- Hey everybody, I'm gunnarolla,
and today I'm taking you on a trip to Vietnam,
sponsored by CIBC Aventura.
Vietnam is a beautiful country with very rich history
and of course, amazing food, my number one interest.
It's also a great destination if you're on a budget
and for this week-long trip we have $1,500 to spend
because that seems to be the magic number
when it comes to most people's vacation budgets.
You can do Vietnam for much less money
but that's not the point of this video.
We're not backpacking and we're not roughing it,
for this trip we are balling out on a budget,
four-star hotels, incredible food and scenery.
We are going to enjoy luxury without breaking the bank
or having to find a very rich travel companion.
You'll notice that I didn't include the cost of flights
in our budget, that's because the cost
of flights can vary a lot depending on
when you book and when you plan to travel.
Instead, I'm going to use the points
that I collected on my CIBC Aventura.
Through my regular spending with this card,
I've actually accumulated enough points to cover my flights.
Now if you're like me and you get really overwhelmed trying
to plan a trip, you can get in touch
with the Aventura Travel Assistant.
They can offer recommendations, give you advice,
and help with all of your bookings.
It's great if you're looking for
something personalized and unique.
When I make travel bookings through my CIBC Aventura card,
I don't have to pay any booking fees
and I earn double the points,
which I can use toward my next trip.
So, looks like we're booked and ready to go.
I'll see you in Hanoi.
Forgot my wallet.
(energetic music)
- [Flight Attendant] Ladies and gentlemen,
we have just landed at Hanoi International Airport.
- We're in Hanoi!
- [Woman] 25,000, you have fun.
- Alright, I made it to our hotel transfer.
It's nice and spacious, and cool.
Bye!
Alright, just arrived at the hotel, they're checking us in.
Got my fruits, this tea is amazing.
Alrighty, can you hear the hustle and bustle out there?
We are gonna get some food, let's go!
Came to Vietnam to eat, so obviously
we have to try one of the most iconic Vietnamese dishes,
pho, which is a noodle soup, it's amazing, very flavorful.
Tucked away in this alley.
(slurps)
Try an egg coffee.
Crossing the street here takes a little bit
of common sense and confidence.
If you don't wanna get hit,
pay attention to where you're going.
Vlogging while walking, not the best idea.
Alright, so I'm on a rooftop patio
at the center of Hanoi Old Quarter.
It's a great place to grab a beverage,
people watch, and just take in the beauty
of the city at night.
Good morning, had some amazing food last night
and today we're gonna learn how to make it.
Cooking class time, let's go.
My Aventura Travel Assistant recommended a market tour
and cooking class, knowing that I'm a foodie
and that food plays such a big part in culture,
we thought it'd be a good idea
to get some hands-on experience.
Pretty cool, we're getting the local experience.
Alright, just arrived at our house.
Let's head inside.
(blades rasping)
- [Woman] I learned something. (cleavers chopping)
- Learning so much.
Time to grill the meat.
Look at this, high-tech.
(beater whirs)
- [Instructor] You can do it with spring roll,
now cover the meat.
(students murmuring)
- So it's the weekend, time to head out to the night market.
Obviously night markets are huge in Asia
because it gets so hot during the day,
so the city really comes alive at night.
Okay, this goes on forever and ever and ever.
Every possible type of thing
you could ever want to buy is here.
I just love being here right now, in this moment.
I often go to food courts alone
because I just like being around people,
and this is giving me that same energy.
I just need to know that I'm not alone.
So it's only midnight, but as you can see,
the party has already wrapped up.
They tend to wrap pretty early in Hanoi,
but that's okay because tomorrow we're catching a flight
to Da Neng, and then we head to Hoi An.
Let's go!
(airplane engine whirs)
Okay, I'm in Da Neng Airport.
Gotta find our hotel transfer
to take us to our resort hotel.
Good morning from Hoi An, it's a beautiful morning,
super peaceful, you can already tell
this place has a very different vibe than Hanoi.
Let's grab some breakfast.
My Aventura Travel Assistant found
this awesome luxury resort hotel for under $100 a night.
It's got an incredible pool,
free bike rental, and a spa on-site.
Alright, so if you're in Hoi An
you've gotta get some custom-tailored clothes,
so let's go do that.
Hoi An is the land of tailors,
and this one came highly recommended.
I was really impressed with the quality of service
and the materials.
Within 48 hours, I had a brand-new tailored jacket.
Apparently Anthony Bourdain's favorite bahn mi shop is
in Hoi An, but the tailor told me we should check out
another place that's even better, so I'm gonna do that.
Okay, chicken bahn mi.
(bread crunches)
Oh my God.
If you're traveling Southeast Asia,
massages are key and they're super cheap,
so set aside some of your budget and enjoy.
Hello, thank you.
Welcome to the night market, super cute,
super romantic, I'm super alone right now.
Alright, this place is too cute.
Couples in boats, come on.
Mmm, yes.
Everybody's out for the night market,
this one's pretty big on lanterns,
so it feels really magical.
Alrighty, we're going on a motorcycle tour today.
'Kay, here we go.
I'm sorry, Mom. (laughs)
(wind rushing)
The motorcycle ride was my favorite part of the entire trip.
Not only was it an opportunity
to see the Vietnamese countryside,
it was a chance for me to just get out there
and clear my head and get some perspective,
and for me that's what travel is all about.
People tend to think that travel is too expensive,
but if you're diligent about putting money aside,
collecting points, and being open to destinations
that might be unexpected, it's totally possible.
What the heck?
If you're looking for a destination
that's off the beaten path,
that has so many incredible things to offer
and that can be personalized and unique to your interests,
make sure to get out to Vietnam.
- [Man] Number one.
- I never went to that. - Every day.
Every day you're number one. (gunnarolla laughs)
See, every day.
- [Gunnarolla] Okay, thank you.