In 2024, while exploring Thailand, I met people who seemed to have full control over their time and choices. The clock wasn’t chasing them, they were moving with it. That realization struck a deep chord within me. Slowly awakening from the feeling that time was slipping into nothingness.
Burnt Out. Scared. Lost.
I quit my job. I booked my ticket to Vietnam. I didn’t have a clear plan—just a heavy heart, a curious spirit, and a deep desire for change. It wasn’t a vacation. It was a leap of faith—off the grid and into the unknown.
And, it was December 31st when everything shifted.
Well Why Vietnam?
Vietnam wasn’t just a destination—it was a sensory journey. During my first visit to Ho Chi Minh City in June 2024, I fell in love with its history and found myself walking through its resilience, woven into every flavour, textiles and wonder. Later to find that this is a land of a thousand differences, yet one soul. Every place speaks its own dialect of beauty, but together they sing the same song of identity and belonging.
Besides its whirlwind of flavours and rich history, its known for its chaotic honking horns that somehow become soothing after a while. This was my third visit and something about the country kept calling me back.
Of course, it hasn’t always been smooth. Like many travellers, I’ve had my fair share of missteps. I was scammed twice by online visa agencies, losing a few hundred dollars on so-called ‘guaranteed’ services. Flights, tours, and accommodations were already booked, assuming the visa would come through. Was I stupid? well, yes. But I believe every traveller has a version of this story.
“What matters is that I didn’t let it stop me. If anything, it made me even more determined to experience Vietnam on my own terms and bring in stories from North to south, east to west.”
“Have you ever felt lost? Exhausted? If so, how did you find your way forward?” I would love to hear from you.