Pre-Travel Thoughts

1. Lisa, before you and George set off, what was the mood like? Were you both craving downtime, adventure, or a bit of both? Were you excited for what was to come?

We were both so excited about the trip, also both really in need of some fun, adventure and for a chance to reconnect after a hectic work period. The holiday couldn’t have come at a better time. Vietnam was a country neither of us knew well, despite a brief visit for work back in 2019 – the itinerary inspired us because of the different locations we were due to experience.

2. When we were building your itinerary, we really wanted to balance culture with proper relaxation. Did you feel like that came through once you saw the trip mapped out?
The itinerary from the start was the exact balance of everything. It gave us both excitement and relaxation, but more importantly it gave us those real ‘pinch me’ moments – especially integrating into the parts of Vietnam we never thought we could get to see. The Vietage Train ride was something we never would have thought about or even knew about! So yes, from the very first meeting everything about the trip was ticking all the boxes.

3. How much guidance did you and George give as to the style of holiday and the destinations you wanted to visit?
To be completely honest, we didn't give much in the way of guidance. Except to say we were up for an adventure, to explore, to eat delicious food and to immerse ourselves into the culture – wherever that may be! Vietnam wasn't somewhere we’d considered on our own, and it came as a brilliant and unexpected surprise when the team pitched it to us.

Stepping into Hoi An

4. Hoi An is such a dreamy first stop. How did it feel arriving at Anantara Hoi An and settling into the hotel for those first few nights?

As soon as we landed the energy was infectious! We couldn't wait to get out and explore. Anantara Hoi An's location means it’s perfect to walk along the river towards the boats, the night markets and all of the night life. It’s a vibrant place with a great selection of fantastic places to eat. Equally, if you stay close to the hotel and walk in the other direction, you have more understated local places to eat, so it was fun to explore it all depending on our mood.

The hotel itself was ideal, a real little oasis right on the edge of the organised chaos of Hoi An’s nightlife. The staff were superb, thoughtful, and very helpful giving us tips and options to explore the area.

5. You did the walking, river cruising, and cooking class together — who was the better chef, you or George?

We did! It was the most brilliant way to spend a Saturday! The Bamboo cooking class was hidden away in the middle of nowhere and a beautiful boat ride away. We had a blast. I think George was the best cook on the day. I did more prep and wanted to learn how to make the spring rolls, so there wasn't that much cooking involved!
In all seriousness though, the experience wasn’t about who was better – it was just a privilege to be able to shop in the local market, take the raw ingredients back to a riverside kitchen, learn about flavour combinations and techniques, and then eat our creations!

6. Did you enjoy having that mix of peaceful resort mornings and then wandering into the Old Town by night?

We loved the hotel, we used the gym and the spa and joined the daily yoga classes. And the breakfasts were delicious. We walked around the Old Town and explored every day, stopping for coconut waters to refresh and hydrate us. We did some local shopping and we also spent some lazy afternoons around the pool. It was the perfect mix.

All Aboard... The Vietage Train

7. The train journey on The Vietage is a real highlight – it’s a holiday adventure in itself! What was the first thing you both did once you sat down? Were you greeted with anything special?

What an experience this was! From the moment we got on the train it was luxurious. We were offered tea, coffee and breakfast pastries, then we sat at the bar and chatted to the lovely crew on board. We watched the Vietnamese countryside roll past, sat back and simply enjoyed the journey.

8. You had massages on board, a proper lunch, incredible views… did it feel more like a moving boutique hotel than a train?

If you have the time to incorporate this train ride, we couldn’t recommend it more. It is so incredibly chic, and reminiscent of old school glamour – a time when slow travel and refined service was ‘the thing’ to do. We preordered our meals, so we were excited about that, and then we even had a mini massage on board. The carriage was comfortable and the time just flew by. It’s a memory that we will never forget: enjoying a drink in the onboard bar, sitting in beautiful chairs watching the luscious Vietnamese countryside pass us by… just mind-blowing.

To the Quy Nhon Coast

9. Then it was straight into full-blown beach luxury at Anantara Quy Nhon Villas. How did it feel stepping into your own Ocean View Pool Villa?

Arriving at Anantara Quy Nhon Villas was so exciting! Firstly, the property is absolutely stunning. Right on the beach surrounded by beautiful gardens, with palm trees everywhere – it was a tropical oasis. I personally squealed with excitement when we arrived at our villa, with our own pool, too! It took my breath away.

10. Did Quy Nhon give you a sense of discovering somewhere really off the beaten track compared to Hoi An? It’s a little less well-known.

This area was completely unknown to us both, so again, we were delighted that Destinology introduced us to it and recommended this location for a beach break. This was our chance to really unwind and reset, so we took advantage of that with open arms. The spa, the gym and the beach walks meant we still felt active, but the slower place made all the difference after the wonderful pace of being in a city. I love the beach, and to be able to have this experience in the middle of our trip was perfect – we were able to unwind, eat all the yummy food, have the most incredible spa treatments, and lounge by the hotel’s beautiful pool, as well as our own little private pool!

