Vietnam was a chaotic, gritty mix of tradition and modernity. I celebrated my birthday biking through rice paddies, women in conical hats dotting the fields outside of Hue. I visited a school and a class of four year old sang happy birthday to me, it brought tears to my eyes it was so sweet. I had a custom dress made from a photo in the J.Crew catalog (for a quarter of the price) in Hoi An. I even met up some clients honeymooning in Saigon!

I especially loved visiting the markets in small villages. Crossing the street in Hanoi gives you an adrenaline rush--there are so many motor bikes you literally just step out into them and they weave around you. I paddled down a little river on a wooden boat in the Mekong Delta and slept on a junk cruise ship on Halong Bay. It was inspiring to visit new places and to see something completely different than I see in my day to day life. It rained almost every I was there, but I managed to take a few photos. Vietnam was a fascinating destination that definitely keeps you on your toes.