Our Vietnam Adventure Begins… In Style?
Every adventure has to start somewhere, and for us, it began with a nervous ATM encounter at Saigon airport. After months of planning our budget backpacking trip from North to South Vietnam, we finally touched down — tired, excited, and already confused by the sheer number of zeroes on the Vietnamese dong notes.
From the chaos of currency conversion to the calm of Hanoi’s leafy café streets, this post marks Day One of our journey. If you’re planning a similar trip or just love travel tales with a real-life twist, grab a cuppa and read on.
Where We Landed & How We Got There
- Flight 1: London → Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with Air India
- Flight 2: Internal hop from Saigon to Hanoi to start the journey in the north
Air India gets the job done, but don’t expect luxury. The layover wasn’t too bad, but by the time we arrived in Vietnam, we were ready for a bed and a bánh mì.
That First Vietnamese ATM Moment
First mission: cash. Sounds easy, right?
Well, navigating the ATMs in a new country is always a bit of a leap of faith — and this was no different. We stood at the machine like two confused tourists (because we were), trying to figure out if we’d just withdrawn £5 or £500 worth of dong.
Tips we learned the hard way:
- Always check the conversion rate before confirming
- Be patient — Vietnamese ATMs are a bit slower than UK machines
- And yes — your card comes out first, unlike in Indonesia!
First Taste of Hanoi
By the time we got to Hanoi, we were starving. And there’s no better cure for jet lag than Bún chả — a bowl of smoky grilled pork patties, fresh herbs, pickled veg, and sweet-savoury broth.
📍 We found ours at a busy street-side spot near Hoan Kiem Lake. No English menu. No problem.
Fresh herbs were piled high. Red chillies floated on top. And a side plate of crispy spring rolls made this a $3 meal to remember.
“This might be the best thing we’ve eaten in Asia yet.”
First Night in Hanoi
Hanoi at night is electric. Scooters blur past neon-lit cafés, locals sip egg coffee or beer on plastic stools, and the air smells like smoke and lemongrass.
We wandered into a multi-level café near the lake (see photo below!) that felt like it was designed for Instagram. It had rooftop views, soft lights, and surprisingly good Western-style lattes.
Honestly? It felt like a reward after a very long travel day.
First-Timer Tips for Hanoi
- Don’t panic at the ATM. The notes look wild, but you’ll get used to them.
- Eat local on Day 1. Nothing beats the authenticity (and price) of a street meal.
- Watch out for phone zombies. Even locals use phones on scooters — keep your head on a swivel when crossing roads.
- Cash is king. Most small vendors don’t take cards.
Final Thoughts: A Slow Start, But a Good One
Our Vietnam adventure didn’t start with temples or mountains — it started with a jet-lagged ATM withdrawal and a bowl of grilled pork in Hanoi. And honestly, that’s exactly the kind of real-world, slow-travel moment we live for.
This is just the beginning of our North to South Vietnam route, and we can’t wait to take you along for the ride — from sleeper trains to secret caves.
Call to Action:
👉 Watch the full Day One vlog on YouTube
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