Get an Easy Rider Bike Tour in Dalat Vietnam

 

We actually travelled past Dalat, but decided after talking to someone else travelling to go back and it was the best decision we could have made. Dalat is different from any of Vietnam that we had seen before and is also known as ‘Little Paris’. We decided to get a easy rider tour with Mr Young (NHON) Tel. 0913. 737 001 youngtours@hotmail.com.

Mr Young’s tour really was worth the $25 they took us off the beaten track to visit some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Mr Young and his colleague took us on the back of their motorbikes to see Dalat. At first I was worried I would fall off but it was actually absolutely fine and you are given helmets. We went to see how rice noodles were made, to passion fruit farms, to see how silk is made from Silk Worm to gorgeous scarf; see how coffee is made and get the chance to try different types including Weasel Sour Coffee (Which in effect is Weasel Poo). This is the most premium coffee in Vietnam.

They also take you to the Crazy House which is architectural genius. With the ladders going over the roof which you can climb and visit secret little rooms. Crazy House is health and safety gone mad but such an awesome place.

On the tour we were taken to a little restaurant which appeared to be in someones living room where we had rice noodles which only cost 66p. Elephant Waterfalls was part of the tour which makes Mui Ne’s Fairy Springs look pathetic there is also a chance to climb underneath the waterfall behind the waterfall. Right next to elephant waterfalls is a Buddhist Temple and gardens which we visited. We also went to see where all the flowers grow.

Regression @ Fire London Nightclub

Experience

We attended Regression’s 3rd birthday party at Fire on the 20th March 2015 and the night was so much fun and you could tell a lot of effort had gone into the night however we were expecting a little more. We got to the club for 11pm and left at 6am so had 7 hours of nightclub/toys r us experience which was epic. The event is to bring play to the standard club night experience which is a really unique and interesting concept. I have never seen this approach before so was eager to see what was being offered but aspects of the night that were advertised either didn’t happen or were so difficult to find  we never got to experience them. The music was really good with a house/ techno room, drum and bass room and hip hop and garage room the music really got you dancing but be careful how crazy your dancing is because the bouncers unfortunately are the most unnecessarily power tripped bouncers I have ever come across which really let the club down. The entertainment included a photo booth which was really good fun and meant that you had something to take home, this was also free which made a really cool special touch. The photo booth had masks you could wear and have a play around with. The event was really busy but still had a great atmosphere. I’d like to say they were an ethical brand having an inflatable petting zoo as oppose to real animals but despite asking pretty much everyone in the club if they knew where it was nobody seemed to know, so I’m not sure it was ever there. The event advertised being greeted by dwarfs to give directions so you wouldn’t get lost, unfortunately I only saw one dwarf the whole duration of the night so needless to say I was pretty lost. I didn’t see any fire acts or magicians as advertised. We also didn’t get to play the pass the parcel in the queue to make the time pass which I was really looking forward to. I didn’t find the ball pit room, the balloon modellers, the bubble wrap therapy, the giant connect four, the popcorn or candyfloss or the retro video game room which is gutting. I found the bouncy castle but it was really tiny and there was a pretty big queue. We had a game of giant jenga outside which was great because I won, the Lego lounge was a cool place to chill out although the Lego seemed to be the small pieces that wouldn’t really build anything and the face painters were packing up by the time I had actually found them but the best thing ever was the space hoppers.

Cost

We bought our tickets on resident advisor and the first release tickets for the event cost a tiny £5 which gradually increased to around £20. We paid £17.50 + booking fee for the event and it was well worth every penny.

Service

The staff behind the bar were smiling and happy and were efficient at making drinks with great customer service and were happy to give free water to customers. The bathrooms were kept to a reasonable standard which is great for this kind of club night. There are loads of seating areas outside and inside to chill out with the added luxury of being able to play with Lego. The bouncers attitude was horrific, security approached me whilst dancing at the front because apparently another bouncer had claimed I was too drunk, and told me to go outside for fresh air which I was happy to do despite being one of the most sober I had ever been in a club,  but I was a little concerned that I was taken out without my friends who I  had gone to the club with and taken into a dark area away from everyone else which actually terrified me because little did they realise that I wasn’t drunk at all and would remember everything they were saying/ doing which is disgraceful. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t on drugs like everyone else in the room, maybe I was the odd one out, but the problem was I had no phone so was left in a club in London by myself and after asking the security for help all I got was a sarcastic remark, I wouldn’t speak to my worst enemy the way these people were talking to me. Fire was extremely easy to communicate with via email and I got a response to my email within the hour however when emailing Mouch the promoter of Regression I did not get a reply. I know they are busy but it would have been nice to have got a response because as a result I missed some cool aspects of the night.

Overall Rating 3.6/ 5

I would visit this club night again but I’m not sure it would be on the top of my recommendations list due to my bad experience with the security. My favourite part of the night was dancing to music with some amazing people, bouncing on space hoppers and enjoying a new concept but unfortunately the night was tarnished by the attitude of the clubs bouncers.

Hold a snake – Mekong Delta

Face your fears in the Mekong Delta by putting a snake around your neck, but beware they are very heavy.

Go Honey Tea Tasting in Mekong Delta

Try Mekong Delta’s Honey Tea, the honey is made from bees they keep.

This tea has loads of health benefits including..

1) Aiding Weight Loss

2) Boosting Immune System

3) Anti Bacterial Treatment

4) Boosts your energy

5) Aids Digestion

and on top of all of these health benefits it actually tastes really good.

Go on a Boat Trip & Drink Coconut Water

Take a boat trip and drink Mekong Delta’s Coconut Waters.

Go on a horse and carriage ride – Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta has become very touristy but nonetheless is a great place to visit, there is a horse and carriage ride to take guests on a little tour which is really good fun. I do feel for the horses working in the sun mind.

Go to Ben Thanh Market

If you forget something on your travels get down to Ben Thanh market to get anything you need, from souvenier gifts, suitcases, Raybans, Mulberry bags, beautiful clothing (obviously it is pretty unlikely anything is genuine brands) however your paying well under the odds and it doesn’t matter if it gets lost. Don’t forget to haggle in the markets. Try and get them down to half their asking offer, and if they say no just walk away because chances are someone round the corner is selling the exact same thing.

Here is my ‘Raybans’ I picked up for about £1 from Ben Thanh Market.

Go to the War Remnants Museum

Make sure you visit the War Remnants Museum to understand the history of the Vietnamese war, its a dark place to be but will help you understand the Vietnamese culture further and understand the horrors of what the people had to go through.

The museum has military equipment, helicopters, fighter jets, unexploded bombs, ‘tiger cages’ where the South Vietnamese government kept political prisoners, photography which is extremely graphic covering effects of Agent Orange, massacres, chemical sprays, bomb damage, preserved human fetuses which were deformed to exposure to Agent Orange.

This museum is not for the faint hearted but I think it is important everyone shows respect to the Vietnamese Culture and visits the musuem.

Go to School/ College/ University in another Country

I studied business in one of Ho Chi Minh’s universities and it was interesting to see how different the lectures are; If you can; try and see if you can arrange to go to a university or school to experience it yourself.

Go to Quan Chay (Vegan Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City)

One of my favourite restaurants in Vietnam was a Vegan Restaurant; which is strange as I can’t say I have ever wanted to eat vegan food but we went to a little restaurant called Quan Chay Halo and had the most beautiful pineapple fried rice. The service was amazing, the presentation and taste of the food was amazing. The restaurant its self is basic but everything else is really good, the locals love this place.