Hello again travelers! Hope you’ve enjoyed my Vietnam trip through the French colonial city of Hanoi, to the cascading mountains of Halong Bay, and to the breathtaking beaches of Nha Trang. To end our trip we flew to Ho Chi Minh City to the oasis retreat An Lam of Mr & Mrs Smith Hotels. After whizzing around the bustling city we were amazed to discover this hidden jungle retreat filled with oversized palms, plunge pools, and a captivating views of the Saigon river.
A sunset cocktail and watching the river slowly roll by was just the right speed for us.
My favorite dish at the hotel was a spicy mango and shrimp salad paired with a crisp white wine. Perfection!
Now that’s what I call a pool lounge! And in case that pool wasn’t enough each room came equipped with it’s own plunge pool. Decisions, decisions.
We had grand plans to tour the Mekong Delta, but there was some confusion and our trip was canceled, so the hotel arranged for us to go on a sunset boat ride along the Saigon River. It was amazing to see all the large and small boats carrying fruit or dried palm leaves. And, to see hundreds of motorcylists crossing the river from one side to the other. Certainly a different way to get a feel for this part of the city.
All this guy really want to do was play in the pool. We didn’t mind. By this leg of our trip we were all feeling a bit homesick. It’s that part of your trip when you know the end is near but you’re still trying to hold on to those fleeting vacation moments. To snap out of it we took a taxi into town. It was so urban with pubs and cafes everywhere. You got the sense that this is very young and hip city. I started to feel like it would’ve been really nice to of stayed a bit closer to all the action. A couple of our favorite eateries: Country Kitchen or Cái quán qué, Banh Mi Huynh Hoa, and Pizza 4P’s. You can also check out this New York Times article for more on what to do while in Ho Chi Minh City.
To wrap up this trip we have to give a great deal of thanks and gratitude to Mr & Mrs Smith Hotels and Cathay Pacific for making this possible for our family. Here at 100 Layer Cake we strive to bring you the best in inspiration, and at times, it comes with amazing perks to share our travel experiences. We hope it inspires you to take a trip of our own whether it’s a honeymoon, babymoon, or a family adventure. Sometimes you just need to get away. We know! To help make that possible Mr & Mrs Smith Hotels and Cathay Pacific are running a very nice giveaway at this very hotel. You can pop over to see all the details.
Photo: Scott Clark Photo / Accommodations: Mr & Mrs Smith Hotels / Flight accommodations: Cathay Pacific
