< Destinations

Vietnam: Travel experiences, stories, & inspiration

​From the Mekong Delta to Da Lat & the central highlands, Hoi An and Hue, to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay in the north

Cohica designed trip
VIETNAM

10 days in Hanoi, Halong Bay and Hoi An.

Travel stories & inspiration

Ha Long Bay: The once-in-a-lifetime experience

Made up of nearly 2,000 islets within 1,500 square kilometers, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is just a few hours drive from Hanoi... 

Can Tho: Monsoon
​in the Mekong

Raindrops barrage the water’s surface as our small boat rocks from side to side. Our captain, a local Vietnamese man who we’ve paid to guide us...

Hoi An: The Lanterns
of Hoi An

​Skeletons of bamboo rods shaped into circles and teardrops hang above our heads and wood bases with tiny slats sit near a pile of sawdust...

Hanoi: Water Puppets & Hip Hop

The bass of the gong rumbles through the dark theater. Our knees are pressed against the seats in front of us as we sit, surrounded by tourists...

Ho Chi Minh City: Eating up Saigon

Staring out the window from a dark wood bar onto a flurry of early morning scooter traffic, we’re on the third floor of what could be called...

Da Lat: The Rough Road to Da Lat

We felt solid leaving Saigon. Like we had a grasp on things and were ready to tackle new places and adventures. The Phuong Trang bus ride to...

Nha Trang: Vietnam's biggest ​beach town

​The bus squeals as we turn,
our driver breaking
around each corner of
the steep downhill...

Hanoi: The
​streets of Hanoi

Ear splitting squeals pierce through the gentle swarm of motorbike engines, as sparks cascade like fireworks in the humid afternoon...

Hoi An: Bike rides to An Bang Beach

There’s something a little magical about riding a bike. You instantly feel like a kid again; ringing your bell as you cross intersections...

Da Lat:
​Crickets + silk worms

Located in Vietnam’s central highlands, Da Lat has the perfect climate for agriculture. It’s nearly impossible to miss...

Hanoi: The Women
​of Vietnam

One of the best gifts of traveling is that of perspective. At home, in our modern, democratic and economically stable society, we still somehow...

Hoi An:
​The ancient town

​It’s fitting that the name Hoi An translates to peaceful meeting place. There’s a spiritual essence to this city, a feeling of timelessness that’s... 

Da Lat: Street food
​in Da Lat

Around every corner in the hilly streets of Da Lat, smoke wafts from makeshift grills balanced on two buckets with a fire of hot coals...

Hoi An: Thanh Ha
​pottery village

​A Vietnamese woman, about 4’10” and not a day under 70, looks over with a gentle look of encouragement. She smiles as her daughter methodically...

​Da Lat: 'Coffee-shopping' in Da Lat

​The second largest exporter of coffee in the world, Vietnam grows the majority of its coffee in the central highlands and we found plenty of... 

Hoi An: Streetside Dinners at Pho Xua

Watching the evening traffic go by, we sit happily from one of two small tables fronting the open air windows of Pho Xua restaurant...

Hanoi:
​The Reunification Express

It's hour 9 of 14 and we're getting a little loopy. We’ve assigned nicknames to the passengers in our car and have bets on the murderer...

Hoi An: At home at Charming Homestay

​It’s hot. Like over 100-degrees, 90% humidity kind of hot. We’ve just stepped off a 14-hour bus ride into the sun. Exhausted and woozy...

Hue: Vietnam's
​imperial capital

The bus goes dark. Looking out the window of our top bunk, we’re surrounded by the interior tiles of an unlit tunnel. We’re driving from...

Hoi An:
Vietnamese rice wine

In the backyard of a local Hoi An family’s home, something very special is brewing. Forget the factory; home distilleries produce the rice wine...

Hoi An:
​Nu Eatery

We agree. This could be one of the best dishes either of us have ever eaten. The grilled pineapple, pomelo and long pepper salad, topped with...

Hoi An: Minh Hien
​vegetarian restaurant

​Bookcases filled with old comic books line the walls of this spacious restaurant, far removed from the busy streets of Hoi An’s Ancient Town... 

Saigon: Honolulu to
​Ho Chi Minh City

There’s something about hoisting on a 25lb backpack that, regardless of whether you have any idea what you’re doing, makes you feel legit...