The passages that stay with you.

We went on a vegan culinary retreat planned by VeggieAnh and Rooted Passage. It was amazing getting to stay in Đà Nẵng, Huế and Hội An. The people are beautiful, generous and made our visit wonderful and unforgettable. We visited many scenic places, including Marble Mountain with gorgeous views and caves to explore, Monkey Mountain and the stunning Lady Buddha statue, the tomb of Khai Dinh, the Imperial City and more. We enjoyed hiking, relaxing at the beach, kayaking, the night market, a bike tour, lantern making, tofu making and an herb farm. The Hội An Memories show is a must-see, and each place we stayed was very comfortable. The food was incredible and it was such a treat to learn to cook Vietnamese dishes. The restaurants were great, and the meals that we cooked together — including the herb farm — stole the show. VeggieAnh is a wonderful teacher, willing to share her knowledge and skills, and making these meals delightful and approachable. I’ve made so many since I got home that they’re now regular fare in my kitchen. My favourite dishes were the bánh xèo — crispy rice pancakes loaded with fresh herbs and greens — lemongrass tofu, vegan bánh mì and many more. Every meal was incredibly delicious; we ate so much and enjoyed every bite. Rooted Passage put together a fantastic itinerary. Therun and Anh are wonderful, and I would gladly go on another trip with them to any destination.

What surprised me most was just how much we were able to experience in such a short amount of time. I knew the retreat would be immersive, but I underestimated the incredible variety of food, activities and cultural experiences that could be packed into each day. I left feeling like I had tried and seen so much more of Vietnam than I ever could have planned on my own. Some of my favourite moments were the experiences I probably wouldn’t have planned on my own — city biking, kayaking and visiting herb gardens — as well as sharing incredible meals together and experiencing so many different parts of Vietnamese culture. I’d especially recommend this trip to solo travellers or women who want to explore somewhere new but may not have someone to travel with. It was my first time travelling with a group of strangers, and I felt incredibly safe and welcomed while forming genuine friendships with people of all ages from around the world. It’s perfect for anyone craving adventure, connection and a truly immersive cultural experience.