So we decided to swap the hostels for hotels and night buses for taxis, to take a luxury trip around a country so many in the UK associate with backpacking. There was one immediate problem, however: I had no idea where to start when it came to planning.
Vietnam is a long country, with different climates at each end, and a huge amount to offer from cities, to mountains, beaches, and historical sites. Picking us up by tuk-tuk, we zoomed around and stopped to sit on plastic stools where we ate pork skewers coated in a sticky sweet and spicy marinade, water buffalo, chicken noodle soup, papaya salad, and a flaky baguette.
The sheer amount of food ensured a good kip and the next day we headed down to the port for the Aqua Mekong. Boasting a staff ratio, a pool, gym, cinema and spa, fantastic local excursions and food, the Aqua Mekong calls itself a floating paradise. Wood panelled, with a double bed, sofa, armchair โ we had so much space. I could have sat for days watching the river meandering by. We biked along to waves from children, stopping at a golden temple, before taking green back streets and a ferry to get to our destination.
Once there, we were met by boat staff who handed us Aperol spritzes, as we sat down to watch a traditional unicorn dance, mouths agape at the skill and strength involved in the performance. All food was included, along with wine and beer, and meals were phenomenal, multi-course affairs. Laksa, pho, congee, ban xeo Vietnamese pancakes , alongside such dishes as caramelised pork ribs in young coconut juice and black pepper and grilled river lobster.
The staff, who were all Vietnamese or Cambodian, had thought of everything. From personalised water bottles, to a free laundry service, we felt very cared for. That night we met Hai, who took us on a street food tour by vintage Jeep.
