In late 2022, I found myself craving a quick escape from LA, so I decided to embark on a solo road trip out to Colorado. After doing some math on the gas cost, I figured I’d glance at flight prices to Asia. Through some stroke of luck, it was actually cheaper to go to Vietnam! Once again ignoring the ever-shrinking rational portion of my brain, I took the plunge and booked a last-minute ticket two weeks prior to departure, with no idea where to go, what to do, or if I could even get into the country. Anyone who knows me is painfully aware of my slightly unhealthy obsession with Anthony Bourdain, so I couldn’t wait to visit his favorite destination and fully immerse myself in its vibrant and storied culture. So, without hesitation, I packed my bags and hit the skies for my first trip to Asia.

Despite my utter lack of planning, the trip was ultimately one of the most exhilarating adventures of my life. There's something really special about exploring a new location with nothing but a vague, incoherent itinerary — no set expectations, no endless browsing through Google Images, no hotel bookings, etc. Admittedly, it’s inconvenient and tends to cause some (or a lot of) additional stress, but for me at least, suddenly finding yourself halfway across the world and lost in a new culture is the single most exciting experience one can have.

Keep scrolling for photos and stories from my all-too-brief journey to this remarkable country. All images are available as prints, so please reach out if you’re interested in purchasing one.

HANOI

Thanks to the 12-hour time difference between LA and Vietnam, I was up well before sunrise on my first day in its capital city, Hanoi. After stepping outside my hotel in the Old Quarter, I found myself immediately enchanted by the city. Crumbling French Colonial buildings shrouded in golden-hued mist, the intoxicating aroma of street food permeating the air, and a cacophony of scooter horns blaring from all sides contributed to full-on sensory overload, offering an instant reminder that I was somewhere very far from home. It didn’t take long for this city to secure a spot on my frequently-revised top five list.

CÁT BÀ ISLAND & LAN HA BAY

From Hanoi, I hopped on a bus to the mountainous Cát Bà Island, a lush and breathtaking jungle paradise adjacent to Ha Long Bay. I spent a day cruising through Lan Ha Bay, Ha Long’s equally-stunning but less-crowded neighbor. As one might expect during the tail end of monsoon season, torrential downpours and flat lighting hindered my lofty photography goals, but I did my best to stay present and enjoy the spectacular scenery — an experience that often eludes me when I’m carrying a camera. On the bright side, the stormy conditions created a mysterious atmosphere and evoked a real sense of drama. Our jungle surroundings felt like setpieces straight out of King Kong (which may or may not have been filmed here — the locals each had their own unconfirmed takes on the matter). I followed up the cruise with a blissful sunset motorcycle ride around the island. I’d never driven one before, but in the spirit of adventure, I decided to learn on the fly, despite Vietnam’s reputation as one of the most dangerous countries in the world to ride. Where’s the fun in traveling without a little risk?

THE HÀ GIANG MOTORBIKE LOOP

Following a thorough soaking in Cát Bà, I took a 14-hour overnight bus ride to Vietnam’s northernmost province, Hà Giang, a journey which I can only describe as a form of cruel and unusual punishment. After arriving and catching an hour of sleep, I put my newfound biking skills to the test on the three-day, ~200-mile Hà Giang Loop, a treacherous motorbike route that traverses some of the most remote, dramatic, and untouched terrain in all of Southeast Asia. Blind corners, massive trucks, steep grades, countless switchbacks, unpredictable weather, thick fog, sheer drop-offs, and unpaved, rocky roads all contribute to the difficulty and danger of the journey.

The route plunges into deep valleys, crosses high mountain passes, and runs through small traditional villages on the border with China, all while surrounded by jagged and impossibly-shaped peaks. The scenic beauty of the loop is simply unmatched, and as hard as I tried to capture it all, photos just can’t do it justice. Aside from the spectacular scenery, it was a perfect opportunity to make new friends from all corners of the world, facilitated in part by the mandatory nightly “Happy Water” drinking sessions with the locals. While this regional rice wine certainly elicited some happiness at the time, I’m confident that I met my lifelong quota for this beverage in just three short days.

SAIGON & TOKYO

After surviving the loop with all my limbs intact (albeit a nearly fractured tailbone), I hopped on a plane to Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, as the locals still call it, where I fought through a bout of food poisoning and explored for a day. Despite my internal distress, I powered through as many new exotic dishes as I could, replete with enough chili peppers and hot sauce to fuel a mission to Mars. The day’s culinary highlight was the Bánh Canh Cua at “The Lunch Lady”. This humble food stall outside of the main tourist zone is run by Nguyen Thi Thanh, who was catapulted into the spotlight by (you guessed it) Anthony Bourdain back in 2009. To my surprise, she was still working there and graciously took the time to share stories of her memorable interactions with Bourdain — an incredibly special experience for me, to say the least. Though I didn’t manage to take many photos on this leg of the trip, I certainly made up for it with the sheer volume of stellar food I consumed.

Finally, I stopped in Tokyo for ten hours on the way home, just a few days after it first opened since the beginning of Covid. With limited time, I grabbed some conveyor belt sushi and a few Asahis, wandered through Yoyogi Park, and paid my respects at a local cat cafe.

Overall, this trip yielded some of the best travel moments I’ve ever had. Vietnam left an indelible mark on my heart, with its fantastic cuisine, vibrant culture, friendly people, and diverse landscapes. Looking for the perfect balance of all the elements that make travel so eye-opening, fulfilling, and downright incredible? Pack your bags and head to Vietnam.