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
backpacking
10 Lessons from Three Months in Southeast Asia
Anthony Bourdain related going to Asia for the first time like finding out there's a new color you never knew existed and I feel the same way. It's overwhelming and surprising and always a little bit stressful. There's constantly something new to experience, from the bizarre looking fruits … [Read more...] about 10 Lessons from Three Months in Southeast Asia
Photo Friday: Cat Ba Island, Vietnam
Cat Ba Island, the women's island, was named for the rediscovery of the island when only women were seen. The men were out fishing, of course. The largest island in Halong Bay is an UNESCO World Heritage site and national park, not to mention a great add-on to the standard cruises. After one night … [Read more...] about Photo Friday: Cat Ba Island, Vietnam
What I Want in a Halong Bay Cruise
When planning a trip to Vietnam, I heard too much information about Halong Bay cruises. I was inundated with information, so it became hard to know where to start. While I'd heard lots of good things about the Hanoi Backpackers Castaways cruises, it became clear to be that I would be expected to … [Read more...] about What I Want in a Halong Bay Cruise
Traveling the Top End with Wayoutback
When I decided to add Darwin to my itinerary, I immediately started looking for tour companies that led trips to the national parks, Kakadu and Litchfield. There are lots of tour companies that range in levels of luxury and in length of trips, but many didn't operate during the rainy season at all. … [Read more...] about Traveling the Top End with Wayoutback