Social media influencers impressed with Vietnam's landscapes, tourism services

Known as the "travel couple" on social media, Thomas and Sam, both 27, have gone viral thanks to their travel videos. They have traveled to 19 countries around the world.

Talking about why they chose Vietnam for their January trip, Thomas said, "When we thought of a country in Southeast Asia, we thought about Vietnam as the country that has many breathtaking landscapes and unique cultures."

During a month in Vietnam, the couple visited Hanoi, Ha Giang, Ha Long, Ninh Binh, Hoi An, Phu Yen and Ho Chi Minh City. They stayed three to five days in each place to experience both regular and luxury services.

They especially love the beaches and fresh seafood.

Fishing boats in Phu Yen Province. Photo by Thomas and Sam

The couple toured Vietnam by different transport means, such as motorbikes, sleeping buses, trains, limousine coaches, taxi cabs, and airplanes. Among them, Thomas and Sam felt uncomfortable with the sleeping buses as staff could not speak English and the buses were not well equipped. The couple said they prefer to pay a higher fare to enjoy better services.

They wished they had more time in Ha Giang. In the mountainous province, Thomas and Sam drove on rock-covered passes, joined a local funeral by chance, tried buckwheat wine and local pork, and enjoyed ethnic people playing folk music with local instruments. "Those are all unforgettable experiences," said Sam.

The couple loved giant limestone mountains of different sizes and shapes in Ha Long Bay, ancient sites in Ninh Binh and Hoi An, where they enjoyed their most romantic Vietnamese experience of dropping paper lanterns on the Hoai River at night.

Sam in Hoi An in January 2023. Photo by Thomas and Sam

In Hanoi, they were impressed by street vendors, and coffee shops serving "weird" drinks like egg coffee, coconut coffee, and a wide range of street food.

Talking about services, resorts in Tam Coc, Ninh Binh Province and at the Song Cau coral reef in the central coastal province of Phu Yen surprised them the most.

Thomas said, "I did not think Southeast Asia had wonderful resorts with beautiful scenery and caring services like those in Europe and America."

The resort in Tam Coc made Thomas feel like he was at his home as it had only five rooms and was covered with plants and lakes, looking like a small peaceful village.

Thomas remembered watching fishing boats and walking along the beach at sunrise at the Phu Yen resort, which is built with bamboo walls and thatched roofs. "We felt like we were in a place separate from the rest of Vietnam," he said. "This was a great soul healing that boosted the energy for both of us."

Thomas and Sam at a resort in Phu Yen Province, January 2023. Photo by Thomas and Sam

Both Thomas and Sam thought that nature and cultural diversity have the potential to further develop resorts in Vietnam. They should be environmentally friendly and in local style, use local natural materials, and be well -equipped with modern amenities, such as smart rooms allowing tourists to control everything by smartphone, a four-season swimming pool, mineral bath, etc. to attract foreign tourists.

"Vietnam is one of the most interesting and diverse countries we have traveled to," Sam said.