Love was truly in the air last week at the most intimate, gorgeous wedding I have ever been to. I have too many feelings and not enough words to describe our time celebrating Annie and Ryan, so I’ll let the photos do the talking. I will say: to call myself best friend to the bride (and former employee of the groom lol) had me very emo. Getting the opportunity to see them marry in her birth country of Vietnam was a privilege I will never forget.
The stunning Hang Mua Eco Lodge Resort accommodated all 30 of us, and I cannot recommend the stay more. The resort is nestled amidst the famous limestone mountains of the King Kong movies, just two hours south of Hanoi. If you’re looking for a central place to stay in Hanoi, I highly recommend the Hoàn Kiếm Airbnb I booked. After navigating through an enclosed, dimly-lit alleyway, I found elevators to my, “mini-resort.” The stay had a luxurious feel to it, even though it was only $39/night. Inside, you can find a full kitchen, as well as two bedrooms separated by an outdoor pond, and a beautiful, bamboo bathtub overlooking the streets of Hanoi.
The bus ride from my Airbnb to the resort was such a cool way to catch glimpses of Vietnam – the architecture, the locals, the lush greenery. One of my favorite parts (outside of the aunties dancing to EDM at 7 a.m. in the square) was seeing all the scooters integrate into traffic; it reminded me a lot of my mom’s country of Taiwan. Vietnam has the same vibrancy, too.
On hotel property, we were with tea and snacks, as well as given a tour of the one restaurant/bar (the BEST spring rolls I’ve ever had in my life exist here), the infinity pool, the spa, the gardens, and the rooms. Each of our rooms came equipped with strong, Vietnamese coffee, tea, starfruit and bananas, as well as double beds with mosquito nets (it is the jungle). Rooms were serviced daily with replenished amenities and fresh linen.
Though we only had three days, our time was nothing short of magical, and I will be returning. I highly suggest renting a motorcycle or scooter to find your way around Ninh Binh, if you find yourself in the area. Roadways are narrow in the countryside, and a full car may be too much of a burden, especially if you’ve never driven in a country unlike your own. Or, if you’d rather not do the work, you can use this Klook tour to experience much of what I did during my stay in Ninh Binh (shout OUT to Annie and Ryan for booking everything for us), and all transportation will be taken care of.
The aforementioned tour includes a boat ride along rivers in the Tràng An Scenic Landscape Complex, multi-cave exploration, as well as the Hang Mua Climb. The Tràng An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and just one look at our photos will prove why.
If you do just one thing in Ninh Binh, the Hang Mua Climb is an absolute must. After trekking up ~500 steps, you’ll be met with a limestone dragon statue on one peak, a pagoda with Kwan Yin buddha on the other, and stunning views of the valley below. The Klook tours average ~$30 USD, or you can visit the steps on your own for $6. And the memories made? Priceless.
Forever grateful to be having these opportunities, and for the wonderful people in my life. As always, thank you for reading! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out at huangbaum@gmail.com.
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