Semester at Sea Trip Log: Vietnam and Malaysia

Hello from the middle of the ocean!! I had a slight bump in the road after Malaysia because I got the flu and had to be quarantined for 5 days (I’ll dive into that a bit more later), but I am back and better than ever, excited to write this post for you guys. With each of the stops that I go to on Semester at Sea (SAS) I want to share an in-depth itinerary of what I did. I’ll tell you what I recommend and what I wasn’t a fan of, and overall my experiences and reflections. 

Since the boat embarked from Thailand, Vietnam was our first actual port that the ship would be docking at. The first sea stretch from Bangkok, Thailand to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam was full of excitement and new beginnings. I went to class, tanned all day long, had the best time making new friends, etc. We had a drink night on this stretch which ended in a DJ party on the top deck, singing and dancing our hearts away! On SAS you can’t drink freely (unfortunately/fortunately), but there are nights when we are allowed to drink. I kind of love this because then you get to meet people and experience who they are in their true, sober form. It then makes drink nights, fancy dinners (on the boat where we also can have drinks), and getting into port even more special. 

Vietnam: 

Woot woot! First port! I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on January 12th and was more than ready to get off the ship and explore. I had a field program planned for the 3rd day of Vietnam until the 2nd to last day. Field programs are trips or activities in port that are planned by SAS. You can sign up for as many or as little as you want. If you don’t do a field program you can plan things yourself so it all just depends on what you’re feeling. I booked a bunch of them throughout the voyage because the itineraries sounded amazing and it was way less stress to book them ahead of time than try to figure plans with limited wifi on the ship. Two of my friends did however book a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City for the length of the stay and I stayed with them for one night. Unfortunately the limited wifi did them very dirty when planning this hotel because it ended up being far away from everything and super gross. So, we went into fixing mode, got a refund, and found a different, cleaner, and more convenient hotel. In the midst of this mix up (which was in reality a great lesson to learn) our tummies were grumbling and hanger was on the rise. Of course, they looked to me to find the best restaurant because if there is one thing about me it’s that I will find the best food, bars, and hotels wherever I go (shoutout mom and dad). I was craving an authentic banh mi sandwich so I did my research and we ended up at the restaurant Banh Mi Me In which was truly so delicious. So many banh mi choices for every flavor profile you could imagine. The crunchy peanuts, spicy peppers, cilantro on top made each bite pack a punch of flavorful incredibleness. I am not going to sugar coat it, the hotel mix up did cause quite a ruckus. Here is what happened… we drove 30 minutes to the first hotel and found it disgusting and far away, to make a game plan we went to lunch 30 minutes away and found a hotel. We then had to drive back to the first hotel to get our luggage (30 minutes) to then drive to the new hotel (30 minutes). Well if things couldn’t get more complicated, there are a bunch of hotels with the same name so we went to the wrong one. We then walked through the city rolling our suitcases along the stone ground to the correct hotel. They were giving us a hard time about visas because we came via ship, but in the end we figured everything out… and needed a drink. 

We walked the streets as the sun went down and my roomie and bestie Melia had been dying to go get a pair of Onitsuka Tigers so we strolled along, got her shoes, went to Pandora so she could get her Vietnam charm, and found a Michelin star dinner. There are two restaurants connected it is Nhau Chau and Anan. I believe that Anan is the rooftop part which is where we went. The portions were small, but everything was great especially my coconut ice cream with fish sauce (don’t knock it til you try it). We had an early night because we were exhausted from all the moving around and we had an exhilarating full day ahead of us the next day. 

