Go with the slow: The art of slow travel in Vietnam

With thousands of motorbikes and countless stalls hawking everything from noodle soups to shirts and can openers, peace isn’t something that’s easily associated with Vietnam. The major cities thump with energy from the moment the sun brightens the horizon up until the wee hours of the night.

Despite the organized chaos, however, there are a lot of ways of slowing down in this country, which could make it more memorable as you get to observe the finer details of each neighborhood and engage with the locals more.

Here are some proven and tested ways of enjoying life in the slow lane and discovering a different side of Vietnam.

Get spontaneous in Saigon

You may wish to start the day at the end of stylish Dong Khoi street, stroll, and peruse galleries along the way, grab a drink at a cafe, and take shots of the Opera house, before finishing it off with some banh khot, or savory shrimp pancakes, at a restaurant near Turtle Lake.

Shop right on the pavement. Gawk at the cheap prices of fruit, for example, and then bring them back to the hotel to eat. Take naps in the afternoon, when it gets quite hot, so you’ll be up and ready for a vibrant time at the night markets in Saigon.  

Ho Thi Ky market is a local favorite and the lobsters are really affordable. Come a bit early for a chance to browse the flower market as well before enjoying dinner and you’re guaranteed a low-key but memorable night in Saigon.

There are many things you can do here. You might even get an invitation from a local to tour the outskirts of town, or come across a tourist experience that you haven’t researched about that suddenly looks very appealing to do—tour on a Vespa, perhaps?

Circle the Central Lake in Hanoi

Up north, Hanoi is a perfect city to explore slowly, particularly in winter when it gets really cold. Sure, you'd have to dodge the motorbikes, but more often than not, they’ll dodge you instead.

Walk around the central Hoan Kiem lake and just look around, really wander and feel the scene as it transforms with every season. The lake’s perimeter is less than two kilometers long, and it’s flat, so it’s not even that tiring. Everything going on—from kids painting, to groups dancing, to the devout praying in the temples—is a slice of local life and will give you an authentic glimpse of Hanoi.  

Follow your walk with a meal and try new dishes. In the adjacent old quarter, order the bun oc, or the noodle soup filled with snail meat, and slurp on the sidewalk. It’s a piece of heaven right in the middle of Hanoi’s madness.  

Stay the night in Halong Bay on a cruise boat

Instead of just going on a day trip to the UNESCO-listed limestone studded islands of Halong, splurge a little and spend the night on an all-inclusive cruise boat, complete with meals and activities. This kind of trip enables you to slow down as it’s unique to Vietnam.  

When booking a room on a boat, try to snag a corner room that allows you to have a larger view of the limestone karst formations passing by as you cruise the bay. Because of its popularity, Halong does become very crowded, so opting for the nearby Lan Ha Bay becomes a really attractive alternative these days.

In cruises like this, you get to really absorb the attractions. Depending on the company you selected, you’re also treated to kayaking trips, squid fishing, and even after-dinner karaoke. It’s a great way to unwind.  

Savor the cold air in Sapa

Sapa is a Vietnamese mountain town that’s recently become a magnet for Pinoys. Take your sweet time in the mountains, villages, and cafes, and opt to walk whenever you can. Cat Cat village, a collection of traditional huts in a valley, is usually reached by taxis, but it's just four kilometers away and it’s cool enough to walk, even in May.  

At night, Sapa becomes very colorful, and almost all the bars and restaurants will have beautiful facades emblazoned with tasteful yellow signages. It’s an extremely pleasant stroll so don’t sleep on it.  

To reach Sapa from Hanoi, you’ll be faced with two options. The bus is much cheaper and is about two hours faster than the train, but you can compromise and use the bus going to Sapa (about P600) and then utilize the train to go back (about P2,100) to Hanoi. The bus eventually became the more practical choice in my case, but the train turned out to be infinitely more memorable than the bus ride.  

Sure, the train was longer, but sleeping inside an old-style carriage with the occasional squeaking from the engines beneath was refreshing. The snack carts being pushed by the attendants and the boarding/alighting process were also quite the scene.  

Dodge the crowds at Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh, a small province about two hours south of Hanoi, also features limestone karst formations very similar to our Palawan. But instead of crystal blue seas, farmland and rivers make up the scene. In January, the air is crisp—cold, even. There’s a very popular viewpoint in Ninh Binh at the Mua Cave, and it gets absolutely mobbed at peak hours. Arrive by 7 a.m. and have the place all to yourself. This will likely be a highlight of your trip to Ninh Binh, if not the whole country.  

Reward yourself with some hot pho after the climb, and then head to the lesser known pagodas that make up the wonderful vistas at Ninh Binh. Bich Dong is a bit popular but is an absolute stunner—it’s really right beneath the rocks. You may wish to arrive here by bicycle; it’s one of the coolest, most eco-friendly ways to go around Ninh Binh.  

Join a class and stay during full moon in Hoi An

Hoi An is a UNESCO-listed old town with just a few parallel streets at its core. It’s a place with deep history and is also the country’s gastronomic capital.

In this city, you can take part in all manner of workshops and classes, including language and cooking classes, photography lessons, pottery, and silk workshops, and many more. Every shop on the old town map is a possible gem waiting to be discovered and experienced, and they’re all reached by foot.  

It’s not far from the beach, too, so Hoi An is a complete package and is one of the best ways to learn about what makes Vietnam tick.  

If you have the chance, drop by Hoi An during full moon. Only lanterns are allowed to be lit at night during this monthly event, and the allure is indescribable. Paper lanterns float on the river at this time, making the scene even more magical.  

There may be programs held at the main plaza but it’s generally geared towards locals. You may not be able to understand what they’re saying, but it’s easy to appreciate the vibe and the music being played from the traditional Vietnamese instruments.  

Learning to slow down in Vietnam may be difficult to comprehend at first, but you don’t need to shut down completely during trips and live like a cocoon—even though in today’s Vietnam, it’s entirely possible. It’s really more of relishing each moment instead of constantly moving around. You’re on vacation, after all. Once you learn to slow down in Vietnam, the more enjoyable your trips could become.