Travel Destinations

Fast breakdowns and travel tips for countries and cities that I’ve already been to. All the good stuff, with no fluff.

Medellin – quick travel guide

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Colombia’s coolest hippest city, built in the mountains and infamous as Pablo Escobar’s former territory.

In what used to be a dangerous narco city is now a rapidly transforming hilly city providing beautiful panoramic views, massive nightlife, and expat-friendly scene. Is it as expat-friendly as say Mexico? NO! But it’s getting there and many foreigners do love it. Medellin is great for parties, and also if you just want to live in a cool place in Colombia and don’t mind that there’s no beaches nearby here.

2-3 days is enough to see everything. Stay longer only if you want to party.

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Cartagena – quick travel guide

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Vibrant touristy colonial beach city of northern Colombia.

Cartagena reminds me an awful lot of Salvador, Brazil. Big northern beach city with colorful touristy old town, and then “ok” beaches full of really aggressive vendors. Most people spend a day in the touristy old town part (enjoying the busy life and restaurants/bars), and then another day at the beach and then hop off to other northern coastal towns and islands. But despite everybody saying the other towns are better, the same people will still insist on you stopping by Cartagena.

Usually just a 2 day stop, as people come for the tourist stuff and quickly move onto elsewhere for better (more peaceful) beach vibes.

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Seoul – quick travel guide

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South Korea’s capital and largest city. Vibrant busy city, nightlife, and massive cultural immersion.

Seoul is Korea’s equivalent of Tokyo (Japan). Vibrant, busy, dynamic, full of people, and beautiful sites. Although Seoul isn’t as crowded and over-stimulated as Tokyo, it’s still quite a bit (for a Westerner). It’s a great entry point into your Korean cultural exploration. Get your bearings and learn how to use public transpo, and order/pay at restaurants, etc.

Main touristy highlights of Seoul can be covered in 3 days. But you might wanna stay longer to really enjoy the food, bars, nightlife, and soak in that Seoul vibe. 5-7 days is a better fit. You could easily spend a month and still not see everything. But do feel free to move on to Busan or Jeju island if you had enough.

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Colombia – quick travel guide

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South American caribbean beach country with many different vibes.

Colombian is an interesting mix of many things. Most people know it as Caribbean beach destination with parties and beautiful people…but it has much more landscapes and personalities than just that. It also has the Pacific Ocean, San Andres island near Nicaragua, Amazon river like Brazil, also jungles, deserts and mountains. Colombia’s hippest city (Medellin) is actually a mountain town.

Culturally and economically…Colombians are also very distinct. Generally, they are poor and things are cheap. You will feel a much bigger cultural divide between them and the visiting gringo/foreigner. Whereas in Mexico or Brazil, where locals seem to bond better with foreigners or at least can vibe with them…in Colombia, it’s a bigger gap. You’re just too different and won’t be accepted into their circles like you would elsewhere. (This isn’t to say that they aren’t friendly!)

Which means you’re likely in Colombia to party cheap with foreigners. Or you want to explore more local and off-the-beaten-path destinations where there are zero foreigners. There’s no in-between.

Major destinations can be done within 3-4 weeks, but you’d need 2 or 3 months to really see everything. See if you like the vibe before you stay longer. Many people would easily camp out here 3-6 months enjoying the beach, party life, or just Colombian vibes.

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Niagara Falls – quick travel guide

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The Niagara Falls is the biggest tourist trap ever. Don’t ever go here.

The only thing you’ll be amazed by is how incredible their marketing was to make this place such a recognizable name in pop culture, movies, and travel references.

It’s just a tiny border town with casinos, and a man-made waterfall to entice Americans into crossing the border to spend their money. That’s it.

And how’s the waterfall, you ask? It is literally one of the least impressive waterfalls you’ve ever seen. While it may have size, it looks fake (and manufactured) as heck. You’re standing on the sidewalk behind a metal railing looking at a big flat waterfall with lights. Not much picturesque rocks or greenery. It’s like taking a picture of a waterfall at Disneyland theme park or some resort hotel. It’s not the same as a huge natural one you saw on an epic hike.

Biggest tourist trap ever! It is not a worthy stop in east coast Canada whatsoever!

Tulum – quick travel guide

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Mexico’s premier party beach, psuedo-spiritual, over-Instagrammed overly-commercial destination.

A once quiet beautiful beach town with authentic hippie vibes, got discovered, and within 10 years became an overly-commercialized super posh fancy Mexico destination. Probably Mexico’s #1 destination in terms of “cool” factor and most popular among the sexy influencers and crypto bros type of crowd. It’s rapidly developing and now has a ton of sexy casual fancy type of accommodations with a jungle/beach oasis vibe. Fancy restaurants, bars, cafes, boutiques all catering to that foreigner crowd.

