A Friends & Family Adventure: Review of Soumya's 6 Days in Vietnam with Thrillophilia
It was exciting but also a little scary when five of us, Soumya Ranjan Tripath (31), his wife Nirupama (31), Rohan Kumar Naik (29), his wife Jayashree (31), and Namrata Naik (23), the youngest among us, decided to go to Vietnam together. Some of us wanted to learn about history and have some adventure. Soumya then suggested that we book through Thrillophilia. Honestly, it took a lot of stress away because they made everything fit into one neat plan and let us just show up and have fun.
It was strange to land in Hanoi so early in the morning. The air was foggy, and the city was already busy with scooters whizzing by. After checking in, we spent the day taking in the differences in Hanoi, which is a mix of French colonial charm and Asian energy. Hoa Lo Prison was a sobering experience that showed us how hard life was in Vietnam. The Temple of Literature, on the other hand, was a completely different place. It was calm, scholarly, and almost timeless. Namrata kept taking pictures by the gate, and Rohan and Jayashree walked off towards the gardens. Later, we sat quietly by Hoan Kiem Lake and watched the water sparkle in the afternoon sun. We knew this was just the beginning.
It felt like I was in a different world the next day in Ninh Binh. The boat ride through Tam Coc was probably one of the best parts of the trip. Picture the water reflecting the sky like glass and limestone cliffs rising sharply on both sides. Nirupama was the most excited. She pointed at everything and said it looked like paintings. We got on bikes after the ride and rode through rice fields and quiet villages. The air smelt fresh and earthy, and the trip was so slow that you forgot about time. Soumya said something at Bich Dong Pagoda, which is surrounded by caves and trees, that stuck with all of us: "This is why we travel, to find places that make you feel so small yet so alive."
When we got to Halong Bay, the energy changed completely. It felt like stepping into luxury when we boarded the cruise at Tuan Chau Marina. The deck opened up to views that looked straight out of a movie. As we sailed past rocky islets and small beaches, we were all amazed. The cooking class on board turned out to be a surprise highlight. We laughed until our sides hurt when Rohan kept teasing Jayashree about the shape of the spring rolls she was trying to make. We sat on the upper deck at night, under a sky full of stars, and talked about everything from our college days to our hopes and dreams for the future. That night, friendship felt like the strongest bond.
We had never done Tai Chi on the deck before, but we did it the next morning. The bay around us made it feel peaceful, almost like meditation. Later, when we explored Surprise Cave, we felt like adventurers again because of its huge rooms and dramatic shapes. We were back in Hanoi by the afternoon to catch our flight to Da Nang. The change from calm waters to a busy coastal city was sudden, but Thrillophilia made it so easy that it felt like nothing.
Our trip to Ba Na Hills in Da Nang was like something out of a fantasy movie. We couldn't believe how amazing the Golden Bridge was, with its huge stone hands holding it up. Namrata must have taken at least 200 pictures by herself. The cable car ride gave us a great view of clouds moving through the mountains, and at Sun World, everyone was acting like a kid again. The mood had changed by the time we got to Hoi An in the evening. The streets were lit up by lanterns, and the colours of the lanterns were reflected in the river. As we walked past old Japanese bridges and busy markets, we felt both romantic and nostalgic. That day was also Soumya and Nirupama's wedding anniversary, and this is where Thrillophilia made it special. When we got back to the hotel, there was a small cake waiting for us in our room. The team had quietly set it up. It was such a nice thing to do that it made the night even better. We all got together, sang for them, and finished the cake in a matter of minutes.
Sorry, I meant to say that our last day was in Trivandrum. It felt like Trivandrum in Kerala, but in Vietnam, it was all about saying goodbye from Da Nang. We talked about the trip over breakfast. Nirupama said the Tam Coc boat ride was her favourite, Rohan said the Halong Bay cruise was the best, Namrata was still thinking about Hoi An, and Jayashree said she liked the mix of history and fun. Soumya didn't care about one place; he cared about seeing all of this with the people he loved most.
What struck me the most was how smoothly everything went. We never had to worry about getting around, getting tickets, or being on time. Thrillophilia had brought it all together, but the memories we made were our own. Vietnam gave us history, beautiful places, delicious food, and memories that will last a lifetime. As the five of us dozed off on the flight back, it already felt like the kind of trip we would tell stories about at every family gathering. There was the laughter on the cruise, the mist over Ninh Binh, the surprise anniversary cake, and the lanterns of Hoi An glowing like dreams in the night.
Read More: Thrillophilia Vietnam Reviews