Vietnam

There’s a legendary saying in Vietnam that the people are the “descendants of the Dragon and the Fairy.” It’s a story that perfectly captures the country’s dual nature: the fiery, resilient spirit of the dragon and the ethereal, graceful beauty of a fairy. When you land in Hanoi, you’ll immediately feel that pulse. The city is a beautiful, organized chaos of motorbikes—millions of them—weaving through streets that have been named after the same crafts for a thousand years.

One of my favorite places to lose track of time is the Old Quarter. It’s a maze where the smell of sizzling Bun Cha (grilled pork) mingles with the aroma of strong, dark Vietnamese coffee sweetened with condensed milk. If you want a real local secret, look for a “hidden” cafe tucked behind a narrow silk shop to try Egg Coffee. It sounds unusual, but the whisked egg yolk creates a creamy, meringue-like topping that tastes exactly like liquid tiramisu. As the sun sets, the area around Hoan Kiem Lake transforms; the “Turtle Tower” glows in the center of the water, and you might see elders practicing Tai Chi while young couples take photos in their elegant Ao Dai silk tunics.

But Vietnam’s true magic is found on the water. A few hours away, the emerald peaks of Ha Long Bay rise out of the mist like the spine of a sleeping dragon. Waking up on a traditional wooden junk boat, watching the first light hit the limestone karsts while you sip green tea on the deck, is a moment that feels completely detached from the modern world.

Further south, the town of Hoi An tells a different story. It’s a place of yellow-walled merchant houses and thousands of silk lanterns that light up the river at night. It was once a major trading port, and that global history is still alive in its architecture and its world-famous tailor shops. You can walk into a shop in the morning, pick out a fabric, and have a custom-made suit or dress ready by dinner time. It’s that blend of ancient craftsmanship and warm, welcoming hospitality that makes Vietnam feel less like a destination and more like a feeling you carry home with you.