Vietnam with Kumuka Worldwide has so much to offer - professionally guided tours coupled with spare time in a country with amazing culture, history, food, natural beauty - and the occasional Australian rock icon as discovered by Conrad Birch on a recent tour. I’m always on the look out for a different experience when travelling. Being overseas in itself is something unique but I like to find an “edge”, I was thrilled to find the spare time on my Kumuka tour to do a bit of celebrity spotting.

The fog stayed with us for the 2 days we were in Hanoi at the beginning of our tour. This added an additional sense of mystery to this beautiful city. As we strolled around the attractive tree lined streets the first thing we noticed is the constant stream of mopeds! In a city of over 3 million people there are an estimated 1.8 million mopeds and during the day they all seem to be out on the street at the same time. Crossing the road is a little daunting at first as the traffic rarely stops moving. You soon get into the swing of it though – the trick is to walk slowly, keep an eye on the traffic and the riders will simply adjust to going around you. Never run though as that can cause all sorts of problems.

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is on the banks of the Red River. There are numerous lakes and parks throughout the city and a very charming old quarter which is a maze of backstreets crammed with interesting shops and small businesses. After our guided tour of the city we were given free time to look around.

Few visitors to Hanoi miss a chance to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Inside an austere concrete Mausoleum you are paraded past the preserved body of one of the most influential leaders of the 20th Century. He has been dead for nearly 36 years and it certainly is an amazing experience to walk past his body on display in a glass case. Tick celebrity number one, but he wasn’t living so I’m not sure if that counts?

On to Halong Bay which is located on the northern coast of Vietnam around 170km from Hanoi. The spectacular bay features more than 3,000 limestone islands and rocks rising from tranquil turquoise waters and offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Asia. Our Kumuka tour leader organised the traditional way of travelling and soon we found ourselves cruising around these stunning islands on a local junk and were lucky enough to spend the night onboard in a cosy cabin. On the first day of the junk trip, after eating some of the most delicious seafood I have ever tasted we went for a look at the impressive “Hang Dau Go” or “Cave of Surprises”. On the steps up to the cave we were indeed surprised to spot an icon of Australian rock music, lead singer of Midnight Oil turned Sydney MP Peter Garrett! Yet more evidence, if any were needed, that it is in fact a small world and all you need to do is ‘venture a little further’

Our tour then took us to the first port of call in Central Vietnam, Hue. Hue served as the capital of Vietnam for 140 years and one of the highlights here is the Imperial City. This extensive site surrounded by a citadel is modelled after the Forbidden City in Beijing. Here Kumuka gave us the chance to have a boat trip on the Perfume River and visit some of the many Buddhist temples. If it is incense that you’re after then Hue is also a good place to see incense being made. Hoi An is a delightful old trading port located in Central Vietnam. It was once a very cosmopolitan place and many of the old buildings were built by international traders in years gone by. Many of these can still be seen today such as the Japanese Bridge and a number of impressive Chinese temples. Hoi An is now also famous for it’s tailors and you can get a whole range of good quality clothes made up within the day at very reasonable prices. We were given a free afternoon after sightseeing for optional tours or a visit to the tailor, I suited myself up for a song.

Ho Chi Minh City offers many places of interest to visit. A trip to the harrowing War Remnants Museum is a must for anyone with an interest in the American War as they refer to it in Vietnam. It is confronting to say the least but a moving and worthwhile experience. The Reunification Hall is a place of major historical significance for Vietnam. Formerly the presidential palace of the South Vietnamese regime, it was here on 30 April 1975 that North Vietnamese Army tanks dramatically crashed through the gates symbolising the defeat of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country.

Our tour leader arranged a local guide with in-depth knowledge to take us to the Cu Chi Tunnels. We learnt that they were originally dug to fight the French and then extended and modified during the American war. Eventually stretching for about 250km, these tunnels were used by the VC and NVA for attacking and hiding from the American and South Vietnamese army. Much of the network still remains intact, and we were lucky to have the opportunity to crawl through these tunnels and emerge into underground control bunkers and hospitals etc. Watch out for the bats in the tunnels! On display are a number of rather gruesome Bamboo spike booby traps used by the VC and NVA in their battle to reunify the country. We came out unscathed, as is the norm these days, but our minds were reeling with the information given from our guide.

The Mekong Delta is a fascinating waterway at the mouth of the world’s 10th longest river. Here you can see how local people earn their living from fishing, agriculture and handicrafts. It is a good place to sample local fruits and snacks and some very tasty fish dishes. The Kumuka tour style really added to the enjoyment of this trip. I was very impressed with the standard of accommodation. Staying in comfortable 3 and 4 star hotels with air conditioned rooms provided a welcome escape from the heat and humidity. The hotel in Ho Chi Minh was my favourite of all. Kumuka stays at the famous Hotel Continental, a major landmark in the city which features heavily in the novel and movie “The Quiet American”. I was impressed with the amount of inclusions on the tour. With so many entrance fees and excursions included, which meant I could save the majority of my spending money for eating and shopping. The tour guides were excellent and had very good local knowledge.

Vietnam is without doubt a fascinating destination which is rapidly becoming increasingly popular with Western tourists for well deserved reasons. Get over there and have a look yourself.

Though we cannot guarantee rock icons on every tour, we can guarantee a personal experience. Kumuka Worldwide offer clients up close and personal experiences of the countries we visit. You never know just who you will meet on the roads less travelled.

Visit Vietnam with Kumuka. Find out more on the following tours:
• The Golden Triangle • Vietnam Discovered • Vietnam Combination

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