Southeast Asia is full of extremely overwhelming cities—between Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and others, there is no shortage of traffic, overcrowded sidewalks, and odd sights and smells. Vientiane stands in contrast to any other SE Asian capital; an extremely laid back and relaxed city, it is almost a…

Along the Southeast Asian backpacker trail, you will find a lot of people who immediately cringe when the city of Vang Vieng is mentioned. What I have found is that most of these people have never actually visited Vang Vieng; they instead base their opinion on rumors and bleak…

Luang Prabang is definitely the most visited city in Laos, and it’s not hard to see why. With a plethora of beautiful landscapes, historical sites, friendly people, and great shopping, Luang Prabang has something that appeals to everyone. The city itself is located in north central Laos, and the…

1. HCMC’s Ben Thanh Market – Vietnam This is one of the biggest and most overwhelming indoor markets in South East Asia. They sell anything and everything you could want; from food to clothes to trinkets to candy to sunglasses. This is an excellent place to wander around for a…

Let’s face it: Bangkok is a completely overwhelming city. Its sheer size is enough to intimidate tourists in to only exploring the vicinity of Khao San. However, Bangkok can be much more enjoyable if you set your sights on some of the other districts and immerse yourself in the…

Hanoi is an immensely sprawling city; it seems that no matter how far you get from the city center, it just keeps going. A city of 6.5 million inhabitants, it can be intimidating to feel that you get a good grasp on Hanoi—especially if you just stay in the…

For many travelers, it is a welcomed respite any time you get to spend a few days in a modern enough city to get some amenities from home. Traveling, especially long term, can be a little harsh on your health; whether it is falling out of workout routines from…

When moving or traveling to another country, it’s important to know what you are getting yourself in to from a financial perspective. Many who choose to move to Southeast Asia have heard of the low prices and cost of living; while it is true that prices are lower than…

The cost of eating in Southeast Asia is wildly different than in Western countries; the inexpensive cost of food and travel is a huge appeal for tourists and expats seeking to spend time in this part of the world. As far as food prices in Hanoi, there are certainly…

There are many options for getting around (and in between) different countries in SE Asia; though you can take a rented / private car, or sometimes take the train…it is almost always the cheapest and most efficient option to take a bus. Bus companies have sprung up in nearly…