My number one thing I wanted to do while in Vietnam was visit the War Remnants Museum for the Vietnam War. I am a history minor so museums really get me going lol. I booked my friends and I a tour that included a visit to that museum, going to the oldest most famous post office in Vietnam, a cathedral (which was unfortunately under restoration), lunch, and the tunnels used in the war. The whole day was great. Although by the end we were ready to be done because it was a 12-hour day, I learned so much about the war I never knew before (I had no idea the French and their colonialism in Vietnam played such a pivotal role!). The artwork and sculptures in the museum were extremely powerful and well put together. I am taking an art history class so it was awesome to apply what we have been learning to what I was seeing firsthand. We then bought the cutest post cards at the post office. I have been trying to buy postcards in most places (which I am kind of slacking on) so that I can make a Semester at Sea collage. After a delicious lunch we visited a place where those affected by Agent Orange made art and showed us how they went about doing it. We ended the tour with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels which were magnificent because of how well made and intricate they were. The only kicker was of course we finished up and it was rush hour so we were stuck in traffic for 2-3 hours and were delusional and starved by the time we made it back. In fact, I was looking up places to eat and as our tour guide was driving us those 3 hours home I saw the restaurant I was looking for in the corner of my eye. I immediately asked if we could stop right there, and we ran into this restaurant to fill our bellies. We started off with a spring roll appetizer and Vietnamese coffee (I know weird at dinner, but let me tell you Vietnamese coffee is so insanely delicious there is no time constraints). There are many variations of their coffee and the 3 most famous are coffee with condensed milk, coconut coffee, and egg coffee. Let me tell you they are all actually out of this world amazing. Anywho, to go with our coffee and spring rolls we got our main meal and Tiger beer which I have been loving. 

The next morning I left my friends and started my field program journey. One of the reasons I love these field programs is because it allows me to meet all sorts of new people and get to know them while traveling. We all took a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam and started with a tour of the museum of Ethnology. We went to a few different museums throughout our time in Hanoi, and as we have established I love a museum, but I have to say I wouldn’t recommend these museums. I am not trying to be a hater in anyway, but they just felt a bit empty and/or pointless. The museum of ethnology was the best of the ones that I went to, but I still wasn’t amazed. What was 10000% worth it was visiting Ho Chi Minh’s complex and seeing Hanoi’s Old Quarter. If I were to do it again I would skip the museums and dedicate more time to those places. After the Old Quarter, we just had dinner at the hotel because we were starving, of course I would have ideally gone somewhere else, but all was well. Me and a couple new friends decided to head to a rooftop bar which was super fun. We had to wake up bright and early to drive to Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay is unmissable in my open. We stayed on a junk boat which I would completely recommend and sailed all around the bay. The food, service, and views on the junk boat were some of the best. We had a cooking competition and tried out squid fishing the first night. Th next morning we got off the boat to take a beautiful bike tour and stumbled upon a shop where we learned about the island and I bought pearl earrings from the pearls found in Ha Long Bay! Before getting back on the junk boat to enjoy the rest of our evening, my friends and I found silly banana outfits and just had to get them. 

Our last morning was spent kayaking through the most magical bay. I could have spent hours just observing the sun coming up over the large rock structures. Although the travel day to get back to the boat was full of different vehicles and multiple hours long, the views and experiences were all worth it. I met back up with my fabulous roomie upon arrival for one of our best Vietnamese meals at the restaurant Bep Me In. We ordered beers and traditional dishes with one of our favorites being the juicy beef skewers with rice noodles. So fresh and yummy. I took to my phone and did a little more research because like I said, there is nothing I love more than finding the best restaurants, bars, and hotels and the night was still young. I am obsessed with speakeasies. I love how the vibe is dark and mystical, the drinks are typically delicious, and it is a great place to chat and have fun, but not a club vibe. The one I found was called Votri and I have to say, including all of the bars I have traveled to all over the world, this is one of my all time favorites. A sneaky, nonchalant entrance guides to a room covered wall to wall with mirrors and blue lights. One wall has a book shelf that you open to bring you into the speakeasy which is a gorgeous modern, simplistic, and geometric look. Now for my favorite part: no menu! The bartenders ask you a few simple questions and concoct the best drink you’ve ever had. As you continue through the night and keep talking with the bartenders they get to know you and alter your drink to your personality. They did an awesome job making drinks that we loved and we had a blast talking with one another and with the bartender. As we left the bar happy and content, feeling the bartenders creativity flowing through our veins, we ran into a few SAS girls we had just met a few hours ago so we randomly chatted with them on the streets of Vietnam before returning to the ship. I love SAS because you will always find a new friend and it makes the experience that much better. 

