Vietnam Part 2: Clouds, Crazy Houses, and Coastal Chill
We’re halfway through our Vietnam saga, and it’s time to climb mountains, soak in mud baths, and check out some crazy architecture. From Da Lat’s dreamy heights to Nha Trang’s beachy bliss and Da Nang’s golden vibes, this leg of the trip was a rollercoaster of “wow” and “wait, what?”
Da Lat – Sleeper Bus Struggles & Cloud Hunting
After a night on a sleeper bus - Eric’s legs were not impressed with the fun-sized bed - we stumbled into Da Lat at 6 a.m., groggy and Googling coffee. One block later, bam—amazing views, sipping java above the clouds. This mountain town’s a gem, and Star Hill Hotel put us smack in the action.
Truc Lam Monastery and Datanla Waterfall: We rode the
cable car up to the Truc Lam Monastery, and the view was unreal. The monastery
itself was a labyrinth of beauty with its sculpted gardens, exotic flowers, and
statues. Peaceful doesn’t even begin to cover it. The next day, we got our
steps in hiking down to the waterfall, joining in the King Kong 🦍photo
op, and riding the rail car back – no need to retrace your steps!
Crazy House and 100 Room Bar: Crazy House is Alice in
Wonderland on acid—twisty paths, bizarre rooms, total “where am I?” vibes. Then,
if you thought the Crazy House was intense—hold our beer 🍻. The 100 Room Bar was the most bizarre bar we’ve ever wandered into. Think tight corridors,
random steps, and rooms so small we wondered if we'd ever escape. Bizarre rooms
adorned with just about everything you can imagine. Davy Jones would approve. ⚓
Hot Pot Mystery: Dinner? A delicious hot pot meal
where we were looking at some of the ingredients questionably. Our confused
looks prompted a local to rescue us. Seriously, when in doubt, look helpless,
and they’ll help. 🍲
Nha Trang – Beach Bums & Mud Baths
A private driver took us from Da Lat’s jungles to Nha
Trang’s coast. No sleep—just three hours of jaw-dropping scenery. We crashed at
Diamond Bay Condotel and got ready to explore:
Long Son Pagoda: 193 steps up and on the way up, an elderly
lady grabbed Eric’s arm for support (he’s a hero now), and we gawked at an
80-foot tall Buddha 🕉️and a 55-foot long reclining
lady Buddha. Bell still rings, carvings on point—stunning!
Mud Bath: Nha Trang is famous for its therapeutic mud
baths, and we had to try it. After soaking for 20 minutes in mud water
(we looked like swamp creatures), we moved to a mineral bath that smelled like
chamomile tea, followed by hydrotherapy. It was as relaxing as it sounds. 🛁
10/10, would get muddy again.
Po Nagar Cham Towers: Steeped in history, these
ancient towers date back to the 7th century. Impressive that they’ve stood the
test of time with everything going on around them. They felt like a snapshot of
another era, which is what makes them so cool. 🏰
Food: Oh, the food. We stumbled upon a gem of a
restaurant, where we had some of the best seafood ever. It ended with fresh
oranges 🍊—and a very enthusiastic server who was so
pleased with her tip, she kissed Lisa on the cheek!
Da Nang – Bridges & Brews
Flew into Da Nang, stayed at Monarque Hotel, which served
daily afternoon tea in the diing are… and we explored:
Lady Buddha & Dragon Bridge: Lady Buddha is hard to miss—the largest Buddha in Vietnam, towering at 220 feet. The grounds were stunning, and the view from here? Spectacular. We also saw the famous Dragon Bridge, which—unfortunately—didn't show off its fire-breathing abilities while we were there. (We’ll be back, fire-breathing dragon!) 🔥🐉
Pho at Nha Bep Xua: We ate pho here every day. No,
seriously. Pho here was hands down the best we had. (It still ranks no lower
than second place on our list.) Pho bliss.
Da Nang Boardwalk: Da Nang is known for its beaches,
and the boardwalk was a great place to watch people and soak in the sunset.
Fitness enthusiasts were doing aerobics on the beach, and while I tried to
convince Eric to join, he pretended not to hear me. Maybe next time. 😂
Breweries: Of course, we had to check out some local craft beers. East West Brewery had ocean views, Heart of Darkness was quirky, 5 Elements was hopping. IPAs flowed, life was good.
Chiropractor: After all the walking and exploring, we
splurged on a chiropractor session👐. At 50, traveling through
Asia hits a little different on the body, but after our treatment, we
were feeling great. And for just $20 each? Yes, please! (insert American
insurance scam theory here…)
Stay tuned for Part 3, where we wrap up our Vietnam
adventure, from the chaos of Hanoi to epic excursions and, of course, more food
discoveries!
Comments
Post a Comment