I can think of very few countries that inspire as passionately varied reactions from travelers as Vietnam does. Its fans wax poetic about the breathtaking landscape, the intriguing culture and the resilient population. Its detractors spew bitterly about the traffic, the crime, and most of all: the unfriendly people. I’m fascinated by this. What is it…

Do you think there is a difference between travelers and tourists? I go back and forth on it. In general, I think we are just trying to feel better about ourselves when we label people. I think we are all just exploring the world in whatever way we feel comfortable. On the other hand, I felt…

Are you looking for a fun, family friendly activity or attraction in Ho Chi Minh City? Let me give you some hard-earned travel advice: Do not go to the Ho Chi Minh City Zoo. In our last few days in Vietnam we were back in Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon, as I often refer to…

This week was defined by (1) recovering from the illness I mentioned last week, (2) celebrating a dear friend’s birthday, and (3) going on my first ever visa run. The first demanded no photos, and evidence of the second is not meant for the internet. So that means Photo of the Week was taken on my…

Windsurfing was a rewarding new challenge, and getting off the beaten path to explore the mountain temple of Ta Cu was exhilarating, but nothing excited me more than the chance to see, photograph, and play in the famous Mui ne sand dunes. There are two distinctive hot spots: The red dunes, about 20 minutes drive outside…