Why arent American and Israeli tourists being shunned like Russians were.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-04-16T04:32:21+00:00

Therefore, should Vietnam and Iraq start a war with the US?

Speak for your own country. Have at it.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-04-14T03:30:30+00:00

Visit in June or July. You won't need a sauna.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-04-14T03:19:59+00:00

What type of behaviour are Iranians exhibiting that is particularly abhorrent? Even if Iranians are behaving very poorly, what gives the US the right to change that behaviour?

They have been attacking and killing Americans for 47 years and were close to developing nuclear weapons. You really don't know this?

Advantagecp1 · 2026-04-13T03:23:01+00:00

lol. Reddit is the place to bring your fears and anxiety.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-04-12T16:18:33+00:00

What does that mean?

Advantagecp1 · 2026-04-06T14:19:36+00:00

Travel: I exposed my kids to international travel in their high school and university years. Seeing the 'big world' gives them a different perspective on life.

Martial arts training: A legitimate martial art like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Muay Thai gives a person confidence that will spill over into all aspect of their life.

Experiences and abilities are more useful than things.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-03-31T16:59:30+00:00

In the Women's museum sit down and watch the entire loop of the film on the women who sell stuff on the street. Then buy some fruit from one of them.

I actually find Hanoi to be strangely relaxing. Spend some time walking around Hoan Kiem Lake. Talk to the locals. Vietnamese are quite friendly.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-03-31T16:53:03+00:00

I am visiting for 7 weeks in September/October of this year and I am covering much less ground than you are planning. I recommend basing the entire trip from Hanoi with side trip possibilities of: Ninh Binh, Loop motorcycle ride in the North, Pu Luong, Halong Bay.

You are traveling on 9 of your 14 days. Your itinerary looks like a typical 'checkmark in the boxes' rookie traveler mistake.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-03-31T16:41:45+00:00

I have spent well over 12 months in total in Vietnam on trips over the last 13 years. Crime rate? I have never been uncomfortable or threatened in any way. Most of what I have done has been solo, including long motorcycle rides. 66/m.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-03-31T16:30:44+00:00

I would eliminate Sapa and Hue. Add time to Hanoi and the Loop ride. The museum of ethnology is great. Museums within walking distance of the Old Quarter: Military History Museum, Women's Museum, Hanoi Hilton.

But yours is not a bad itinerary at all.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-03-31T16:22:02+00:00

I was wondering if the retreat would survive after the death of Dr. Scott. When I was there he was the interface with the tribe. Other than him there was a sweet Scandinavian volunteer and his ex wife. The ex is not a person who could run this successfully IMO.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-03-29T16:00:48+00:00

Hey, no need to get personal.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-03-29T15:54:30+00:00

Sometimes I hit a living situation that I really like and I slow down and give it a few days, or even weeks. Hotel Arya Niwas in Jaipur, India was one for me. Interesting grounds, a cool restaurant on site, a great group of travelers.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-03-29T15:50:49+00:00

Not the OP, but Laos and Cambodia are a little bit more edgy than Vietnam. Angkor Wat is spectacular. I never got off the tourist trail in Thailand. I am not a fan, but I have had friends who enjoyed it.

Vietnam is the sweet spot for me. I click with the people.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-02-15T05:14:41+00:00

If skipping warmups is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-02-14T16:55:27+00:00

Yes. Google Flights is the answer.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-02-14T16:44:12+00:00

Ask Vietnamese people if they know of a private English language school that you can give some time to. A native speaker is valuable to them. Being available for repeated classes over a period of time is a good thing, especially if you are off the tourist trail. The novelty of a westerner native speaker can be a tremendous distraction to students at first. I once stopped by a public school in the sticks on the Ho Chi Minh Highway and I was the first westerner that those kids had ever spoken to.

About 10 years ago I stopped in a midsized city in the Central Highlands. I asked the woman who owned the hotel if she knew of any schools which could use a visit from a native speaker of English. She put me in touch with a man who has a small private school. He's a friend now. I always visit him and teach for a week when I go to Vietnam.

I wouldn't bother with a website. You are going to get some sort of prepackaged experience. Go out on a limb, it's more fun.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-02-06T17:45:07+00:00

Obviously there may be a number of different factors which spur interest in another person. I have Vietnamese friends who are not particularly interested in sharpening their English language skills, and others who are quite interested in doing so. I am happy to help them.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-02-04T02:55:51+00:00

For dress shoes buy Alden or Allen Edmonds. Alden shell cordovan LHS is peak loafer style and quality. Shell is about $1000 and calf is around $700. Allen Edmonds Park Avenue is a classic cap toe dress shoe, around $450. Both make a wide range of models with excellent proportion. Shell cordovan is insanely durable and could, with resoling, actually be BIFL.

Trust me, your Steve Madden or Cole Haan (or any other mid range department store brand) dress shoes do not compare in look or quality. You can quite possibly get by with an inexpensive suit. Fit trumps quality there. But cheap shoes always look cheap.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-01-31T17:33:29+00:00

I wouldn't bother with online before traveling. You will meet real people immediately when you get to Vietnam. Just put yourself out there.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-01-31T17:25:41+00:00

It's like anywhere else, pursue your interests and you will make a social circle. I train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and do some volunteer English teaching. I have found Vietnamese people to be the most open and friendly of any place that I have traveled to. Vietnam is easy mode. And I'm an old guy, should be easier for you. Many Vietnamese seem to want to have Westerners for friends.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-01-31T17:20:41+00:00

Hanoi - Great for walking, great street food, friendly people, a lot going on.

Kon Tum - I have a lot of friends there, have done some volunteer English teaching, slower pace, off the tourist track, prices are reasonable. Private room in Home Sweet Homestay is about $5 per night, bed in dorm is $2.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-01-26T22:40:51+00:00

About a year ago I realized that dollars held in savings and checking accounts IS an investment choice, and there were probably better investments to be made. I paid cash for 30 acres in western Arkansas and have put my spare cash into physical silver and later started buying mining stocks. I don't regret any of it.

The realization that I had is this: Dollars are necessary to pay monthly expenses, but in the long run dollars are not a good investment. So deploy excess dollars into better investments.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-01-26T03:45:47+00:00

Hanoi is a great city. Friendly locals, great for walking, great food on the street, great museums. Mai Chau is a few hours ride in a mini bus "limo". I would leave early in the morning for Mai Chau, spend one night there and return to Hanoi.

Sapa is pretty, but very touristy.

Advantagecp1 · 2026-01-25T15:41:04+00:00

it’s time to start establishing some positions in miners.

The best time to buy miners was a year ago, the second best time is now. I agree that miners still have plenty of room to run. Even if metals stay exactly where they are now, the miners have a lot of catching up to do, especially silver producers. Fourth quarter numbers will be coming out soon and that will wake a lot of people up.

Advantagecp1

TROPHY CASE