Here’s our Intentional Travelers collection of blog posts on transformational travel experiences, travel tips and guides for trips in Asia.
Traveling to visit our friends in Vietnam was a completely new experience for us, especially since it was our first time to an Asian country. We arrived in Hanoi with almost no grasp of the language (unless you count the words phở and bahn my from our menu vocabulary, but even those – we found out…
Tucked away in the mountains of northern Vietnam, about 100 miles from Hanoi, sits the rural district of Mai Châu (pronounced: my chow). Its lush landscape and relaxing village atmosphere beckoned us from the big city, as we planned a weekend away with our friends. Quick picks: Mai Châu at a glance Where to stay: local homestay in…
We aim to keep this post updated about Thailand travel in 2026 with official Thailand travel restrictions, requirements, and health and safety guidance. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions so you can travel confidently, safely, and responsibly in this new post-pandemic world of ours. Since travel restrictions can vary by citizenship, we…
Inn to inn (or hut to hut) walking and hiking tours can be a winning arrangement for travelers that love slow travel and active vacations. Walking tours are a chance to see countless new sights without the stressful rush of a typical fast-paced tour. What is an Inn to Inn hiking trip? Updated: 2024. Originally…
We aim to keep this post updated about Philippines travel in 2026 with official Philippines travel restrictions, requirements, and health and safety guidance. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions so you can travel confidently, safely, and responsibly in this new post-pandemic world of ours. As restrictions can vary based on the traveler’s…
We aim to keep this post updated about Japan travel in 2026 with official Japan travel restrictions, requirements, and health and safety guidance. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions so you can travel confidently, safely, and responsibly in this new post-pandemic world of ours. Since travel restrictions can vary by citizenship, we…
When traveling in Vietnam, effective smartphone use is less of a convenience and more of a necessity. Whether you’re trying to get across a busy city like Hanoi, or communicating with local homestay hosts in Hoi An, a smartphone can be your most valuable travel tool. Even after many years visiting Vietnam, we still use…
We flew back to the US from Asia using a sweet redemption of Alaska Air miles on one of their partners, Japan Airlines. This included a leg on Japan Airlines (JAL) 787-9 with Sky Suite Seats III from Haneda (Tokyo), Japan to Honolulu, Hawaii. To see what it’s like, read on for our full JAL…
If you’re like us, finding the best small town destinations and off-the-beaten-path gems is a big reason why we love working remotely. Since becoming digital nomads in 2014 and trying out various places to live and work abroad, we’ve learned an important lesson: Some of the big “digital nomad hubs” are not really our style….
Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, is a bustling city in the North with a lot to explore. Cost of living is fairly cheap so there are many things to do in Hanoi on a budget. Despite not loving big cities and traffic, we have really enjoyed our many visits to Hanoi. Initially we stayed with expat friends…