This was my first visit to the Garden City of Xiamen, China, which is a historic trading city surging towards the future located on Tawain Straits. Bring there during the celebration for the Year of the Snake added extra color to the lush greenery as red lanterns were hung all over the island.
The many parks are lush, beautiful and gathering spaces for the locals. In one park – a special area is roped off for feeding pigeons - which I was told is a favorite pastime. The day I visited whole families were feeding and visiting with their favorite pigeon families. The city is also known as an important collection and distribution center for Oolong Tea. I confess to enjoying the VERY best pot of Oolong Tea I have ever sipped.
On to Hong Kong, a world class city with a remarkable history.
They say the only way to get to know a place is to do what the locals do – when in Hong Kong, shop! Shops are open late, some until midnight. You will find a bargain roaming the chaotic open-air markets in search of designer knockoffs or you can find the real deal going for half its regular price in one of the many malls.
Hong Kong has a spectacular serrated skyline of soaring towers and neon lights. A favorite day for me was taking the Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island, shopping Stanley Market, taking a Junk ride in Aberdeen, which remains a fighting village, going to Victoria Peak for the best views over Hong Kong harbor and taking the Peak Tram down for even more spectacular views and ending the day with Afternoon Tea at the Iconic Peninsula Hotel – how many ways can I say , BLISS.
No visit to the North of Vietnam is complete without a stay at Ha Long Bay, a magnificent landscape and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dotting the bay are tiny islands bordered by white sandy coves and hidden caves which I explored.
I left the other world beauty of Ha Long Bay for a day trip to Hanoi to delve into the city at center stage during the Vietnam War. A visit to the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” which held many American servicemen was sobering and thought provoking. Outside, visiting the beautiful city, especially The Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius, and watching the families in traditional dress celebrating the Lunar New Year brought me back to the moment. Time does indeed heal old wounds.
Leaving the North, we headed to the central region of Vietnam with a visit to Da Nang, surrounded by rolling rice paddies, grazing water buffalo and soaring limestone scenery. The city is bustling with as many motorbikes as people. Always daring to be curious, I quite enjoyed my Pedicab ride through all the traffic to the Old Town. The market is huge, chaotic but full of great inexpensive souvenirs to take home. The undulating humps of the city’s Dragon Bridge soars across the River Han, At night, strobing lights illuminate its flowing form and the bridge’s dragon head spits fire into the dark.
Nearby Hoi An, a city revered for its well-preserved history and legendary culinary scene, was a gastronomic adventure never to be forgotten.
After a sunset cruise along the river, while enjoying cold champagne, I dined at the Cargo Club Café which serves a curated menu of sumptuous Vietnamese comfort food – assorted mixed dumplings, Pomelo salad, Bun Hai Sun, a tomato based seafood noodle soup with prawns, passion fruit sorbet as a palate cleanser, Black Pepper Beef with Jasmine Rice and Coconut Prawns , ending with sauteed bananas with coconut milk.
I ended my Vietnamese visit in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon and most still refer to it that way. It is a place of incense-infused temples, colonial architecture, warm people and delicious street food.
Exploring the city’s many historic buildings and museums is one of the best ways to experience its cultural diversity. The Reunification Palace is a wonderful example of mid-century modern architecture that functioned as the South Vietnamese government’s seat of power throughout the war.
“Good evening, Saigon” at the top of The Majestic Hotel with traditional music and dances was the perfect way to end my visit to the city the French christened “The Pearl of the Orient.”
For more travel inspiration, Debi shares her winter hibernation in Hawaii, check out Debi’s published travel article in the Classic Chicago Magazine in the below link:
And oh by the way, Debi share her delicious Hawaii flavored Divine Biscotti recipe, Yum!!
