July 2024
Xin chào! Hello, from Việt Nam. Almost this entire month was spent in this fascinating, beautiful country, and I couldn’t have better things to say about it. I made countless new friends, formed deep connections in mere days, had some crazy adventures, and lived to tell the tale! From trekking barefoot in the North to night kayaking through islands, this month is one I will remember forever. And cảm ơn (thank you) to all of you who were part of it!
Table of Contents
1.Recap | 2.Lessons | 3.Challenge | 4.Summary
1. Recap
On the first of July, I landed in the bustling city of Hà Nội. After my first night of rest, I treated myself to a spa day and got so many things done for such an affordable price! And the service… absolutely amazing. I toured this busy place, navigating the “cross walks” successfully without getting hit by the dozens of scooters, and even saw a water puppet show! I did get sick for a few days, so I rested in my room to build up my strength for a 6-day tour I booked through Chestnut Travel (excellent tour company!). Day 1: day trip to Ninh Binh, including a bike ride through the original capital of Vietnam, a boat ride through the Trang An caves, and a hike up the Lying Dragon Mountain. Met three amazing people this day! Days 2-3: trekking through the Sapa villages and rice patties. I ended up barefoot on the second day, embracing the mud, the falls, and most importantly… the waterfall swim! I spent two gorgeous days with 12 amazing people who are doing amazing things and have so many interesting stories to tell! Days 4-6: the iconic Ha Giang Loop tour on a motorbike with an easy rider (driver so I could ooo and ahhh at the landscape). Best. Experience. Ever. Our group of 10 got so close, drank a bunch of “happy water”, sang a lot of karaoke, and shared so many memories together. We also all complained about how sore our…. rear ends…. were from the 350km / 218mi on a motorbike. But was it worth it? Absolutely. We also had a relaxing boat tour, swam in waterfalls, and had breathtaking lookout points super close to the Chinese border. I’m pretty sure my smile lines are permanently etched into my face now from the pure joy I experienced during that tour. And as if it couldn’t get any better… After a brief few days to relax in Hanoi again, I set off on a 2-day adventure, also booked through Chestnut. This time, going to Cat Ba. Of course, I met a Dutchie. We instantly got along, had the best two days through the islands, and even continued the party for a second night on Dao Cat Ba. The tour consisted of a hike to the tallest peak of Cat Ba (Navi Peak), which I only could struggle through half of… a night kayak, an impromptu karaoke bar experience with the Dutchie, and a full day on a boat. The day on the boat included another kayaking tour with a quick swim in the water, two swim stops, getting slightly burned while tanning on the top of the boat, and cruising through the 366 islands of the bay. The tour ended, but the Dutchie and I had both booked another night on the island before moving on, so we had dinner, ice cream, and a full night on the beach. Geluksmomentje. Happy moment. One after the other that whole weekend. I then went on to Đà Nẵng. Being at the beach did me good :) The Dutchie met me on the second day and we spent a couple days together again here, exploring the night markets, drinking yummy smoothies, and spending time on the beach. Because of a flight I booked, I had to rush down to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). I didn’t get to explore much, but did go to the famous Saigon Central Post Office and Cafe Apartments. Then I went to the Philippines. I stayed in Manila and Baguio. In full honesty, I did not enjoy my time here and felt rather uncomfortable as a solo female. I opted to leave early and return to HCMC. I will go back again, to different islands, with someone or a group of people. But, on the up side, I went to 14 countries this year before finding one that didn’t agree with me… I’d say those are good odds.
2. Lessons
The biggest lesson I learned in July was that my intuition and gut feeling are usually right, and I should listen. This mostly is due to my feeling about the Philippines, then later hearing similar stories of other solo female travelers. But it can also be about people. One person in particular that I met this month, I just have a gooooood feeling about. I’ll keep ‘em around for a while I think. Sometimes, you just get a feeling- good or bad, about places, people, activities… Trust your gut. It’s there to help protect you. I believe that our bodies try to tell us things all the time, we just have to listen. So if you feel strongly about something, trust your instinct.
3. Challenge
During the month, I didn’t really achieve the goal I set of carving out time to work on my professional goals. But you know what? That’s okay. I had one of the most magical months of my life and have memories and friends for a lifetime because of it. So for August, I’ll set the same goal. Let’s see what happens.
4. Summary
Somehow, the year just keeps getting better and better. I think that if we just open ourselves up to life, let loose, have a little fun, not be so serious all the time, pivot and adapt and be flexible, the world will reward us. Magic is a state of mind. Look for the good, find the good. Create the good. Be the good. Life is cool, y’all! Let’s live it up.
