Peacefully Beautiful Bantayan

If you are after a beautiful beach that is peaceful and quiet for a really relaxing vacation, Bantayan Beach in Cebu is the place to go. Its long stretch of powdery white sand beach rivals Boracay. And sea here is calm, more pristine, and cleaner. It does not have the seaweeds that are common in Boracay shores.

The place does not have the variety and number of bars and restaurants that makes Boracay vibrant and alive. Bantayan instead provides a more laid back beach life, down to basics of really have a relaxing and fun time in a truly beautiful beach.

This island paradise is a 3 hour bus ride to the town of Hignaya from Cebu City. From Hignaya you take a 1 hour ferry to the port of Sta Fe in Bantayan.

Sunsets at Boracay

Boracay continues to be the Philippines top beach destination. Deservedly so because of its really fine white sand beach and clean waters (except during the summer season). For people who like the good life, there are plenty of good restaurants and an active night life.

But for me the main attraction is still the beautiful beach and an added bonus to this is the glorious sunset of Boracay. Watching the sunset by the beach is calming. Another way is to take a Paraw ( local sail boats) and watch this early evening event from a boat. The latter has increasingly become popular.

Hoi An: Blast from the Past

One of the most popular destinations in Vietnam is Hoi An, a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is a well preserved 15th to 19th century town which used to be trading port.

Hoi An is interesting because of the old houses most of which now operate as restaurants, shops, art galleries, and hotels catering primarily to tourists. Vehicles are banned from entering the town so you can enjoy a leisurely walk around. It is also known for its good food and there are restaurants that offer cooking lessons. However, I prefer the food in Hue.

From Hoi An, you can bike to Danang, a fine sand beach community for a relaxing time by the sea.

Amazing Water Puppet Show

If you are going to Hanoi, you have to find time to watch the water puppet show at the Thang Long Theater. I had very low expectations when I went but I was really glad that I did because the show was absolutely entertaining.

The one hour show had puppets in motion like dancing and fighting in waist deep waters accompanied by a narration and Vietnamese music. It is an amazing show and its always a full house so it is best to buy your ticket in advance.

Historical Hue

One of my favorite places in Vietnam is Hue which used to be the Royal Capital of Vietnam. It has a lot of historical places like a fortress, pagodas and royal tombs.

But one really makes the place distinct is that it is in Hue that you will find the best food in Vietnam. Perhaps it is because it is where the royalty used to lived which is why they have food that is really fit for kings and queens.

I can not remember the names of the flour based dishes that I had but I vividly remember how good the food tasted that just writing about it now makes me want to go back again to Hue if only for the food. The desserts with beans and sweet soup are also heavenly.

Towering Tam Coc

I have always had a fascination with karst formations. But before Tam Coc the limestone cliffs that I have seen( in the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia) were surrounded by sea water. So it was with much anticipation that I took this tour to Tam Coc where the karst formations has a river that runs through it.

The tour did not disappoint! We were taken on a 3 hour boat ride along a river that was surrounded by towering limestone cliffs on both sides. Along the way, the boat passed through 3 caves. We were also treated to the sight of boatmen paddling with their feet. Actually had a much better time here than in Halong Bay.

Make time for a visit to Tam Coc. It is a short 2.5 hours road trip from Hanoi.

Halong Bay: Vietnam's Pride

North Vietnam's main attraction is Halong Bay. It is a 4 hour bus trip from Hanoi. The scenery of countless limestone karsts on the Bay is impressive and the place deserves to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Part of Halong Bay tour is a visit to the Thien Cong Grotto. This is a cave which is colorfully lighted to highlight its numerous attractions.

My trip to Halong Bay was still enjoyable in spite of the problems we had on the tour. I paid extra for an overnight stay in a junk boat on the Bay but we were told that there was a typhoon coming and boats are not allowed to stay during the night in the Bay. So instead we spent the night in Cat Ba Island in a cheap hotel, the value of which was cheaper than the tour that I paid for.

But next day, I found out from a friend that they spent the night on their boat in the Bay! That was a major disappointment for me. But I guess that was just a confirmation of the way organized tours are run in Vietnam. There are warnings in Lonely Planet about Halong Bay tour scams and I experienced this first hand. So tourists beware!