Family Shores and Smiles in Vietnam and Bali

Perched on the banks of the Red River, Hanoi is Vietnam's capital and one of the world's most ancient cities. Its beauty lies in its liveliness of bustling streets where workshops and cafes spill out onto the streets and roadsides. As the intersection point where east meets west, Hanoi is a fascinating mix of old and new, Asian and European. With Chinese and French influences, an ancient culture, colonial architecture, broad tree-lined boulevards and beautiful lakes, the iconic architectural appearance of the Old Quarter and the elegance of the French Quarter, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature, etc... gives Vietnam’s capital city a unique charm of the ancient and modern. Hanoi is also home to one of Asia’s strong indigenous culinary traditions, with bustling wet markets and a rowdy street-food culture, as well as some five star international dining options. It is also very affordable by urban Asian standards, with the majority of hotels and restaurants offering plenty of value.

Halong Bay, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, is located 170km east of Hanoi. It is made up of three neighboring bays: Halong, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long bays, although Halong Bay is undeniably the most famous and most well-known of the three. Widely considered a natural wonder of the world, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is breathtaking with thousands of majestic limestone, peaks and islets rising dramatically out of the sparkling emerald waters of the bay. The most common way to explore is by taking an overnight night cruise or day-trip which cruises among the limestone pillars and islets. Many also include an island drop off and cave explorations. Visiting floating villages in the area gives a chance to interact with the local community whose livelihoods depend on the waters. Another way to immerse oneself close up in the bay is by kayaking near and around the limestone pillars and some of the caves that are possible to enter by kayak.

Commonly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam is the country’s largest city and the financial and economical capital. This is a city full of surprises. Chaotic traffic blends with peaceful pagodas, parks, multi-style coffee shops and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways. Icons of the past endure in the middle of the city’s vast urbanization. The ornate Saigon opera house, Hôtel de Ville - former French city hall, broad boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are reminders of French-colonial times. In addition, the Chinese influence is also evident particularly in Cholon district (the city's Chinatown), while modern skyscrapers and international hotel chains that dot the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future.

The Mekong Delta, located in the southernmost territory bordered by Cambodia, is the most fertile land in Vietnam. This is a region of unrelenting beauty - nicknamed the 'rice bowl' of Vietnam, where over 50% of Vietnam’s rice is grown. It is home to a unique ecosystem with diverse communities and ethnicities, and there are few places like this in the world. One the best, if not the best, ways to experience this area is to take a boat trip (1 day or a few days with staying overnight in local homestays) along the Mekong River's twisting capillaries of tropical canals, mangroves, past rice paddies, floating markets, where life on and off the river merge into one.

Denpasar is Bali's capital and the island's main gateway. The city serves as a hub for neighboring cities in the Lesser Sunda Islands. With the fast rise of Bali's tourism sector, Denpasar has fostered and promoted commercial activities and endeavors, resulting in the province's highest growth rate. Denpasar's population was 897,300 in 2017, up from 788,445 in the 2010 census. The neighboring metropolitan region contains around 2 million persons.

Ubud is a town located in the central part of Bali island, known for its rich arts and culture, as well as its lush landscapes of rice fields and tropical jungle, offering a contrast to the southern beach areas.

Kintamani is a village on the western border of the bigger caldera wall of Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) in Bali Island, Indonesia. It is located on the same north-south route as Penelokan and has served as a rest point for visitors to observe the Mount Batur region. Kintamani is also notable for Pura Tuluk Biyu's 1,000-year-old 'Rites of Peace' stone tablets, as well as the Kintamani dog breed. It is located adjacent to Mount Batur.

Southeast of Bali sits the seaside town of Sanur. Shallow waters can be found on its extensive beach. With a paved bike path behind them, vibrant jukung fishing boats are laid out on the sand. The 10th-century inscriptions in the coral-built Pura Blanjong temple date back to that time. Restaurants and art galleries line Jalan Danau Tamblingan, the lush main boulevard.