Top 5 Things to Know before Visiting Da Nang, Vietnam

I'm back! Cross my fingers that I will not fall into any of the movies or drama addictions or else, I'll be disappearing again from updating my blog. Lately, I visited a very beautiful country where I enjoyed the sights and sounds plus, getting myself entertained with the chicken-and-duck conversation. It was fun, it was comfortable, it was beautiful, and as French would always say, it was tres magnifique.

From having the opportunities to stay at different kinds (s) of accommodation like Airbnb and hotel, to entering into a thrilling world of dining and indulging with a myriad of spring rolls and walking into the adventure of some tourist attractions where we were greeted with pouring rains, it was indeed one of the holidays that is worth remembering. And all I did was book my flight and then let life navigated me.

All we did was enjoy a cold glass of San Miguel, take plenty of photos regardless of where we were, and enter a shopping paradise where our bargaining skills took a notch up. Yet, there were still some circumstances that held us back from enjoying ourselves to the fullest.

So, I have penned down the top 5 things that you need to know before you head to Vietnam.

1. Traffic is a nightmare

Barely able to cross the busy streets - it seems like there is no sense of mercy to the pedestrians and all you need is to be courageous at all times and run as if a dog is chasing you from the back. You would hardly have the time to turn to your left and right too. We did cross the road once and we vowed no second time. It's safer to take Grab instead.

2. Drivers are...just speechless

Plenty of drivers are there for you; just open your Grab app and in no time, you just have to wait for your drivers to arrive. However, very frequently, our drivers decided to cancel our booking. So, be warned! Drivers in Da Nang love to honk too; I don't even know whether the honk sign serves as a warning to other drivers/motorcyclists, a greeting when they bump into their friends, or merely, it's for fun. At some point, it can get pretty annoying.

3. Thankfully, food is awesome!!

For vegans and those who have a favorite liking for any kind(s) of vegetables, particularly basil and mint, Vietnam is the right place for you. It gives you a different twist to our local cuisine. Don't expect to have an array of meat as it comes with a pretty minimum quantity. For instance, we ordered a bowl of Quang noodles and sadly, only a few, thin chicken fillets were found whereas our bowls were generously filled with lots of vegetables.

Also, I strongly recommend you to try these few places - no regret for sure!

Morning Glory Restaurant Hoi An

Nha Hang Madame Lan

4. Check the weather

Yay! Bana Hills is a must-go attraction! However, the timing wasn't right for us. The joy in us immediately disappeared when dark clouds started forming when we reached there. Before we could tour around Bana Hills, we found ourselves running to the nearest restaurants/outlets. We couldn't go anywhere except playing with our phones. Even after 2 hours, the rain refused to stop so, we decided to leave Bana Hills. Thankfully, we took some photos at the Golden Bridge before that.

5. Currency - More USD and less Vietnam Dong

Tips to all Malaysians - it is good to have more USD dollars with you. When you compare both the USD and Vietnam Dong plus the conversion of Ringgit Malaysia, somehow, buying stuff using the USD dollar is slightly cheaper as compared to the Vietnam Dong. Even if you wanted to tailor-make your dresses, suits, t-shirts, or what not in Hoi An, the vendors there prefer USD.