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​I Picked the Worst Time to Visit Vietnam

And it has been glorious!

Let me explain...

This is my fifth trip to Vietnam and every time I come I want to see EVERYTHING. But this time I stayed in Saigon for the whole time, just to see what it would be like.

Could I live here?

Late Spring in South East Asia can be brutal, in most places it is the hottest, most air polluted time to visit until the rainy season comes to wash it away.

But Alan has lived through it all and suggested that maybe we should try it so we would know Saigon at its worst.

After 6 weeks we've learned to adapt like the Saigonese do. We wake up early to take advantage of cool weather, drink coffee in cafes tucked away from the sun and ultimately retreat to AC in the afternoons until everyone reappears in the evening.

I haven't shot any videos other than for Patreon/YouTube Membership and instead have focused my time on building the Vietnam group tour with Nana, the best guide in the country.

If you're interested you can join the Vietnam announcement list, no pressure or commitment. It is just a separate email list for people who want the news.

Why Vietnam?

The Food

If you think I'm going to mention banh mi or pho - forget it!

Eat that on your first day and move onto more interesting things. Vietnam will blow your mind with flavors that can be briny, fermented, sweet, sour and bitter.

There are so many kinds of noodles that I wrote this post about how these noodles are all better than pho.

Food here is so healthy, with lots of fresh greens, fish and lots of vegan and vegetarian options.

And fresh cut fruit is everywhere.

On the downside they tend to be a bit light in protein but I simply go to the market where they sell steamed firm tofu for 15 cents a block and add it to my meals.

The Energy

I have always been a type A kind of person who finishes one thing and is already thinking about what she needs to do next.

It is hard for me to slow down. To relax. To just be.

And while everyone shows you the craziness of the motorcycles in Saigon and trying to cross the road, it's not hectic at all.

People wake up at 5am, they exercise and eat breakfast, then go to meet friends for coffee.

Instead of rushing to work or start my to-do list I have learned to just sit with my $1 coffee in the morning.

Sometimes I read. Sometimes (like right now) I bring my laptop to work in the shade. But I never feel rushed.

Now that I've been here six weeks locals want to talk more. Those who speak English are curious about what we're doing. Those who don't are more eager to help me pronounce words when they see I'm trying to learn.

And the cost of meals have gone down in some of our favorite spots. They were already great prices but we're now paying 30-50% less for our loyalty.

And running errands? If I need to buy something, all the familiar brands I know from home are here. I just order them online and have them delivered at a fraction of the cost.

My Health

Who knew that in my late 40s everything would go haywire! The last 12 months I have really started to prioritize my health.

It wasn't a choice. I had to because things were falling apart.

Vietnam was a game changer.

I made this video about healthcare in Vietnam as I was gobsmacked at the level of service I had at two different dentists, a public hospital for a full health check including blood tests and scans.

I also walked into a private hospital nicer than any I've been to in Canada and immediately had a DEXA bone density scan for $25 USD.

The not-so-good news was that I discovered I had osteopenia, low testosterone, and sub-optimal Vitamin D and iron.

But the amazing news was that I discovered early and now I'm working on it.

And soon I'm going back to test it all again. Because Saigon has clinics where you don't need a doctor to prescribe testing. You can walk in to a world class facility and order it off the menu.

I have learned this is the best place for me to rest, recharge and plan for the future.

What's next?

As much as I love the city and have enjoyed this break from shooting video I feel a bit antsy and want to explore.

This week we're on a week long trip to visit 2 local beaches and an island with a national park that aren't well known with foreign tourists.

And I've also been busy planning a trip to China! Just a 10-day visit using China's transit visa.

We just heard SafetyWing approved our Thailand medical costs I think it is a good investment to have an adventure that will push me out of my comfort zone.
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As always if you hit reply to this email you can respond. If you have any questions, comments or China suggestions I'm all ears!

Keep Life Delicious

Ayngelina