Da Lat is a beautiful city in the center of Vietnam. Originally, we had only planned on spending a day and a half here. The moment we arrived and saw everything there is to do, we extended our stay to three full days. It was just that awesome. Two of our days were spent going…
Tag: Vietnam
Canyoneering in Da Lat, Vietnam
Canyoneering or Canyoning is a popular activity in Da Lat, Vietnam. In fact, visitors from all over the world are drawn to this small city that was once occupied by the French. Oui, c’est vrai. We happened to be the ignorant kind of tourists who had never even heard of such an activity. This quickly…
Christmas in Vietnam: Confetti & Selfies
Christmas in Vietnam is not as new as you may think. This is because Vietnam used to be part of the French Empire. French influences can be seen all over the country. However, Christmas is the most popular in the capital city Ho Chi Minh or Saigon. Christmas Eve is more important than Christmas Day….
Maze Bar (100 Rooftop Bar) in Da Lat, Vietnam 2018
From the moment we set foot in Da Lat, all that we heard other tourists talking about was the Maze Bar also know as 100 Roofs Bar/100 Rooftop Bar – supposedly, the coolest bar in all of Vietnam!
Paddle Boats on Xuan Huong Lake: Da Lat, Vietnam
One of travel traditions is going on paddle boats in as many countries as possible. As soon as we saw the Swan Boats on Xuan Huong Lake in Da Lat, we knew we had to go! For just $2 per boat for an hour, you can paddle around the lake and enjoy some beautiful views.
DOHA Cafe Review: Da Lat, Vietnam
The cafe has lots of seating across three floors, although the top one wasn’t being air-conditioned when I was there. However, the view of the Xuan Huong lake and Lam Vien square was worth it. They have a great selection of drinks including coffees, teas and juices. Although the prices are relatively steep for Vietnam, it’s still affordable on a Western budget. We didn’t get a chance to try any of their food although we were definitely tempted by their cakes and pastries.
Avocado Smoothies in Da Lat, Vietnam
I first heard about avocado smoothies on a half-day Countryside Tour of Da Lat. Vietnam is famous for their avocados and July just happens to be prime season! We were told that you can get them anywhere in the market, but it took us over an hour of searching, walking in circles and asking confused…
Crazy House, Da Lat, Vietnam 2017
The name of this place, the Crazy House, is no exaggeration. We got lost soon after entering since there are dozens of rooms on various floors with several ways to travel between them. You will find bizarre animal statues and beautiful views of the city – this might be one of the highest points in…
Da Lat Backpackers Hostel Review
We had very high expectations for this hostel because of all the raving reviews and we were not disappointed! My husband and I booked this hostel last minute after having problems with a different hostel. The staff were helpful and welcoming even before we arrived! Although we had originally planned on only spending two full…
Da Lat Countryside Tour: Weasel Poop Coffee Plantation
The last stop on our $10 Countryside Tour of Da Lat was the weasel poop coffee plantation. The first thing you should know about it, is that the animal that eats and poops out the coffee bean is not actually a weasel. It’s a luwak. The second thing you need to know is that it’s…
Da Lat Countryside Tour: Cricket Farm
The second to last stop on the $10 Da Lat Countryside Tour was a cricket farm! Forget what your mother told you when you were a toddler sticking bugs in your mouth. They DO belong there! As long as they are raised for human consumption, that is. Crickets are a great source of protein and…
Da Lat Countryside Tour: Buddhist Pagoda & Elephant Waterfall
The third part of the $10 Countryside Tour of Da Lat was the Buddhist Pagoda and the Elephant Waterfall. The first part of the tour included the rose garden and minority village and the second part was the silk factory. This half day tour was a great way to discover Da Lat, Vietnam! The Elephant…
Da Lat Countryside Tour: Silk Farm
The second stop on the $10 Countryside Tour in Da Lat was the silk farm! This stop came after the rose farm and the minority village where gender roles are reversed and gigantic spiders roam. You can read more about the first part of the tour here. Silk is made by silk worm pupae that…
Da Lat Countryside Tour: Rose Garden & Minority Village
The Da Lat Countryside tour was an amazing experience worth the $10 per person that we paid for it. The first part of the tour included a quick stop at the rose garden, where we got to see our first avocado tree! After that we visited a very unique minority village that also happened to…
Da Lat Countryside Tour Summary
Our expectations for this very affordable tour weren’t too high. We’ve been on several day tours that were packed with way too many activities to enjoy – this one was NOT like that! The tour started at 8:30 and ended at around 14:30. We were picked up a little late, but our enthusiastic guide completely…
Why is Da Lat the Coolest City in Vietnam?
