In the middle of the semester, there is a long weekend, where many students take the opportunity to do some travelling. Some of my classmates travelled up to Hanoi, or did the Ha Giang Loop, some went to Singapore, and others to Malaysia. I took the opportunity to experience Hong Kong, which is an exciting and busy city, with a lot of contrast to the laid-back vibe of Hoi An. I´d like to tell you about my trip, so that hopefully you can get some inspiration on what to do in the long weekend, or maybe even before or after the semester. The options are many!
Da Nang airport is situated around 45 minutes from Hoi An and has great connections for travelling overseas in the long weekend. We flew with the airline HK Express, which offered low fare tickets. I’d recommend using Skyscanner or Google Flights, as soon as you know the dates you will be able to go, and just press select anywhere as your destination. This is how we landed on going to Hong Kong!
Upon landing in Hong Kong, we didn’t have mobile data, and as it was late, there were few public transport options. Alternatively, we withdrew some cash to use the color-coded taxis outside of the airport, which turned out to be a fun and affordable option. Other than this evening, we found the public transportation system to be incredibly convenient; you can simply tap your debit card when boarding or download the “Octopus Card” app.
We chose to stay on Hong Kong Island for it’s central location, though it is a bit pricier here. Our hostel, Check Inn HK, did featured a 24/7 reception, which was important to us. It was strategically located near some of the main attractions, vibrant nightlife, and great restaurants. There were several other students from Kulturstudier in Hong Kong at the same time as us, and some chose to stay in the Kowloon area, known for it’s traditional charm and often more affordable accommodation options. However, be prepared for smaller rooms and very busy surroundings!
One surprise highlight was discovering Hong Kong’s beautiful beaches, particularly on the southwest side of the island. Repulse Bay was great for swimming, and some of us even played beach volleyball at sunset. The bus connections to this beach were really good as well. We also visited Big Wave Beach, a famous surfing destination where one of my friends rented a surfboard for about 50 HKD (around 70 NOK).
If you enjoy hiking, Hong Kong is also the place for you! We hiked Dragon’s Back, which is probably HK´s most iconic trail. It’s a quite easy hike, which took us about 2,5 hours. The hike starts from the To Tei Wan bus stop on Shek O Road. We started walking at around 3:30 pm, and we got the most beautiful sunset on the way down. This was definitely the biggest highlight of my trip. Hiking Dragons Back is a great way to see Hong Kong’s natural beauty.
No trip to Hong Kong would be complete without a visit to Victoria Peak, the highest of many hills on Hong Kong Island. To get there you can take the Peak Tram, one of the world’s oldest cable railways, which gives you breathtaking views of the city on the way up. It’s steep incline reminded me of Fløibanen in Bergen, Norway! At the top you get beautiful views of the whole city and it’s iconic skyline. We went in the late afternoon to evening, which I would recommend. Arriving at the top just before sunset allowed us to see the stunning transition from day to night. If you go during daytime, you can also walk along the scenic pathways, and apparently it’s like a green oasis. It’s definitely a contrast to the urban hustle just below!
Food in Hong Kong is an adventure in itself. For the traditional dim-sum meal, I could recommend Tim Ho Wan. It is a highly reputed restaurant, and bonus point, it has been known to be the world’s cheapest Michelin Star restaurant. I ordered the BBQ-pork buns, and they were delicious. Another must-try is the Australian Dairy Co., a local HK institution famous for it’s breakfast and lunch. They serve classics such as French toast, scrambled eggs, ham and macaroni soup (!), egg pudding and yummy iced tea and milk tea. The servers move quite fast, and they might be perceived as a bit rude. Apparently, they say it’s the classic HK style. There is also a high possibility that you will be seated with strangers. For me it was a bit weird in the beginning, because no one said anything to each other while sharing such a tiny table. But suddenly a nice lady sat down next to me, and now I have a new friend from New York! I ended up being really found of this concept. It had this friendly speed dating style to it, and it challenged me to be more open to strangers.
We also visited a café in the Central district, called Hjem. This is a Nordic-style café run by a Norwegian lady. We order Skagen toast, meatballs, cinnamon buns, and Norwegian waffles with brown cheese. It was amusing to say that we travel all the way to Hong Kong to eat brown cheese. Anyways, we had a lot of fun ordering these dishes. But be aware: in classic Nordic style – it’s expensive!
The weather was fantastic during our visit—sunny and much less humid than Vietnam, making it perfect for exploring the streets and of course get some shopping done. Shopping in Hong Kong is a blend of luxury and local culture. There is something for everyone. The most famous street markets are called Ladies’ Market and Temple Street Night Market, where you can find everything from fashion to souvenirs. There were also a few Vintage stores. Although I have to say what we enjoyed the most was just walking around the city, stumbling into some of the many hidden gems. I think that’s the way to do it in HK! In terms of costs, Hong Kong is pricier than Vietnam, but with some effort, you can find budget-friendly options.
Hong Kong is definitely a city that has it all. From the typical big city life to numerous hiking options, to beautiful beaches and delicious food. If you are able to travel in the long weekend, I highly recommend visiting one of Vietnam’s neighbouring countries or destinations like Hong Kong. It also offers a unique perspective and an opportunity to reflect on the beauty of your new and temporary home country. I returned to Vietnam with a deeper appreciation for its culture and way of living, feeling enriched by my little escape.
Hot tip
I didn’t have time to go to Disneyland, but if you want to go, my friend who did has a tip: It’s a lot cheaper if you go between Tuesdays and Thursdays! Pre-book as soon as you have checked what fits with the long weekend schedule.
– Carina