My 9-Day Adventure in Taiwan: A Travelogue
Visa Essentials
For those who've explored Taiwan within the past decade, securing an e-visa is a breeze. If this is your first visit, a traditional sticker visa is required. I'll be sharing a dedicated post on that process soon. For a smooth booking experience, I partnered with Bingo Travel. Use the code Hanhhanhkhonghanh for a delightful 5-10 discount!
Flights and Accommodations: My Taiwanese Basecamps
For my flights, I opted for a convenient round trip from Hanoi to Taipei and Kaohsiung back to Hanoi. I snagged these deals on Traveloka with Vietjet Air, costing me approximately 4.7 million VND, which included 20kg of checked baggage. Flight prices can fluctuate significantly depending on the season; I've even seen fares as low as 3.5 million VND for a one-way trip during off-peak times.
My Stay: A City-by-City Breakdown
- Taipei:
- Ximen Hotel (3 nights): At 1.3 million VND per night, its prime location right in the bustling Ximending district, steps from Ximen Station, made exploring, dining, and nightlife incredibly easy.
- Re-Change Hotel Taipei: This spot, adjacent to Taipei Main Station, offers a self-checkout system. While the rooms are compact, its proximity to the station was perfect for my early morning departure to Taichung.
- Taichung:
- Adagio Hostel (2 nights): This comfortable stay cost around 800,000 VND per night and was conveniently located near Taichung Station.
- Kaohsiung:
- CU Hotel (2 nights): Priced at 1 million VND per night, this hotel is right next to Kaohsiung Station. The self-check-in/out via machine was efficient, though I unfortunately missed the checkout window by about 10 minutes and incurred a 300 TWD penalty. The rooms themselves were modern and well-maintained.
I booked all my accommodations through Traveloka, taking advantage of their birthday sale for some fantastic savings. The total accommodation cost came to about 4.4 million VND per person for our 9-day, 8-night stay.
Staying Connected: SIM Card Deets
I purchased my SIM card in Vietnam before departing. For 230,000 VND, I got a 5-day, unlimited data plan. We initially bought three SIMs, and after the first five days, we ingeniously shared one connection across all our devices! This brought the cost down to a mere 345,000 VND per person.
Navigating Taiwan: Seamless Travel
Taiwan boasts an incredibly efficient public transportation system. Picking up an Easy Card is a game-changer, allowing seamless travel on the MRT, buses, and even purchases at convenience stores like 7-Eleven. For longer distances between cities, high-speed rail and regular trains are excellent options. You can easily top up your Easy Card at train stations and most convenience stores.
For my inter-city journeys, I chose the Express train over the High-Speed Rail: Taichung to Kaohsiung cost 469 TWD, and Taipei to Taichung was 375 TWD. These journeys typically take around 2-3 hours. My total transportation expenses averaged about 1,700 TWD per person.
Taiwan's Treasures: Where to Go and What to Eat
Must-See Destinations
- Taipei: Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Jiufen, Shifen, Houtong Cat Village, Ximending Night Market, Dadaocheng, Yehliu Geopark, Yangmingshan National Park, Longshan Temple.
- Taichung: Alishan National Scenic Area, Sun Moon Lake, Cingjing Farm.
- Kaohsiung: Tuntex Sky Tower, Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Ruifeng Night Market, Lotus Pond, Cijin Island, Sanfong Temple.
A Culinary Journey
Most eateries in Taiwan come alive after 11 AM. For early risers, classic breakfast options like xiao long bao with soy milk, wontons, and dumplings are readily available. Taiwan's bubble tea is legendary. Some top brands to try include 50 Lan, Coco, Chun Sui Tang, and Wangtea Egg.
Don't leave without savoring local favorites such as beef noodle soup, dumplings, oyster omelets, and flavorful noodle dishes. Here are a few places that left a delicious impression on me:
- Ay-Chung Flour - Rice Noodle
- 365台灣小吃
- Fuhong Beef Noodles
- Yi Jia Zi 一甲子餐飲 - 祖師廟焢肉飯、刈包
- Fu Din Wang
- Gang Yuan Beef Noodle Restaurant
Helpful Tips for Your Trip
- Waste Management: Public trash cans are scarce. It's common to hold onto your rubbish and dispose of it at train stations.
- Scooter and Bike Rentals: You can easily rent scooters or bicycles. Near Taichung Station, across Chenggong Road, you'll find numerous rental shops and even a vibrant Vietnamese food street, reflecting the significant Vietnamese community here. Rentals typically cost around 250 TWD per day.
- Safety First: Taiwan is remarkably safe. I once left an item at a bus stop and found it still there two hours later.
Final Tally: My Taiwan Budget
I exchanged 9 million VND for New Taiwan Dollars. My spending was primarily focused on food and souvenirs. Upon departure, I needed to purchase pineapple cakes and exchanged an additional 300 TWD (approximately 230,000 VND) at the airport. In total, my trip cost around 14 million VND per person.
Optimizing Your Taiwan Itinerary
For a well-rounded experience, I recommend allocating more time to Taipei, as it offers a fantastic array of food and attractions. Consider dedicating two days to Taichung for Alishan and Sun Moon Lake, and one day for Kaohsiung.
Should I have the chance to return, my ideal itinerary would include Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Tainan, and Taitung. I hope these insights prove valuable for your upcoming Taiwanese adventure!
