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
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| 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?
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| 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.
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| 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)
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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.
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| off the coast of Mactan Island, Philippines |
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| Kawasan Falls in Cebu, Philippines |
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| 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
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| ride bikes up Phnom Krom 'mountain' in Siem Reap |
Who can talk about Cambodia without mentioning Angkor
Wat?
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| 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
8th-14th centuries.
Impressive
in size, layout, and architecture, no wonder this is Southeast Asia’s major
tourist draw.
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| 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?
