From Ha Long Bay kayaking to expressing our vows on a remote island, I discovered that the most magical moments happen when you embrace the unexpected.
When Josh and I first started talking about getting married, we knew immediately that a traditional wedding wasn't for us. We'd already backpacked through Thailand together early in our relationship, and that shared sense of adventure was exactly what drew us to each other. After Josh proposed during a five-day mountain trek in Peru, an elopement felt like the only way to honor who we are as a couple.
Vietnam had been calling to us ever since our Thailand trip. We'd always talked about exploring it, and when our videographer James from Zephyr Productions mentioned it was on his bucket list, everything clicked into place. We couldn't see the locations beforehand, which was both terrifying and thrilling. In the spirit of adventure, we committed to exploring and making decisions once we arrived.
When Rain Changes Everything
Our first day started with a 6am bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island. The weather was a little rainy, but it cleared just in time for our first look. Seeing Josh's face in that moment, in a place I'd never been, surrounded by this incredible landscape, I knew we'd made the right choice.
Day two was supposed to be our elopement day. We planned to say our vows at the peak of Cat Ba Island National Park. Then it started to pour. Not a light drizzle, but sheets of rain that soaked us completely. We'd forgotten one basic item: an umbrella. We never put much thought into weather because we were traveling during the "best" time of year. Instead of letting disappointment take over, we pivoted and explored the Hospital Caves, where they hid injured soldiers during the war. The history there was incredible.
By afternoon, the weather cleared for our boat tour around Ha Long Bay. We drank Vietnam beer, enjoyed local food, and kayaked through the bay. When we arrived at Van Boi Island, something just felt right. This was the perfect place for our vows. It was a last minute decision, but it turned out to be the best one we could have made. We followed our ceremony with a traditional Vietnamese meal, which we considered our reception dinner.
Finding Magic in Every Moment
On day three, before catching our bus, we hiked to the peak of Cat Ba National Park in record time. The hike normally takes two hours round trip, and we did it in one. We were extremely sweaty, but the view was worth every step. After a six-hour journey of buses and ferries, we arrived in Tam Coc. The river boat tour of Nihn Binh was one of the most epic landscapes I have ever witnessed.
The following day brought temperatures over 40 degrees with humidity, but we pushed through to see the beautiful temples around Tam Coc. That hazy evening sun was perfect for photos. We finished by hiking up to the famous Hang Mua Viewpoint, about 1000 stairs to the top with stunning views of the river. Our last day took us back to Hanoi, where we walked 15 kilometers, ate incredible street food (yes, I tried frog), played hacky sack with locals, and tried to jump rope with children in the streets.
Why Vietnam Stole My Heart
Vietnam should definitely be on everyone's list. There's so much history there, and the people are the kindest I've ever encountered. They were genuinely happy to see us. The food was amazing, the beaches are gorgeous, and it's such an approachable place to visit. The scenery stays with you long after you leave.
Having experienced this myself, I'm now able to have real conversations with couples about what they're imagining for their elopement. I can help them build a beautiful itinerary because I understand what it means to go with the flow, to embrace the unexpected, and to find that not everything going exactly as planned often makes things better than you could have imagined. For couples who want their wedding to be a reflection of who they truly are, Vietnam offers the perfect backdrop for that adventure. You can always come home and celebrate with family and friends, but getting married on the other side of the world is something truly special and unique.
