as overwhelming as a buffet but it was a generous perk with the price you pay
✅ location - there's a bus station right in front of the hostel; it's a walking distance to nearby bus stops for other destinations; near convenience stores and 24/7 food places.
✅ cleanliness
✅ spacious bunkbeds - it was like a mini bedroom; sheets and pillows were comfortable and clean
✅ privacy - although it's a shared room, each bed has roller blinds
✅ reception - you can check in anytime
✅ staff - accommodating and friendly regardless of the nationality; I'm a bit observant about how staff treat their guests because I had an experience of being ignored or not attended to right away because some white guy came in - this toxic Asian mentality!

NAY ❌❌❌

❌going up or down the upper bunkbeds maybe a little uncomfortable due to its vertical ladder
❌no shoes inside is okay but sharing slippers is not

Angel's Hostel - TAIPEI

YAY!  💯

✅ economical - it was just around 10 USD per night
✅ free snacks - chips and there's a coffee machine (not free though); they've got a kitchen and laundry services for guests
✅ location - it's a 3-min walk to Ximen metro station and Ximending, a famous night market in Taipei
✅ vibe - it gets a little crowded at the lounge area but the warm smiles and laughters are priceless moments of a backpacker's experience
✅ staff - friendly and can converse in English
✅ bunkbeds - comfortable and the staircases are awesome; unlike other bunkbeds, they don't have vertical ladders, they've got mini staircases so it's comfortable to walk up or down

NAY ❌❌❌

❌cleanliness in the bathroom
❌shared toilet - toilet is situated outside the hostel; it's shared with the other tenants of the building; some parts of the toilet needed repair

Neosoho - TAIPEI

YAY! 💯

✅ excellent location - it was a 2-min walk to Taipei Main Station which connects to the airport line and other major cities and counties in Taiwan
✅ economical - it was just around 13 USD per night
✅ wide lounge area with dining tables and computers

NAY ❌❌❌

❌privacy - when you get the upper bed, it would be so awkward to see other guests and even more uncomfortable to see people sleeping in the next cubicle.
❌bunkbeds - uncomfortable, too elevated (upper beds) that you'd hit the radiator or lights with your head; vertical ladders with little to no space to land your feet on; it was a horrible yet funny experience falling 2 steps from the ladder!

The reviews were made with all honesty and are actually based on my personal experience. Yours may be different. Feel free to react and interact!

Browsing through my neewsfeed, I stumbled upon this magnificent view which I thought was just a manipulated image. Turns out, this one's legit! 

Welcome to the Golden Bridge in Vietnam! This newly opened attraction had instantly drawn hundreds of tourists every day. The Golden Bridge is situated inside Ba Na Hills, a huge amusement park in Da Nang, central part of Vietnam.

Finally, the Golden Bridge

So, where's Da Nang?  Read on. 

As of this writing you can take a direct flight to Da Nang from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, UAE, Taiwan, Hongkong, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Laos. 

If your country is not in the list, you're actually in for a more exciting trip as you'll get a chance to see more of what Vietnam has to offer by exploring other cities. 

Most tourists enter the country through its major cities, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. Fortunately, domestic flights from these cities to Da Nang are quite cheap. Promo fares are always available on the major airlines of Vietnam, Vietjet and Vietnam Airlines so this itinerary still jibes the budget. 

You shouldn't miss visiting nearby attractions in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh before flying to Da Nang. 

This option requires ample time. From Ho Chi Minh, it'll take 19-24 hours and from Hanoi, it'll take 16-18 hours. Sounds excruciating? This isn't going to break your purse but it'd somehow break your neck. It's a hyperbole but it's really cheaper to travel by bus. The bus fare is around 400,000₫(16 USD) to 600, 000₫(26USD) one-way. If you enjoy travelling and sleeping on a bus, there are a lot of sleeper bus you can take. The cost varies on the comfort you'll experience. For instance, there are buses that don't have their own toilet inside so you'd probably have to pull up your Google Translate app to tell the driver to stop for a 'pee break'. 

Train rides in Vietnam may be long but the scenic countryside view can ease the boredom away. I personally like to travel by train but only for short distances. When travelling to Da Nang, the travel hours are similar to that of the bus rides. While buses are quite cheaper, some seat options on the train could almost match to that of a plane ticket. Trains have berths that would cost up to 900,000₫ (39 USD one-way) depending  on the type of cabin you'll have. If you don't mind being seated for the entire ride, then there are soft or hard seats which cost the same with sleeper buses. The trains are equipped with toilets and portable food carts. 

Ever since Da Nang has become touristry, cheap youth hostels and inns have popped out everywhere so it's not a challenge to find a budget-friendly hotel in the city for around 7 USD per night. Da Nang also boasts of its luxury hotels and resorts which are still quite cheaper than other five-star accommodation in other countries.

