A Love Letter to Vietnam
One, Two, Three, Cheers: A Love Letter to Vietnam
Một, Hai, Ba, Dzô: Lá Thư Tình Gửi Việt Nam
INTRODUCTION:
In July of 2025 Stephen and I had the opportunity and pleasure to visit Vietnam. My friend and nail technician of five years asked us to attend her wedding in her country of birth, Vietnam. At first, I was leery – intimidated by the distance, language barriers, and the world’s volatility. But the invitation wasn’t just to attend a wedding. It was a chance to be welcomed into someone’s homeland, to witness love through the lens of culture. That possibility tugged at me. I expected it would be a once in a lifetime experience. And it absolutely was.
The following is a mini diary of our travels with pictures and videos. My intent is to give you a small taste of our experience and perhaps pique your interest in visiting Vietnam for yourself in the future.
7/13/25-7/14/25 Travel Day
We departed from CVG to Minneapolis for our connection to Seoul, Korea. Nothing can prepare you for an eleven-hour flight. Lesson learned, opt for first class. We were in Comfort Plus. While the seats were comfortable, Stephen’s 6’3” frame would have been far more comfortable in the full prone position the first class “cubbies” afford. Next time we will absolutely splurge for comfort. The connection from Korea to Vietnam was an additional four-hour flight. Total travel time was 23 hours! During our layovers, we were able to connect with the other four American friends traveling to the wedding.
Arriving and checking through customs in Ho Chi Ming City (Saigon) was made simple. My friend Cherry arranged for a guide to greet us and escort us through a “VIP” line with little wait time. Cherry and her fiancé Luan greeted us with bouquets of flowers and personally escorted us to our taxis for the short drive to the Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel. The hotel rooms were elegant with breathtaking views of the city. We settled in for some much-needed rest after a hot shower!
7/15/25
I woke up before Stephen and decided to pop down to see what the breakfast buffet offered. To my delight it was extraordinary. I immediately called Stephen and told him to come down and experience what I nicknamed the Disneyland Breakfast Buffet. There was every type of food imaginable, and everything was extremely fresh and delicious. My standout was the freshest croissant I have ever eaten. The French influence over Vietnam left one delight for sure.
After breakfast we departed for a sightseeing tour of Independence Palace. This was the communist palace and military headquarters in southern Vietnam. The furnishings and architecture were stunning. The weapons and war vehicles were sobering.
Saigon was the first time we experienced scooters. Think of Vespa type motor bikes. It is the primary transportation for the population. Cars are abundant but scooters far outnumber the cars. They travel in schools like fish. It’s nothing short of amazing seeing a school of scooters turn left from the right lane directly in front of moving car traffic. Stephen asked Ryan what the road rules are for the roundabouts. He replied, “Do your best!” What looked like chaos to us was so natural to them. The whole time we were in Vietnam we didn’t see one accident! Here in the States accidents are commonplace.
The other amazing thing about Vietnamese scooters is that full families ride a single bike. It’s not uncommon to see dad driving with small child sitting in front of him between his leg and another small child behind him with mom riding at the back of the seat. I also was amused at some women riding in skirts side-saddle and others rocking their heels. Then there are street vendors that carry an entire store on their backs or someone transporting chickens or goats in baskets attached to the scooter.
Before dinner, Cherry arranged for her aunt the masseuse to give Stephen and me massages in our room. She had her other cousin do lashes on some of the women in our American travel party in their room. Later that evening we headed out on a dinner cruise along the river. The buffet was a wide variety of traditional Vietnamese food. We laughed, talked and drank the night away while enjoying a scenic tour of the city from the boat. The city is quite impressive with skyscrapers, lights and a bustling atmosphere. I likened it to Vietnam’s New York City.
After dinner we took a short taxi ride to what I have affectionately nicknamed Vietnam Vegas. A street pulsing with nightlife: bars, restaurants, music, go-go dancers, panhandlers, seedy hotels, pimps and prostitutes. After walking along the strip, we settled down at some outside seating of a bar to have a drink and people watch. Jet lag began to set in and we hopped in some taxis and headed back to the hotel for another night’s rest.
7/16/25
We were able to sleep in a bit before heading out to Cu Chi Tunnels. This is where the Viet Cong dug bunkers and tunnels during the Vietnam War (which they call the American War). We were able to actually go into one of the tunnels and see how many of the traps worked to maim and kill the enemy. Seeing and experiencing all of this was more sobering than the visit to Independence Palace. Check out the pics of us and our awesome tour guide.
