Every morning when I open the window, I can see Ha Long Bay.
Limestone peaks float in the mist, and a fishing boat slowly crosses the horizon. It was ten years ago that I first saw this scenery. And now, I live here.
The person who writes this blog
pen name VietgilHe was born in Korea and settled in northern Vietnam.
I work as a tour guide in Ha Long Bay. I also run a travel agency. I live here with my Vietnamese wife and two children. I am also engaged in local investments.
I am not a traveler. I live here.
That difference is the whole story of this blog.
Why I Write This Blog
I have long met Korean travelers visiting Northern Vietnam. Those who get off the package bus, eat at a designated restaurant, take photos along a set route, and then return.
It is not that they had a bad trip. However, there is much more to see in Northern Vietnam besides that.
The Sapa market at a foggy dawn. An ethnic minority village off the tourist route. A fishing village in Ha Long Bay passed by on cruises. Life tucked away in the alleys of Hanoi.
I started this blog because I wanted to write about such things.
“You see as much as you know, and you remain as much as you see.”
This is the slogan of this blog and the way I approach travel.
Topics covered
Sapa and Pansipan — Trekking, Ethnic Minority Villages, Lao Cai, How to Get There
Ha Long Bay — Cruises, fishing villages, development and change, local perspectives
Hanoi — Old town, food, transportation, season
Ninh Binh — The Ha Long Bay of the Land, How to Travel Slowly
Vietnam Business and Investment — Experiences from running a local travel agency, trends in Vietnamese real estate and development, and the meaning of doing business as a foreigner in this land
Vietnam's future — Rapidly changing cities, development sites, and a local's perspective on what this country will look like in 10 years
My daily life — A day in the life of a Korean raising two children in Ha Long Bay. An ordinary story of life, only possible here.
Tour Inquiry
We offer private tour consultations for those who prefer non-package travel.
I provide guided tours of Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, and the entire Ninh Binh region based on 10 years of experience. I accept only small groups of up to 7 people who know each other. The service operates on a cost-plus basis with no venue margin.
All posts on this blog are personally experienced, personally photographed, and personally written.