Don’t Skip: Hoi An, Vietnam
Intro to Hoi An One of the best ways to get around Vietnam is their well-developed train system. However, Don’t Skip: Hoi An just because is not on the tracks. Hop off at Da Nang and share a taxi to Hoi An. This ancient city is recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage town and […]
5 Fun Southeast Asian Taxis
From the simple cyclo to the most decked-out, sparkly tuk tuk, getting a ride in Southeast Asia is an adventure. Having evolved from the need to navigate narrow streets quickly, efficiently and cheaply, these vehicles can whisk you from one side of town to the other, usually with ease. Just be sure to negotiate a […]
Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate
Vietnamese banh trang or rice paper wrappers are so delicate you can see through them. These images were captured near Ho Chi Minh City last year. These translucent discs made from water, rice and sometimes a bit of tapioca flour. They are dried in the sun over large woven bamboo racks. They are used to make delicacies such as spring and summer rolls.
Vietnam Travel Budget: From đồng to Dollars
From the Mekong Delta in the south to the mountains in the north, from the urban hubs of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to world-famous Halong Bay, Vietnam is a country of diversity. Go prepared to bargain and use your street smarts, especially in the cities. Keep and open mind, and don’t shy away from the chance to sit on a plastic mini stool and eat some amazing food or take a ride on a motorbike! Gorgeous landscapes will surround you, and a new adventure is around every corner.
Reflection: Vietnam
Our visual journey through Vietnam.
My Ever Changing Name
After traveling in Asia for the last 9 months I’ve come up with an observation. I’m not sure if I’m the only person who feels this way or if other travelers share my same bit of humor about it. Here it is. In countries that are not native English speaking there is a common rhythm […]
2011 Photo Roundup
South Korea Knowing less about South Korea than either Japan or China made for some wonderful surprises. A rich, colorful culture and curious, helpful people made our visit here one of true discovery. China Size and numbers, that’s China. Too big to possibly ever know then whole country and more people than imaginable. With thousands […]
Cat Ba Island and Halong Bay
Halong Bay is for many travelers the #1 must-see destination in Vietnam. With jagged limestone peaks that rise from the blue-green waters of Tonkin Bay and countless spiky rock islands with hidden grottoes and swooping birds dotting the horizon as far as the eye can see, it’s truly unique. After a couple of frustrating days […]
Paddling Upstream
Sometimes travel is a struggle. Everyone suffers moments of discouragement and frustration, times when everything seems to be working against you. But it’s often these times that turn out to be the most memorable, when you learn something about yourself while trying to see the world from someone else’s perspective. Ninh Binh was supposed to […]
Time for Socks in Hue
With the exception of some chilly nights at high altitude on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau in Western Sichuan Province, we had been sweating since leaving South Korea at the end of June. The streets of urban China offered many reasons to keep feet covered, but we abandoned shoes entirely after entering Southeast Asia in September. […]