Geo: -21.2318, -159.763... read more

Geo: 21.0243, 105.855Vietnam started, and now ends, with a bowl of pho - quite fitting for our trip, as you can say that we've come pho circle in our journey through one of Southeast Asia's gems. There's something quite comforting about eating a bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup, though it's a seemingly contradictory activity to undertake in such a steamy, sweltering country. Still, that didn't stop us from chowing down on the stuff at least once, and up to two or three times per day. It always seemed to be a relaxing start to the morning, before venturing out into the chaotic streets.We had one last night in Hanoi before flying home, and it wasn't something we were overly looking forward to - after three nights in HCMC and a couple of days previously in Hanoi, ... read more

Geo: 22.3945, 104.056An exhausting night train in, and an exhausting night train out - very few tourist sites are worth such fatigue and effort, but the incredible rice terraces of Sapa certainly were. One of the best decisions we made in Vietnam was to squeeze in Sapa, even though we knew we would be wrecked by the journey. Our final week in Vietnam looked like this:Wake up early in Hanoi, check out of the hotel, tour the hot, humid, and chaotic city, before the 22:00 night train. Sleep maybe an hour or two on the stuffy, bumpy train to Sapa, on beds that are 6" too short.Roll into Lao Cai at 6:00 AM, ride an hour in a cramped minibus to Sapa, have breakfast, hike all day, before finally being able to check into the hotel ... read more

Geo: 15.875, 108.336There may not be a more picturesque location in Vietnam than Hoi An's Old Town - too bad it doesn't really feel like Vietnam! Good or bad, Hoi An's Old Town feels extremely foreign compared to our previous stops - it seems almost too perfect, too manufactured, to be the Vietnam we've come to know. If the World Showcase at Disney's Epcot Center had a Vietnamese pavilion, it would probably look and feel just like Hoi An. In fact, strolling around the riverfront, with its intricate lanterns beautifully lit up, evokes images of Disney's Electrical Parade. Hoi An is Disneyfied Vietnam - even though we never came across Minh Mouse, Donald Duc, or Nguyen the Pooh, it still should be called Disney-Nam!Don't get me wrong, because there are some fantastic aspects of the Old ... read more

Geo: 10.9604, 108.311Chaotic, crowded, dusty, and polluted ... all those descriptors of Vietnam's largest city were verified as being true, but we still managed to find some positives about HCMC, which was far more enjoyable than its negative reputation would've suggested. Exploring HCMC was both maddening and exhilarating at the same time - love it or hate it, you can't deny that there is an indescribable buzz in the air, one that leaves you feeling wonderfully discombobulated.HCMC's notoriety led to us planning for only three nights here, which wound up being the perfect amount of time. Between the awesome activities and incredible food, HCMC left a very positive impression on us - but it's definitely a city where, had we spent even one more night, our perceptions would have changed dramatically. HCMC was new and exciting, ... read more