Feature: Tran Dang Dang Khoa’s Journey of a Lifetime and the Birth of a One-Man Brand

On the morning of June 1st, 2017, Tran Dang Dang Khoa rode west from Saigon beneath the blistering Vietnamese sun toward Cambodia. He had roughly US $1,300 to his name, some 10,000 Facebook followers, no stream of income and the ambition to make it to Europe within a few months atop his 97cc Honda Wave, which he had bought used, eight years earlier.

He arrived in Hanoi three years later. In that time, he’d traversed 65 countries, explored all 7 continents, crisscrossed 80,000 kilometers or twic

Blog: Off the Beaten Path Lisbon: The City’s Best Neighborhoods

We're ardent supporters of the concept that travel without authenticity is nothing more than Disneyland—a prefabricated, pre-determined theme park of designer experiences woefully lacking in true flavors, aromas, or spontaneity. To find fulfillment in travel, we need to stretch out beyond the international chains, tacky souvenir shops, and faux handicraft goods—the horrid, unfortunate final resting place of mass tourism. To do that, we’re to check out some of the best neighborhoods in Lisbon, wa

Feature: Travel and Tourism Industries Fight for Survival in Vietnam

Thanks to a rapid, all-hands-on-deck government response, Vietnam has largely been spared the death and despair from the Covid pandemic that so many other nations have dealt with. The country closed to international travel, rolled out a well-organized quarantine program, and launched clever public health campaigns on Youtube. GDP growth slowed, yet not entirely, and the nation was one of only three in Asia to see its economy expand. For certain sectors, the past 18 months have been surprisingly

Blog: Travel Groups for Solo Travelers: The Expert’s Guide

Group travel attracts a pretty diverse range of customers, and solo travelers are a huge chunk of that (some studies put the number of solo travelers joining group tours at over 60%). The main reason that many travelers choose group travel as their entry into solo traveling is the companionship and safety it provides. They want to travel abroad for the first time, but they want to be sure that they will meet people along the way who share similar interests in a welcoming environment. Age ranges...

Blog: 2022 Summer Travel Guide

For those with wanderlust in their hearts and visions of paradise twinkling in their eyes, the options for international travel this summer continue to improve. From Africa to Europe and even Asia, Covid restrictions are being left behind as the competition for those all-important tourism dollars heats up once more.

So, where do you begin? How do you narrow it down when you've got so much to choose from for summer travel? Are the meandering streets of ancient European capitals calling your name

Feature: Domestic Tourism Campaigns Across Asia Look to Revive a Struggling Industry

While Covid’s unfettered march across the globe has halted most international travel, nations large and small are investing in domestic tourism campaigns to boost the crucial sector of their economies.

According to research by the World Travel and Tourism Council in conjunction with Oxford Economics, tourism in 2019 accounted for 10.3% of global GDP at US$8.9 trillion while creating 330 million jobs or 1 in 10 worldwide.

Unsurprisingly, experts predict the pandemic will result in anywhere from a 30%-60% job loss within the industry year on year.

Blog: How to find cheaper flights abroad?

To the delight of travelers everywhere, the global tourism and hospitality industry has seen a much-needed rebound this past year. Countries closed to the world during the Covid pandemic have begun welcoming foreigners back in mass, and a travel obsessed (and deprived) populace has taken full advantage. However, as has been the case with just about everything that’s come along with the pandemic, the relaunch of travel has brought with it a fair share of challenges. Most notably at the moment is

Blog: New Trip Roundup: 2022 Travel Destinations

Travel is back, and we couldn't be happier. In fact, we're so excited that we've gone on a new trip rollout extravaganza. We've been launching more excursions and expeditions than ever before so that you can meet more amazing travelers, have more incredible experiences, and live it up in more of the world's greatest places. Read on to check out our latest travel destinations around the world.

If food, fun, and the sun sounds appealing, pack your bags and get ready for one mouth-wateringly delic

Blog: What to pack for a weekend getaway to Costa Rica?

