Hanoi

Hanoi is surprisingly calm and orderly.

Apple Watch...not coming

The Apple Watch won't be coming go Vietnam. It's not wise to bring it ased on what I've been reading. Too tempting for moped riding thieves. 

Local SIM card

I'll be picking up a local SIM card as soon as I arrive. My travel anywhere T-mobile SIM works in something like 140 countries...just not Vietnam. 

Posting from iPhone

I've scanned the App Store and can't find the Blogger app. It looks like it is only available for android so I will be using the browser on my iPhone to make posts. I think I'll be dictating most of them since it's much easier than typing on the little screen. This post was dictated by the way.

Clay Douglass

Safe Eating in Vietnam

Here are the rules I've been given.

Fruit - peel it yourself
Water - bottled
Salad - never
Boiled - anything is ok

Other rules to follow? Jump in the comment section to share...

Clay Douglass

iPhone v. Laptop

This will be my first trip without a laptop in...twenty years?

The iPhone 6 plus will have to do the job on its own. We'll see how it goes...

May main concern is about being able to input data but I've been having a lot of success with dictation lately. I'm interested to see how it replaces the keyboard on this ten day trip.

I'll let you know.

Clay Douglass

Vaccinations

I got five separate vaccinations for the trip to Vietnam. Two in both arms and one in my left leg. That was a few weeks ago and they've just stopped hurting. 

Perfect timing since I'll be using my arms and legs a lot as I backpack around. 

I hope that they work. It's surprising how many diseases I thought had disappeared are actually alive and kicking. 

Clay Douglass

Money Belt

Trying to decide on a money belt or not...any thoughts? Please put let me know your advice in the comment section.

Thanks,

Clay Douglass

Backpack

I decided to go with a 32 liter backpack from Simond. 50 euros at Decathlon. I think it will be big enough given the light, small technical wear I'll be packing.

I didn't want anything too big since I will be carrying it for most of the ten days.



Clay Douglass

Packing list

Found some good advice here...add your thoughts in the comment section.

Sneakers, flip flops, leather sandals. 1-2 pairs of trousers, one or two pairs of shorts. T-shirts or short sleeved dress shirts, not cotton.

Socks for the sneakers. Underwear as you wish.

Belt (useful for latching on a pouch that goes inside your pants for safekeeping of stuff you don't want to share with pickpockets).

For 1 months stay: bring enough for 10 days, then wash as you go. Washing at cleaners outside the hotels is usually cheaper albeit less convenient.

You WILL buy more clothes, sandals, stuff, so don't arrive with a full bag.

If you are from a cold place: a light sweater for that chilling flight home.

Heading to Vietnam

This Friday I head to Vietnam from Barcelona. It will be a long flight with a stop in Singapore.

I'll be meeting Thang Pham, my boss at Restaurant Me. We'll be eating our way around the middle of the country.

One of the reasons we are going is to get some inspiration for the new restaurant opening in Oslo this summer.

Follow along on this blog for more info about the trip.

Thanks,

Clay Douglass