The most memorable experience there was speaking with our tour guide as he explained the horrors as a result of the American’s usage of Agent Orange. He explained how it poisoned the water, land and people. He gave us two moving comments. One on the fact that the American government was poisoning them and their own troops. The second comment cut through politics and history: “My government is stupid, and your government is stupid. But we are good people.” In that moment, the war wasn’t about nations – it was about humanity. About shared pain, and the hope that kindness might transcend legacy.
After dinner we hopped on a bus for a six-hour drive to Da Lat where the wedding activities would begin. Da Lat is a mountain city. The weather is a huge contrast from the sweltering heat of Saigon. Mid 70’s during the day with absolutely stunning lush greenery everywhere.
We arrived at the Dragon Dalat Hotel which was a private villa rented just for the bride’s wedding party and family. Our biggest surprise was the hard beds. This is where we learned that it is customary for Asians to prefer sleeping on hard mattresses to promote good posture. When I say hard, I don’t mean firm. I mean rock hard. Slightly softer than sleeping directly on the floor.
After breakfast we headed to visit the home where Cherry’s grandmother lived before she passed away two years ago. The family conducted a small prayer ritual and afterwards brought us a wide variety of fresh fruits. But the highlight treat was fried bananas (chuối chiên). What a delight. And Stephen, who doesn’t like actual bananas, devoured them. Seeing how much the Americans like the fried banana’s they brought us another batch to take on the short ride to Cherry’s mom’s house. Which was stunning by the way.
Stephen and I noted something about the neighborhoods. All socio-economic classes live co-mingled. Not like in the States where you have affluent neighborhoods separated from urban ones. It’s not uncommon to see a modest home right next to a lavish one. Cherry’s mom and aunts prepared us brunch and afterwards we headed out to get the bride’s maids fitted for their dresses.
After the fitting, we took a bus to the Linh Phuoc Pagoda a Buddhist temple where we saw beautiful architecture and antique ornamental furniture. We were able to ring the gong while making a wish. It’s also where we found the solo Black buddha. Stephen and I laughed at finding him amongst a sea of pale skinned buddhas. We felt obligated to take him home with us! Cherry treated us to traditional yogurt (sữa chua) before hopping back on the tour bus.
We took a short drive to Tuyen Lam Lake where we soaked in the lush green forest that surrounds the lake. Here Cherry treated us to Vietnamese pizza (bánh tráng nướng) – a rice paper grilled snack topped with egg, sausage, and scallions from a street vendor. Absolutely delicious.
Side note: are you seeing a theme here with the food. In addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Cherry and her family wouldn’t stop feeding us. The traditional snacks kept coming all day every day. Everything from fruit to sandwiches. We never went hungry the entire trip!
That night’s dinner was the Vietnamese Bar-B-Que. Very similar to Korean BBQ where the meat and veggies are grilled at the table. The food was delicious. However, I did try the grilled squid which didn’t agree with me the next day. Unfortunately, I had to opt out of the day trips planned for that next day. 
7/18/25
As mentioned, I spent the day in the hotel room. Thankfully Cherry’s brother Ryan went out to the drug store and got me some prescription strength Imodium which got me better in time for the evening activity which was the kickoff to the wedding festivities.
Stephen and I were taken back to Cherry’s mom’s house where we participated in a blessing ceremony of the bride and groom. We were seated with her elder married couples representing her American elder family. The ritual consisted of the bride and groom kneeling before each couple sharing glasses of wine and the elder couples offering their blessings and a toast to the couple. It was an honor I was not expecting. As Cherry and Luan knelt before us, sharing wine and receiving our blessings, I felt the weight of tradition and the warmth of inclusion. We weren’t just guests – we were family.
Here is where we presented our wedding gift envelope. In my research I learned the preferred wedding gift in the Vietnamese culture is cash. Before leaving the States, I prepared our gift with a personalized note from us and placed the envelope in a red fabric beautifully decorated outer envelope. The color red in the Vietnamese culture is believed to bring happiness, success, and good fortune to the newlyweds as they begin their life together.