If you plan of getting the most of your time in Ba Na Hills Resort without the flock of tourists, then staying inside the resort would be the best option although you still need to pay for the amusement park ticket for a lesser price. The hotel accommodation may cost up to $200 USD/night for a double room. Booking online would be a smart option to get discounts. 

The currency in Vietnam is called VND: Vietnamese Dong (locals pronounce it as 'dom'). Most business people in Da Nang accept VND but some tour agencies may accept dollars. It's always smart to change your local currency with USD because most money exchange shops in the provinces of Vietnam don't accept any other currencies but USD. 

On a personal note, I had to travel to Hanoi (the capital) and take that 6-hour train ride so I can have my Philippine Peso (PHP) exchanged with VND. I learned my lesson to always have USD in my purse when travelling to other countries. 

Taking a City Tour

By Taxi

As soon as you step out of the terminal in Da Nang (bus, train, or airport), taxi drivers will be on the lookout. They can be a little aggressive but you can just firmly say no if you've got a plan to follow. There are some taxi-hailing app (like Grab) which can be used in Da Nang. Some taxi drivers even offer to check your Grab app and pay the fare as shown in your app. Fair enough.  This is only ideal if you're travelling from the terminal or airport to your hotel. For city tours they will charge differently. You can try to haggle.

By Private Car

In my case, I took a private car which happened to be a Grab car, too.  It was less expensive because it was more of a rideshare. I paid 50,000₫ (2 USD) for a 10-minute ride from the terminal to my accommodation. I met the driver just outside the terminal. No prior bookings were made.

I also hired the same driver to take me and my friend to Ba Na Hills the next day for just 600,000₫ (25USD). He helped us reserve tickets and get a little discount.

By Motorbike

You read it right! If you know how to drive a motorbike and you've got an International Driving Permit, you can rent one where you stay. Can you drive without a license in Vietnam? Although this sounds illegal, I've known a lot of foreigners who drive motorbikes without a license. aw enforcement in this country is also very lenient when it comes to motorbikes.

The staff of the hotel where I stayed offered me a motorbike-for-rent without even asking if I've got a permit or if I even know how to drive.

Weather

Nearby Attractions/Cities

The Golden Bridge is a newly opened attraction that had instantly drawn hundreds of tourists every day. It is situated inside Ba Na Hills, a huge amusement park in Da Nang, central part of Vietnam.

Golden Bridge | Ba Na Hills | Da Nang

It's actually quite far from the major cities of Vietnam. I know most tourists would visit Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City upon entering Vietnam. Even if Da Nang has its own international airport, its destinations/flights are limited. On this note, it's more convenient to travel from the major airports of Vietnam to Da Nang.

Travelling from Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi to Da Nang? Read more about it here.

You can quit thinking about long travel hours in sleeper buses or trains and just - read on.

How do you get to the Golden Bridge?

The Golden Bridge is right inside Sunworld Ba Na Hills. You have to take at least 2 cable car rides to get to this majestic view.

You have to buy a ticket for the cable car rides. The ticket cost for unlimited cable car ride is 700,000₫ (30USD). You don't need to buy tickets to get inside Ba Na Hills but you'd have to pay extra for museums and other rides.



Once you get the tickets, you'd have to take a little stroll and follow the signage leading to the cable car station. The escalators may seem endless so it feels exciting to finally get to the part when you have to take a 25-minute cable car ride over jawdropping landscapes and thickets.

The first stop will be the French Village. You can walk around the area since most of the attractions are just surrounding the French Village. You may also go directly to the cable car station called the Louvre Station to head to The Golden Bridge. It's a short ride this time. Walk through a lobby and you'll see right through the glass walls the huge hands that seem to cradle a golden bridge.

Travelling from Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi to Da Nang? Read more about it here.

Where is Ba Na Hills?

Ba Na Hills is a mountain resort which is an hour-drive from Da Nang City center. You can take a taxi or a private car. I tried using my Grab app but it took a long time for a driver to respond so I negotiated with a driver I met just after I disembarked at the bus station. I made quite a fair deal with a Grab driver for 600,000₫ good for 4 people from my hotel to Ba Na Hills. It was early in the morning so we've arrived in less than an hour.

Do I need a guide inside the resort?

Absolutely not! Just make sure you know where you could buy the tickets and you can stroll around all by yourself. Make sure you get yourself a map so you won't waste time getting lost or walking aimlessly. Although I've seen some guided group tours,  mostly comprises Koreans and Chinese, a lot of tourists just freely walk around enjoying the place at their own pace.

Are there food places?

