Temporarily Lost

The country of Vietnam, a North-South-oriented landmass that plays home to nearly 80 million people, hosts it’s two major metropolises at either end of its meandering shape.  Being a “South-bounder,” one who started my exploration in the Northern capital of Hanoi and continued my journey South, I had already formed a mental image of what […]

Nha Trang, Vietnam: Further south along the coast in the Khanh Hoa province lies the coastal town of Nha Trang.  The juxtaposition of the pristine beaches and tiny islands along the South China Sea to the east with the backdrop of the looming mountains to the west has created a gorgeous landscape that explains why Nha Trang has become […]

There are certain locations that exist where the appeal lies not in a bounty of historical sites, not in their proximity to crumbling temples or prayer pagodas, nor due to the blessings of a beautiful landscape, but in the character and personality of the location itself — through the intangibles and ethereal characteristics that are difficult pinpoint, but that one will […]

Roughly half-way down the Vietnamese coast (and a horribly uncomfortable 14-hour bus ride from Hanoi) lies historical city of Hue.  This former Imperial City was home to 13 emperors of the Nyguyen dynasty during its reign as Vietnam’s capital from 1802 through 1945, many of whose massive tombs can still be visited today.  Beyond the opulent tombs, however, stand many ruins […]

One of the true pleasures of visiting Southeast Asia is the absolute abundance of amazingly appetizing street food (as well as alliteration!).  Everywhere you look, there are folks parked on plastic chairs on the sidewalk digging in, small grills being rolled out and tended to with a paper fan, the welcoming aroma of seared meat wafting […]

Hanoi, Vietnam: Throughout the course of its history, Hanoi has been called my many names — “Song Peace”, “Dragon Belly”, “Between Rivers”, “Ascending and Flourishing”, and my personal favorite, “The Rising Dragon” — but regardless of the many poetic monikers that it has taken on, it’s a city that lives with its history of colonialism, communism, capitalism, […]