The range of responses that I get when I tell people that I’ve been to Vietnam 8 times is wide. Many people are jealous and state that they’ve dreamed about traveling to Southeast Asia. Others have a perplexed look on their face and tell me they would never go there (usually, and this is an Read More…
Vietnam
Hanoi’s Old Quarter: Photo of the Day
In Vietnam, as in many developing countries, real life takes place on the sidewalks. Communities and families come together here. They share their meals. They drink coffee. They down beer. And they get their hair done. I loved these gals standing around, gossiping, and beautifying themselves with not one shred of self-consciousness. I’ve always loved Read More…
Photo of the Day: Vietnam Hats – Not Just Conicals
When I first began traveling to Vietnam in the early 90’s, no one on a motorbike wore a helmet. They couldn’t afford it. And there were a lot of injuries as a result. Sometime in the mid-90’s a law went into affect that motorbike riders had to wear a helmet. Though this isn’t exactly followed Read More…
Saigon: She’s Come a Long Way Baby
The energy is palpable. The pace frenetic. Forget New York, I’d argue that Saigon is now the city that never sleeps. In my nearly 20 years of traveling here, I’ve seen it go from quaint and quiet to a city that rivals any major metropolis for its bright lights and nightlife. Tall buildings started cropping up maybe Read More…
Ahoy Hoi An (Vietnam)
Hoi An is a charming town in Central Vietnam, located just south of Danang. In about 15 years, it’s gone from a small fishing village to a full-on tourist destination with a wide range of hotels (including many 5-star resorts in nearby Danang). Throughout the city, lights hang and are illuminated at night (such as Read More…
Photo of the Day: Trekking in Mai Chau, Vietnam
Southwest of Hanoi lies a beautiful region that has become popular for light treks. The area is Mai Chau and it remains nearly as quiet as when I first visited there in 1994. The trekking is not difficult, it’s generally along motorbike routes through the mountains with no steep inclines, but while we were there Read More…
Vietnam: Same Same but Different
I took an eight-year hiatus from Vietnam after having traveled here seven times since 1992, when the country reopened to tourists. Over those seven visits, I watched as slowly ATMs cropped up. Bicycles were replaced by motorbikes and then motorbikes replaced by cars. Hanoi went from a quiet, subdued city to a bustling little metropolis Read More…
Photo of the Day: North Vietnam
I’ve been back in Vietnam for just over a week and my group and I have seen a tremendous amount in that short time. We’ve traveled from Hanoi to Mai Chau (to visit the hilltribes) and just arrived in Hue after an overnight train ride. Here are some of the amazing people we’ve seen along Read More…
Photo of the Day: Sunrise in Hanoi
I was up early this morning. I mean EARLY. As in I finally fell asleep at around 1:30am and was up shortly after 4. Not to worry. Despite the few hours of sleep, the good thing is that when traveling, these odd hours allow me to see a destination bright and early. This morning, I Read More…
Making a list, checking it twice – Preparing for 5 weeks of travel!
I leave in about 48 hours for Hanoi. (Aaaaaah!) But Vietnam isn’t the only country I’ll be visiting in the next 5 weeks. I’ll also be in Cambodia, Thailand and Bhutan. It appears that temps will range from the 90s in Bangkok and Saigon to the 30s (at night) in Thimphu, Bhutan. As the queen Read More…