I’m viewing the photograph above with an enormous, gargantuan sigh, having traveled home 8,106 miles from Chiang Rai, Thailand, by way of Bangkok, after a wildly transformative couple weeks in North and South Viet Nam, welcoming the new year of the Horse 2026. In the past, It’s been important to me to write and I suppose post while I travel and visit with my fiends and family in Viet Nam.
This year, so many Tuyet Voi (wonderful) experiences and realizations occurred, I took notes, I even took videos, hi hi hi but the trip was mine. And now safe at home, we’ll be happy to share. Unsure on everything we’ve just experienced, as the magical Mekong delta dust has yet to settle, but here’s a quick overview of our time away, beginning with the our pilgrimage New Year’s Day to the sacred Huong or Perfume Pagoda. A two-hour motorbike ride north of Ha Noi followed by a ride up the river. The name "Perfume Pagoda" is said to come from the sweet fragrance of the wildflowers and herbs that fill the area during the blooming season, particularly in spring. The fragrance is believed to carry the blessings of the goddess Quan Am, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere. In Vietnamese, "Chua Huong" directly translates to "Pagoda of Fragrance", a name that perfectly encapsulates the divine aroma that lingers in the air during pilgrimages. The serenade helped.
Call me Diên, “Crazy” in Vietnamese, and some good Viet people no doubt have, but I spotted this beautiful Catholic Church from aways off on the ride back to Ha Noi, and had Tuan stop. “This is the Church in Phu Xuyên - Ha Tay”, Tuan informed me later. It was a wonderful moment, capturing the congregation happily celebrating New Years Day, along with wishing some curious children Chuc Mung Nam Moi, Happy New Year.
After visiting South and North Vietnam, I spent a night in Bangkok, Thailand, en route to Chiang Rai, the very special area in northernmost Thailand known as The Golden Triangle. There, where, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar all converge along the banks of the Mekong River, I made a few new friends at Elephant Camp. Much more to say about healing at an almost indescribable new level, international conservation efforts, etc.
Lastly, our visit concluded with a visit to Thailand’s Opium Museum, highlighting Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand, recognized for her vital role in transforming the Golden Triangle by promoting alternative livelihoods for local hill tribes. Through the SUPPORT Foundation (established 1976) and royal development projects, she helped shift the region from opium poppy cultivation toward sustainable agriculture and traditional handicrafts, reducing poverty and improving rural living conditions. As a former marketing guy, I found the video marking the concluding corridor of the museum absolutely brilliant, accompanied by quotes like. “Live not as though there were a thousand years ahead of you; Fate is at your elbow, make yourself good while life and power are still yours.” ~ Marcus Aurelius Roman Emperor-Philosopher (A.D. 121-180) There’s a lot of reassessment and reorganization happening at The Higher Haven. More on our 2026 schedule soon….