Wednesday – Typhoon? No Problem, Let’s Play Pickleball! You know that saying, “It’s not an adventure until something goes wrong”? Well, Wednesday proved that to be 100% accurate. We woke up bright and early to the delightful news that — surprise! — a typhoon was on its way. Our guide, however, was completely unfazed. “No problem,” he said, smiling like it was just a light drizzle instead of a category-whatever storm. So, obviously, we did what any sensible people would do in that situation: grabbed our paddles and hit the pickleball courts from 9 to 11 a.m. Because when nature throws a tantrum, you counter with drop shots and dinks.
Naturally, we paused long enough to take some epic group photos in our official Vietnam pickleball shirts — because if the typhoon was coming, at least we’d look fabulous in the aftermath. Lunch was at a cozy little local spot called Lien Cao Lau, where we devoured another local specialty.
Then came the unexpected gem of the day: the legendary Vietnamese head massage and hair wash. We thought we were just getting a quick shampoo, but oh no — it turned into a full-blown spa extravaganza. The ladies got facials, the guys got full-body massages (don’t ask how that happened), and everyone emerged looking like shiny new humans — slightly dazed, but deeply zen.
In the afternoon, the group split like a well-placed serve: some brave souls went back for more pickleball (because apparently three hours weren’t enough), while the rest went on a shopping spree followed by a foot and leg massage. It was all very “treat yourself before the typhoon.” By early evening, things got interesting. While we were either smashing volleys or getting our toes rubbed, it became clear that the typhoon wasn’t just passing by — it was moving in. Fast. Cue The Great Evacuation Extravaganza of 2025.
Suddenly, everyone became a travel logistics expert. Flights were changing, hotels were rebooking, and suitcases were being repacked at lightning speed. Chaos? Yes. Hilarious? Also yes. Somehow — through sheer willpower and maybe a bit of luck — we made it onto a 2:15 a.m. flight out. Sleep-deprived, storm-dodging, and some still wearing our pickleball shirts, we left Vietnam with one heck of a story to tell.
This blog is a contribution of Barbara Arnold. Follow her travel adventures on https://www.polarsteps.com/DBarbaraArnold/21929835-philippines-and-vietnam?s=b1a5f906-fcce-4aef-9241-f234d939d981&referral=true