Personally, I think Tulum is more hype now and too crowded with Americans and Europeans. Its best days are long behind it. But is it right for you? Let’s find it if you should stay for days, weeks, months, or forever.

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Isla Mujeres vs Cozumel vs Holbox

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Which is the best (Mexico) Quintana Roo island for you?

  • Mexico’s prettiest white sand beaches of Isla Mujeres?
  • Clear waters (diving) along the quiet beaches of Cozumel?
  • Hippie town beach bum vibes of Holbox?

These 3 islands in the eastern Mexico’s state of Quintana Roo offer a unique vibe from the others. Let’s find out which one fits your best.

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Cancun vs Playa del Carmen vs Tulum

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What’s the best (Mexico) Quintana Roo beach city for you?

  • Cancun’s hotel resort vibe?
  • Playa del Carmen’s walkable dense city vibe?
  • Tulum’s eco-bohemian spiritual Oasis vibe?

Finding the perfect vibe is always your best bet. The right balance between people and nature. Peace and quiet, as well as having things to do. Bars, cafes, restaurants, daily activities. And also to meet the kind of folks you’d like in your tribe.

I’ve been to all 3 numerous times and can help you sort out options.

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Korea – quick travel guide

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Ultra-modern, super developed Asian country. Fun, great, hyper-stimulated environment.

On paper and to a Westerner, Korea could best be describe as another Japan…or like a cheaper, less-developed, less-cool version of Japan. And despite the hate you’d get from Japanese or Korean people for saying that, you wouldn’t be so unreasonable.

Both of these countries have been battling each other for a long time. With a feud debating events back as recent as 50 years ago to 2 millennia ago. Both with their own version of historic events. Both with their take on who was the aggressor. Fueling ultra-nationalistic pride in their citizens and even corporations. Whereas Japan has Sony & Panasonic, Korea has Samsung & LG. Japan has Toyota & Honda, Korea has Hyundai & Kia. And so forth and so forth. They even argue which one evolved from the other.

And as much as they’ve hated each other the years, there’s no denying that they are ultimately more alike each other than with any other nationality in the world. Korea is super safe and modern like Japan. Things are high-tech, clean, more expensive. Public spaces are visually over-stimulated and colorful.

But that’s where it ends. Whereas Japan has stayed very collective and by-the-rules, Koreans are developed their own sub-culture. More individual and unique. They stopped copying Japan things less and less and became more unique like the west. Their own TV shows and music, dancing and arts, are now worthy of being copied (ripped-off) by even Western/American industries. Korea is more unique if you know and appreciate where to look. They have their own food, culture, vibe, their own thing. They are not just a lesser version of Japan. Korea is super cool and worth seeing on its own unique merit.

1 week for just Seoul & maybe 3-5 days Busan, and another 3 days for Jeju Island. 1-2 days here and there for smaller towns. So at a minimum, 2 weeks for main spots and 1 month for comprehensive tour. One thing is for sure…you’ll probably wish you spent more time. Korea is a cool place to live, not just to see and leave.

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Hue – quick travel guide

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Small city with historic places, but is also a nice vibrant modern city.

Come for the history, stay for the modern vibe. Many nice restaurants, vibrant nightlife, plenty of people and places, restaurants and bars, things to do, but not overly busy and crowded like other places. I think Hue is actually underrated. Many visitors see it only as a place to see the historic city and pagoda and then move on.

You can see the historic sites within a day. But next time, I’d definitely stay 3 or 4 days for sure.

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Ha Giang (Loop Tour) – quick travel guide

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Beautiful mountain region of northern Vietnam with the infamous Ha Giang Loop motorbike tour.

Imagine yourself riding around beautiful green mountains with picturesque rice fields and colorfully-clothed local mountain people, zipping through local towns and markets as the mountain kids run along the street to yell “hello” and try to high-five you. Yes…it sounds exactly like a Disney Movie.

For anyone who’s ever done the motorbike tour, many will say it sits among the most memorable travel adventures they’ve ever had in their lives. And I’d have to agree. It’s because the mountain motorbiking experience is REAL! You’re not just sitting from the outside and taking photos. It’s you living the hilly mountain world through your bike, seeing their world as they see it. Experiencing their beauty as they live it.

If you got 3 precious days to spare, I guarantee the Ha Giang Loop is one you’ll remember for the rest of your lives. I can’t think of anything like this in any other country I’ve been.

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Phu Quoc – quick travel guide

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More-developed touristy Vietnam island, catering to fancier travelers and numerous family activities.

