4 "secret tips" for a perfect trip at the beginning of the year.

Learn selectively about your destination.

In my opinion, knowing the weather conditions of the place you want to visit, and when it's peak or off-peak season, is of paramount importance. The Lunar New Year period is quite suitable for traveling to tropical countries because there are no storms and the weather isn't too hot; or you could travel to Northern Europe or North America to see the aurora borealis.

Furthermore, knowing how to selectively gather information about the place you're about to visit is equally important. For example, when traveling to India or Egypt, don't blindly trust preconceived notions about a country; don't compare Indian food to Nepalese or Egyptian food to Moroccan food. Each country has its own unique characteristics, and comparisons diminish happiness and negatively impact the experience. Approach a place like you would when getting to know someone on a date – listen to what they say, observe their actions, and don't try to understand them through the lens or opinions of others. When you discard preconceived notions and travel to a place with an open heart, you'll find greater satisfaction and happiness.

Watch movies about your destination before you go.

Before traveling to a country, I make a habit of researching its culture, history, and people to better understand it. It's fascinating to learn how German beer differs from Belgian beer, and then fully experience the different flavors.

Learning about the culture and history of a place beforehand will also help you answer many questions that arise during your trip without needing a tour guide. And the best tool for learning about new places is watching documentaries and movies about them.

Forget about those glamorous check-in photos.

Most photographers or "hot Instagrammers" tend to heavily edit their images, or they travel to a particular location multiple times to capture a satisfactory photo to post on social media (selecting from thousands of photos they have). Therefore, if you trust those images too much, you'll easily be disappointed when you realize that the location, while beautiful in reality, isn't as glamorous as it appears in the photos.

Make it clear that you're traveling for yourself – not for social media. Don't be discouraged if you don't get beautiful photos to show off, because it's the experience that matters, not likes or shares. I often ask myself this question to remind myself:Would I travel without a camera? And what would I want to take away from a trip?

Don't "cram" your schedule.

We've had a busy year filled with meetings, deadlines, picking up and dropping off children, meeting friends, yoga classes, exercise... So when traveling at the beginning of the year, let yourself relax and be as free as possible. Thinking every day about having to get to a certain place, eat a certain local delicacy... will only add to your stress. Instead, let things unfold naturally according to the actual circumstances. If you find a place fun and beautiful, spend more time there, or skip a place if it's not really necessary.

Hoang Le Giang