A Hipster Journey Through Southern Vietnam
By Nurhafizah Tan
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- From the bustle of a modern city, to desert-like landscapes reminiscent of the Middle East, and a cool-climate town with European vibes — the writer’s journey to three cities in southern Vietnam earlier this month felt like exploring three different countries.
Costing around RM1,500 per person, the six-day trip began in Ho Chi Minh City, continued to Mui Ne, and ended in Da Lat, offering a thousand-and-one memorable experiences and distinct atmospheres.
Previously, Ho Chi Minh City was best known as a shopping haven, the Mekong River, and a historic city bearing witness to the Vietnam War era. Today, it showcases a fresh new side with the rise of creative spaces and modern cafes that attract the younger generation.
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Among the popular spots is an alley dedicated entirely to books, featuring small shops and open reading spaces that offer a relaxing setting in the middle of the city, known as Book Street.
This concept isn’t new in Asia, but the attraction stands out for its blend of modern kiosks, open seating areas, and strategic downtown location, making it an easy stop for tourists — especially those drawn to ‘hipster’ vibes.
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For ‘cafe hunters’, the mission continues in a country known for its unique coffee culture — including egg coffee — where visitors can enjoy their brew on small plastic stools by the roadside, or in stylish cafes like The Cafe Apartment and Mê Coffee.
“There’s no alcohol in any of our drinks. Only milk, coffee, and sugar syrup,” said a barista when the writer asked about the ingredients, ensuring the drink was a safe choice as a Muslim.
Continuing the journey on a sleeper bus for 3 hours and 30 minutes, the writer arrived in Mui Ne, nicknamed the ‘Sahara of Vietnam’ for its desert-like dunes reminiscent of the Middle East — the White Sand Dunes and Red Sand Dunes.
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From a hotel in Phan Viet, the writer explored four attractions, including the Fishing Village and Fairy Stream, with a jeep package costing 600,000 VND (RM95), starting from 4am until 10am.
As the sun began to rise around 5am, the area started to fill with visitors, and although the dunes are not as vast as a real desert, their unique natural formations make them a picturesque and photogenic backdrop.
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“The desert here is actually formed from beach sand. The wind slowly carries it inland until it forms dunes like these. It’s rare to find this in Southeast Asia,” explained a jeep driver via a translation app.
Although spending less than 24 hours there, witnessing the sunrise was a beautiful and worthwhile experience — a cherished moment in this short journey. Personally, the writer believes that spending time at the White Sand Dunes alone is already enough.
The adventure continued to the highlands of Da Lat, a 4-hour-and-40-minute journey, bringing visitors to a much cooler climate ranging from 18 to 26 degrees celcius, similar to Cameron Highlands in Malaysia.
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Unlike Cameron Highlands, the city known as The Little Paris is more than seven times larger, with a bigger population and various facilities including universities, hospitals, and even its own international airport.
What makes Da Lat more interesting is that, in addition to its many flower parks with expansive landscapes, it also offers amusement-park-style attractions such as those at Datanla Alpine Coaster, Mongo Land, and Flower Highland — featuring coaster tracks, giant slides, and luge rides that thrill but remain family-friendly.
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The cafe attractions here are also impressive, serving as major tourism products with unique landscaping and decor, some set against natural waterfalls. Entry fees along with food or drink packages cost around 100,000 VND (RM15).
“If I have the opportunity, I want to return to Da Lat for a staycation. There are many homestays in the outskirts offering beautiful natural scenery,” shared the writer’s travel companion, still excited and not yet satisfied with exploring the ‘city of a thousand flowers’.
-- BERNAMA
