Xin chao!: Activities you should try in Vietnam

1/ Riding / Sitting in a floating basket boat

You can see a lot of basket boats from South - Central coast to Central Vietnam. Local fishermen use them to move from the sea-shore to the large boats standing at sea. They are also used to transport seafood.

Riding / Sitting in a floating basket at sea surely will give you a great experience in Vietnam. Your heart is beating fast when you try your best to keep the basket boat balance.

The best time to practise riding a basket boat is in the morning when the sea is calmest.

As a traveller, you can learn riding basket boat at Mui Ne, Cu Lao Cau island of Binh Thuan province, Nha Trang and especially in Hoi An

We took basket boat from Phuoc The village to the fishing boat stading at sea (then going to Cu Lao Cau island of Binh Thuan province)

Basket boats used to transport seafood in fishing village of Mui Ne

Pics: Vietnamguidebook

2/ Riding ostrich
You can use services of Prenn waterfall area (Dalat city) and Hoa Lan island (Nha Trang city)

Riding ostrich in Prenn waterfall

Pic: Vietnamguidebook

3/ Riding elephant in Central Highland

Most tourist "enjoy" riding elephant in Lak village and Buon Don village. You can ride elephant in Prenn waterfall area too (Dalat city)

Pic: Vietnamguidebook

4/ Crocodile fishing

Try it at Can Gio monkey island (Ho Chi Minh city)

Pics: Vietnamguidebook

5/ Work as a farmer in Tra Que village, Hoi An town

Pics: Vietnamguidebook

6/ Catching fish with bare hands or with basket in Mekong delta

Some companies in Saigon backpacker area, for example TheSinhTourist, can arrange a 1-day trip to Mekong delta where all of you will dress like farmers and jump into a narrow creek with low water to catch fish with backet/fish-pot.

Catched fishes are grilled by straw and you will enjoy the "product" right in the leafy garden with your friends.

Note: You can contact me. I have some friends in Mekong delta who can organise a good tour for you.

Pics: vietnamguidebook

Ca loc nuong trui (Grilled mudfish by straw. Eat with rice noodle, vegetable, rice paper and tamarind sauce)

Pics: vietnamguidebook

7/ Rowing boat in Mekong delta

Rowing boat along zigzag water coconut creeks of Ben Tre province

Pics: Vietnamguidebook

Rowing boat in Tra Su cajuput forest of An Giang province

Video: Vietnamguidebook

8/ Trekking in Northwest and Northeast Vietnam

Pics: www.vacne.org.vn

Pics: Vncreatures

9/ Motorcycling in Ha Giang karst plateau global geopark

Pics: Vietnamguidebook

10/ Diving

I met a person who works for Rainbow Divers. According to him, Con Dao island is the best place in Vietnam to enjoy diving.

Other destinations for divers: Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hoi An...

11/ Learn how to peel off coconut husk fast
The local men in Ben Tre province can peel off 1,500 coconuts in one day. How amazing it is! Take a look at the below video.

12/ Bicycling in Mekong delta, especially on An Binh island and Tan Phong island of Vinh Long province

Pics: Vietnamguidebook

13/ Shuttlecock sport (Video of TuoiTreNews)

Da cau kieng or shuttlecock sport was first introduced to Vietnam by several overseas Vietnamese who lived in Cambodia in 1970s. After that, local people popularized it and developed kicking...

Want to watch/join: Everyday, especially in late afternoon, there are a lot of young Saigonese playing shuttlecock sport in 23/9 park (Saigon backpacker area)

http://tuoitrenews.vn/video/detail-video/9603

14/ Learn how to smile in Ha Noi capital city ( Smile Yoga)

Stay at Ha Noi old quarter? Would like to join? Then come to Hoan Kiem lake in the morning (Ly Thai To king flower garden)