Vietnam

Is your next stop Vietnam? Check out the advice, stories and tips I can offer after my July-August 2010 trip there, which saw me visit the cities of Hanoi, Nha Trang and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City); as well as rural regions like Mui Ne, Hoi An and Sapa.

Vietnam’s Cu Chi Tunnels

Cu Chi Tunnels Travel

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Pay a visit to the subterranean Cu Chi tunnels, one of the most impressive defense systems in the history of war, even if seeing relics of the Vietnam War is a low priority for you.

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Prices in Vietnam for Travelers

Woman counting Vietnamese dong in Hoi An, Vietnam

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Traveling within any sort of budget in Vietnam is easily doable — unless, of course, the budget to which you want to adhere is extremely large.

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Travel Vietnam by Bus With Sinh Cafe

Sign at the beach in Nha Trang, Vietnam containing a pun: "No Peddling" next to a bike

While the Sinh Cafe’s buses are far from the most comfortable I’ve traveled in, they are nonetheless the most efficient, cost-effective means of traveling up or down Vietnam’s coast.

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Vietnam Travel Photos: The Reunification Express

Vietnam Travel Photos

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Vietnam will forever hold an important place in my heart: during the three weeks I spent in this magical country, I mapped out what ended up being the path to my wildest dreams.

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The Rough Road from Vietnam to Laos

Travel to Laos photos

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Whether your primary goal is to partake in an ultra-local experience or simply to avoid exorbitant airfares, travel overland from Vietnam to Laos — but don’t expect a quick or particular comfortable journey.

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Introducing Cat Ba Island, Vietnam

Travel in Vietnam's Ca Ba Island

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If you’re planning a visit to Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, travel an extra 45 minutes or so to the sleepy island of Cat Ba. It’s not only a tranquil place to sleep, but also boasts a bevy of other sights to see.

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Mui Ne, Vietnam’s Disappearing Beach

Erosion in Mui Ne, Vietnam

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While Mui Ne is neither Boracay nor even Koh Chang, its miles of Martian-looking sand dunes, residents who live almost oblivious to the presence of tourists and colorful, flowery aesthetic gives you the sense of somewhere incredibly lush and vital–even in spite of its disappearing beach.

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