Lanterns, Limestone & a Sticker: Ticking Off Vietnam on my Bucket List

Lanterns dangled from every corner, even on the waters

There’s a certain thrill in collecting experiences — not just in photos or journal entries, but in the form of small, colourful stickers stuck to the side of a well-travelled water bottle. Every sticker tells a story, and on my recent journey to Vietnam, I got to add one of the most vivid yet.

From the glowing lanterns of Hoi An to the majestic seascapes of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam offered me moments I’ll carry long after the trip — and one sticker that sealed the deal.

Hoi An: A Town Bathed in Golden Light

Hoi An was a place I’d dreamed about but still wasn’t prepared for. The moment I stepped into its Old Town, I felt like I’d entered a painting. Lanterns dangled from every corner, casting a warm glow on ochre walls and winding alleyways lined with tailor shops and teahouses.

I rented a bicycle and spent my days pedalling past rice fields, snacking on banh mi, and watching the Thu Bon River come alive at night with floating candles and reflections of a hundred lanterns. Hoi An slows you down — not because it asks you to, but because it makes rushing feel completely unnecessary.

One afternoon, I took a lantern-making class. As I shaped bamboo and stretched silk, I found myself thinking less about the end product and more about the joy of making something slowly. It felt like a metaphor for the entire town.

Under a blanket of stars, Ha Long Bay turns silent and surreal — a floating world suspended between moonlight & mist.

Ha Long Bay: Otherworldly Waters and Towering Stone

From serene streets to surreal seascapes — a short flight and a bus ride later, I was boarding a boat in Ha Long Bay. The name translates to “Descending Dragon,” and as our junk ship glided past massive limestone karsts rising dramatically from emerald water, it was easy to believe in legends.

We kayaked through sea caves, explored floating villages, and sipped Vietnamese coffee on the deck as the sun set behind jagged cliffs. At night, anchored in the stillness of the bay, I lay on the top deck staring at stars, the kind of silence that’s rare in the modern world wrapping around me like a blanket.

There’s something humbling about Ha Long Bay. It makes you feel small — in the best way.

The Sticker Moment

Back on land, sipping iced coconut coffee in Hanoi before my flight home, I reached into my backpack and pulled out the Vietnam sticker for my Langford Water Bottle. It was vibrant.

I peeled the backing off slowly, found a spot beside my Japan sticker, and pressed it down.

Click.

Just like that, Vietnam became part of my personal map — not just in memory, but in the little collage I carry with me everywhere.

Why Vietnam Left a Mark

Vietnam surprised me. It offered the elegance of tradition in Hoi An, the epic scale of nature in Ha Long Bay, and moments of stillness I hadn’t realised I needed.

Adding the sticker wasn’t just about saying “I’ve been.” It was about saying “I felt something here.”

And that’s what the Langford water bottle bucket list is all about.

Next Up: The bottle still has space — and so do I.