This trip was a family group tour! Personally, I actually really enjoy joining tours — you don’t need to plan anything. Just sleep on the bus, get off to use the toilet, and repeat. That’s my ideal travel life 😆
And honestly, this Vietnam tour might be the most comfortable one I’ve ever joined! The weather was amazing, the food was great, and the tour guide was hilarious — such a perfect combo!
🏖 Day 1: DHC Marina + Son Tra Peninsula + Beach
When we arrived at the airport, there were two or three huge Korean and Japanese tour groups arriving at the same time. Our guide quickly told us to walk faster, or we’d be stuck in a crazy long immigration line.
There were many counters, but only a few were open, and some were for VIPs only. The staff looked super grumpy at first, but when it was our turn, they suddenly smiled and became super friendly—instant mood switch 😂
My first thought after stepping out: the weather in Da Nang is amazing! Cool and breezy, just like Genting Highlands. Perfect!
On the bus, our guide said he would take us to “Dilo Cafe.” None of us knew what he meant, but it turned out to be Vietnam’s famous drip coffee! It came with a Vietnamese baguette (Bánh mì)—the filling was tasty, but it was cold. If it was warm, it would’ve been even better.
After that, we went to the marina and beach for some photos, then to Son Tra Peninsula. The guide said Malaysian tourists love “long-leg” photos and promised he knew the best poses… but the results were so bad we couldn’t post them anywhere 😂
Dinner was Vietnamese-style Chinese food—lots of dishes, big portions, and standard taste (not bad, just expected).
We arrived at the hotel around 8 PM, went out for a walk, and tried a Phở restaurant recommended by the hotel staff. The soup was rich and super hot 🔥 We also ordered Bánh xèo (Vietnamese pancake)—in Japan it’s expensive, but I always order it whenever I see it. If you’ve never tried it before, it’s a must!
🌫 Day 2: Ba Na Hills + Han River Night Cruise
The weather wasn’t great this day—no rain, but super foggy. So when we reached the top of Ba Na Hills, we couldn’t see anything.
I’m afraid of heights, and this cable car ride was so long… every time it passed a joint, it shook hard. My palms were sweating the whole time 😭
Ba Na Hills was crowded! People everywhere, long queues for everything.
We didn’t get to try many attractions, but the buffet was really worth it!
So many food options, and they kept refilling the dishes quickly.
Our guide did warn us not to drink any cold drinks or water there, since clean water on the mountain is limited and might not be safe.
So we just drank Phở soup instead 😂
There was also a place where you could get free craft beer, watch performances, and even dance with the entertainers — super fun and lively!
Dinner was steamed seafood, but the portion was small—I wasn’t full at all.
Outside the restaurant, they sold soft sesame cakes—SO GOOD! It’s made with malt syrup and covered in sesame, soft and chewy (not the hard kind). I loved it so much I bought 10 pieces and ate 3 packs in one day 🤣
After dinner, we went for the Han River night cruise.
Coincidentally, one grandpa and a young guy from our group had birthdays that day. The guide surprised them with two meat floss cakes—sweet and salty at the same time, so delicious! I tried to resist eating late at night but totally failed haha.
🏮 Day 3: Hoi An Day Trip
A trip to Hoi An wouldn’t be complete without the coconut boat ride!
The locals were spinning the boats, singing, dancing—it was both funny and terrifying 😅 They even showed us how they “catch fish” (not sure if that was real or just for show 😂).
I don’t remember what we had for lunch that day, so let’s skip that.
At night, we visited Hoi An Ancient Town and the night market — so beautiful!
The lanterns, the reflections on the river, and the streets were like a painting.
If you’ve been to Hoi An before, you probably know about those famous lantern walls — you have to pay to take photos there.
But we got lucky! When the shop owner was busy shooing away other tourists, we managed to snap a quick photo with no NPCs in the frame 😎 Small victory!
By the river, there was a lantern-floating activity where you can make a wish.
Our guide told us to buy the lanterns from the elderly if possible, to support them — so we walked quite a bit just to find one old lady to buy from 💕
Dinner was at a Hong Kong–themed restaurant, but they served Korean-Japanese-style BBQ. Very international 😂
The food was okay, but the service was slow and we didn’t eat enough.
🛕 Day 4: Hue Day Trip
This day was quite chill. We took a trishaw ride around the ancient city of Hue, visited the Imperial Citadel, and took a boat cruise on the Perfume River.
We even got to try on Áo dài, Vietnam’s traditional dress — it looked so elegant!
(But I’m kind of big-sized, so… let’s just say it didn’t fit 😂)
And then… came the “most unforgettable meal” of my life (lunch).
Because that night, I got food poisoning 🥲
I started vomiting and having diarrhea from 1 a.m., so badly that I burst some blood vessels on my face — it looked like I had a rash.
Even my skin got sore from wiping too much (too much info, I know 😂).
We couldn’t figure out what caused it. At first, I thought it was the raw egg coffee, but even those who didn’t drink it got sick.
I personally suspect it was the black fungus in the stir-fried veggies—it was so good that I ate a lot 😇
Some of my travel mates got sick too, so we became “food poisoning buddies” haha.
Dinner was a Michelin-recommended fish noodle soup — tasted good, but not amazing.
However! The cup of hot tea in the photo was surprisingly delicious!
I still have no idea what kind of tea it was, but it was such a nice little surprise 😆
After dinner, our guide took us to a local supermarket that locals also love.
We bought snacks, instant noodles, cashews, and more — everything tasted pretty much as expected.
Nothing really stood out, but if something catches your eye, just give it a try 😆
✈️ Day 5: Going Home
On the last day, I couldn’t go anywhere—I was still sick and throwing up everything I ate.
So it was straight to the airport and back home.
Even though the trip ended with food poisoning, overall it was still an amazing experience.
Da Nang has great weather, beautiful scenery, funny guides, and delicious food (well, mostly 😅).
If I get a chance, I’d definitely go again! 🌴
💰 Total Cost
Including the tour package, airport transfers, currency exchange (USD & VND), extra activities, SIM card, and other small expenses — the whole trip cost around MYR 2700.
📱 About the SIM Card
I got the unlimited eSIM from Klook Travel, which is their own brand. The connection was super smooth — no lag, no disconnection, just perfect throughout the whole trip. Really convenient!
2025.03.07 – 2025.03.11