Highlights of Vietnam Part 2

08 May Highlights of Vietnam Part 2

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Day 3. Monday 30th March 2026

Included in our holiday package was a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang in central Vietnam, where we met our guide for the area, Ni Ni.

Map of Vietnam showing major locations including Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City, with routes for cruises, land travel, and flights indicated.
Map courtesy of Trip’a’Deal Highlights of Vietnam

Ni Ni accompanied us on the bus ride to our Hoi An hotel

Sign for Le Pavillon Luxury Hoi An Resort & Spa with a butterfly logo, surrounded by greenery.


A luxurious hotel exterior featuring a swimming pool surrounded by lush greenery, patios with umbrellas, and a view of beautifully designed balconies.
Le Pavillon Luxury Resort, built in the French Colonial Style

Aerial view of a residential neighborhood with various styles of houses, including tiled roofs and balconies, surrounded by greenery.
View from our hotel balcony at the rear of the building

After lunch we attended a performance of traditional dances and opera.

A vibrant traditional performance featuring dancers in colorful costumes, including a green and white striped outfit, a shiny turtle costume, and a sparkling red and green outfit, set against a painted backdrop of mountains and houses.

Three dancers wearing golden costumes perform on stage with musicians playing traditional instruments in the background, against a painted backdrop of a village.

A performer dressed in traditional attire with colorful makeup is striking a pose on stage, accompanied by two musicians playing instruments in the background. The backdrop depicts a painted scene of buildings.

The performance was followed by a visit to the ancient town of Hoi An, beside the Hoai River (a branch of the Thu Bon River)

People walking in front of a colorful, vintage storefront with open windows, a sign that reads 'CÔNG', and lush greenery in Hoi An, Vietnam.

A traditional wooden bridge adorned with colorful decorations spans over a calm canal, with people walking and gathering nearby in a vibrant town setting.
UNESCO World Heritage bridge built in the 17th century, known as Cau Pagoda (Chùa Cầu)

A bustling street scene filled with a diverse crowd of people enjoying a festive atmosphere, with colorful decorations and historic buildings in the background.
Our Guide Ni Ni holding the stick with carrot attached, standing next to Kennedy

Ni Ni’s ‘theme song’ was stick together like sticky rice. So every time someone got lost she would say ‘remember sticky rice’. The next day (when we went to Ba Na Hills) she wore a shirt with ‘Sticky Rice’ printed on the front. She is a ‘live wire’, ‘a force of nature.

Colorful yellow buildings along a canal, featuring potted palm trees and a bicycle. The scene captures a mix of urban life and natural elements.
Houses beside the canal

A bustling scene by a historic bridge in Hoi An, Vietnam, with tourists and locals mingling. The bridge features traditional architectural elements and decorations, while a Vietnamese flag is raised. Several people are visible on the bridge, capturing photos, and others walk nearby.
Closer view of ancient bridge

A smiling older woman stands in a vibrant street lined with red lanterns and colorful shops, showcasing art and souvenirs.
Maggie basking in golden light

A girl and two women stand together on a street adorned with red lanterns, smiling for the camera. The background shows a bustling scene with other people and shops.
Kimberley, Kristy and Maggie

A bustling riverside scene in Hoi An, Vietnam, featuring colorful boats docked in the water, with people on a bridge and lanterns hanging nearby.
Small boats for hire

We enjoyed a traditional Vietnamese dinner and a night time river boat ride.

A scenic view of a riverside sunset with people enjoying their time, featuring boats on the water and a crowd along the shore.

A bustling street scene in a vibrant market area, featuring colorful lanterns, yellow-painted buildings, and groups of people walking and shopping at dusk.

A bustling street in Hoi An, Vietnam, with shops adorned with red lanterns, colorful flags, and a diverse crowd of tourists walking and exploring the vibrant atmosphere during sunset.

Colorfully lit boats on a river at night, with reflections on the water and a bustling waterfront scene.
View from our river boat

Nighttime scene of colorful lanterns and lights reflecting on water, with people sitting in boats and a wooden structure in the foreground.

A brightly lit riverside restaurant or establishment at night with colorful lanterns and decorative lights, reflecting on the water. A small boat with illuminated patterns is anchored nearby.

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Day 4. Tuesday 31st March 2026

Visit to Ba Na Sun World amusement park, where we also enjoyed a French wine tasting and lunch

A scenic view from a cable car showing a rocky cliff with streaks of exposed rock and lush green forest surrounding it.
Cable cars travelling from the foot hills to the mountain tops for entry to Sun World and return

A panoramic view of a cable car system traversing a mountainous landscape, with green trees and hazy blue mountains in the background.

