Nha Trang in 2025 is overfull with overweight Russian men with wife / mistress. Many signs include Russian and some businesses provide tourist services mainly for the Russians.
Unwelcome in many nations, in 2025 Russians are vacationing in Turkey, Thailand, China, the UAE, and Vietnam.
This city is very popular with Koreans, as well.
BEST time to walk the beach is early morning or in the evening.
Tourists feed them directly, risking scratches and bites.
I took in the “animal circus“, as well. Noting that dog tricks seem perfectly acceptable — but that monkey tricks seem abusive. No logic there, I’m afraid.
The BIG attraction is the Golden Bridge opened 2018.
You’ve seen it on Instagram looking like this.
The reality is that the bridge is constantly packed with hordes, many of whom would happily throw you off in order to get the ideal photo location. To them I say …
I DID throw some competitors over the edge to get my own iconic pic.
Best advice is to go to one of the less crowded Golden Bridgeimitators in the Philippines, China, or elsewhere. 😀
In fact, I found more hands in the resort. Since I was alone, I’m assuming this area was not open to tourists. Oh well.
Criticism of Ba Na Hills, referred to by some as “Fairyland,” centers on it being an inauthentic, overcrowded, and overly commercialized theme park, with visitors finding the environment fake, the food uninspired, and the Golden Bridge experience ruined by throngs of people.
At one point I concluded, this is what TrumpLand would look like, if a theme park. 😀
Of course if Vegas kitsch amuses, you’ll have some laughs.
The super popular tour from Da Nang starts with a visit to a gift shop en route. What else?
Surprisingly, I quite enjoyed learning about pearls and precious woods.
You take a cable car up to the mountain peak. It’s the “longest non-stop single track cable car“, at 5,801 metres. In fact, this attraction has 6 cable cars now. They need more.
Massive, impossible construction is underway. Our tour guide is very disappointed. He predicts it will be a disaster when finished.
Hanoi has already started implementing a motorbike ban, beginning with petrol-powered motorbikes inside Ring Road 1 on July 1, 2026. These restrictions aim to combat the city’s severe air pollution, progressively phasing out fossil-fuel vehicles
I’ll believe that when I see it. 😀
I did see tourist areas blocked off for the evening in some other cities. Restaurants and bars could spill on to the street as they do in Europe.
He was worldly having worked on ships from 1911 to 1917. This included stops in the USA.
He lived in France for years. Then moved to Moscow in 1923. And to China in November 1924. In Canton, Hồ organized the Association of Vietnamese Youth.
It wasn’t until 1941 that Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam to lead the Việt Minh independence movement.
Cát Bà Island is the latest, greatest tourist jumping off point for boat tours of Hạ Long Bay (or Halong Bay) and Lan Ha Bay. Everyone has seen and heard about this famed UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Most of this trip is scenic relaxation. 😀
I spent 2 nights in Cát Bà town andreally enjoyed the tourist trap.
Massive resorts are under construction here. Beautiful tourist attractions, as well.
Here’s the view from my hostel in 2025. Gorgeous sunset blocked by giant crane.
I’m not sure I want to come back when this is all finished.
Since the designation of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark in 2010, the tourism industry has been growing. Astonishingly popular in 2025 is a loop of some of the scenic roads by jeep or motorbike.
We traveled by sleeper bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang city. Then slept a few more hours in a hostel.
Each tourist has a personal guide / driver.
I called my guide BOSS as he was the leader of the pack.
It’s possible to do the loop on your own, renting a bike. But I understand you’ll be stopped by the police often — and asked to pay a fine / bribe.
The other 2 nights were in a good hotel. And a charming traditional homestay.
Food was excellent. We all gained weight over 3 days. 😀
Everyone in my group left super happy with the experience. No accidents — if you don’t count me running off the bike when my driver hit a hidden pothole at very low speed.
We did about 300km — all good. Dozens of scenic stops.
Drivers know all the best photo stop angles.
Dogs are sometimes dinner in this part of the world. But not this pretty boy. 😀
Rick McCharles 