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Not for the faint-hearted traveller!

Just the thought of 100% humidity alone is enough to make you sweat. Dehydration and heat stroke are the real risk here and so is your chance of getting run over by a wanton motorbike! But if you are willing to venture out just a bit with good planning, Veitnam will certainly reward you with a travelling experience like no other!

The biggest attraction of Vietnam is its history. Vietnam’s history is defined by a 4,000-year struggle for independence, marked by 1,000 years of Chinese rule followed by independence, French colonialism, and a 20th-century war that divided and then reunified the nation in 1975. The hideous nature of the war was as visible as people’s resilience.

Then there is the food! There is a food stall / restaurant around every corner that serves up incredibly delicious pho, bahnmi, buncha, or iced coffee for $2.50! If you can look pass the less than ideal hygene standard and compulsory exhuast fume flavour at no extra cost, Vietnam is a foodie’s heaven!

Most of ticketed tourist attractions are either a trap or flooded with people. The stand out “attraction” is the famed Buddha – hand Bana Hill theme park. It’s literally a scam. There are no rides except the gondola that takes you up the hill. The Buddha Hand is made out of epoxy resin and the bridge has more people than Buddha can tolerate! Ho An old town / Hanoi old streets are the definite highlights. Early moring walk for best experience!

The tap water is undrinkable. The air (especiall in Hanoi) is moderately polluted. The streets are not the cleanest but the people are incredibly friendly, honest (expcet on Grab driver), and tolerant of silly tourists! However as soon as they hop on the motorbike, they turn murderous and ruthless! Very limited English everywhere but will bend backwards to help. They are also not camera shy. No one is cutting queues and public toilet cleaningness is a solid B- (free).

“Grab” taxi – very cheap but have cash – local Sim card – very cheap and very fast that easily puts Telstra to shame – and cash are your best friend – way to become instant millionaire! Watch and learn how locals cross the street on Day 1 and become a fearless pedastrian in no time!

Conclusion: photographer’s heaven but not for everyone.

Overall: A-

Egypt – Cairo / Luxor / Aswan / Abu Simbel / Nile Cruise 2023 (15 days) Full Album here:

https://tomhuang.com.au/…/16/egypt-phroahs-and-pyramids

Ah, Egypt. The ultimate travel bucket list! Words simply cannot describe the feeling of seeing the awe-inspiring Great Pyramids of Giza guarded by the Sphinx and troves of ever-glittering treasures of Boy Pharoah Tutankhamen. Then there is the Abu Simbel Temple, immortalised in Hollywood movies such as James Bond’s The Spy Who Love Me, with its giant 10-storey tall statues of Ramses III overlooking Nile River into the East. And as if these aren’t impressive enough, there are hundreds of thousands of hierographic inscriptions on the temple wall detailing the birth of midwifery (pardon the pun), ancient calendars, and tales of conquests and defeats!

I watched rainbow over the pyramids, I walked the dark, claustrophobic alley inside a pyramid, I sailed down the Niles, I rode the camels, and I visited $1billion Grand Egyptian Museum! Yet I felt like I can spend another 3 months easily in Egypt!

Many, however, are heat exhausted and “temple-fatigued” fairly early on in my tour group. “It all looked the same.” And therein lies the problem of visiting Egypt. Once you get over pyramids, mummies, and random drawing on the wall, there isn’t really much else to offer. The food is quite lacklustre (and unhygienic), the people aren’t friendly (and plenty of scammers), the weather is VERY hot and dry, and the streets are busy and dirty.

But then again, it has Great Pyramids of Giza!!

Conclusion: The bucket list. The photographer’s dream. More fun if you know how to read Egyptian hierography!

Rating: A + (photography) / B- (why so many temples?)

Japan – Osaka / Kyoto / Hiroshima / Matsumoto / Fuji / Tokyo / Kamakura 2025 (18 days)

Japan. The Land of Rising Sun. The “have-it-all” holiday destination. No matter what you are looking for, Japan has it and whole heap more! It’s also the place where you found out that “missing piece” of your life that you never thought you need but found it in Japan!

From ancient temples / castles to giant metropolis and world-class theme parks. From freshest sushi to rich Tonkatsu ramen, from maze-like train stations to majestic snow-capped Mr. Fuji. It is truly a perfect introduction to those who never set foot in an Asian country.

Japan makes it almost too easy for self-guided tourists. Reliable transportation system. Ubiquitous convenience stores. Helpful polite English-speaking staff. Non-existent crime. Clean and organised everywhere. And that exchange rate means you are paying half but getting a lot more than you are getting back home!

You will be planning your next Japan on your return flight, it’s that good!

Tips: bring cash, avoid hot humid Summer, and visit attractions early in the morning to avoid crowd.

Conclusion: hands down THE best holiday destinations no matter what you are looking for.

Overall: A+