My last day in Vietnam was spent at a cooking class through Semester at Sea and therefore with other SAS kids! This day was one of the best days for a few reasons. For one thing, I felt like I really got to know the city of Ho Chi Minh. On my first day, I did more war related things which was super interesting and important, but on this day I got to experience what the culture is like on a day-to-day. I made traditional dishes, got traditional Vietnamese egg coffee (I know it sounds strange, but it was honestly the best thing ever and you absolutely must try it), went to the crazy market, and got my nails done. Th other reason why it was one of the best is because this cooking class introduced me to 2 of my best friends on the ship. It can be scary to do things by yourself or get out of your comfort zone, but you never know what you will stumble upon. You never know how far a little hello may go. After I said hi, we hit it off immediately and spent the rest of the day together. Our true bonding moment was when we decided to get our nails done. We had to be back on the boat by 6 PM exactly. I had heard rumors and stories that you would be left behind if you weren’t on the boat in time so my original plan was to get back super early, but what fun would that be. Instead, after the market it was around 3 PM and we all really wanted to get our nails done. The girls I had ran into last night gave me a nail recommendation (again, starting up a conversation or complimenting someone can be so awesome) so we went to a place called Lumnos. The nail designs were insane and I got the most incredible, fun nails I have ever had for so cheap. Here is where the dilemma comes… the women who did our nails were awesome, but they were also perfectionists (I mean hey I can’t point any fingers) so the design isn’t even what took a long time, it was the shaping of the nail. Anyway, time was dwindling quickly and we were worried about making it back to the ship on time. As my nails were being finished I decided to order the car 20 minutes in advance because the cars in Vietnam were known to be slow. One of my friends finished her nails and went to pay only to learn that the sign on the door was wrong and they did not take credit card. None of us had cash. So let me reset the scene. It’s around 5:35 PM, my nails aren’t finished yet, we have no form of payment, no idea how to pay, the car arrival time keeps getting pushed back, and the port is around 20 minutes away. I snapped into problem solver mode, threw my friend my debit card, and told her to run to the ATM. A few stumbles happened along the way, but we payed and got out to look for our car. Still not there and it was 5:40 PM. The car wasn’t coming fast enough and we had a little bit of cash left so we flagged down a taxi, bus situation and used google translate to ask the driver to get us to the port as quickly as possible. Downside of a bus/van is that apparently it cannot travel over the bridge we needed to go over so it had to go the long way and sit in traffic. I knew if we did that we wouldn’t make it so, we had to sprint. I told the girls to hop out and get running. We sprinted around 1.5 miles through the streets of Vietnam. Sweaty and out of breath we made it onto the ship with 5 minutes to spare. 

Sea Stretch: 

In between Vietnam and Malaysia I started to get more comfortable and adjusted to boat life. This stretch was filled with fancy dinner, teaching workout classes, and deepening friendships. 

Malaysia: 

Arriving in Malaysia was like the burst of flavor in your mouth when you bite into a sour airhead: sweet, sour, one flavor, then another. As time goes on, and you keep eating, the flavor changes. Exploring Penang, Malaysia was just the same. You never knew what culture would pop out at you when you turned the corner. There was influence from three main races: Malay, Chinese, and Indian.  Loved seeing all the street art because I had learned in my art history class that artists were commissioned to paint public murals to encourage tourism. Penang felt hospitable, warm, and compassionate with the mix of cultures, nationalities, languages, and religions. 

The day I arrived in Penang was also the day I left for Langkawi, Malaysia which is a beach town. A group of around 14 of us traveled and stayed in a giant airbnb. It was like a SAS takeover of Langkawi, so much fun! 

