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After spending a few days in the cool, relaxed town of Dalat, our next stop in Ho Chi Minh City couldn’t have been more different. Vietnam’s former capital has an amazing ability to be laid back among a sea of motorbikes and people wherever you look. If HCMC is your first or last stop in Vietnam, it will be exactly what you’re looking for to begin or end a trip in this unique country.Getting to HCMC: HCMC is well connected and it’s commonly the start or end point of the North-South backpacker route, so therefore it’s easy to get a coach from many locations. Where to Stay: The Pham Ngu Lao district where we were dropped off is also the backpacker area, with many affordable hostels and guesthouses. I’d recommend booking ahead to ensure a good-quality place to stay, and avoid walking from hostel to hostel looking for the best deal. There are plenty of Service Apartments in and around District 1 - check out AirBnB for good deals. Ho Chi Minh statue What to do: HCMC prov...

Da Lat is a little town northeast of Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam. Popular amongst locals, it’s not as often visited by foreigners. Upon arriving in Da Lat, it will be quite clear that it’s a tourist town – one where everyone is bundled up to combat the perpetually cold weather. When I first arrived in Vietnam, I was afraid it would be hard to head off of the typical backpacker trail. But then I found a few gems that ended up being the highlights of my trip. Da Lat, though less off the beaten path than some places I later found, ended up having a lot to offer: Elephant Falls: It’s 30 km outside of the city center and it's a part of the Mountain Bike tour - which is a must! The falls themselves are impressive but what I think a lot of people miss is the fact that you have to go climbing on some difficult and slippery rocks to see the base of the falls – and rainbow! It's such a lovely visit. Do it yourself: Get to the falls via motorbike if and only if you’re confident on th...