Karen Dieu’s Vietnam Trip: Sharing Home With Friends, From Hanoi to Hoi An

Karen Dieu’s Vietnam trip was really about coming home — and bringing her friends along to see the country through her eyes. Karen is Vietnamese but has lived in the United States for many years, and last December she returned with a group of friends to show them more than the famous sights: the daily life, the food, and the everyday atmosphere she grew up with.

Months of messages before we ever met

Karen and I started talking several months before the trip. The time difference between Vietnam and the U.S. is about 12 hours, so our chats were always a little funny — when I was wrapping up my workday, she was just starting her morning. I’d reply late at night, she’d reply early in hers, and after a while it simply became part of our daily rhythm.

She confirmed the tour as early as July. Karen wanted everything prepared carefully so the group could travel comfortably, without anyone worrying about the arrangements. So we worked through it slowly together — hotels, activities, pacing, and the small personal preferences of different people in the group. Planning for several months like that meant I felt like I already knew them before we ever met in person.

It’s always different when guests become real people instead of names in emails.

Meeting everyone in Hanoi

Then December came, and I finally met everyone at their hotel in Hanoi. The group was friendly and easy-going from the first hello. Even though some of them were visiting Vietnam for the first time, they weren’t the type to stick to a fixed schedule. They liked to walk around, look down small streets, try food they spotted along the way, and ask questions about local life.

That curiosity set the tone for the whole trip. Karen knew the places that would mean something to her friends, and she let them discover the rest at their own pace.

From the busy north to the calm of Hoi An

Their journey started in Hanoi and continued through Northern Vietnam before ending in Hoi An. They loved the contrast between places — the busy streets of Hanoi, the quieter scenery outside the city, and the warm, relaxed feeling of Hoi An. Some days they followed the itinerary, other days they explored on their own, and that balance worked beautifully for them.

Throughout the trip, Karen often sent me photos and short messages. Not problems — just updates. Sometimes it was a photo of the group enjoying a massage at the hotel, or soaking their feet on the train. Those little moments told me they were genuinely comfortable and taking their time, rather than rushing from one attraction to the next.

Tips from Karen’s trip

Comfort tip: on a multi-stop trip like Karen’s, space out the long travel days with an easy afternoon — a foot soak on the train or a slow garden lunch does wonders for a group’s energy.

Want a trip like Karen’s?

Like the look of Karen’s journey from the capital down to the lantern streets? The closest route we run is our Best of Vietnam 10-day tour, which links Hanoi and the north through to Hoi An — and I’d happily tailor the same shape to suit your group. If you’d rather keep it shorter and northern, there’s also our 7-day Overlook Vietnam route. Just message me, Ivy, and we’ll start planning. You can also browse more stories and ideas from Hanoi and Hoi An.

Over to you: have you already wandered the lantern streets of Hoi An, or shared Vietnam with friends from overseas? I’d love to hear how you found it — tell me in the comments below. Thank you!

Quick FAQ from Karen’s trip

If a trip like Karen’s speaks to you — sharing Vietnam with the people you care about, at a pace that feels human — get in touch with My Viva Tour and we’ll help you plan it.