Vietnam

In Vietnam I only visited Sapa and Hanoi and my experiences of both were completely different. Sapa was warm and cool at the same time, a quiet little village with lots of scenery to take in. Hanoi on the other hand was sweaty-hot (more so than Indonesia, if felt), with bustling streets full of traffic and very little time to just sit - though of course I found that quite possible. After a few bumpy days in Hanoi because I was settling in, I loved them both a lot. 

Again, the language didn't seem too much of a barrier. I didn't say any Vietnamese the whole time and I don't think I could have got any of the pronunciation right anyway. 

My favourite part was being at the hostel, my day completely unplanned going around in a big group all trying to find our way. 

Please try to go to Sapa, but you don't need to do a tour, just book a night bus/train and your accommodation and find your own way around this beautiful town.

Like I said in my Hanoi post, I'll be back to Vietnam and Hanoi, just because I hardly did any of it! Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was closed when I attempted to go, and I slept through my friends visiting the Hoa Lo Prison. I want to visit the south of Vietnam too so another big old trip is due. Something that struck me was that a family from HCMC I met thought Hanoi was absurdly different. They said it was mostly just hotter and busier. So I'd be intrigued to see how this lives up to it, and what Ho Chi Minh City is like.

Be careful on the roads, as dangerous as it sounds this was my tactic: prepare to cross as normal so look out for the cars, ensuring you don't walk out right in front of one, but so long as you leave the bikes space, know they will (happily?) navigate around you. And don't ever look back into the oncoming traffic once you've started. 

Motorbikes are popular here, they'll be surprised you don't want to take one because walking is seen as the poor person's thing to do.