The last thing you'd worry about is where to eat. Food stalls can be found everywhere that it's almost  impractical to get the lunch buffet ticket.

Is there a hotel in Ba Na Hills?

Yes. It's a four-star hotel that cost up to 200 USD/night for a double room. It's recommended if you choose to explore more of Ba Na Hills and avoid the crowd. Most tourists though only take a day tour and stay in the city center for more nighttime activities. There's a wide range of choices of hotels in Da Nang may it be a luxury hotel or backpackers' choice for as low as 7 USD.

When is the best time to visit?

Generally, the northern provinces of Vietnam experience four seasons. Be prepared with your sun screen and shades if you plan to visit from May to September. December is probably the coldest month so prepare your jumper or jacket. For the rest of the months, the weather may be rainy or warm. Rain gears will be a neccessity especially in September or October. The climate system has drastically changed over the years so better check the weather forecast. There might be rains in early January. The view at the Golden Bridge can be very foggy especially when it rains so some tourists complained about not having a clear view nor a good photo of it.

During the Vietnamese New Year Holiday (Tet Holiday/Chinese New Year), tourists would flock the resort. Going there early like around 7 AM would be a good idea to avoid the crowd.

How much will you spend? 

Here are the major expenses you might want to consider:

Hotel:  150,000₫ to 7Million₫  (7 USD - 300 USD)
Transportation (to and fro Da Nang - Ba Na Hills): 600,000₫/25USD (one car good for 4)
Ba Na Hills cable car ticket: 700,000₫/30USD
Lunch Buffet: 200,000₫/ 9USD
Snacks (sold at food stalls) - 30,000 to 70,000

What are the places to see in Ba Na Hills?

Ba Na Hills is a mountain resort with different fantastic themes or stations perfect for picture taking, sightseeing, and whatever that feeds your imagination.

Some of the impressive stations you shouldn't miss:

• French Village - FREE - you'll get to this right after the first cable car ride. This is the biggest attraction. Inside this enormous themed parks, you can find a wax museum and a fantasy park with rides that are great for kids. 
• St. Denis Church - FREE - right inside the French Village

• Wax Museum - 150.000₫ /person - get to meet some famous personalities up close + a jurassic doze of anthropology, paleontology and history 
• Fantasy Park - varied rides for kids (ticket costs vary)

• The Golden Bridge - FREE - cross the bridge and get to a garden with more huge body sculptures.
• Pagoda and the Gigantic Buddha - FREE - it's quite a long walk from the Golden Bridge but it's a great place to relax your feet while looking over a thick vegetation covering the mountain slopes. 
  

• Flower Garden - FREE - a jawdropping landscape of colorful flowers
• Maze Garden - FREE - found in between the Golden Bridge and the Flower Garden. I was literally lost and I almost cried because it felt like the maze was unceasing. Luckily, I found the exit or entrance. lol!

Ever wondered what to do in Ho Chi Minh City aside from visiting some historical places and night markets? I really thought there was nothing more to do except walk on pavements, shop for souvenirs, and pig out. I didn't expect I'll find paradise in Mui Ne, just four hours away from the city. It's not in Ho Chi Minh but it's worth the travel. When I planned for this trip, I thought I would just be spending my time around the city just like other tourists do. Well, I actually spent less than a day in Mui Ne. I took advantage of the night bus trips to maximize the day time.



This trip wasn't planned as I didn't have bus or accommodation reservations. This trip was some sort of optional since I had other plans I've already set and budgeted but it turned out, my Mui Ne trip was the highlight of my holiday!

Since this was an optional itinerary, there were some issues I have encountered but had been sorted out with some luck and a load of determination.

I'm not based in HCM so I had to take a two-hour ride on a plane from Vinh City (airport) in Nghe An to HCM. My Mui Ne trip was rather half planned because I didn't have prior bookings whatsoever because my whole trip was dependent on the bus schedules. It was a long holiday in Vietnam and the buses are expected to be fully-booked even weeks before the trip. I was able to book the tour, with a friend, by chance. I just had to try my luck in booking for a bus ride to Mui Ne and the odds were in my favor.

I booked a sleeper bus to Mui Ne on the same day of the departure. The hotel staff advised me to look for a tour company before 1PM so my friend and I could still catch the night bus.  Booking a bus ticket to Mui Ne was a piece of cake since HCM has an array of tour companies offering different tour and transfers to the neighboring provinces.

I expected fully-booked buses but ended up with only three other passengers. The bus left HCM at around 9 PM, an hour late. My friend and I waited at the tour agency office for more than an hour before the bus came. I was asleep the whole time so I didn't feel how dragging a 4-hour ride could be. The bus only drops off at the city center so we had to take a taxi to Long Son Beach, which we also booked on the same day. I'm just so grateful there are helpful and friendly people anywhere in Vietnam. We were able to hail a taxi because a Vietnamese helped us. It took more or less 30 minutes to reach Long Son and we didn't have troubles locating this place since it was famous and it was along the road. 

