We leave Ho Chi Minh City behind and head south into the Mekong Delta—where life slows to the rhythm of the river, roads give way to waterways, and every stop is filled with unforgettable food and genuinely kind people.

In Can Tho, we explore tiny ferries, dirt paths, and a peaceful homestay surrounded by water and jungle. Then it’s off to explore fish farms, island villages, and a truly bizarre fish massage experience.

And just when you think the day couldn’t get more unexpected… we stumble upon one of the most unbelievable traditional food processes I’ve ever seen: puffed rice made with a literal explosion.

Musical Credits:

Quiet Girl by Name Percentage PRO, Julie Carpenter, Eric Cunningham and Chris Lang was provided by Slipstream Music.

We'Re In Limbo Now by The Benign One Ones was provided by Slipstream Music.

Over the Water, Humans Gather by Doctor Turtle is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Buy any of these products that I fully stand behind- and I'll earn a commission.

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Flowers by Cedric Galke x Fachhochschule Dortmund is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.

In this first episode from Vietnam, Laura and Carrie land in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) and step straight into the chaos — jet lagged, wide-eyed, and trying to cross streets filled with rivers of motorbikes. They explore its contradictions: honking traffic and quiet hidden alleyways, glass skyscrapers and corrugated tin rooftops. These are their first impressions of Vietnam — loud, complicated, and unforgettable.

Then we travel to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a 250-kilometer underground network used by Vietnamese soldiers during the Vietnam War (or the American War, depending on your perspective.) Standing where history actually happened makes the conflict feel real and complex. We learn about French colonialism, Cold War politics, Agent Orange, unexploded bombs, and the lasting impact of war that continues today. We crawl into tunnel entrances, watch propaganda films in a dirt-walled bunker, and confront what it feels like to be an American visitor in a place shaped by that history.

This episode is part travel diary, part history lesson, and part personal reflection — and just the beginning of our Vietnam journey.

Musical Credits:

Get Away In La, by Western Youths, Revolution Fever by Klaatu Verada Necktie,
Music provided by: Slipstream Music

Xanadon't by Mystery Mammal is licensed under a Attribution License.

Black Hawk City Fly-Over.wav by djfinski License: Attribution 3.0

Whispers in the Trees by Greg Kirkelie is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

My Native Land by Le Chaos Entre 2 Chaises is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.

Support the show

Want to support the podcast? Go to Laura's Patreon site to see photos from the episode, maps of places she talks about and you can become a patron too!

Follow the show on instagram or facebook.

Buy any of these products that I fully stand behind- and I'll earn a commission.

Buy cute sustainable bags at: https://torrain.org/ Use Promo code: TRAVELALONG to get 15% off.

Buy matcha at: https://mantramatcha.com/ Use Promo code: TRAVELALONG to get 15% off.

Buy sustainably produced coffee: https://www.afueracoffee.com/ Enter promo code: TRAVELALONG for 15% off.

Flowers by Cedric Galke x Fachhochschule Dortmund is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.

In this final Nicaragua episode, Laura travels to Granada the way so many locals do—by chicken bus. These colorful, chaotic former U.S. school buses are an experience in themselves, and the journey from Ometepe to Granada is filled with market noise, snack vendors, seat strategy, and a healthy dose of travel nostalgia.

Once in Granada, Laura wanders the relaxed colonial streets of one of the oldest cities in the Americas, founded in 1524 and shaped by its proximity to Lake Nicaragua. Along the way, we dive into the city’s layered history—from Spanish colonization to ambitious canal plans that never fully materialized, including the long-debated alternative to the Panama Canal. This episode blends solo travel moments with big-picture history, all set against the backdrop of one of Nicaragua’s most beautiful cities.

Musical Credits:

Momentos by MusicBox and Hello Love by Jasmine J Walker
provided by: Slipstream Music

Support the show

Want to support the podcast? Go to Laura's Patreon site to see photos from the episode, maps of places she talks about and you can become a patron too!

Follow the show on instagram or facebook.

Buy any of these products that I fully stand behind- and I'll earn a commission.

Buy cute sustainable bags at: https://torrain.org/ Use Promo code: TRAVELALONG to get 15% off.

Buy matcha at: https://mantramatcha.com/ Use Promo code: TRAVELALONG to get 15% off.

Buy sustainably produced coffee: https://www.afueracoffee.com/ Enter promo code: TRAVELALONG for 15% off.

Flowers by Cedric Galke x Fachhochschule Dortmund is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.