Phu Quoc island is much bigger (than Con Dao island), with more things to do. Hotels, parks, fancier housing, many more restaurants and bars, and also many more foreigners.

2 days is enough to get a taste and experience the island life, but I would do 4-7 days here to explore and chill more.

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Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba – quick travel guide

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Popular scenic bay of Vietnam with big limestone rocks in clear turquoise waters. (UNESCO Heritage Site)

Probably most famous tourist photo of Vietnam. Majestic jungle rocks surrounded by blue-green water. Reality of your experience depends on what season you go, where you stay, what kind of boat tour, and what other activities you choose.

There are so many options that you get lost…and always wondering whether you’re doing Ha Long Bay the “correct way”. Experiences vary widely, some enjoying the landscapes and tour activities while others feel unimpressed or ripped off by overpriced tours.

1 day is enough to see the bay with giant rocks (most important thing). 2 days lets you enjoy Vietnam seaside life, eating out and walking around. Having more extra days allows for beach time, picturesque hiking, more water/outdoor activities, visit national parks, exploring small fishing villages on island. Busy areas are quite fun…lots of food, markets, cheap massages, and local life to check out.

Check weather before you go, since views are different and beaches not as enjoyable when cloudy/cold (even worse if raining). I went in January my first time and wouldn’t recommend that to anybody else. Other destinations like Ninh Binh can still look magical and peaceful in cold/cloudy weather whereas Ha Long Bay looks a little sad/boring. The best months of the year are like Oct-Dec because it’s still sunny but not too hot, not too many tourists, and not during wet/typhoon season.

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Ninh Binh – quick travel guide

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Known as “Ha Long Bay on land”, northern countryside where you take rowboat tours down the river, passing lotus fields in between big rock mountains with birds (and occasionally endangered langur monkeys).

One of Vietnam’s top destinations (and my favorite tourist destination). Beautiful nature and relaxing peaceful vibes.

Beautiful, but not loud crazy crowded tourist vibes. A perfect escape from Vietnam’s noisier destinations. Although you can see Ninh Binh’s most popular highlights in a day tour, it’s a grave mistake not to put at least 2 nights here. It’s such a beautiful and spiritual escape from the rest of Vietnam’s noisier destinations.

I love that it’s actually real nature beauty. And IMO even more beautiful than Ha Long Bay, especially during bad weather (the clouds adding to the mysterious atmosphere whereas Ha Long Bay looks sad/dull with clouds). If you come during lotus bloom season (May-Jul), you’ll see all the lotus flowers in the water giving a colorful spring/summer look just like the yellow flowers photo you saw at the travel agencies. Regardless, Ninh Binh has magical beauty no matter the weather.

2 days for the minimum, 3 to really relax and recharge your soul. Also know that a place like this, it definitely affects where you stay. As different properties have vastly different views of Ninh Binh. Some feel like just a cute outdoor garden. Others have a massive view of the water, trees, and surrounding mountains…basically a mini Ninh Binh right in their back (or front) yard.

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Hoi An – quick travel guide

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“City of lanterns”, cute charmy river town with lanterns all over yellow bamboo buildings and boats floating under the bridge.

I call it “The Venice of Vietnam”, very touristy but also fun because it’s distinct from everything else in Vietnam.

2 days would be perfect to see the lively water area by the bridge, eat at the night market and local restaurants overlooking the river. Extra days allows you to visit the My Son Sanctuary (ancient Hindu temples), relax on a beach…or spend more time in the beautiful cafes, restaurants, and bars by the water.

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Vietnam – quick travel guide

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Asia’s beautiful, cheap, and less touristy destination. Compact, easy to get around, lots of fun and amazing places to explore.

Vietnam is rich in diversity of terrain and culture. Culturally and geographically, Vietnam is closest to Thailand (maybe more Laos but I haven’t been). But still distinctly different in many ways and most certainly a unique and worthwhile place to visit. Many people do fall in love with the place and settle down here…it’s been a popular spot for expats for decades.

It’s a small country with so many amazing and unique destinations. Many different types of terrain and landscapes. Rich in culture and authentic places where people don’t speak English yet (but the most recent government wants to have everyone speaking English very soon). The way many people get around is by motorbike (and most likely so will you), leading to a very fun and adventurous experience. Don’t worry if you don’t want to ride any motobikes.

People usually say November to March is the best time since it’s off-season and less busy, less hot. But I’d say avoid Dec to Jan as yes, it’s cooler and less hot…but still cloudy and places still look nice (but not like the travel agency photos). Also, the less touristy places feel kind of dead. I feel February or March is better. However late January is nice if you want to be there for Tet Festival (their new year’s). So perhaps late Jan to late Feb would be the best time range for first timers.

