Day Thirty-Nine - 29/12/25
We kicked the day off by doing something very intentional, skipping the free hotel breakfast. After a few rough mornings upstairs, we decided we’d rather pay and actually enjoy our food.
We wandered down the street and struck gold and found a little caravan-style breakfast cart doing toasties, croissants and even a full English breakfast. Maddie and I went straight for the bacon, eggs, sausage and toast. Emmett chose pancakes, Kia grabbed something similar, and we added proper coffees and juices to the order.
Worth every cent.
We left full, happy, and in a far better mood than previous days.
After breakfast, we went for a gentle walk then headed back to the hotel and hit the gym. It was actually a really nice setup. Everyone did something. Kia went for a run, the rest of us moved our bodies, stretched, lifted a bit. Nothing intense, just enough to feel good.
Back at the room, we jumped on our phones and started looking for something to do nearby. That’s when Marble Mountain popped up. It had caves, walks, views, it was an easy decision.
We ordered a Grab and immediately got the classic Vietnamese driver experience. Instant friendliness, lots of Aussie connections, and plenty of enthusiasm. On the way, he stopped at a marble carving workshop, full of statues and sculptures. Interesting to see, but definitely leaned into the tourist-trap vibe.
From there, we headed straight to the mountains.
We paid entry to one of the main caves and it was genuinely impressive. A cave inside a cave inside a cave. Massive open chambers, natural light spilling in through the roof, and shrines and statues built right into the rock. It felt ancient and peaceful and slightly surreal all at once.
After that, we caught the lift to the top of the mountain and explored more caves, pagodas, and walking paths along the ridgeline. The scale of it all was hard to explain. Enormous caverns, hidden stairways, temples tucked into the stone. Easily one of the coolest places we’ve been so far.
There was a small meltdown moment when Emmett wanted to go back down via the lift, and we were set on taking the stairs, but once we started descending, even that smoothed out. The stairs wind through more shrines and viewpoints, and the walk down ended up being a highlight in itself.
Once we got down, we grabbed lunch, then found our Grab driver again. He drove us north of town to see the giant Buddha statue at Linh Ung Pagoda.
The statue is easily 40–50 metres tall sitting above manicured gardens with walking paths and lookout points. It’s calm, quiet, and a nice contrast to the busier city below.
By mid-afternoon, though, the tiredness was creeping in.
Our driver tried to tee us up for transport to Hoi A the next day, but his car just wasn’t big enough. It’s one of those things people don’t always get, most travellers are here for a week or two. We’re travelling for 12 months, carrying winter gear and way more luggage than the average backpacker. Eventually, after explaining it properly, he understood.
Back at the hotel, we all hit a wall. Everyone was tired.
Everyone was a bit grumpy.
Moods were short. Patience was thin.
Instead of pushing through, we made the call to stop. Rest. Reset.
For dinner, we walked about 50 metres from the hotel to a local pho place. We ordered… and literally within a minute, the food was on the table. Fastest meal we’ve had in Vietnam. Almost like Vietnamese fast food. Simple, efficient, and tasty.
It was a good meal, close to home, no effort required, exactly what we needed.
Day 39 was good, but also tiring. A reminder that even amazing places, great food and incredible experiences don’t cancel out fatigue, especially on a long-term trip with kids.
Tomorrow’s another day.
Onwards and upwards.