The Adventure Continues...

Itchy Feet YouTube Channel

New Videos on Fridays 7PM EST

Vietnam

VIDEO: The Mekong Delta is Life

The Mekong Delta is Life - Can Tho, Vietnam

In this episode of Exploring Vietnam, I investigate the Mekong Delta and its oh-so-fertile lands. The Delta is responsible for 40% of Vietnam’s food. It’s a very important place that is often over-looked by tourists. From Can Tho, I visit the local market, take a bicycle ride around farm land, and tour the floating market of Cai Rang. Learn about the popular fish of the area, see the area’s fruit growing in orchards, rice paddy fields, and of course the craziness of the floating market. The Mekong Delta is my favorite place in Vietnam. If you make it to the country, don’t skip this miraculous area.
More

Ea H’leo, Dak Lak: Truly off the beaten path Vietnam

Lake in Ea H'Leo, Dak Lak, Vietnam
The man-made lake in Ea H’Leo, Dak Lak, Vietnam

When Sara and I were asked by a Vietnamese friend to join her on a trip to her hometown, we hesitated at first. Truthfully, the 7 hour ride on a night-bus scared us more than a bit, but after a brief consultation we were 100% on-board. This would be a true off the beaten path Vietnam experience. Next stop: Ea H’leo, Dak Lak.
More

Hoi An, Vietnam: Tourism & Shopping, but also stuff that doesn’t suck.

japanese bridge hoi an vietnam
The Japanese Bridge in the ancient town of Hoi An, Vietnam

The Story – Hoi An, Vietnam

I have to admit, the first time I was in Hoi An I didn’t like it. The main reason: The tourists. I didn’t come to Vietnam to see westerners. The whole town is centered around tourism. Locals are aggressive when it comes to getting your business. The beautiful buildings are all shops selling — well, it doesn’t matter what they’re selling — I’m not here to shop. Truth be told, Sara and I were in and out of Hoi An in only a few hours. The heat and the harassing was just too much for your favourite budget travel couple. This time around though, I would be stationed in the city for 3 days. I’d have to do things differently if I wanted to keep my cool, so I brought my mom… She thinks I’m cool.
More

The Cham Islands, Vietnam: Read this before you go.

If you’re visiting the ancient trading port of Hoi An, you should also consider a visit to the Cham Islands, a group of eight islands in the South China Sea, 19 kilometers off the coast of Hoi An. They are apart of the UNESCO Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An Biosphere Reserve, which includes Hoi An, the islands, and the waters around them. This made the islands a popular tourist location… and basically screwed them. Pollution levels went up, fish populations went down, and the islands were built on with almost no regard for the natural beauty. The UNESCO money wasn’t spent on protecting the islands, but making them into a money generator. There are a few activities that might interest you: SCUBA diving, snorkeling, camping on the beach, etc. That being said, you’ll want to choose method of visiting wisely. I went on a tour with a local company. Here’s how that went:

The Cham Islands | Cù Lao Chàm

More

The Best Road in Vietnam – The Hai Van Pass

Vietnam's Best Road: The Hai Van Pass

The 21 km mountain pass that cuts through the Annamite Mountain range, is widely considered the best road in Vietnam. Whether you are in a car or on a motorbike, you’ll experience curves that make your heart beat faster as you drive past beautiful scenes, including the South China Sea from 1500 feet up.
More

Beer, Coffee, Food: The Best of Ho Chi Minh City

The Best of Ho Chi Minh City: Beer, Coffee, Food.

Sometimes, an expat has to go back to his roots. Back to the things he left behind in his first world country. I always try to embrace the Vietnamese culture, but I needed a little taste of home. Plus, it was my birthday, so why not celebrate it with a few of my favourite things? Beer, coffee, and food. It’s time to find the best of these in Saigon.
More

Ba Den or Black Virgin Mountain, Vietnam

Black Virgin Mountain | Núi Bà Đen, Việt Nam

In southern Vietnam, the title for highest peak goes to an extinct volcano that is forebodingly called Black Virgin Mountain. Núi Bà Đen (which more precisely translates to ‘mountain lady black’) sits, like an upside-down mixing bowl, in Tay Ninh province — about 100 kilometers northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, and only about 30 kilometres from the Cambodian border. The cinder cone is just short of 1000 metres tall – not huge – but the flat farm fields that surround it make it impossible for the granite bulge to hide.
More

A Guide to Thu Dau Mot and Binh Duong Province, Vietnam

Thủ Dầu Một, Bình Dương, Vietnam
Thu Dau Mot from the Becamex Hotel
Thủ Dầu Một (pronounced Too Yow Mot) is about 20 km north of Ho Chi Minh City — straight up the QL13. It’s the capital of Bình Dương province. In 1996, the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) was officially launched in the province. A cooperation between the two countries, the industrial park is a 500 hectare (1235 acres) industrial area that is equipped to hold over 200 manufacturing plants. They offer ready-built, modern factories that are fully equipped for foreign investors. The project brought a lot of attention to Binh Duong province.
More

The Best Day Trip from Saigon: the Cu Chi Tunnels

Cu Chi Tunnels and Shooting an AK47

Considering Trip Advisor rates the Củ Chi tunnels the number 2 thing to do when visiting Ho Chi Minh City, it’s ridiculous that we waited this long to see them. The 121 km tunnel system was preserved after the Vietnam War. They are one of the best ways to experience the Vietnamese side of the war, and to understand how they were able to beat one of the most powerful countries in the world.
More

The Best Way to Visit Cuc Phuong, Vietnam’s Largest National Park

Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam
Cuc Phuong National Park on a hazy/smokey morning.

The Story – Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam

Conservation in Vietnam started at Cuc Phuong National Park. It was consecrated by Ho Chi Minh in 1962, right in the middle of the Vietnam War. The bombs dropped and the defoliants used during the war, destroyed much of Vietnam’s forests and fauna. Ho Chi Minh told the people that protecting the environment is protecting their future. Since then, 29 other national parks have been created in Vietnam, but Cuc Phuong remains the largest.
More

«‹ 2 3 4 5›»