7/19/25
The next morning, we put on our wedding attire and headed out to Cherry’s mom’s house for the next ceremony. I wore a traditional Áo Dài. As it was explained to me this ceremony represents the groom’s family asking permission of the bride’s family to marry her. In this ceremony Stephen and I were again seated with her elder couples at a small table across from the groom’s elder couples. At the head of the table stood Cherry with her uncle at her side. In marches the groom’s wedding party carrying at least ten huge baskets of everything from fruit to liquor, a wedding cake and a huge stack of cash. After the procession the bride and the groom’s family took turns praying and lighting incense in front of Cherry’s grandmother’s portrait. Then the elder couples all took turns toasting the couple.
From there we headed back to the Villa where the party began! There was so much food. I swear there must have been at least 8 courses. I didn’t even make it to the last course which was like a traditional hot pot soup. The DJ facilitated both western and Vietnamese music coupled with the Karaoke machine. The beer, wine and liquor were flowing. Apparently pouring shots directly from the bottle into guest’s mouths is a tradition. This is where I mastered the phrase used before taking a shot: “Một, hai, ba, dzô!” which translates to “One, two, three, cheers!”
Link to Cherry Vo and Luan Nguyen wedding reception Da Lat
Full wedding video Cherry Vo and Luan Nguyen in Da Lat
This is also where Stephen and I observed two peculiar Vietnamese norms. They drink their beer on ice. And they toss the cans directly on the floor. In Vietnam it’s not uncommon to see empty beer cans or bottles tossed onto the floor – but this isn’t about disrespect or messiness. It’s a cultural quirk tied to celebration, camaraderie, and informal hospitality. The beer can aftermath was spectacular to say the least.
We danced and sang all afternoon. One of Cherry’s uncles, ever the mischief-maker, pointed at me with a grin and said, “You lead!” And somehow, I ended up leading the conga line. Me – the woman who usually watches from the sidelines became the rhythm of the room. The reception was festive, and everyone fell into a deep sleep after all the alcohol, food and dancing.
7/20/25
Early morning rise to board another bus for a 4-hour ride to the groom’s family’s city of Phan Thiet. We were told to wear our traditional wedding attire again as we were heading to the groom’s celebration and wouldn’t be able to change once we arrived. The views were spectacular as we descended the mountains and headed to the beach.
Remember that jokester uncle? When the buses pulled along side the road of what looked like a row of shops and houses, I asked him what we were stopping for since it didn’t look like the hotel where Cherry showed us the groom’s reception would be. He told us we were stopping for massages. So, Stephen takes off his suit jacket and we hop out of the bus and into a small building. Turns out this wasn’t a place to get massages; this was the groom’s family’s home where we were about to participate in another ceremony. There was a quick panic, and someone was sent back to the bus to retrieve Stephen’s suit jacket!
This ceremony was similar to the one where the groom’s family marched in with gifts. Only this time the bride’s family marched her in with gifts. I’m told this symbolizes her family “giving” her over to his family. Again, Stephen and I were honored to be seated at the table of elder couples.
After the ceremony, we took another short ride to the reception venue. Some of the women, including myself, changed out of their traditional garb and into more comfortable dresses. The banquet hall was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers. The staff served another six or seven course meal and the beverages were again flowing! Một, hai, ba, dzô! was perfected that night. Again, we participated in Karaoke and dancing followed by both the bride and groom serenading one another.
Link to full video of Luan Nguyen and Cherry Vo wedding in Da Lat and han Theit
After the reception we headed to the beach where Cherry’s brother Ryan arranged a surprise proposal to his fiancé. Ryan and Mina met in Canada where they live. When she found out she was expecting, they flew to Vietnam before she gave birth to perform some of the ceremonies we mentioned before. I’m told that was done to “legitimize” their son Luca since they weren’t married. Their actual wedding is planned for next year in Vietnam. It was important to Ryan that Mina get an official proposal including the ring, so the surprise on the beach was very romantic. After the proposal we headed to our villas where thankfully the beds were western beds and much better for familiar sleeping.
Check out this sweet picture of Luca, Ryan and Mina’s son:
7/21/25
As you can see this trip kept us constantly on the go. I got to a point where I just needed to decompress. So, the next day I stayed back at the villa listening to music on the veranda playing games on my phone while Stephen and the rest of the crew went to the sand dunes. You’ll love the videos of Stephen on his dune buggy wearing a Pikachu helmet. And the picture below is Stephen with Alex one of Cherry’s sons. They formed a strong bond during the trip. Her other son Benny is pretty shy but a super sweet and smart boy.
