Vietnam – South to North – Part 1 – The South

Lunar New Years or Tet as they call it in Vietnam is a VERY BIG THING! There were flowers everywhere, people and families in traditional dress, and lots of festive displays celebrating the Year of the Snake.

We visited a local park that was having a flower show that included incredible Bonsai, flower arrangements, terrariums and orchids. This tunnel of mist covered with purple orchids was gorgeous.

Ho Chi Min City (formerly Saigon) is Vietnam’s biggest city and is known for its delicious street food, its coffee culture, its French influenced architecture and it chaotic traffic – much of the traffic is scooters, bikes and motorcycles which seem to have their own set of traffic rules. Pedestrians Beware!

The statue of Ho Chi Min sits at the head of a busy pedestrian street and in front of the City Hall which is an fine example of the French colonial architecture seen throughout the city.

Mũi Né is a beach resort town about a 3 hour drive from Ho Chi Min. It has a beautiful long, palm-lined stretch of sand, and steady wind conditions (in the dry season) that make it a top destination for windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing and other water sports.

Mũi Né is also surprisingly known for its red and white sand dunes in addition to spectacular sunsets on the South China Sea. Some beach relaxation time was much needed after the marathon flight and 4 hectic days in Ho Chi Min City.

The most unique thing we did in Mui Ne was to wade the length of the Fairy Stream. This strange natural wonder has you walking barefoot in an ankle deep stream slowly meandering its way to the ocean. The vivid colors of the white and red sand dunes combined with a whimsical landscape of unique formations created by the wind and rain erosion makes for a memorable excursion.

Within the huge Lam Vien Square is this unique building that resembles an artichoke flower bud

The beautiful serenity of the Truc Lam Buddhist Monastery.

Datanla Falls combined rushing waterfalls and scenic hiking with roller coaster rides and whimsical statues like the giant King Kong pictured in the photo.

The aptly named “Crazy House” was a sensory overload of bizarre freeform architecture and reminded us of works by Salvador Dali and Antoni Gaudí.

It got a little rough when the wind kicked up but the sand was soft and the water was warm.

Vinpearl Resort, a Disneyland style resort, lies on nearby Bamboo Island and is connected to Nha Trang via  a gondola lift system. 

The Thap Tram Huong Tower also known as the Lotus Tower is located on the central square near the seaside promenade.

Traditional dancers at the Ponagar Temple – a complex of ancient Hindu temples dating back to the 8th century.

At the Long Sơn Temple sits the 75 foot statue of Gautama Buddha.

Also at the Long Sơn Temple, there is a 40 foot long marble statue of a reclining Buddha and a tableau depicting 49 of Buddha’s pupils assembled on the day of Buddha’s death.