Travel Itinerary 2023: Experiences Continue Whether Traveling Near or Far

Tired legs with 14 trips in 12 months

Ngo Huong (29 years old, Hanoi) is passionate about exploring new lands, especially backpacking and experiencing local culture. In 2023, Ngo Huong will travel at least once a month, sometimes twice a month. In her total of 14 trips, Ngo Huong has explored all three regions of North, Central, and South Vietnam and has traveled abroad twice to Laos and Taiwan.

“I started my travel journey this year with two short trips in January to Ha Nam and Moc Chau to enjoy the spring atmosphere, the beautiful sunny weather, and the blooming flowers. To close the year, I took two trips in December to Taiwan and Lang Son. Traveling regularly throughout the year is not about quantity, for me, traveling is not only a hobby but also a passion,” Ngo Huong shared with Travellive.

Looking back at all her destinations of the year, Huong shares her three favorite experiences: sunrise at Vo Cuc beach (Thai Binh), cuisine in Mang Den (Kon Tum) and cultural differences in Laos.

“It’s not always fun to travel far, but near where I live there are still new things for me to explore. Vo Cuc Beach is an example, this place is only more than 2 hours away from Hanoi. To catch the sunrise, I had to wake up early at 4am. On the first day, I walked on a muddy road for more than 30 minutes to Quang Lang beach. On the second day, I experienced riding a 'tank' made by locals to Thuy Xuan beach. Although it was hard, when I saw the vast seascape, with no horizon, the sun and the water blending into one, I was extremely satisfied. The morning air on the sea is also something I really like, it’s like a gift from nature for early risers,” Ngo Huong recounted her impressive trip.

During her trip to Laos, Huong experienced many different means of transport, from traveling by bus from Vietnam to Laos for 24 hours, to taking a high-speed train across provinces in Laos by tuktuk, taxi, motorbike, bicycle and walking. “The continuous travel schedule by many different means of transport not only gave me the opportunity to experience a variety of things, but also helped me practice discipline and arrange my time accurately to always be proactive throughout the trip, especially in a foreign country,” Huong concluded.

After a year of traveling, Ngo Huong set a goal for 2024 to reduce the number of trips and increase the quality of experiences. At each destination, Huong wants to stay longer to have more time to interact and chat with the locals.

Culinary soul, having fun first of all must eat well

Vu Ngoc Tu Uyen (33 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) had an equally impressive year of travel with a completely different style.

“This year, I did not focus on going to new lands but mainly traveled slowly, returning to old places to explore more thoroughly and deeply. I went to Hanoi 3 times, Pleiku - Mang Den 2 times, Da Lat 2 times... My favorite thing in every trip is the local cuisine. When I come to a land, I will take the opportunity to enjoy all the typical dishes at the restaurants chosen by many locals. That is also the reason why I went to Hanoi 3 times because each season the capital has different dishes, including dishes that I must try such as pho, bun rieu, banh tom, cha ruoi, red jellyfish and of course egg coffee”.

Besides, the destination that surprised her the most was Nam Dinh with its massive churches like European-style castles, red sunsets and sunrises at Hai Hau beach. “Hai Hau beach does not have a deep blue color and beautiful white sand, but the atmosphere of the fishing village here is wonderful. The seafood is delicious, cheap and the people are very welcoming,” Uyen Vu recalled her trip.

“Voting” for the land she still wants to return to, Uyen Vu chose Mang Den. “I still want to return here because for me, Mang Den brings a feeling of healing. This land is still wild and simple. The landscape is not too majestic but very peaceful and gentle, suitable for days when I just want to hide from the world, sit among the mountains and hills, sip coffee, and contemplate life.”

In the new year, Uyen Vu said she has at least two target destinations. “Traveling is an indispensable experience for me. In 2024, I will set foot in Cao Bang and Taiwan. Two very different lands that I hope will bring me interesting cultural and culinary experiences,” Uyen shared.

Phuong Thao is the Editor of Travellive Magazine. She is passionate about traveling and loves to capture moments with her camera in every land she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are her favorite writing topics.

Brown - Photo: Ngo Huong, Uyen Vu