Five Places Worth Another Visit

One of the most obnoxious things to hear from tourists as they travel is that they’ve “done” a country. “Have you done Laos?” “Yeah I did Laos right after I did Cambodia.”

As foreigners, each new place we visit is a rich, diverse, complicated place where people actually live. It’s more than just a vacation spot.

Given the time and money, you could return over and over and discover new things each time. You could live there for years and still not understand exactly how everything works!

With that in mind, here are the top 5 places worth a second (or third!) visit.

5. VIETNAM

probably Bui Vien in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

One trip to Vietnam is not enough.

On your first trip you can explore the south. I went in January 2014 during Tet or Vietnamese New Year. Ho Chi Minh City aka Saigon is a city that buzzes with incredible traffic, delicious coffee, and neatly groomed public parks.

A tour of the nearby Cu Chi tunnels is an eye-opening experience. Don’t take it personally when the tour guides speak about “American devils.” Remember this is history from the Vietnamese perspective, and the US has been involved in plenty of shady business throughout history.

After the city, take some time to unwind at the beach. Hop on a bus and head directly east until you reach Vung Tau. Check out the Imperial Hotel for an opulent, colonial-style getaway complete with private beaches and marble statues around every corner. I enjoyed the entire wheel of brie and fresh bread in the breakfast buffet each morning. Go big or go home, right?

outdoor show for Tet

On your second trip to Vietnam, it’s time to head to the north. I was there in December 2015. Try to stay in the capital city Hanoi and leave enough time to travel to the famously beautiful Ha Long Bay.

If you want to avoid the crowds but still enjoy the limestone islands along the water, I’d suggest skipping the touristy bay cruises and heading down to Cat Ba Island on the southeastern edge of the bay. With a sleepier atmosphere, Cat Ba Island is full of fishermen instead of touts.

Lan Ha Bay on Cat Ba island, Vietnam

December in the north of Vietnam is anything but tropical, so don’t forget your close-toed shoes and some warm-weather clothes for the evening.

After two trips, Vietnam still has plenty to see. The Mekong River Delta in the far south looks gorgeous in photos and has extended boat tours available. In the far north near the Chinese border, there are bright green rice terraces situated beautifully on the mountainside. Guess I’ll have to go back!

4. MYANMAR (BURMA)

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Burma

Tourism to Myanmar (Burma) is developing rather quickly, although the country has only been open to tourists since 2015. One of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, Burma has plenty of culture for visitors to discover.

The first place most foreigners see is Yangon, the Burmese capital city until 2006. In the central region of Burma, Yangon is famous for the sizable golden Shwedagon Pagoda.

With foreign technology sweeping the country, not everyone is prepared. In June 2014 I saw people taking their first rides on escalators. I even saw a family put their baby through the metal detector on the way into the pagoda.

Since tourism is relatively recent, Yangon doesn’t have a disdain for tourists just yet. One taxi driver took me to eat mohinga, a Burmese fish stew, before he took me to the airport. He said he couldn’t imagine someone leaving the country without trying his favorite food. He even paid.

Burma is a travel destination that visitors will find refreshingly untouched.

downtown Yangon

After Yangon, the second most photographed place in Burma has to be Bagan, the northern plains city dotted with thousands of ancient temples. Stacy and I took my cousin Kike for a visit in April 2016.

Bagan, Myanmar

With the country opening new areas of the country to tourism each year, there is new information all the time.

I have seen photos of untouched islands encircling crystal clear lagoons in the south. I heard a train ride across the country is breathtaking.

With so little information about the country available to foreigners, maybe we need to visit to learn more.

3. HONG KONG

view from Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

For any traveler avoiding the expensive Chinese visa fee, Hong Kong is the closest we can get to the Chinese mainland. I went for a visit in February of 2016.

The city is gorgeous and reminiscent of San Francisco: tons of buildings crammed onto hillsides, all cascading down to a beautiful bay. 

soho neighborhood in Hong Kong

If you get excited about fireworks, a good time to go is during Chinese New Year. Before this visit, I had never seen monkey-shaped fireworks before. I didn’t even know it was possible. The CNY fireworks display is definitely a marvel worth seeing.

If you like to shop, remember that much of the city is shut down for the holiday while shop owners spend time with their family. For those who like to party though, HK mainstays are all open. 

Causeway Bay in Hong Kong

Natural scenery is always open too. I climbed Victoria Peak and rode the unique local transportation--these double-decker vintage streetcars.

With a rich history as a major port city of Asia, it would take plenty of visits to Hong Kong before a traveler could get bored.

2. PHILIPPINES

El Nido, Palawan island, Philippines

The Philippine Islands have everything: modern cities, postcard beaches, delicious food, and great people. I took Stacy to the Philippines for her birthday in August of 2016 and I was overjoyed to find there is just nothing uncomfortable or unwelcoming about the country.

Filipinos are definitely the Latinos of Asia. Everyone speaks perfect English so getting around is 100% less intimidating than most other places in Asia. The extrajudicial killings in the news at the time are a little nuts, but we can’t hold government actions against the entire country.

The beauty of the water is impressive in the Philippines. From beaches to waterfalls to the plentiful ocean, a visitor would be hard-pressed to get tired of all the opportunities to be in nature. Whether swimming, hiking, or snorkeling, the Philippines has endless natural attractions that would take multiple visits to explore. 

off the coast of Mactan Island, Philippines

Kawasan Falls in Cebu, Philippines

oldtown + downtown Manila

Beyond nature, there is plenty of modern convenience as well.  I had been hearing horror stories about Manila for years; People told me it’s dangerous, drab, and smelly.  On my trip, I saw quite the opposite--hip restaurant culture, excellent cocktail bars, great local food, and the prices were super affordable.

Some areas of Manila can be rough around the edges, but they still have the open Filipino culture to make visitors feel welcome and enjoy their prized local delights. In Pasay City, a friendly prostitute taught Stacy and I how to eat our first (and last for me!) balut. Hospitality at its finest.

1. CAMBODIA

ride bikes up Phnom Krom 'mountain' in Siem Reap

Who can talk about Cambodia without mentioning Angkor Wat?

Angkor Wat near Siem Reap, Cambodia

After my visit in Thanksgiving of 2014, the famous ruins of the Angkor archeological site stayed in my mind for months. An ancient wonder, these ruins have fascinated the world since they were built during the time of Angkor during the 8^th-14^th centuries.

Impressive in size, layout, and architecture, no wonder this is Southeast Asia’s major tourist draw. 

Angkor Wat near Siem Reap, Cambodia

It’s an ancient temple complex but it looks like an entire city. It. Is. Huge.

Stone roads, statues, massive multi-room buildings, and fortified walls as far as the eye can see. In one day, you can maybe see portions of the first two temples Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. In a week you can explore the main sites, but a serious visitor would need a month to see all of the lesser-known temples that make up this entire archaeological site.

Who could even think about cramming in a trip to Siem Reap and the capital Phnom Penh in the same visit?

Even larger than the Incan city of Machu Picchu, the sheer size of Angkor will have you dreaming about your return visit to Cambodia.

What about you? What places have you been that you would go again?