Vietnam had been sitting at the top of our travel wish list for years. I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Asia — including a six-month backpacking trip in my early twenties — but somehow Vietnam always slipped through the cracks. The timing never seemed right: either the seasons didn’t line up, or I was short on time.
I used to believe you’d need at least four weeks to properly explore Vietnam, and to some extent that’s true as the country stretches over 1,600 kilometres from north to south. But with only two weeks available we decided to focus on just the southern half of the country. That way, we’d leave ourselves a good excuse to return for the north in the future.
The north may be famous (and for good reason) but our decision to focus on the south was shaped by a few things. We wanted to go scuba diving, we were both eager to learn more about the Vietnam War, and we were travelling during rainy season.
Melbourne to Da Nang
Our journey began at Ciloms Airport Lodge in Melbourne, a budget-friendly hotel just minutes from the airport, with airport shuttle service and secure parking, which is very handy when you’re leaving the car behind.
We flew with Vietjet Air, a low-cost airline. While it wouldn’t be my first choice if comfort is a priority, it works well for those travelling on a budget. After a short stopover in Hanoi, we continued on to Da Nang in central Vietnam. We got our SIM cards set up on arrival, and a Grab taxi quickly took us into the city. The familiar chaos of scooters, honking horns, and busy street life instantly made me feel at home again in Asia. After checking into our hotel and enjoying our first steaming bowl of pho, we collapsed into bed.
Sun World Ba Na Hills
Our first day trip was to Sun World Ba Na Hills, a mountaintop amusement park that has to be seen to be believed. Originally a French hill station built as a cool escape from the coastal heat, the area has since been transformed into something entirely surreal.
Picture flower gardens, European-style castles, quirky statues, a handful of roller coasters, 4D cinemas, and more restaurants than you could ever need in a day. The famous Golden Hands Bridge is here too, drawing in Instagrammers from around the world. Getting up to the park was an adventure in itself: a 20-minute cable car ride that climbs through misty forested hills before depositing you at this fantasyland. This park may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it was certainly a memorable experience.
Hoi An – Tailors, Cooking & a Cyclone
From Da Nang we moved on to Hoi An, and it didn’t take long to fall in love. This charming town has a little bit of everything: an atmospheric old quarter full of lantern-lit streets, buzzing night markets, excellent food, and the kind of relaxed vibe that makes you want to stay forever.
Hoi An is also world-famous for tailor-made clothing. Naturally, we had to give it a try. On day one, you choose a design, pick your fabrics, and get measured. The following day is for fittings and adjustments, and usually by day three, your finished garments are ready. The speed and quality are astonishing, and it’s hard not to get carried away ordering “just one more piece.” My biggest tip: visit the tailors as soon as you arrive in Hoi An to allow enough time for the process.
We also signed up for a cooking class, which was fantastic. From rolling fresh spring rolls to simmering fragrant curries, our teacher had us laughing and learning the whole time. Another popular activity just outside of town is visiting the Coconut Village for a ride in traditional round basket boats. It’s fun, though a little touristy — we much preferred the cooking.
As the days went on, the weather turned. A cyclone was heading inland, and rain poured down over the town. With outdoor plans washed away for the next couple of days, we turned to indoor activities instead. A lantern-making workshop was the perfect rainy-day escape. By the time our custom clothes were ready to collect, it was clear the rain wasn’t letting up. We decided to cut our stay short and booked a night train further south. It turned out to be the best decision we could have made.
Nha Trang – Sunshine & Scuba
We arrived in Nha Trang to sunshine — exactly what we needed after days of rain. Our hotel had a rooftop pool that became our favourite spot in the afternoons, playing card games and watching the city below while cooling off.
Nha Trang is a bustling beach destination, particularly popular with Russian tourists (menus are often printed in Russian alongside Vietnamese). While we always aim to eat as locally as possible, it was interesting to see such a strong international influence here.
The main reason we came was scuba diving. While we knew not to expect world-class coral reefs, it was still a little disheartening to see how overfished the waters are. That said, we still enjoyed our dives, and even joined PADI’s Dive Against Debris program to help clean the ocean floor. Not only did we log a few extra dives, but it felt good to give something back to the environment.
Da Lat – Adventure in the Mountains
After the coast, we headed three hours inland by minibus to Da Lat, a cool mountain city with a distinctly French flair. The change in climate was refreshing.
Our first day we spent exploring the quirky six-story Maze Bar and wandering through the night market. The next day, we chose adventure and canyoning was on the cards! A thrilling day of abseiling down waterfalls, sliding along natural rock slides, and leaping into pools.
On our final day we joined an Easy Rider motorbike tour, with two friendly guides who showed us around the countryside. We visited temples and pagodas, flower farms, coffee plantations, and even a silk factory. It was a full but relaxed day with a great mix of cultural stops and fun with our knowledgeable guides.
Ho Chi Minh City – Shopping, Coffee & War History
To save time, we flew from Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). This buzzing metropolis was the largest and busiest place we visited in Vietnam, and lucky for us, by now we were much more confident at crossing the scooter-packed streets.
We explored shopping malls (air-conditioning is always a bonus in the tropics), stocked up on even more clothes, and ended up buying an extra suitcase to get everything home.
Coffee lovers that we are, a coffee workshop was a must. Vietnam is the world’s biggest producer of robusta beans, and we had fallen for local favourites like salted coffee and egg coffee. It was heaps of fun to learn how to create these Vietnamese favourites ourselves, and will hopefully continue to do so at home.
Of course, one of the most significant stops was the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive network of underground passages used during the Vietnam War. Having watched the Netflix docuseries Turning Points before our trip, we had useful context that made the visit even more powerful. One thing to note: all museums and tours in Vietnam tell history from the northern, communist perspective. It’s fascinating, but important to remember you’re not always hearing the full picture.
Final Thoughts
And just like that, our two weeks were over. Despite travelling in rainy season, we found it perfectly manageable (cyclone aside!), and the mix of cities, beaches, mountains, and history gave us an incredibly well-rounded experience.
We fell in love with the people, the food, and the ease of travelling around. Vietnam is affordable, full of variety, and easy to navigate. It's a destination I’d happily put in my top three countries in Asia for first-time travellers.
As our plane took off from Ho Chi Minh back to Melbourne, we knew one thing for certain: this wasn’t goodbye, just “see you later.” The north is still waiting, and we’ll be back.