Heading for a few days of surf, sand, and jungle in Costa Rica? Get your bags in order before you fly so you can let all your worries wash away with the tide when you arrive in paradise.

This tiny Central American nation is home to some of the most beautiful, rugged scenery in the region. So when jetting down, it's essential to pack for a bit of adventure, exploration, and outdoor fun. If you’re thinking ribbons of waterfalls, soaring jungles, and pristine beaches, you're on the right path.

Wh

Feature: A Traveller's Guide to Ha Giang Province, Vietnam

For years the northernmost province of Vietnam was passed over for nearby Sapa, its more famous sibling to the west. However, as tour groups have inundated the mountain town, many travelers have come to realize that less crowded Ha Giang has even more to offer. For the adventurous out there, this is our guide to Vietnam’s most scenic province.

Almost any trip through Vietnam’s final frontier begins in the provincial capital of Ha Giang in the region’s west. The city, fringed by rising limestone

Feature: A Guide to Riding Tram Ton, The Highest Pass in Vietnam

The Tram Ton Pass wraps itself around Mount Fansipan like a crown worn proudly atop the head of Vietnam. Nestled 55 kilometers east of the preposterous 10-lane boulevards of Lai Chau, and just west of the fantastically touristy mountain town of Sapa, it sits at nearly 2,000 meters, making it the loftiest road in the country.

Twenty or 30 kilometers west of Tram Ton, the road begins to twist upward toward the sharp pinnacles that make up t

Feature: Riding Mã Pí Lèng, Vietnam's Most Stunning Road

Tucked away along the Chinese border of Vietnam’s northernmost province lies a stretch of breathtakingly terrifying road unlike anything else the country has to offer. Sheer cliffs dive down thousands of feet just inches from rudimentary guardrails. Martian landscape, dark green coated by a crumbled layer of limestone, piles up in every direction. It’s the most fun you can have on a motorbike in Vietnam.

The geography of Ha Giang is unique to the province and a wild contrast to much of the nort

Feature: A Guide to Motorbiking Vietnam's Hai Van Pass

Just north of central Vietnam’s most populous city, as the asphalt plains turn to misty green giants, a serpentine of fun chiselled from stone coils into the clouds. In a country famed for motorbike travel, no singular route, road, loop or track has captured the hearts of the 21st century adventurer quite like the Hai Van Pass.

Danang is fast becoming one of Vietnam’s most sought-after travel destinations. The number of tourists, both foreign and domestic, visiting the seaside city of 1.3 milli

Listicle: There's a Street for That: How Ho Chi Minh City has Entire Streets Selling Specialties

Lights. Neon lights. Flashing neon lights. In Ho Chi Minh City, there’s a street for that. One of the most odd yet strangely endearing aspects of Vietnam’s largest urban center is the number of shops and storefronts that line the boulevards, alleyways and meandering streets across the city selling essentially the same exact thing.

Sporting goods can be found throughout the city, yet for the best deals and mo

Listicle: 11 Tips for House Hunting in Vietnam

Packing up your life and jetting to Vietnam is the hard part. Getting accommodation once you arrive shouldn’t be. Unfortunately, for many expats, finding that perfect place to live once on the ground is often not easy or straightforward. There’s no guidebook, directory, or helping hand. To make things less daunting, keep these 11 tips in mind.

This is the first step in the quest for the perfect pad. Get out on foot or on a motorbike and discover the nooks, crannies and hidden quirks of your new

Feature: What It's Like to Live in One of The World's Fastest Growing Economies

In Vietnam, as foreign investment continues to pour in, the economy has seen sustained growth of over 6% annually. Economists predict that blistering pace will only increase through 2018 with some suggesting the nation may eventually join Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as the fifth Asian Tiger. As a foreigner living in the economic epicenter of Ho Chi Minh City, the progress is fascinating.

Each and every dis