panoramic view of halong bay

If You Want to Find the Best Cruise in Halong Bay, Here is Why You Shouldn’t Go Cheap

Halong Bay is the highlight of a Northern Vietnam trip. For anyone who has been to Hanoi and found it as stressful as I did, a breathtaking boat ride through this UNESCO world heritage site will make it all worth it. But if you want to find the best cruise in Halong Bay, here's why you shouldn't do it on the cheap. To begin, choosing a cruise company to host the adventure is daunting. The...more
menu on table ho chi minh city restaurant

The Best Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, Including the Cutest Cafe Ever

Finding amazing food and charming cafes is one of my favorite things about traveling. In Vietnam, I was looking for cheap street food and noodles drowned in a variety of different broths. I was surprised in Ho Chi Minh City, when I also stumbled across amazing craft beer, hidden cafes and delicious egg coffee. If you're looking for some of the best restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, this list will give you a good...more
flowers and plants at pagoda in ho chi minh city

Top Things To Do On Your First Trip To Ho Chi Minh City

I was surprised how much I loved Ho Chi Minh City. With all the anticipation I had building around Hanoi and Hoi An, I almost considered skipping it all together. Perhaps my lack of excitement was exactly why I found myself enjoying it so much. Maybe it was because I had such a great travel companion. Maybe it was because it was my last stop in Vietnam and I was sad to leave.  Perhaps it...more
cafe table in hoi an

If You’re Looking For the Best Restaurants in Hoi An, Here’s the Perfect List

I was looking forward to my trip to Vietnam mostly for all the food and coffee I planned on eating while I was there. No place quite delivered on quality of food more than Hoi An, and I want to share with you what I think are the best restaurants in Hoi An. Next to Chiang Mai, this central region of Vietnam is home to some of the very best dishes in all of Southeast...more
lanterns hanging in old town hoi an

Want a List of the Best Things To Do in Hoi An? Here’s A Great Guide For First Time Visitors!

I much preferred the charming and quiet alleys of Hoi An, especially coming from the traffic-heavy streets of Hanoi. Some of my favorite things to do in Hoi An included wandering around the old town and sipping on coffee for a day in one of my favorite cafes. There was an ease to being in Hoi An. I fell in love with the streets and the colorful lanterns that adorned them. Other than a cruise...more

Wondering Where to Eat in Hanoi? Try Out These Places for Spicy Noodles and Egg Coffee

There were a lot of things about Hanoi that made me highly anticipate my trip there. Since it is mostly a raved about travel destination, I thought I would fall madly in love with it. Instead I found the busy and hostile streets of the old quarter unwelcoming. But the one thing that didn't disappoint was the food. If you're wondering where to eat in Hanoi, you'll want to keep this list with you. To...more
busy hanoi intersection

What You Should Expect on Your First Trip to Hanoi

Hanoi is a lot of traveler's favorite place to visit in Vietnam. I even met people who showed up and then blew off the rest of the country just to stay in Hanoi. I was looking forward to this city more than any other in Vietnam. I'm usually not let down when I get to a city that I highly anticipate going to, and I did end up eventually liking Hanoi.  But just like chopping...more
journal and camera at thai tea shop

List of Restaurants With the Best Chiang Mai Food and Best Thai Tea You’ll Ever Have

I loved the food in Thailand more than I loved the food in any other country I visited in Asia. This was in large part due to Chiang Mai and everything I consumed while there. I want to share my list of restaurants with the best Chiang Mai food you'll ever have. Outside of Paris and Italy, it was some of the best dishes I've eaten in my entire life. I'm going to keep the...more

Why You Will Most Likely Hate Bangkok On Your First Visit

A lot of traveler's first impression of Thailand is Bangkok - it's cheap and easily accessible to the rest of the region by train or cheap flights so it made sense to start my trip there. I had heard a lot of negative things about the Thai capital - it's dirty, smelly, and full of corruption. But I kept an open mind as I got off the plane with my backpack strapped tightly to my...more

Full Day Cooking Class at Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School in Chiang Mai

One of the most popular things to do in Chiang Mai is take a cooking class and learn how to make some of the regions most famous dishes. It's so popular that there is an abundance of cooking schools to choose from in and around the city center. I did a lot of research and weighed out the pros and cons of what each school had to offer. After collecting enough information, I chose the...more