Come to Venice to fall in love.

Venice appears enchanting in autumn with the vibrant colors of its glassware and the exquisite craftsmanship of its lace embroidery. And above all, it evokes a feeling of blissful happiness, like being in love all the time.

Lost in the canal streets

As we stepped out of Santa Lucia train station, my boyfriend and I exchanged smiles, understanding why everyone finds Venice irresistible. Under the autumn sun, the shimmering blue of the Grand Canal, the bustling sounds of luggage being dragged, the laughter and chatter of people, and the enticing aroma of food from the surrounding shops – all combine to create Venice's unique charm, captivating yet not noisy.

First, we toured the Grand Canal on a water bus (vaporetti) and stopped to visit the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), built in the 9th century. We were overwhelmed by the grandeur and splendor evident from the outside, with its towering marble corridors in the Gothic style. On the Giant's Staircase stand statues of the God of War and the God of the Sea. Inside, the palace is elaborately decorated with large frescoes and wood carvings on the ceiling.

Nearby is the magnificent Basilica di San Marco, built in 829. Its golden spire stands out, earning it the local nickname, the Golden Church (Chiesa d'Oro). You'll experience a space filled with exquisite art and sculpture, reflecting Byzantine architecture with its distinctive circular domes and cross-shaped design.

Crossing bridges and a few small squares, we arrived at Osteria Al Portego restaurant. We enjoyed a light lunch with local specialties such as sarde in saor – fried sardines with onions marinated in apple cider vinegar and garlic – and baccalà alla vicentina – salted cod with tomatoes, capers, and onions. What's special is that the owner uses a recipe dating back to the 17th-18th centuries! To enhance the seafood experience, we paired it with Prosecco white wine. Italy is famous for its pizza, spaghetti, pasta, and lasagna… so trying other dishes allowed us to fully appreciate the local cuisine.

One of the things you should do when you come to Venice is to stop by Osteria Al Portego restaurant and enjoy the signature dishes, especially those cooked by the owner using recipes from the 17th and 18th centuries!

After lunch, we decided not to use a map and explore Venice on our own. We strolled along the straight streets winding through the large and small squares, admiring the city's architecture, the Romanesque buildings with their columns and arches. Bewitching sights unfolded before us: small houses adorned with vibrant flowers, souvenir shops with pretty little masks, colorful pasta dishes, and exquisite artwork, the aroma of pizza wafting through the air… All of this made it impossible to stop and marvel at Venice's charm.

Taking some time to relax, we stopped at the Florian café on St. Mark's Square, enjoying a peaceful afternoon and gazing at the azure sea outside with gondolas bobbing on the waves.

In the afternoon, we stopped by Harry's Bar to sip a spritz of Prosecco white wine mixed with sparkling mineral water and ordered the famous carpaccio, a creation and popularization by the owner, Giuseppe Cipriani. This is a raw dish with thinly sliced ​​beef or salmon served on a plate with lemon, olive oil, and slices of truffle or Parmesan cheese.

Venice, as night falls, seems even more enchanting and magical with the gentle sound of the waves. Footsteps slow down, as if to make time for each other. Because Venice is a place to fall in love.

Discover masterpieces of glass art.

Traveling from Venice by water bus to Murano Island, we were eager to learn about the art of handcrafted glassmaking by blowing blocks of glass under 2000°C heat.^oGlassmaking dates back to the 10th century. This unique art form uses a technique of melting sand and limestone to create masterpieces from blown glass.

These glassmaking workshops were originally located right in the heart of Venice. Later, from the 13th century onwards, Murano Island became world-renowned for its exquisite artistry. During our visit, we had the opportunity to witness artisans demonstrating the art of shaping glass using various materials, creating dazzling, colorful glass products ranging from vases and picture frames to diverse pieces of jewelry.

In Murano, the atmosphere wasn't as bustling as in Venice, so we strolled leisurely through the narrow alleys before choosing a local restaurant near the canal. We ordered bagna cauda – salted anchovies in garlic and olive oil sauce – risotto alla milanese – seafood rice with saffron, accompanied by a few slices of bruschetta – toasted bread spread with pâté or cheese. Sipping lunch with a glass of white wine in the cool autumn sea breeze, what could be more wonderful than that, enjoying such a relaxing feeling in the heart of Venice, the city of love?

Afterward, we visited the fairytale island of Burano, with its vibrant, colorful houses that captivate anyone who sets foot there at first sight. Burano offers a carefree atmosphere, making life more poetic and peaceful. Similar to Venice and other islands, the narrow streets are connected by bridges of varying sizes, spanning the emerald green canals. Transportation here is by boat, moored right in front of each house. Although there are no grand or spectacular architectural structures, the colorful houses along the canals and the 16th-century lace-making art are impressive attractions that make visitors want to return to Burano.

Returning to Venice after a long day, watching the crowds stream across the Ponte Degli Scalzi bridge, I suddenly wished my trip could be extended so I could fully explore Venice. Each day, Venice reinvents itself and captivates visitors. Beyond its famous landmarks and exquisite cuisine, Venice also offers moments of peace and tranquility, evoking gentle emotions and acting as a catalyst for blossoming love.

Venice offers moments of peace and tranquility that evoke gentle emotions, acting as a catalyst for love to flourish.

Additional information:

+ Journey:From Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you can fly with airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, or Air France, connecting to Marco Polo Venizia Airport on the mainland near Venice. Then, take a ferry (there are 3 routes operated by Alilaguna) from the airport to Venice, with tickets starting from 16 Euros per trip. Alternatively, fly to Milan and then take a train to Venice (Venezia Santa Lucia station is located west of Venice, to avoid confusion with Venezia Mestre station), a journey of over 2.5 hours, with tickets costing 37.5 Euros per trip.

+ Water bus service:Travel cards cost 20 Euros/day, 30 Euros/2 days, 40 Euros/3 days, and 60 Euros/7 days; you can choose the appropriate ticket type depending on your itinerary.
+ Other attractions:

- The Torcello nature reserve (near Burano) and the mosaic art with its stunning works in the Santa Maria Assunta church dating back to the 7th century.

- Museo Correr: To learn more about the history of Venice through documents and works of art displayed in the museum with its Neoclassical architecture.

- Opera de Venice: Enjoy a musical performance (ticket prices range from 22 Euros to 85 Euros depending on the show).

-La Toletta: If you like books and quirky stationery, you can visit La Toletta bookstore, which has been around since 1933.

+Culinary experience:Head to the local seafood market, Rialto Market. Here, you can observe the locals buying and selling and try some cicchetti, light snacks like folpeto (boiled octopus with lime and olive sauce), polpette (veal balls with potatoes), or slices of toasted bread with mozzarella cheese... You can also enjoy a cocktail.

+HotelThe average price is around 40 Euros per night. You should book your accommodation several months in advance because hotels in central Venice always book up quickly and prices can be quite high. However, you can also choose to stay at Venice Mestre (about 15 minutes from Venice by bus or tram) for a cheaper price.

Text and photos: Le Chau

The Thanh