My desire to visit Vietnam was ignited the first time I glimpsed a photograph of Halong Bay. It countered the image of Vietnam I had conjured in my head; the one where chaotic streets are overcrowded with motorbikes and stifled with pollution.… Read the rest
Vietnam ranks as one of the most fascinating countries we have ever visited. For a country half the size of Texas, it packs a punch with buzzing cities, natural wonders, historic temples, mountain retreats and beach island getaways. If you are limited on time, but intent on getting a sweeping view of Vietnam, our 2-week Vietnam Itinerary is for you.… Read the rest
Sticking to our budget is key for traveling long term, so we’ve limited ourselves to an average of $100 per day for accommodation, food, drinks, public transportation and any miscellaneous costs that pop up (and they always do). The only thing that takes precedence over the budget is whether or not we’re enjoying the journey.… Read the rest
Vietnam, as a country, is affordable. At least more affordable than any other country we have traveled to so far on our journey. We weren’t sure what to budget for Phu Quoc, Vietnam – an island off the southern tip of the country.… Read the rest
“What’s that noise?” I ask Kris. “Nothing,” he tells me. Nothing but the gentle waves rolling onto the beach just outside our front door and the occasional fishing boat chugging by. Those are the only pre-dawn noises we heard on Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.… Read the rest
When we chose a four-day stopover in Dalat as part of our three-week journey through Vietnam, we did it based on a single reason: the promise of cool, mountain weather. We didn’t care about the sights or tours or food, we just wanted to escape the heat.… Read the rest
Continued from Touring Vietnam’s Central Highlands
The next stop on our tour of Vietnam’s Central Highlands was visiting a Vietnam village; the one our guide grew up in. We turned off the main road and bounced and bumped our way along the narrow path until simple, shack homes came into view.… Read the rest
When the first stop while touring Vietnam’s Central Highlands was at a ‘cricket farm’ for a taste of the fried critters, it clearly set the tone for the day. As promised, this was not going to be like any other tour in Vietnam.… Read the rest
Just off the coast of Hoi An, Vietnam are the Cham Islands, which are made up of eight islands. Only the largest, Hon Lao, is inhabited with people. Motorboats race tourists across the nine miles of choppy water for a day trip to the Cham Islands.… Read the rest
Being that Hoi An is geared toward tourism, getting a feel for how the locals live isn’t as easy as in other parts of Vietnam. That being said, finding local Hoi An, Vietnam experiences can be achieved by simply getting out of the resorts, off the main shopping streets and into the neighborhoods.… Read the rest