All of us had different types of activities we wanted to fill our days with, but two of my friends and I were dying to hit the beach after we took a walk. We knew we wanted to jet ski, but we didn’t totally know where. I called a car to take us to the beach and figured we would find our way to jet skis somehow. Then, I casually made conversation with our driver as I love to do and he ended up hooking us up with activities the entire time we were there. He got us discounts and showed us the best places to go. Jet skiing all the way across the world felt magical and exhilarating. The reality of just how awesome life and this voyage is kicked in and I couldn’t take the smile off of my face if I tried. Instead of sitting in a classroom, I’m learning on a ship, meeting incredible friends, experiencing the world, and applying my knowledge along my travels. 

I had jet skied before, but never parasailed and I figured why not?! The three of us parasailed together and got to experience Malaysia from a whole different view. Stunning views and fun times. After our host of water activities we had lunch and champagne at a restaurant on the water. A bunch of our group wanted to grab Mexican food which was super fun for all of us to be together at a huge table in a Mexican restaurant in Malaysia. Random, but awesome. 

Our driver from the other day helped us plan a kayaking and boating adventure through the mangroves. After doing that all day, it was time for our booze cruise!! A group of 35 of us hopped on a yacht and sailed around the island. Dancing, swimming, laughing, and drinking. We got to watch the sunset and the sky change from bright blue to cotton candy to orangey yellow, and finally dark blue. 

Melia, my roomie, and I ended our trip to Langkawi the next afternoon at the most delicious Korean restaurant ever. We ordered way too much food and ate as much as we could because it was just that good. Back to the ship and Penang we went. 

Our second to last morning was… interesting. I was dying to do a long hike in Malaysia and Melia had agreed to come with me. Once I found our trail and led us to the path, I was excited to see where these 6 miles would take us. As we started walking up, a woman warned us of the monkeys. I was expecting 1,2, maybe 3 monkeys and I knew what to do. I was told not to look in their eyes and just keep walking so I wasn’t concerned. Melia spotted a monkey and I calmly had us continue walking. Then, all of the sudden… 20 monkeys come out from every single direction. There was no where to look or we would be looking at a monkey. We were both freaking out and shaking. More monkeys kept coming and there was legitimately nowhere to go. I kid you not I am not being dramatic, we both genuinely had no idea what to do. When we thought we were going to have to die of a monkey attack these lovely locals came to our rescue. The guided us down what felt like the longest hike down I had ever experienced and they said even they had never seen this many. As we hiked down it was like groups of 50 monkeys everywhere you turned. We saw at minimum 200 monkeys through our hike and I cannot say I was a fan. Both of us were about to cry and couldn’t stop shaking, but we made it down. After that, my adrenaline spiked so much that I was exhausted and not feeling the best. Spoiler alert, this is the beginning of the end. We came back to the ship to rest and I did not feel well. The next morning we had a mandatory field class so I sucked it up and went. As the hot day progressed I could feel myself getting sicker and sicker. I was trying to pay attention as my U.S. China Relations class observed Chinese culture in Malaysia, but I felt like I was going to die. After the longest, hottest day of my life came to an end I immediately showered and went to bed at 7 PM. I unfortunately had to wake up the next morning for my U.S. China relations Field Class which is basically a field trip. Not my best day let’s just say.

That night I was unwell and I knew I would need to go to the clinic in the morning. When I woke up, I felt worse than ever. Achey and in pain I cried my way to the clinic to find I had a fever and the flu. 

I was quarantined in a room for 5 full days alternating between crying and sleeping. It certainly is not fun to have the worst sickness you have ever experienced on a ship in the middle of the Indian Ocean without your parents. I always get anxious when I am sick as if I will never get better (I know silly, but it just happens). I was super homesick and sad, but it reminded me that there are so many more important things to life than the silly stressors I think about on a day-to-day basis. It is a privilege to workout and move my body, to use my brain, to be surrounded by tons of people all the time, etc. I left quarantine with an even greater appreciation for life and a promise to myself that after this terrible sickness I would take it easy and grant myself grace. This flue has STILL been lingering with a cough and in my lungs, but I am happy and healthy again. 

I was beyond happy to be free from my solo room and be around people and outside. It was perfect because I was released just in time for India! 

I hope you guys loved hearing about my travels and recommendations as much as I loved talking about them! Reflecting on these travels showed me just how much I have learned about adulting, the world, and myself.