Honeymooning in Vietnam, by Taggie Page

When thinking about her perfect honeymoon destination, Taggie decided that she didn’t want a typical beach holiday. After doing some research, and asking colleagues at Tropical Sky HQ their recommendations, Vietnam came up top, with plenty of different places to visit to keep the newly-weds busy.

Although lusting after adventure, one thing we did want was a few relaxing days at a fabulous resort, where we could unwind and recharge after the wedding. We chose the luxury Fusion Maia Resort in Da Nang, which fitted with our travel plans and looked amazing, had great reviews and an all-inclusive spa, with two treatments per day included.

The Fusion Maia didn’t disappoint, the service was impeccable, from the moment we arrived we were handed a refreshing drink and cold flannel, booked in for a couples massage at 8pm and quickly whisked away to settle into our home for the next 5 nights, a beautiful villa with our own private pool. The resort offers breakfast anytime, anywhere, so if you don’t fancy waking up early for breakfast in their restaurant and enjoying the buffet before 10.30, you can settle down to breakfast in bed, on the beach, by your private pool, or in the main poolside restaurant anytime later in the day.

We enjoyed two meals at the resorts main restaurant on our first two evenings, which served traditional local Vietnamese dishes and fresh creations. They also held a Vietnamese BBQ one night, which served all types of meat and seafood with an array of noodle and rice accompaniments. All the food was delicious, and the fresh smoothies served by the pool were heavenly.

The resort's facilities were wonderful, from our own private pool, to the main pool which sits right in front of the pristine white beach, and of course the luxury spa. The spa itself is an oasis of calm. When you arrive you are greeted by the welcoming staff, offered a drink and a cold flannel. You are then introduced to your therapist and led to one of their quiet and relaxing treatment rooms. There is a separate spa pool, that is secluded amongst the trees and is the perfect place to have just a little more ‘me’ time before or after a treatment.

The bustling town of Hoi An is just half an hour away from the resort, and is easy to get to with the complimentary shuttle service, which they run throughout the day and evening. We spent most of our mornings relaxing in the sunshine by the pool and enjoying the spa at the resort, then for our last few evenings we would head to Hoi An to explore the historic, beautiful town, which is full of local food, tailors and boutique shops. Hoi An really comes alive at night, we relaxed and enjoyed cocktails at the Fusion Café and tucked into traditional local food. I would highly recommend The Secret Garden restaurant, which is tucked away down the alley next to 60 Le Loi, its secluded garden setting is perfect for a romantic meal and the food was some of the best we ate while in Vietnam.

After what was a dreamy five days at this stunning resort, we headed North up to Halong Bay where we boarded our overnight cruise. This is a must when visiting Vietnam and is such a brilliant way to witness the beauty of the limestone islands in Halong Bay. All cruise itineraries differ but ours included a welcome lunch, kayaking to beautiful lagoons, a five-course dinner, breakfast, and a trip to the Surprise Cave, the most magnificent cave in the bay. Most cruise itineraries also include transfers to and from Hanoi.

Visiting a number of different places in Vietnam really made our honeymoon the adventure we were hoping for and I would highly recommend exploring a variety of different places as they are all so diverse. Experiencing the delights of Ho Chi Minh City in the south at the start of our trip and Hanoi in the North to end our holiday was a great way to see the contrasting cities and take in the culture of this captivating country. Tropical Sky’s Essential Vietnam Tour offers a fascinating introduction to Vietnam on a guided journey to many of the country’s destinations we experienced on our honeymoon.

On our Vietnam adventure, my favourite places were Hoi An, Halong Bay and Hanoi. Discovering the history of Hanoi and wandering through the old quarter is a super way to spend the day, and if you ever find yourself in the city, you must eat at Quan An Ngon. This Vietnamese eatery serves traditional dishes that are all made by talented local chefs in open outside kitchens, which border the seating area, we went back for a second time as the atmosphere and food were so good.