Vietnam

I am a lucky girl. I am lucky because I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a good portion of my Spring Festival vacation in Vietnam. I crowdsourced most of my funding using Go Fund Me (wouldn't use the service again because it was quite expensive, but you live and learn). I was constantly amazed by the generosity of the people in my life. People gave what they could, even if it was no more than $10. I spent two weeks on the coast of Vietnam exploring all the cities and towns I could fit in. As it turns out, two weeks wasn't nearly enough. Vietnam is so beautiful and so complex that I think a month is the bare minimum I would have needed to spend there to do everything. I didn't even get to touch the highlands or the inner Mekong Delta. But it was still one of the greatest things I've ever done.  

I traveled solo, which was a pretty scary concept. Single woman, traveling alone in Southeast Asia. I thought I would be lonely. I thought I would get bored. But really, it turns out I love traveling by myself. I get to do whatever I want whenever I want. I can eat whatever funky street food or mystery meat I please. I can wander whatever alleys and nooks look interesting to me without having to consider if another person wants to, or if they're tired, or if they're veg or vegan or whatever dietary restrictions most of my friends seem to have. It was extremely liberating.  I also made friends along the way.

This is Khoi and Nga, we had grilled goat together in Saigon. They're pretty cool.

I could totally live in Saigon. I loved how graceful the city was. All the lovely French architectural elements blended with Vietnamese character into something really special. 

And the local flavor abounds.

I also went boating on the Mekong River.

And I also adored Saigon's beer street in the backpacker district. You pretty much just grab a chair and start talking. Instant friends.

Hoi An is one of my favorite places in the world. 

Who couldn't love that view? I almost up and moved there on the spot. Perhaps deciding against it was a bad call? I want to live in Vietnam. It's a wonderful place. Maybe State would station me there? Dreams sometimes can come true...