Amidst a vast community of travel bloggers with a similar style, OntheMars stands out as a unique highlight. Not overly flashy or noisy, their gentle, somewhat whimsical, "like being on Mars" style is favored by many. OntheMars paints a series of dreamlike travel journeys through a visual language with a distinct personal touch..

OntheMars is a Facebook page created in 2020 by two members, Do An Ninh and Tran Doan Sang. Both were born in 1994, work freelance, currently live in Hanoi, and share a passion for travel.

The name OntheMars has piqued the curiosity of many. In reality, it's simply the result of a shared vision between the two creators: a space that is both near and far. OntheMars hopes that viewers can journey to a strange place, experiencing the paths they've traveled, the lands they've visited, and the people they've met… all through a gentle, sweet, yet inspiring perspective.

Meeting in 2019 during a trip to Hue with a group of friends, An Ninh and Doan Sang felt a connection in their travel tastes. In 2020, they both created the OntheMars fanpage to share their experiences. Over the past three years, excluding the pandemic period, the two friends have explored nearly 20 countries around the world.

These two guys have developed a very unique travel style, not only reflected in their travel itineraries but also in the content they share. An Ninh & Doan Sang don't review trips "following a formula," but instead share their experiences and accumulated practical knowledge. Combined with their visually appealing photos, the duo has attracted a large following. "Looking at these photos, you can immediately tell they were taken by OntheMars," is perhaps what they are most confident about when talking about their storytelling through images.

PV: Many people nowadays choose to travel solo as their preferred style. For An Ninh and Sang, what makes traveling with a partner more interesting and special?

On the Mars:In the past, Ninh often traveled alone. It's easy to see that the advantage of solo travel is being able to do what you like, go where you want to go, and relax whenever you want. It's about freedom and independence, doing whatever you want without any worries.

When I met Sang and made more travel companions on subsequent journeys, I realized, "Traveling together is great, isn't it?" Instead of lying alone under a blanket after a long day, I now have companions to share joys and sorrows with. Furthermore, lately I've been going on tours or planning trips and inviting others to join. Going with two or more people allows us to help each other throughout the journey. Getting tired is normal, but having someone close to overcome it together is definitely better. Most importantly, it's the joy of the trip, because everyone can talk and laugh together throughout the journey.

An Ninh primarily focuses on researching destinations before trips, and then builds content for their channel. Doan Sang handles the visuals. Previously, Sang was a wedding photographer, but gradually felt the work was repetitive, so he shifted to travel photography. Coincidentally, after a trip to Hue with the team – their first time – they found they clicked very well in terms of travel style. Sang likes photographing others and doesn't like being in the spotlight, while I enjoy being photographed, so I almost "steal the spotlight" in their posts. This complementarity makes them a very compatible travel duo.

PV: Most of the trips OntheMars shares are to remote and seemingly less safe destinations. How did your travels and the experiences of "opening your heart to prejudice" unfold?

On the Mars:Instead of choosing popular destinations, we sought out less-noticed places. When people hear about destinations like Pakistan or Iran, they often think of war, terrorism, and bombings – not-so-pleasant scenarios. Initially, our motivation for these trips was simply our fascination with the beauty of those countries, but then we became even more determined to go and challenge the preconceived notions people have about these lands.

I really enjoy learning about destinations, so before traveling anywhere, I always take the time to read relevant information. For example, on my trip to Iran, I spent three whole weeks engrossed in reading about the history, culture, and people of the country. Although I didn't remember everything, I could use the information I gathered to compare with my actual trip. There was some negative information that sometimes made me hesitant, but once I started the journey, I was no longer afraid.

I just finished my two-week trip to Iran, and the kindness of the people overwhelmed me. Just walking around looking a little lost would get you a direct response from the locals. When I tried to take a taxi to an unplanned destination, a woman approached me, asked about my situation, and helped me negotiate the price with the driver. Or, on my trip to Pakistan last year, when I was wandering lost amidst a cherry blossom forest, locals invited me into their garden to admire the flowers and take pictures to my heart's content. When I said goodbye, they even packed some dried fruit for me to take home… Throughout my journey, I was lucky to meet so many lovely and kind people. This really changed my perspective on the information I access online.

Perhaps we need to be more open-minded about destinations labeled "less safe" and find ways to filter information more effectively. Ninh usually researches information on reputable travel websites, Tripadvisor, Facebook groups, watches YouTube, or asks people who have been there before to get the most accurate information. She avoids articles related to politics or extremist viewpoints to prevent being negatively influenced about the destination.

PV: OntheMars often shares very beautiful content, both in terms of content and images. Is this perhaps "rosyly" shaping the perspective of its followers, given that there is still less positive information that hasn't been mentioned?

On the Mars:Most of the content I share is positive, from the images to the text. Actually, most of my experiences are lovely, but there are also some unforgettable stories. I share everything very genuinely, so besides looking at the photos, please don't forget to read the short descriptions in the articles or the captions under each image.

I can never forget how moved I was when I was immersed in the sea of ​​cherry blossoms in the Hunza Valley, Pakistan. I was captivated by the breathtaking scenery every single moment, meeting the genuine and lovely people. But to experience those moments, I also had to endure the suffocating feeling of being in Lahore, filled with exhaust fumes, and cautiously making my way through Islamabad, literally full of guns.

During my first few nights in Pakistan, if I wanted to go out to buy medicine, I had to be accompanied by a hotel security guard. Even at the pharmacy, there was a security officer standing outside with a large gun. Actually, it was all for everyone's safety, but it was still a little stressful at first because of the surrounding circumstances.

During our trip to Northern Iran, our team had a rather bad experience with our driver. On the way to the airport for our flight back to the South, he stopped the car in front of the airport entrance, locked the doors, claiming that the land tour company hadn't paid the difference in fees. I immediately called the land tour company to confirm and learned that they had already paid the full amount as per the signed contract. An argument ensued, and eventually, my tour guide and I were so exhausted that we called the police. At that moment, we were worried the driver wouldn't open the doors, but after a police officer arrived and explained the situation, he got into the car and escorted the whole group to the airport.

It was a heart-stopping moment for me, but the whole team joked, "This scene went by so fast, we didn't even get to the climax before we reached the ending!" Sometimes life doesn't go as planned, but it's precisely these unexpected events that make OnthemMars' journey even more memorable.

Thank you, Travellive readers, for listening to our sharing!