1.) The constant horning from vehicles on the road. At first this unending assault on my ears was something I did not in the least appreciate. After a while though, it sort of grew on me and it felt like something was wrong if more than a few seconds went by without me hearing a car or motorbike horn.

Reasons people in Vietnam horn at each other:

• To say hello to their friends
• To let you know that they’re behind you
• To let you know that they’re going to be driving infront of you
• To let you know that they’re going to be driving behind you
• To let everyone know that they’re having a particularly lovely day
• Just for the fuck of it

2.) How kind, friendly and helpful the Vietnamese people are. I can’t tell you the number of times I was given unsolicited help by a local with them having no expectation of any sort of reward from me.

3.) The stunning natural wonders that Vietnam has been blessed with. In all my years of travelling, Halong Bay is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

4.) The food. These people must do some crazy black magic to make the beef here taste so good. The Vietnamese pizza I had in Hoi An is among the 10 best things I’ve ever eaten, even though the only thing it had in common with my beloved western pizza is cheese.

5.) How cheap it is. A litre of alcohol for 20 US cents is pretty good in my book!

6.) Sleeper trains. You can ride these in other countries but since I’ve never been on one before I’m putting it in. It condensed the Vietnamese experience into a low ceilinged, narrow walled metal can. Being in what felt like a bustling little town, surrounded by the rich vibrancy and endless vitality of the Vietnamese people, all the while speeding along poorly maintained half century old railway tracks was quite the experience!

7.) How easy it is to meet people despite a massive language barrier. Don’t get me wrong, people were very friendly and welcoming in some of the other Asian countries I visited as well but I don’t know what it is about this place that makes it so easy to drink with the locals.