Monthly Recap: December 2014
In December 2014, we visited five countries: Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, and China. We visited some great historical sites in Cambodia, enjoyed the cities of Vietnam, before heading on trips to Hạ Long Bay and Sa Pá. From Vietnam, we visited Hong Kong and Macau, before celebrating Christmas and New Year’s in China.
Cities of Vietnam
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- Vietnam
During our stay in Vietnam we used the cities of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi as our main places to stay. From there, it is easy to visit many of the highlights the country has to offer. In previous posts we covered our Hạ Long Bay cruise, and trekking trip to Sa Pá. Yet, Vietnam has more to offer. Apart from seeing Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi itself, we went on trips to the Mekong Delta, Mũi Né, and the Củ Chi tunnels.
Shopping & Gambling
After traveling around Southeast Asia for almost two months, arriving in Hong Kong felt like Singapore: way more Western than like for example Vietnam where we just came from. We stayed in Hong Kong for five days, leaving the day of Christmas Eve.
Trekking through Sapá’s H’mong Valley
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- Vietnam
The day after returning from our Hạ Long Bay cruise we were already on the move again. We went north to the mountain town of Sa Pá. Initially, we planned to take the train, but as the government opened a brand new highway just three weeks before, taking a bus is now equally safe, and cheaper too. Only the last hour of our journey consisted of driving on mountain passes, but nothing too bad.
Two-day Cruise in Ha Long Bay
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- Vietnam
A few days before flying to Hanoi, we made reservations for a cruise around Hạ Long Bay. After browsing the various options, it became clear that paying a little bit more for the cruise would result in a much better experience. We read horror stories about boats being unsafe and crammed with tourists, something we really wanted to avoid. In the end, we decided to go with Paloma Cruise. They have excellent reviews, and we found a great deal for the two day one night tour.
