Early morning pickleball — again! But this time, something miraculous happened: the sun actually showed up. Our very first glimpse of sunshine in Vietnam! You’d think we’d just discovered gold.
Fueled by excitement (and possibly mild sun delirium), we wrapped up our matches and immediately launched ourselves into the hotel pool. Picture a bunch of overjoyed pickleball players cannonballing like kids on summer break. Pure bliss.
Sadly, our pool party was short-lived — adventure (and food) awaited. Lunch was at Nan Hang Minh Vinh, a local gem with a menu that could double as a marine biology exhibit. Snails? Check. Octopus? Absolutely. Other mysterious local delicacies? Let’s just say we were brave and leave it at that.
After lunch, most of the group went off for a sightseeing tour to explore some cultural hotspots (and probably walk off the snails). Bram and I, however, took one look at the shining sun and thought, “Nope, we’re on vacation.” So after a quick visit to a nearby Chinese temple (for good karma) — and a dress fitting, because why not — we headed straight back to the pool for some well-deserved R&R.
By evening, we’d recharged just enough to eat again (tough job, but someone’s gotta do it). Dinner was another feast — this time with a Thai twist. Think fragrant beef curry, laughter, and stories about who actually tried the snails at lunch.
Sunshine, swims, and slightly questionable seafood — a perfect day in Vietnam.
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