04/28/2026
People always ask why I keep returning to Vietnam. First, I’m not a country-counter, traveling just to tick off places. Visiting once is never enough to sink into a place, get into its rhythms, and feel at ease enough to relax into a place. Second, SE Asia always feels both relaxing and wildly exhilarating at the same time. It’s chaotic and overwhelming at times (on the back of a motorbike in Saigon!) but it’s easy to also find serenity, peace and quiet. The heat forces you to slow down in the middle of the day, to relish its sensual languor. And then, bam! the nighttime hits you with excitement, thrills, and sensory stimulation as the cities come alive with music, food and markets. And there is so much beauty here. Forget beige and gray minimalism: every corner is a riot of color and texture, scent and flavors. There are relics and new skyscrapers, seamlessly interwoven, with both faded and bright colors everywhere. It’s not a place for travelers who want to float in a bubble, sealed off from smells and sounds; rather, it’s for the curious and adventurous, who want to dive in and get swept up in the senses, who will relish the cacophony of motorcycle beeps and the wafting scents of food stalls, and still find peace in the stillness of the rivers and beaches.
