A Family Trip to Vietnam (and a Wedding We’ll Never Forget)

We just got back from a trip to Vietnam, and while I am still catching up on sleep because the time change was 11 hours, I wanted to share a few highlights. The main reason for our trip was to celebrate my brother Walt and his bride, Nghĩa. (pronounced Nee-ah!)

We left at 4:15 PM with my parents picking us up and all seven of us heading to the airport in Chicago. The baggage line was long, TSA was surprisingly swift, and before we knew it we were on a sixteen hour & then three hour flight across the world. 

The flight itself was actually great. The service on EVA Air felt like something out of a movie. The attendants were kind and attentive, and the food kept coming. All three boys did incredibly well, which still feels like a small miracle.

First Stop Hanoi

We landed in Hanoi and were picked up by Walt, Nghĩa, and her parents. We stayed at the Oriental Jade Hotel and spent our first day walking the city. We grabbed ice cream, fresh fruit, and just took it all in.

One of the first things we noticed was how active the city is. People gather in the mornings and evenings to do group workouts or dance in the streets. It is simply part of daily life.

We did learn quickly that what looked like fog was actually pollution. By the end of our time in Hanoi, most of us had a bit of a cough and irritated eyes, but we kept going and made the most of it. 

Food, Getting Lost, and Figuring It Out

The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel and tried Vietnamese coffee. It is strong, a little bitter, and made with sweetened condensed milk.

We headed out to explore again and got a little turned around, but a kind stranger helped point us back in the right direction. From that point on, Blake took his job as navigator very seriously and paid close attention to landmarks.

Before heading to Hải Phòng, we stopped for a pottery class. I was not sure about it at first, but it ended up being a fun experience and meant a lot to Nghĩa’s family.

Hải Phòng and Family Time

Hải Phòng is Nghĩa’s hometown, and this is where we really got to experience Vietnam with her family.

We stayed at the Pullman Hotel, which was easily the fanciest hotel I have ever stayed in, but only cost us $100 USD a night. We went out to meals with her family and spent time exploring local markets and seafood spots. Everything is incredibly fresh. People shop daily for food.

One night we had a large seafood dinner with lobster and fish. I learned I still prefer lobster with butter, they use other sauces, but I also discovered deep fried corn kernels that I will absolutely try to make at home. 

Another highlight was street food with Nghĩa’s sister and her boyfriend, Trey. (Wildly both sisters have found themselves Americans that are both named Walter and they are both Walt III’s) We sat at small tables, tossed scraps on the ground for alley cats, and had some of the best tofu I have ever eaten.

This is how the electrical looks in Vietnam.

Spa Day and Shopping

The day before the wedding, the ladies went to a spa to celebrate Nghĩa. It included soaks, different sauna rooms, a 70 minute massage, and lunch after for only $26 USD.

We also rented dresses for the wedding for about twenty dollars, which was such a fun and easy process. Well for me, at 4 feet 10 inches I had so many options to choose from. My mom and sister had a hard time finding something to fit and I explained that’s what it’s like for me in the US with clothes always being way to big. The boys, meanwhile, had their eyes on toys but had to wait until after the wedding.

Wedding Day

The wedding day started early with hair and makeup at six in the morning, and then everything began moving swiftly.

There were traditions, gift presentations, and a lot happening at once. The ceremony took place at Nghĩa’s parents’ home and included an emcee and translator, which made everything take a bit longer but was interesting to experience.

It was very hot. Their family handled it with ease, and we did our best to keep up.

After the ceremony, we had a large lunch, and later we heard Walt play piano for his bride at a local coffee shop. That was a really special moment.

Kids Being Kids

One of my favorite parts of the trip was watching the kids just be kids.

Dax saw a group playing soccer in a park and asked to join. They welcomed him right in and even let Parks play goalie. And Nghĩa’s nephew, Minh, worked on his English to be a better communicator when the boys were there. Even with a language barrier, they figured it out without any trouble and had so much fun together! I hope they keep in touch - they added each other on Roblox. (Online gaming our youth play.)

Ruby Nghia’s niece join us in every family photo. She called Blake “older brother” Ba-Lake in Vietnamese.

Ha Long Bay

We did a twenty four hour cruise in Ha Long Bay, and it was beautiful.

We explored caves, kayaked, and took a bamboo boat through quiet areas where we saw monkeys. The scenery is hard to describe and something you really have to see in person.

A Few Travel Lessons

Like any trip, there were a few hiccups.

One hotel did not match the photos, which led to a quick change of plans and a bit of stress. It was a good reminder that I need to research thoroughly and that travel does not always go exactly as planned. However it ended up all working out as we then got to go back to Hanoi to a very touristy spot where you watch th train pass within arms length.

We also learned that Google Maps works offline if you start directions while on WiFi. You do not need as many clothes as you think. Packing and unpacking at multiple stops adds up quickly. Vietnam is not the easiest place for strollers or uneven walking.

Even with those small challenges, everything worked out.

I can’t belive how many places we went that had the Rockford Squire ;)

Final Thoughts

Vietnam is a beautiful country filled with energy, great food, and incredibly kind people. When I first got there, I thought, how do these people live like this, but by the end I had a wonderful respect for the culture and realized it’s just different than here. (But I never had more appreciation for zoning ordinances and why we do have a need for environmental regulations. Oh man, the smog there was so heartbreaking.)

The best part of the trip was getting to celebrate Walt and Nghĩa and spend time with both of our families together.

It was a long way to go, but absolutely worth it. While it wasn’t a relaxing vacation, it will surely be a core memory for my family that we will cherish forever. 

What’d you do for spring break? I’d love to hear from you.