-
Vietnam on the Reunification Line: Coasting from Saigon to Da Nang
This has been the year for checking things off my list. I wouldn’t call it a bucket list, but I’ve had a mental tally of “must-dos” for years. Last month was the train from Hong Kong to Laos. This week, I closed the loop on Vietnam by train. A decade ago, I rode the rails…
-
Vietnamese Ear Cleaning
Last year my good friend Dave told me about an unusual experience he had after getting a haircut in Vietnam. The barber asked him if he wanted something additional done. Though he didn’t know what the barber had offered, Dave is always game for cultural experiences, so he said yes. “Next thing you know”, he…
-
Finding a beach paradise in Nha Trang, Vietnam
The town of Nha Trang in Vietnam has to be one of the biggest surprises of my trip to SE Asia this year! It is a coastal town about an hour and a half flight from Saigon. I didn’t expect much since I hadn’t seen any nice beaches in Vietnam, but what I found is…
-
Is Da Lat the Switzerland of SE Asia?
I expressed disappointment to my Saigon tour guide that SE Asia lacks any mountain towns to escape the heat. I further explained to him that Mexico is filled with charming high altitude villages when he asked, “have you not heard of Da Lat?” To be fair I’d heard of it but only as the region…
-
Two days in Da Nang
Whenever I’ve been asked about Da Nang, I always tell people it is nothing more than a transfer hub. At least that’s all I’ve ever used it for. It has the closest airport and train station to charming Hoi An, which should be on everyone’s visit list when visiting Vietnam. My friend Vora had visited…
-
Food, fun, and friendship in Vietnam
Things took a turn this week when my long time friend and fellow traveler Vora Dollar joined me in Vietnam. Our relationship has changed over the years, and now I think I’m learning more from her than she is from me. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is our mutual curiosity about the world and…
-
The story behind Vietnamese egg coffee
The first morning at my Saigon hostel, I headed downstairs at my usual 5:30 am and was surprised to encounter someone else there. Dave is my age and recently retired from a career as a firefighter. I was impressed to learn that he could survive on his pension, and he replied, “I can if I…
-
Throw away your plans and just enjoy Saigon
Documenting a new place It had been six years since I’d been in Vietnam, and my visit to Ho Chi Minh City marked the first time I’d been to a new place in a while. I found myself having to remember how to experience and document a place. Historically, I’d spend hours pouring over resources,…
-
Photos: Hoi An, Viet Nam
The tiny town of Hoi An in Viet Nam is as picturesque as they come.
Category: Vietnam
Browse by category:
