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I was 51 when my husband, David, and I quit our jobs, sold our belongings, and left our home in California on what was to be a trip around the world. We bought one-way tickets to Hong Kong, and began our journey throughout eastern and southeastern Asia...
When I first came to Vietnam, back in 2005, I visited Nha Trang and loved it. The beaches were gorgeous, the people were friendly, and the strong expat presence beckoned me. I stayed for a few days, then returned again, drawn to the carefree...
Wherever you are in Vietnam, you’ll find that the cost of living is very low. Even in the most expensive cities—Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi—two people can live well for less than $1,500 per month. If you’re hoping to find an even lower cost of living than that, my advice is to head for the beaches.
Stone jars of all sizes were scattered among the low hills, rice paddies, and forest. Many were almost six-and-a-half feet high, others barely came up to our knees. How they got here is anybody’s guess; their origins and purpose are shrouded in mystery...
One of the best things about living in Hanoi, Vietnam, for the last five years is how perfect the city is as a base for exploring the north of the country. Along with vibrant, bustling cities, soaring mountains etched with ancient terraced rice paddies...
One of my favorite ways to start the day is with a stroll to my favorite patisserie, O’Douceurs. A pretty little spot, with comfortable couches, where a perfectly prepared, frothy latte and a flaky just-baked chocolate croissant, get my morning off to the best start.
Ron Piltzer’s house has a perfectly manicured front yard and patio. The 1,200-square-foot house has two large bedrooms, a large kitchen, a gorgeous tiled bathroom, and a large living room and dining room. The attractive, high-quality furnishings are rich with tropical hardwoods.
Vietnam stretches for more than 1,100 miles from north to south, and the climate ranges from cool-weather pine forests in the Central Highlands and the far north to steamy tropical jungles in the south. You’ll find that any time of the year is a good time to see all that this geographically diverse country has to offer.
Expat Judith Gold, 68, never runs out of places to explore on Bali, the tropical island she calls home. “I love to go to all the different waterfalls. It seems to be never-ending. I hear about new ones all the time,” she says.
Just 30 years ago, after emerging from decades of war, Vietnam was one of the five poorest countries in the world. Most of its existing infrastructure was damaged or missing, the population was dramatically decreased, and living conditions were abysmal.