After dinner that evening we packed up and headed out to meet our sleeper bus that would take us 11 hours to our next and final destination of Da Nang. About an hour into the ride, we stopped at a what I’ll call a covered open-air restaurant and market area. As we were eating one of the bus drivers walked up to our table and was about 2-feet from us just staring at us eating our food. I asked Cherry if he needed anything from us, and after she asked him, she told us he was so interested and happy to see us enjoying traditional Vietnamese food and he was sorry if his staring made us uncomfortable. Once I realized he wasn’t trying to be rude, I settled into his joy in seeing foreigners savor his country’s flavors. It reminded me that food isn’t just nourishment – it’s connection.
I’ve always wanted to ride in a sleeper bus or train. So this experience was pretty cool for me. I slept a little and was thankful for my Beats headphones and the gentle rocking motion of the bus. When we were getting close to Da Nang the bus stopped at several shops delivering fresh produce from Da Lat. Later we transferred from the sleeper bus to smaller buses that delivered us to the Awaken Hotel where we were able to get a full nights sleep in an elegant room with stunning views of the beach and city. 
7/22/25
We spent the morning at the pool having coffee and pastry before heading out to get our nails done at a local shop. It was interesting as Cherry explained to the shop owner and technicians what services each of us needed. Then because we are all peculiar about getting our feet done and not trusting just anyone to get in-grown toenails, Cherry, ever the caretaker, pulled up a stool and took matters into her own hands -literally. With her usual precision and affection, she gave each of us pedicures.
That night’s dinner was mind-blowing. It was a seafood restaurant where you pick out fresh seafood from their tanks. Stephen and I had two HUGE full lobsters. One of our travel companions had garlic fried crab legs that were delicious. We were stuffed and needed the short walk back to our hotel.
7/23/25
The excursion for the day was Sun World ba Na Hills an amusement park and resort in Da Nang that sits high in the mountains above the city. To access the park, you ride a cable cars that transport you high into the mountains at 4,878 feet above sea level. The views were spectacular.
I could write a book on the sites and attractions we saw at the park. We spent the full day there and took countless pictures. Be sure to check them out. Oh, and on the way back to the bus … they had fried bananas!
7/24/25
The next day was a much-needed chill day. We relaxed at the pool. I drank far too much Vietnamese coffee but didn’t regret it. We had massages and I got a coffee scrub that was relaxing and delightful. Stephen’s 90-minute massage was $37 US Dollars. Later that evening Stephen and I worked on getting champagne and held a cake in our room that Ryan ordered to celebrate Mina’s birthday the next day at breakfast.
7/25/25
At breakfast we surprised Mina with a birthday cake and champagne. After breakfast we rented scooters and did a quick tour into the mountains and then back to the beach where Stephen, Ryan and Mina parasailed. I had a “Uber” scooter driver because I was nervous about how Stephen would do with the scooter and car traffic. Once I saw he was comfortable I ditched my driver and hopped on the back of his scooter. On the way back to the hotel we spotted a Red Bull event being set up. I couldn’t resist stopping for pics with an F1 team backdrop.
That night Stephen and I peeled off of the group and went to dinner at a Western steak house we saw while out earlier. The meal was delicious: soup and salad, two Wagyu ribeye steaks, one lobster tail, three side dishes, a bottle of wine, two margaritas for Stephen and dessert. All for less than $200 US dollars!
7/26/25 Travel Home
Departure day arrived. We packed and checked our luggage at the bell hop station. Spent the day unwinding at the pool and got massages again. We had our travel clothes ready and after showers in the spa we were all set to head to the airport for a 10pm departure. We said our goodbyes to Cherry’s family and our American travel companions and then headed to the airport to begin our 24-hour trip home.
CLOSING:
The two weeks were thrilling, exhausting, educational and sentimental. It took us almost a week to recover from the jet lag. Stephen had it harder than I did because of the time difference. When it was midnight there it was noon here in the States. He would be up all hours of the night there so as to communicate with customers, contractors and suppliers during the day in the States. I don’t think either of us slept for more than 5-hours straight through at all during the whole trip.
I’m so thankful for God’s blessing to make the journey safely and return with full hearts. I’m grateful for Cherry and her entire family. Their hospitality and genuine generous spirits were exceptional. I especially bonded with Cherry’s mom who is born the same year as me. She and I have even texted since the trip. Thank goodness for the Apple Translator app.
I can’t wait to go back, and I am prayerful my friends and family here in the States will join us. Consider it!
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