Installment #4 of my Budget Breakdown series is here to detail what my Vietnam trip cost. This series is meant to help folks budget for their trips to various places around the world. Like my Thailand trip cost breakdown, my Vietnam trip budget also reflects different types of travel budgets, from a backpacker budget to… Read More Budget Breakdown: How Much My Vietnam Trip Cost
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. It’s just as vibrant, historied, and chaotic as Ho Chi Minh City, its southern counterpart. Yet, it is decidedly different. In Hanoi, you feel more of the thousands of years of history that have defined Vietnam and its people. You find its roots. Its southern sibling reflects more of the… Read More Hanoi: A Two-Day Itinerary
I didn’t expect much from Da Nang. I’d never heard of it before figuring out where to fly into in order to meet my friends in Hoi An, and no one had ever exclaimed love and adoration (or discomfort and ambivalence) about it. I thought it was just going to be a layover, but I’m… Read More The Best of Da Nang: Gateway to Central Vietnam
There are thousands of guides out there on things to do in Ho Chi Minh City, so there’s no reason for me to write yet another one telling you to visit the War Remnants Museum or Ben Thanh Market. (You should read my DIY guide to the real Cu Chi Tunnels though.) Instead, here are my… Read More 5 Amazing, Underrated Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
One of the most popular things to do in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) is visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels. Most people join a tour group to make the visit. But if that’s not your vibe, great news: it’s possible to DIY it! Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Cu Chi… Read More How to Do the Cu Chi Tunnels Tour on Your Own (Updated for 2024)
Nothing was as I expected in Hue. My face stung as the bike sped up and the wind whipped the rain onto my face. I fervently wished the helmet I was wearing had a visor. Once my face got used to the sting, I realized that there were way more people in Hue than I… Read More Secrets & Decay: Exploring the Ancient Vietnamese Capital of Hue
One of Vietnam’s most visited cities, Hoi An is perhaps also the easiest, most comfortable introduction to the country. In contrast to the chaotic hustle and bustle of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, which can make even the most seasoned travelers wary, Hoi An feels calmer and more inviting. Its cobblestone streets and well-preserved, UNESCO-recognized… Read More The City of Lanterns: Experiencing the Best of Hoi An in 3 Days
I arrived in Hoi An full of resolve that I wasn’t going to get anything tailored. After all, I was on a 5-month backpacking trip with only a 46L pack and a backpack, and I certainly didn’t have space. But within a day of being surrounded by the hundreds of tailors in the city, I… Read More How to Pick a Tailor in Hoi An (Plus My Pick!)
When I left on my funemployment trip through Asia, the only plans I had was to start in Manchuria and work my way south as the weather got colder and to meet my boyfriend in southern Thailand for Thanksgiving. So I packed mostly warm weather clothes and a few layers for autumn in China, all rolled… Read More What I Packed for 5 Months in Asia, from the Himalayas to Southeast Asia