Da Lat is located in the south of Vietnam about 7 hours north of Ho Chi Minh City. I might be biased after living in Prague for 20 years and coming to Da Lat from Mui Ne, a city that I really didn’t like. As soon as I got out of the sleeper bus and…
Worst Bus Ride Ever: Mui Ne to Da Lat “Sleeper Bus”
After having an amazing experience taking a Sleeper Bus from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne, we expected another great bus ride from Mui Ne to Da Lat. We could not have been more disappointed. We had booked the bus with Vietnam Bus Tickets over a month in advance but decided to leave Mui Ne…
10 Signs That You Travel Too Much
This year I’ve been lucky enough to travel. A lot. I spent New Year’s Eve in Seoul during a long layover after visiting the USA already anticipating my trip to the Philippines and Indonesia for Chinese New Year. Between working full time and working on my blog and YouTube channel, I was excited to have…
How I Became a Beveage (Vegan…ish)
‘Vegan’ is a word I never thought I’d use in reference to myself. Until three months ago, I never even said ‘vegan’ without grimacing unless I was being sarcastic. I loved meat, cheese and eggs, pitied vegetarians and looked down on vegans. Why did I single vegans out so much? One or two may have…
Red Sand Dunes in Mui Ne, Vietnam
Our last stop on the $5 tour of Mui Ne were the red sand dunes. Unlike the white sand dunes that were half an hour drive away, these red sand dunes are right in the center. Like all the other stops on the tour, entrance is actually free so you can go here on your…
Riding an ATV in Vietnam – White Sand Dunes, Mui Ne
When we set off on our $5 tour of Mui Ne, we did not expect that we’d be driving an ATV or to almost drive off a sand cliff. But our Vietnam trip was full of surprises! After visiting the Fairy Stream and Fishing Village, we were off to the white sand dunes. Mui Ne…
Mui Ne Fishing Market: a Fascinating Smelly Seafood Cemetery
Our second stop on the $5 Mui Ne Tour took us to a atrociously smelling but fascinating fishing market. Also known as the fishing village, many TripAdvisor reviews gave it low ratings due to it smelling bad and being covered with dead fish. Isn’t that what you’d expect to see (and smell) at a fish…
Don’t Ride Ostriches at the Fairy Stream – Mui Ne, Vietnam
The Fairy Stream is an incredibly unique place where a shallow river flows through sandy mountains, trailing red and yellow sand through the water. When you visit most rivers, you walk alongside their banks. At the Fairy Stream, you walk through the water and the warm mud feels amazing on your feet. Free foot spa?…
The Best Tour of Mui Ne Costs Just $5
Mui Ne is a popular beach town swarming with mostly Vietnamese and Russian tourists. It’s only a five hour drive from Ho Chi Minh which makes it a great place to go for a weekend getaway. Since it was really hot and bug-full during the time we went, we did not enjoy much our stay……
Mui Ne, Vietnam: Is it Worth Visiting?
