Famous Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. Doesn't it look like a postcard?

Coming into my Southeast Asia part of the trip, the only things I had on my agenda were 4 main countries; Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Taiwan.  Flying into Hanoi, the Northern part of Vietnam was where my journey would begin.  After arriving on a connecting flight from Moscow, the first thing that hit me was the humidity!!  The only other time I could remember humidity like this was way back in high school when I spent a summer in Okinawa, Japan.  It’s not so much the heat that gets you but more the humidity since you feel really sticky once you step outside.  After the humidity, the 2^nd thing I noticed about Hanoi was the amount of motorbikes on the road.  I saw everything from a guy carrying a 42” tv on the back of his motorbike to a family of 4 (2 parents and 2 young kids) riding on a single motorbike.  It was a bit of a culture shock coming from the developed countries of Europe.

Car? Just throw it on the back of your motorbike.

Spending a week up in Hanoi as my base, I decided to take one day tours my first two days to small towns within a few hour bus ride from the city.  The next trips were 1 night, 2 day excursions, one to Ha Long Bay (one night on a boat) and the other to Sa Pa, a village in the Northwest region.  Timing for the Ha Long Bay trip was perfect as the first day was clear and sunny which was great for photos.

The Sa Pa trip had rain the night before the main hike which made for some muddy conditions on the 6-mile hike to a small village for lunch.  One thing that really stuck out on both trips was the standard of living for the locals.  Our tour guide for the Ha Long Bay tour mentioned that the crew on the boat only get 4 days a month off, work from 6 am-9 pm and make just under $300 a month.  I was shocked about how little they make along with the long hours and minimal time off.  It really put things in perspective compared to how people in the US live.  I couldn’t help but feel like a spoiled American when I thought back to some of the ‘problems’ I thought I had in my life.  I tried to tip whenever and wherever I could, even if it wasn’t a lot, hopefully it made a small difference for them.

My tour guide for the 2 days in Sa Pa. She was great!

One of my favorite things about traveling other than sightseeing has been the people.  Whether it’s at a hostel, on a tour or on the bus, meeting people from all ages and parts of the world has been one of the highlights of my travels.  Since most of us are in the same boat in that we are traveling alone, it’s easy to strike up a conversation with just about anyone.  I don’t know how many times I’ve told people about my journey and the places I’ve seen but it’s something that I have yet to get tired of.  Not only do you get a different perspective but you can also get pointers on your future itinerary with must-see places and things you can skip.

Unlike the Spain video, Vietnam is probably one of my favorite videos, if not my favorite.  The change of scenery from Europe to Southeast Asia couldn’t have come at a better time.  I’m not going to lie, I’ve watched the video at least 20 times and it makes me smile every time. Hope you enjoy it!

Bonus Country: Cambodia

Another perk of traveling solo and without a set itinerary is the flexibility you have if you decide to add or subtract a destination.  That was the case with Cambodia as my original plan was to spend 3-4 days there before heading to Thailand.  After checking flight prices and the amount it would cost to get there, I decided to skip Cambodia and spend a few more days in Vietnam.  That changed (again) when I spoke to a few travelers on my trip up to Sa Pa.  They highly recommended it even it was for just one full day.  After some contemplation, I decided to bite the bullet and do a 48 hour trip there, wishy washy, I know.  The most famous attraction in Cambodia is Ankgur Wat and it’s many temples so that’s what I did.  The temples did not disappoint and they were something you need to see in person as the photos below don’t do it justice.

Ankgor Wat temple

 

Never saw the movie but this is where Tomb Raider starring 
Angelina Jolie was filmed

 

Nose to nose with Buddha

 

QOTP: “Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have.”  -Jim Rohn