During mid-2015, I flew to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for my first solo travel out of country (and that was my first time out of country as well). Ho Chi Minh City or known as HCMC or Saigon is one the busiest cities in Vietnam. I gathered all of my courage, I took all the risk and chances I had in order to see the world for the first time. Anyway, this is my personal travel itinerary which means it’s based on my real experience. I hope it can help and benefit you in future. :)
Country: Vietnam
Cities: Ho Chi Minh City and Mui Ne
Date: June 18 - 22, 2015
Currency: Vietnam Dong (VND)
Visa Requirement: Exempted for Malaysian Passport holders
DAY 1
1. SGN - KUL
(Paid 310 MYR for return flight ticket including hostel on AirAsiaGo)
2. Public bus to Sakura Hostel Saigon (dropped at Benh Thanh Market.)
(Paid 10, 000 VND = 1.50 MYR)
3. Out for sightseeing and looking for cheap deals for Mekong Delta tour.
(Places to visit such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Benh Thanh Night Market, HCMC Post Office, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, local churches, Chu Chi Tunnel, etc...)
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| Vietnamese Coffee - one of must things to do. |
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| One of fascinating street view in Saigon. |
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| Benh Than night market. |
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| Ho Chi Minh Post Office |
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| Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon. |
DAY 2
1. Van picked up at hostel for Mekong Delta Tour.
(Paid 320, 000 VND = 50 MYR through Vietnam Travel & Tours)
- one day tour
- price including lunch (Fried Elephant Ear fish and other Vietnamese cuisine)
- stopped by a craft shop and Vinh Trang Pagoda along the way
- visit Unicorn and Turtle Islands
- Coconut Village to see how coconut candies and other coconut-based handcrafts are made
- sip some local honey tea at a bee farm
- ride a small boat along the canal of Mekong
- tropical fruit treat while watching Vietnamese traditional performance
2. Back to Saigon in the evening and grabbed some food for dinner then booked a trip to Mui Ne at Vietnam Travel & Tours
(130 MYR for a return ticket for sleeper bus including Jeep tour)
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| Monks inside Vinh Trang pagoda. |
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| Vinh Trang Sleeping Buddha. |
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| Hmmm Vinh Trang Standing Buddha? |
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| Handcraft of a lady in Vietnamese traditional costume. |
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| Handcraft made with egg shells. |
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| Inside of Vinh Trang Pagoda. |
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| Vinh Trang Laughing Buddha. |
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| Mekong - Google Image. |
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| Vinh Trang Pagoda. |
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| Mekong Floating Market - Google Image. |
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| Mekong River - Google Image |
DAY 3
1. Boarded the sleeper bus to Mui Ne
(Tam Hanh Travel bus. WiFi, mineral water, blanket are provided. Journey took 5 hours)
2. Arrived and checked in Hotel 1 and 10 for one night
(USD5/night)
3. Cycled around the vicinity and along the coastline
(Local pagodas, local diner, beach strolling, Cho Muine Ham Tien)
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| Mui Ne market - Google Image. |
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| Mui Ne beach - Google Image. |
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| Mui Ne beach along Fishermen Village. |
DAY 4
1. Jeep tour in the early morning
- sunrise at a fishing village
- white sand dune for ATV ride (Paid 50 MYR for ATV)
- red sand dune
- fairy stream
2. Returned to the hotel, had lunch then checked out. The same bus picked up at the hotel to go back to Saigon.
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| Mui Ne Fairy Stream - Google Image. |
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| Fairy Stream - Google Image. |
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| Mui Ne Fishing Village - Google Image. |
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| Mui Ne White Sand dune - Google Image. |
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| You could rent the slider (I don't know what it's called LOL) - Google Image. |
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| Red Sand dune is just as awesome as it is! - Google Image. |
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| White Sand dune - Google Image. |
DAY 5
1. Took taxi to the airport since the flight back to KUL early in the morning.
(Booked via Vietnam Travel & Tours for 210, 000 VND = 30 MYR)
The leap of faith that I
had taken to fly to Saigon was totally worth it. It opened my eyes. Can you
imagine travelling alone to a country where we always see on the news about all
of its bad sides? Honestly, it was amazing experience. My first experience.
I met a couple of friends
along the way especially my German friend – Sarah, we travelled back from Mui
Ne together. She was 19 at that time and travelling alone – She wowed me. Made
a good moments with Malaysian Chinese family during Mekong tour. They were all
sweet and funny and so accepting to let me join them. Exploring the fairy
stream with a Russian family was so funny in many ways. Having another good
time with Mina, the Sakura Hostel owner’s baby. Not to forget the sweetness of
his brother trying to converse in English with me and another Kiwi friend Joshua.
Even the owner wanted to take me for a free tour around the city on her own as
to say how she was glad that her kids would be able to practice speaking
English with foreigners. That was the most beautiful thing happened during my
first trip!
I’ll be writing my full
experience in Vietnam in another entry. This is just a simplified itinerary for
readers’ reference. I am truly apologizing for not being able to provide my
photos during Sand dune ATV ride and Mekong due to personal reason. But I tell
you, Sand dune, even it was so hot during the day, it was mind-blowingly worth it! And so was
Mekong River – such a lovely experience!
TOTAL DAMAGE OVERALL EXCLUDING SOUVENIRS &
SHOPPING = 580 MYR
Can you see how beautiful it is to travel solo? Technically, you will not be alone when you get to your destination. Take a leap of faith and try it! 😊
*Please be advised that the exchange rate
stated during those dates as well as some figures I had rounded off to make the
costing easier.
**All photos and videos courtesy of
@edmund.ani unless stated otherwise.
“BE CURIOUS AND EXPLORE THE WORLD!”