A large, ornate golden clock tower with dragon-like details stands prominently in a tourist area, surrounded by greenery and people enjoying the scenery.
Entrance to Sun World
A scenic view of the Golden Bridge in Vietnam, held by a large, artistic stone hand, with numerous visitors walking along it. Lush greenery surrounds the area against a backdrop of mountains and a clear blue sky.
The Golden Bridge

A panoramic view of a modern complex with a large glass structure, featuring stairs leading up to a bridge supported by giant stone hands. Many visitors are walking along the bridge, surrounded by lush greenery and scenic mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
The second hand supporting the Golden Bridge

A lively topiary sculpture of a monkey with outstretched arms, surrounded by greenery and flowers, with two people admiring it.
Kennedy and Kimberley at the Monkey topiary garden

A large sculpture featuring two giant hands holding a golden heart, set against a clear blue sky.
The Garden of Love

A vibrant outdoor scene featuring a group of people around white classical columns in a landscaped area, with greenery and a multi-level structure in the background.
Ancient Greek-style white marble pillars and columns in the Mythology Garden

Our wine tasting was held in the building behind the columns.

A large, colorful peacock sculpture with intricate details is displayed in a garden setting, surrounded by green foliage and blooming flowers, with visitors observing from a balcony in the background.
The Peacock Garden

A vibrant scene in a theme park featuring a large decorative flower with a red sphere at its center, surrounded by tourists admiring the architecture of a castle-like building with turrets and lush greenery.
The sculptured Lotus Flower, the national flower of Vietnam, in the French Village

Lunch was served in the French Castle

A vibrant scene of a picturesque European-style village with ornate buildings and a prominent church with spires, surrounded by colorful flowers and bustling tourists enjoying a sunny day.
The castle in the French Village, an area designed to resemble a 19th-century town

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Day 5 Wednesday 1st April 2026

Da Nang Beach

We hired a Limo to take the seven of us to the Da Nang Beach

A sandy beach with gentle waves, lined by a palm tree and a beachside structure. The background features modern buildings and mountains under a clear blue sky.
Da Nang Beach

It was a hot, windy day. The blokes (Kennedy, Steward, Kevin and me) stayed under a shelter, while Maggie, Kristy and Kimberley went for a swim.

Three women playing in the waves at the beach on a sunny day.

A person on a yellow surfboard paddles in the ocean, while a fishing boat with several people is seen in the background.

Three women walking on a sandy beach, two carrying a red surfboard, with waves and boats in the background.

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Day 6. Thursday 2nd April 2026

The flight from Da Nang airport to Hanoi was included in our travel package and brings our Vietnam Highlights Part 2 to an end. I hope you enjoyed it.

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Please join us next time for the 3rd and final episode of our Vietnam Highlights.

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10 Comments
  • Rob
    Posted at 15:44h, 08 May Reply

    Spectacular. I recognized some of those scenes from our trip. Lovely place and people.

    • Alistair Dewar Photography
      Posted at 16:07h, 08 May Reply

      Thanks for your comment Rob. Yes, it was certainly worth going to see these sites and meet the people there.

  • Wayne Richmond
    Posted at 15:53h, 08 May Reply

    Wow! 🙂

    • Alistair Dewar Photography
      Posted at 16:08h, 08 May Reply

      Thanks for commenting Wayne

  • Gregory J Flint
    Posted at 19:07h, 08 May Reply

    As usual, great photos and dialogue.

    • Alistair Dewar Photography
      Posted at 07:17h, 09 May Reply

      Thank you Greg. I’m pleased you like this blog.

  • Marg M
    Posted at 10:26h, 09 May Reply

    You’ve done it again, Alistair – the photos are evocative. The weather looks really nice, too. And Maggie looks great, doesn’t she? I particularly liked Sun World, and the amazing cable car trip to get there. That Golden Bridge is awesome – supported (symbolically) by giant hands, which seem to be a theme. Enjoy the rest of the trip! Marg

    • Alistair Dewar Photography
      Posted at 13:37h, 10 May Reply

      Thank you for responding Marg. I’m pleased you liked what you saw. The Sun World development is amazing and still not finished.
      We are already home, but it takes a little time for me to organise and processes the photos plus write my commentary.

  • Rita
    Posted at 01:59h, 10 May Reply

    Great to see your photos Al. We are doing the trip in reverse so can relate to your trip. It’s certainly a vibrant and cultural place. Currently in Cambodia. A much quieter and calm place and much less crowded

    • Alistair Dewar Photography
      Posted at 13:44h, 10 May Reply

      Thanks for your response Rita. Vietnam didn’t seem as busy as the photos might indicate, but the people are energetic and industrious. There is something going on every where you go. Enjoy the rest of your tour and let us know your highlights.

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