My name is Niall Mackay, host of A Vietnam Podcast. If it’s the first time you’ve turned in, I am a podcast producer and founder of Seven Million Bikes Podcasts. I host this as a hobby, to show my love for travelling and Vietnam.
This blog is another adventure on the road with me, Adrie, and Biscuit! We didn’t have any plan, just “Let’s get out of Saigon”, and it happened. Just an hour away, we explore a whole new scene, which is totally different from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Escaping Saigon: Ferries, Glamping & Open Roads
What I love about living in Saigon is how easy it is to just… go. Within minutes of leaving the city, you can find yourself surrounded by rice paddies, water buffaloes, and silence — something that’s in short supply in the heart of the city.
We hadn’t planned it. Like most of our adventures in Vietnam, it started with the phrase: “We don’t do this enough.” That was all it took to pack up the bike, grab Biscuit, and head south for a quick escape from the madness of Saigon. Our destination? Timeout Glamping — a peaceful little spot we’d visited before, only about an hour away.
We took the Cat Lai ferry, one of those charmingly inefficient relics of old Saigon infrastructure. It’s just a five-minute crossing, but every time I’m on it, I feel like I’ve stepped back in time. Before they built the tunnels and bridges, this was the way to cross the river. I always imagine the days when thousands of motorbikes (and no cars) would pile onto these ferries every day, commuting across the water.
What’s mad is how fast the landscape changes. One minute we were weaving through container trucks and choking on exhaust fumes, the next we were gliding through quiet countryside. It’s that contrast—chaos to calm in under an hour — that constantly reminds me why I love this place. The city is intense, but the countryside is never far away.
Cultural insight: Food, Coffee & Karaoke
Although I have lived here for 10 years, I still have many questions about this amazing country.
“Does Anyone Cook at Home?”
As we crossed into a new province, the number of food stalls lining the road was wild. Bun rieu, cơm tấm, bún thịt nướng — signs everywhere, smells even more tempting. I tried to read every sign we passed, but gave up after about ten seconds. There was just too much food.
It made me wonder: Does anyone actually cook at home? Of course, many do — especially older Vietnamese — but it seems like the streets are always buzzing with people eating. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night. It’s constant. And honestly, is it so different from expats who live off Grab and don’t know how to boil an egg?
We ended up with grilled chicken, tofu stuffed with pork, rice, and an amazing pumpkin soup that caught us off guard. The sauce was so good, I even finished my rice — rare for me. Biscuit, for her part, went hard on the cucumbers. Win-win.
Where Has All the Phin Coffee Gone?
After breakfast, it was time for a coffee hunt — and this is where I got a bit salty. Every café we passed had the same setup: espresso machine, coffee grinder, same silver aesthetic. Not a single phin in sight.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Espresso is fine. But phin coffee is Vietnam to me. It’s strong, bitter, slow, and full of character. Watching that little filter drip used to be part of the morning ritual. These days? Replaced by steam, speed, and consistency. Maybe it’s progress. Maybe I’m just getting old and nostalgic.
Adrie, of course, was over it. “It’s delicious,” she said. And she was right. But still, espresso is just not the same.
Karaoke Confidence Is a Superpower?
Just as we sat down with our coffees, the real soundtrack of Vietnam kicked in — someone belting out karaoke from across a rice field, in broad daylight, full volume.
You’ve got to respect it. I like to think of myself as confident, but I wish I had the fearless energy of a Vietnamese karaoke singer. Doesn’t matter the place, the time, or the key — they’re going to sing their hearts out. And everyone else just… lets it happen.
Hidden Gems & Open Highways: Timeout Glamping and Beyond
We reached the glamping site, called “Timeout”.
Timeout was our base for the weekend — a quiet little glamping spot surrounded by trees, ponds, and enough mosquitoes to remind you this is the countryside. It’s dog-friendly, which was a huge win for us (and for Biscuit, who was living her best life).
While we were hanging out by the pool, it was super hot, as you’d expect in April. The sun was shining, but we could see the rainy season starting to creep over the horizon. Adrie was a bit worried about getting caught in a storm, but luckily, that big cloud passed us by. We had a beautiful afternoon of sunshine and relaxing by the pool.
Driving into the Wild: Rice Paddies, Buffaloes & an Unopened Highway
We always talk about how surprisingly close the countryside can be to Saigon, even though it feels like you can’t escape the city sometimes. It’s that cliché about Vietnam being all rice paddies and buffaloes, and it’s actually true in many places!
Anyway, with the sunset approaching, we decided it was time to head out. We wanted to find some rice paddies and, hopefully, some buffaloes. We started driving, passing some big gas canisters that I joked were for Saigon’s balloons. Adrie even mentioned a “rave in the rice paddy,” which sounded pretty cool, and I was half-looking for it! We were trying to find those serene countryside views, but the rattling tanks in front of us didn’t exactly make me feel peaceful.
It wasn’t long before we found ourselves on an unopened highway. It was just one of those random, awesome things you can only do in Vietnam. You can drive along an abandoned runway or, in this case, an unopened highway!
Golden Scorpion: 4 Injuries in Under an Hour
The next day we stopped by Golden Scorpion Water Park — and things got painful. Quickly.
Let me start by saying: I still recommend it. It’s chaotic, old-school, totally unpredictable… but fun. That said, I somehow managed to injure myself four times in less than an hour.
- First, I fell chest-first onto one of those seemingly inflatable things. Solid as concrete.
- Then, while trying to balance, I did a heroic groin-splitting move that almost took me out of commission completely.
- Third, I grabbed a rusted railing, which then ripped off in my hand, and got a gnarly scratch.
- And finally, I have a weird bruise that I still can’t explain.
Adrie, as always, just shook her head and laughed: “Classic you.” Honestly, she’s not wrong.
It’s old. It’s rusty. And yeah, it’s maybe not up to international water park safety standards… but it has character. Just maybe wear some extra padding if you go.
Paddleboards, Sugarcane & The Road Home
We wrapped up the trip with a visit to Chi-Bu Resort — and it was the perfect place to decompress. I’d smashed my rib earlier at Golden Scorpion, so while Adrie headed out on a stand-up paddleboard (her absolute favorite thing), I stayed behind and floated in the water like a wounded sea otter.
The staff at Chi-Bu were lovely. Super helpful, even offering us a waterproof case for our phones. And lunch? Incredible. Fried tofu with chili and lemongrass — one of those simple but perfect meals you never forget. Highly recommend it if you’re in the area, even just for lunch and a swim.
This trip had everything: buffaloes, bruises, boat ramps, karaoke, rice paddies, paddleboards, glamping, sugarcane juice, and more dogs than we could count. It reminded me why I love Vietnam — not just the big cities and famous beaches, but the little corners no one talks about, where you can still find something completely unexpected.
The country is changing quickly, for better and for worse. But if you take the time to get off the main road — or onto the ones that haven’t opened yet — there’s still so much magic to discover.
Conclusion
Vietnam is changing fast. Every time I revisit a place, something’s different — a new bridge, a new resort, a coffee shop trading in its phin filter for an espresso machine. But the sense of adventure is still alive, especially if you’re willing to explore without a plan.
So if you’re living here or just visiting, take the trip. Hop on the bike, pick a direction, and see what you find. The unopened roads might be the best ones.
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