I've talked about plenty of things I don't think are worth it in Southeast Asia, namely things that other people think are fun that I'm not overly interested in. The Full Moon Party. Elephant rides. Tubing in Vang Vieng. Selfies with tigers at Tiger Temple. Shooting off guns in Vietnam. Halong … [Read more...] about Experiences Worth Having in Southeast Asia
Vietnam
Life and Times of Ho Chi Minh
Before deciding to go to Vietnam, I could have told you little to nothing about the man known as Ho Chi Minh. I knew he was once a chef and spent time overseas before returning to his home country and ushering it into the modern and Communist age. But until turning up at the Ho Chi Minh … [Read more...] about Life and Times of Ho Chi Minh
Mui Ne’s Red Sand Dunes
I'd seen pictures of the otherworldly landscape of the sand dunes in Mui Ne prior to arriving in Vietnam. It seemed odd that a town without much to offer in terms of attractions would be home to two massive sand dunes. The White Sand Dunes are located about an hour out of town, while the Red Sand … [Read more...] about Mui Ne’s Red Sand Dunes
Where Uncle Ho Meets Mother Russia
I had been forewarned about the number of Russian visitors to Vietnamese beach towns like Nha Trang and Mui Ne, but it was different seeing it firsthand. Upon sitting down at a restaurant, the waiter assesses you to determine if you speak English or Russian. Usually we were handed Russian menus … [Read more...] about Where Uncle Ho Meets Mother Russia
Lured Into the Charms of Hoi An
If Hue was a stopover, Hoi An was the place I could have spent a week. I'd heard so many great things from my fellow travelers about the historic town in middle Vietnam, but I still wasn't sure if it would seem too Disney-esque for my liking. But my concerns were unfounded. Hoi An is as … [Read more...] about Lured Into the Charms of Hoi An