ON-TREND
TRAVEL NEWSVIETNAM
Yet another no-brainer on the list. South East
Asia is a haven for backpackers and for good
reason. When prices are as low as they are in
Vietnam, and beauty is as abundant, it’s hard
to look too far elsewhere. Once again, most
popular activities and attractions like hiking
around Ha Long Bay, and visiting Notre-Dame
Cathedral of Saigon, are free. Even if you feel
like visiting museums of the Vietnam War, or
renting a motorcycle to enjoy the views of
Hai Van Pass, your purse strings will be quite
safe. For food, the most popular Vietnamese
dishes are served in roadside stalls, so why
would you spend more to dine at fancy
restaurants? In fact, former U.S. President
Barack Obama famously enjoyed a $6 meal
at a Hanoi restaurant while filming for CNN’s
Parts Unknown!
ALBANIA
On top of low price tags, backpackers
often seek out places off the radar not yet
swarmed by hordes of tourists. Albania is a
wonderful alternative to the all too popular
Mediterranean nations of Italy and Greece.
Not only does it provide similarly beautiful
beaches, fresh seafood, and a colourful
history, Albania has not adopted the Euro,
making everything significantly cheaper.
Youth hostels are widely available within
walking distance from popular areas, with
biking a preferred mode of travelling. Why
settle for crowded beaches of the Sicilian
Coast when you can soak in the sun without
people walking pass you every minute in
Sarande? If that doesn’t convince you, the
Italians themselves love crossing the Adriatic
Sea for their own low-cost summer getaways!Ha Long Bay in Vietnam’s north eastA view of Tran Quoc Pagoda in HanoiThe village of Ksamil in Albania