Booking a hotel the last minute was a piece of cake since there were a lot of options - good price and excellent location. We booked Long Son Beach Campground for a day. It was a perfect place for backpackers  and budget travelers. Although I really loved the vibe of this place, I've also known some people who didn't like its unique features. We've all got our own choices! I happened to like this place. Here's why.

We arrived at the resort at around 2AM. Their 24-hour front desk service was really a bonus point. In Vietnam, most accommodations don't have this feature. In some cases, I had to knock and wait till the owners wake up with my phone calls. In worst cases, they simply refused so I ended up with no choice but to wait outside.  I've always hated this part - waking up people at the wee hours of the night.

Anyhow, we were ushered by the attendant to the shared cottage and we were able to get our locker keys right away. The transaction was swift and hassle free. The staff / managers also speak English well so there were no communication barriers whatsoever.

Beds in open cottages. How cool is that!?

The staff was very helpful, too. We didn't have an idea where to book our tour so we kept in touch with them as we were travelling and they responded positively. There were few problems at the start since the tour groups are all filled in on that day but they were able to book us a day tour with two other tourists. That was last minute booking!

Going Home

Getting a sleeper bus reservation wasn't easy during the holidays. My friend and I almost didn't get a ride back to Ho Chi Minh. We already checked out of the resort and decided to take the local bus from the resort to the city center.

We were told there were a lot of tour agencies offering bus rides to HCM but they were fully booked. We walked around and finally succeeded! It was a holiday so we just settled for the normal seater bus, not the sleeper bus.

Generally, the tour went well except for some transportation issues which were all sorted out, maybe not with the best option but with better ones!

Till our next laag*!

Never have I imagined travelling to this country and actually enjoying every bit of my time here. Vietnam, unlike other Asian countries, didn't gain that much popularity in terms of tourism back in my home country. Although it's often one of the destinations in tri-city tours, I've never had as much enthusiasm as I did when I was planning my Singapore and Seoul trip. While I can imagine modern infrastructures, diverse tourist population and magical theme parks in SG and Seoul, I couldn't really think of such for Vietnam. Yes, this country is more than the state-of-the-art mise-en-scène.

Vietnam has several cities and provinces that are brimming with beautiful scenery, historical heritage, good people, and fresh produce. I may not have found the greatest infrastructures or the most fantastic theme parks but I honestly didn't expect to dive into a plethora of cultural diversity.

I visited Hanoi for the first time and here are the places I've been to and some must-dos within the city. The list isn't in particular order. I'm just writing spontaneously. 

Literally the railway in Hanoi where you can hang out, have some coffee, walk on the railway and take photos. Coffee, full meal, and souvenirs are all over the place.

The frequently asked question of tourists: When does the train come? 7PM is always the ready answer of locals.

2. St. Joseph Cathedral

This is the fortress of Catholicism in the city. Despite the fact that most citizens here are non-Christians, this place is often visited by tourists and locals alike. Its Gothic Revival architecture has made this structure a city tour destination. With its very favorable location, I didn't even had to get a city tour package to see the place. I was simply walking around when I found this popular landmark and so I couldn't just walk past this conspicuously captivating structure.

St. Joseph Cathedral | Hanoi

3. Hoan Kiem Lake 

Another major attraction situated at the very core of the city is the Hoan Kiem Lake. You haven't really gone to Hanoi if you didn't visit this iconic tourist spot. The surrounding of the lake is also flocked with locals doing exercises especially in the morning and in the afternoon. Withing this lake is the Ngoc Son Temple which is also a tourist destination. The lake is surrounded by stores where you could dine or shop for souvenirs.

Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem at night

4. Ngoc Son Temple 

Situated within Hoan Kiem Lake, this is the most accessible temple in Hanoi. What's inside this temple? Let's cross the bridge when we get there. Yes, you need to cross the red bridge to get to the temple. At night, the bridge illuminates in red lights that create a magical reflection on the lake.

5. Water Puppet Theater

Take a glimpse of the classic musical show in Vietnam with the Water Puppet Show. The comic depiction of the Vietnamese tradition along with a live accompaniment.

Water Puppet Show | Hanoi

One of the fascinating temples I've  been to in Hanoi. There's so much to see and know in this place. It's indeed brimming with stories of the past, not to mention the 'instagrammable' photos you can take here.

Temple of Literature | Hanoi

7. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

8. Bach Ma Temple - Hanoi

9. Royal City (Vincom Megamall)