The Start of Saigon City Life

11. Going from calm Quy Nhon to full-on Saigon must have been a gear change. How did you both handle the buzz of the city?

It was definitely a gear change, but we flew there on a brilliant airline - Vietjet - all sorted through Destinology. Checking in was seamless, and having the boarding passes sent straight to us meant it was a dream. We were a little sad to head to Ho Chi Minh City (historically known as Saigon), just because we were heading to the last part of our trip, but there was also a lot of excitement to get onto the next city too!

12. Did the fast-track arrival and private transfers make a difference to how you experienced the city?

It absolutely did. We were whisked out of the airport so speedily, and also when we left Saigon to fly home that was also so easy and stress-free. It’s well worth having that as part of the experience.

13. The Myst Dong Khoi has such a distinctive and design-led style. What did you love about staying here? Was there a favourite corner of the hotel that felt very ‘you’?

The Myst Dong Khoi was in an excellent location in the middle of everything, so the buzz of the city got immediately under our skin. The hotel is really cool and unique, with the most amazing rooftop pool and bar. We also really enjoyed having a morning coffee in the cafe in the entrance, just watching Saigon street life buzz around us.

History & Culture from Saigon

14. You didn’t just drive out to the Cu Chi Tunnels, you arrived by speedboat! How did that change the experience for you and George? What was it like seeing them up close, and did either of you feel brave crawling through?

Yes, we sailed up the Saigon River by speedboat which was so cool. We had coffee and bánh mi (crusty baguette-style sandwiches) and cruised up the river. It was fantastic to see Vietnam from the water, and it really helps you to envision what it would’ve been like during the war. Personally for me, I didn't know much about the Vietnam war, so it was a real eye opener and a true, first-hand education.

I found it really hard to go into the tunnels, and George actually couldn't do it. It was very hot and dark and - for us - quite claustrophobic. It’s unbelievable to think that the Viet Cong lived under there, but it’s an important part of history and I’m very glad we got to visit to see it for ourselves. We also went to the War Remnants Museum a few days later which was equally heartbreaking, but so important to learn from.

15. The Mekong Delta is often described as Vietnam’s ‘rice bowl’. What was your first impression as you began exploring the waterways there? And was there one encounter that really stayed with you?

The Mekong Delta was stunning. We had an incredible guide who was a real history buff, so we picked his brains on the drive down and his knowledge was unbelievable – as was his English.

Everything about that day was like a dream: we ate the freshest, most juicy mangoes picked from the trees nearby, we ate fresh coconut, and met beautiful people local to the area. We drank rice wine, we made pancakes in the home of a lovely local lady, and we had a five course meal looking over the Mekong River, which genuinely brought a tear to my eye. In truth, neither of us usually take tours on holiday – we love to adventure, but something like this - going completely off the beaten track - was thrilling. It truly felt like a once in a lifetime experience. And we are both totally converted!

Highlights & Reflections

16. Looking back, was there one ‘pinch-me’ moment that you already know you and George will talk about for years to come?

The Vietage Train for sure, and because I can’t possibly pick just one, I have to say the boat on the Mekong Delta too.

17. Vietnam is a real feast of flavours. Did either of you discover a new dish you’ve been craving ever since you got home?

The spring rolls are just so incredibly fresh with the herbs and aromatics, the mango is insanely good, and the rice with chicken in Hoi An – just wow. That is worth the airfare alone!

18. Was there an experience or detail in the itinerary that took you by surprise in the best possible way?

Ending in a busy city was a really interesting way of putting the trip together, and before we travelled we did wonder whether we would prefer to end on a beach. When it came to it, the inspiration and excitement of Saigon was a masterstroke. It’s so creative, so dynamic and so vibrant that it made the perfect finale.

The Destinology Difference

19. How did it feel knowing you could just turn up and everything - flights, transfers, excursions - had been thought through for you?

It was the epitome of luxury. And the Destinology team were on hand instantly to help with anything we needed, both before we travelled and during the trip.

20. Do you think this trip showed how Destinology can get under the skin of a destination while still giving you that luxury downtime?

1000% yes. The insight needed to pull together this itinerary really demonstrates Destinology’s deep understanding of travel. Combine that with their relationships with world class hotels, and you’ve got a really unique balance and skillset.

21. If a friend asked you and George whether Vietnam should be on their list, what would you tell them?

Obviously YES. And we will be giving them Destinology's contact details too. In fact, we already have a few friends! Surely that’s the best recommendation possible!

22. And finally - the classic question - if you had to sum up your Destinology experience in three words between the two of you, what would they be?

Thoughtful, holistic and personalised.