Making an itinerary for a three-week Vietnam trip solely based on online research is extremely difficult. Everyone has different suggestions and no one can seem to agree on the right amount of time to actually spend there. Some manage to see all the highlights in a week while others claim that even two months isn’t…
Our Stay at Long Son Mui Ne Campground
Mui Ne is a popular beach town located not far from Ho Chi Minh. It is a popular travel destination for local and foreign tourists alike, predominantly Russians. Many of the signs and restaurants have Russian translations and there’s even a restaurant that translates to “Fires of Moscow”. Unfortunately we didn’t get to go to…
Taking a Sleeper Bus from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne
The easiest way to city-hop through Vietnam is by bus. Flying is not only more expensive, but the airports can be chaotic and there’s a higher change of delays than taking a bus. When I planned my trip, I read a lot about public buses. The repeating words mentioned in reviews included unreliable, uncomfortable and…
Draft Beers & Ciders at BiaCraft Artisan Ales in Ho Chi Minh
On our booze-full first day in Vietnam we visited several bars in Ho Chi Minh. The one with the greatest selection of draft drinks was definitely BiaCraft! The perfectly air-conditioned space had simple decorations and a mouth-watering menu. Picking a drink was absolutely excruciating. Did I want the beer with a dank hop aroma, strong…
Czech Beer & Food in Vietnam: Hao Vien Brauhaus
Vietnam and the Czech Republic don’t seem to have anything in common, right? Wrong. Although one is in Asia and the other is in Europe, plus the fact that language, food, culture and everything else is night and day. They actually have some common history. Plus, the largest minority living in the Czech Republic after…
A (Non) Touristy Day in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
How to spend a (non) touristy day in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam!
Lee Backpacker’s Hostel is Cheap & Perfectly Located, but Don’t Stay Here…
Hostels are great if you want to save money, meet fellow travelers and have friendly staff give you secret tips about a city. Ho Chi Minh is known for it’s crazy parties and Lee Hostel is in the heart of party central. It’s also by far the cheapest hostel in the city center. But those…
How to (Affordably) Leave Ho Chi Minh Airport at 2 AM
After successfully saving $20 by haggling for our visas (don’t try this at home, kids) we were positive we could get a fair price for a taxi to our hostel. We were originally supposed to arrive early enough to get a 20,000 Dong ($1) shuttle, but then our plane got delayed… several times. Making us…
Haggling for a Visa at Ho Chi Minh Airport
Our plane was scheduled to land in Ho Chi Minh at 10:30 PM and we were planning on taking a low-cost shuttle to our hostel. Unfortunately, we were flying from China, so naturally, we got in at 2 AM. We had filled out our visa papers in advance and we only had carry-on luggage, so…
Prepare for Upcoming Vietnam Posts!
Hello everyone, long time no post! Between visiting the Avatar Mountains, spending three weeks in Vietnam and moving apartments, I have fallen behind. Now I have three weeks to put a month of traveling and experiences into YouTube videos and blog posts. Wish me luck! In the mean time, please enjoy some of my favorite…
Planning a Trip to Vietnam
Most foreign teachers in China get the entire month of July off to go on holiday. We’re spending most of this time in Vietnam! I have become somewhat of an expert at trip planning and I’m also obsessed at trying to see a little bit of everything in a short amount of time. While this…
Addicted to Travel: Where to Next?
I don’t just want to travel the world. I need to.
ASIANFEST: PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2016 FESTIVAL
AsianFest Prague will take place on April 30th 2016 at Výstavište Holešovice and will feature food from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Korea. The festival introduces an entirely new concept and will transport visitors into the heart of Asia using traditional decorations and cultural performances. Read the full article on Prague.TV’s website. The best place to…
Asianfest: A Festival of Asian Gastronomy
See a Samurai performance, get a Thai massage and sample Korean cuisine at AsianFest. Taking place on April 30th 2016 at Výstavište Holešovice, AsianFest is an entirely new concept that has not been seen in Prague before. The festival will feature food from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Korea as well as cultural performances including…
Vietnamese Cuisine in Prague
Vietnamese cuisine is known mainly for their pho soups and tasty spring rolls that are widely available as fast food. Since the Vietnamese make up the 3rd largest minority in the Czech Republic, their cuisine is fairly common all over the country. Prague especially has a wide selection of tasty Vietnamese restaurants, bistros and fast…
A Quick Trip to Vietnam… Without Leaving Prague
Anyone living in Prague today knows that this city is practically littered with Potravinys, Vecerkas and a variety of Vietnamese owned stores and restaurants. The Vietnamese began building a community here during the communist regime in the former Czechoslovakia: they worked in machine-building and light industries while students studied in technical fields, Czech literature, some…
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