Vietnam and Cambodia

Posts About Vietnam and Cambodia

• It Took a Funeral for me to Fully Appreciate Hoi An, Vietnam
  Hoi An, Vietnam is an ancient city, both bustling and quaint. The old streets are clogged with charming buildings. Walls are strewn with thousands of cute little lanterns that seem almost built for your Instagram feed. It took me a while before I could really appreciate the place. Please leave this field emptyWant more? join… Read more: It Took a Funeral for me to Fully Appreciate Hoi An, Vietnam
• First Time Scuba Diving, Try Not To Drown!
  My first-time scuba diving, my stomach churned like a typhoon. I sat on the edge of the boat breathing in and out slowly, trying to hold back the tsunami of vomit that was building up in the bottom of my gut. Why the hell had I turned down that seasickness medication? Trying to be macho,… Read more: First Time Scuba Diving, Try Not To Drown!
• Da Nang was dang disappointing. But also, it wasn’t?
  The beach at Da Nang is considered by some to be the best in the world. We think of many things when we envision our perfect beach. Long stretches of smooth sand between our toes. The gentle rhythm of clear blue water. Miles of skyscrapers blotting out the sun. The pounding of jackhammers. The diesel… Read more: Da Nang was dang disappointing. But also, it wasn’t?
• Hue, Vietnam is tragically underrated.
  We met a tour guide in Hoi An, Vietnam who was born and raised in the nearby city of Hue. We told him we were staying there for two nights. He frowned at us. “Most people spend four hours in Hue,” he said. “Even a full day is too long.” This seemed to be the… Read more: Hue, Vietnam is tragically underrated.
• Angkor Wat for a Few Quiet Hours
  There is much more to Angkor than just Angkor Wat. The park is a city full of crumbling ruins, with numerous sights where tourists can wander ancient stone temples in various states of preservation. However, Angkor Wat is the biggest and best preserved, and arguably the best. So we did what the guidebooks told us… Read more: Angkor Wat for a Few Quiet Hours

Vietnam

You’ll Need a Visa in Advance

Unless you’re from a few select countries, you’ll need to apply for a visa in advance to travel to Vietnam. It’s a pretty easy process and you can do it online. Here’s more information from the Vietnam tourism board.

Vietnam is Huge

Yes, it’s thin, but it is very, very long. Don’t underestimate how long it takes to go to different places. If you have a short period of time, choose a region (north, south, or central) and stick to it. We stayed in the center, flying in and out of Da Nang. From there we visited treasures like Hue, and reasonably okay places like Hoi An. The country also varies a lot between the north and south.

Cambodia

You Also Need a Visa in Advance

Americans need a visa in advance to travel to Cambodia, too. Thankfully, you can also apply online. Here’s the link to the eVisa application page.

There’s More than Angkor Wat…

Angkor Wat is absolutely amazing, however, there’s so much more to Cambodia than just the ruins. I absolutely loved the capital city, Phnom Phen, for example.

… But Don’t Miss Angkor Wat

Yes, Angkor Wat is crowded and touristy, you won’t live out your Indiana Jones fantasies here, but goddamn is it worth it. Splurge and pay for the three-day ticket, you’ll still have trouble fitting everything in. You can hire a driver to take you around the ruins but it’s way more fun to rent a bicycle and cruise around yourself.