Vietnam highlights can be done in 2 weeks. 4 weeks or 1 month is probably the ideal time for you to see all the different areas and visit major attractions. Most people spend one month because Vietnam is cheap, easy, organized, and also the country is already shaped in a long vertical shape so you can easily enter from one end and exit the other.

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Con Dao island – quick travel guide

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Calm, relaxed island. A popular alternative to the busier more touristy Phu Quoc island.

Con Dao island (east of mainland) was historically remembered for where they put prisoners. But nowadays it’s consider the quieter, calmer, more nature, more locals and easy-going alternative to the busier resort-ey Phu Quoc island (west of mainland). You’ll see very few foreigners and non-Asian people.

I’d say 2 days is enough to see major things. Add more days if you want to do nothing. I personally recommend not going during December and January. It’s really dead and empty (unless you like that) and the weather might not be as nice. Going during the right seasons, you have more things to see…also more visibility in the water and nicer-looking water colors.

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Hanoi – quick travel guide

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Vietnam’s main northern city…different and contrasting against Saigon (Vietnam’s main southern city).

Totally different culture from the South. As the saying goes, they don’t like each other. Different vibe, different accent, different food, and other cultural differences. Unlike Saigon’s totally busy, chaotic, fast-paced lifestyle…Hanoi is the northern version of that but slightly more relaxed, chill. Still plenty of job opportunities for locals while not being as crazy as the south. Also…the northern Vietnamese accent is considered the official accent, think of it as the “British accent of the Vietnamese”, and they take great pride of their way of speaking Vietnamese (while often mocking how southerners speak).

Foreigners also enjoy Hanoi’s perfect balance of busy and relaxed, along with its centralized proximity to Vietnam’s top tourist destinations (Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa Valley, etc). Spread throughout Hanoi are some lakes, such as Hoan Kiem Lake and West Lake among various other parks where you can relax and slow down a bit. Likewise, the Old Quarters and Hoan Kiem Lake area also closes down car access, allowing people and street vendors to take over the roads…providing for a mini street festival vibe every weekend. Crossing the streets in Hanoi is nowhere near as scary as in HCMC.

2 days is enough to feel like you saw Hanoi (Old Quarters & surrounding highlights), but it’s really worth a couple extra days to enjoy the city life. You’ll easily find activities and places to go. I spent a week and could still have been here longer. It’s a popular expat place for a reason.

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Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – quick travel guide

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Vietnam’s busiest most crowded city, vibrant and choatic all over.

Most native Vietnamese people, Vietnam tourists, foreigners, and expats will all tell you to pass through HCM/Saigon quickly and head to North Vietnam (where there are many more beautiful places to see). Yet…it is HCM (or still commonly called “Saigon”) where you find the biggest Vietnamese city population and also foreigner/expat population. I consider Saigon “the Buenos Aires of Vietnam”.

Why?

Saigon is lively, vibrant, many things to do and see, many things open all day and all night. Sure, it’s not a beautiful beach city or mountain terrain, but it’s packed with fun and many things to do. I recommend spending at least 2 or 3 days.

Ho Chi Minh vs Hanoi

  • Fun debate. Many say HCM people are friendlier and Hanoi more arrogant or snobby. I think there’s truth in that (especially since northern Vietnamese make fun of southern dialect all the time). But foreigners won’t have issues with this since local Vietnamese generally treat foreigners well anyway.
  • I’d say most foreigners find Hanoi to be more beautiful and walkable, and more “chill” (although still having its own chaos). HCM is more chaotic and to me only makes sense to be there a long time if you like big city life, big skyrise parties, or need to run a business from there.

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Sydney – quick travel guide

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Australia’s largest city and pretty much every visitor’s gateway to Australia.

Beautiful big city surrounded by bodies of water and lots of natural beauty. It’s a very big city with lots to do, and also more metropolitan (more ethnically and culturally diverse). Many people may prefer its more posh big-city vibe. But others (like myself) actually prefer a smaller, chiller, hip city like Melbourne…which feels more relaxed and not like you have to run across big distances to get places.

Between Australia’s biggest cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)…Sydney is considered the better beach destination. But it’s still not comparable to Sydney’s best beach destinations. So you decide…if you really want the best beaches, or you want a mix of beach with city.

Sydney could easily fill a week of your time with activities but 3 days can be enough. 1st day in the CBD and harbour areas (Opera & Harbour bridge). 2nd day at the famous Bondi beach and hip Newtown area. 3rd day in the Blue Mountains.

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