Page 28 - Explore Magazine Autumn 2018

26

EMBRACING

EVERYTHING

Vietnam is an amazing melting-pot of traditional and modern, and many influences,
says Sarah Bartlett of helloworld Mount Maunganui.

Vietnam! Where do I start? It’s an amazing destination perspective. These hot, humid, dark oxygen-deficient
for all ages to explore. I was lucky enough to visit it tunnels are a terrifying glimpse into what soldiers on
recently on a World Journeys tour from Ho Chi Minh both sides of the war went through. The tunnels have
City (Saigon) to Hanoi, with a stop in Hoi An and a trip been widened to accommodate tourists so even as
to Halong Bay along the way. cramped as we were, it was hard to imagine belly-
crawling along these underground labyrinths for
The World Journeys tour really spoiled us with months on end.
leisurely afternoons, morning excursions and
amazing hotels. Saigon, which is still what the locals That evening we explored the city by way of a Vespa
call their city, is a place where walking is overrated: Adventure Food Tour, which provided some light-
here it’s all about zooming scooters and tooting heartedness after the sights of the morning. I cannot
horns, following the crowd and flowing through the recommend this tour more: Ai, our host, was hilarious
traffic as the scooters swarm past you while you’re as were our drivers – please note we were on the
crossing the road! It’s not as scary on the second or back of the Vespas because while we might be brave
third crossing, I promise. enough to cross the road we weren’t sufficiently so to
drive amongst it all! You really do see all sorts, from
On one of our days in Saigon we went out to the giant pet lizards being carried on scooters to the
Cu Chi Tunnels 35km northwest of the city, which whole family piled onto one machine and venturing out
are fascinating from both a historical and tourist
for a social meal.

HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : AUTUMN EDITION