I've worked out a loose itinerary and it's still changing as I finish up packing my carry on bag. Here are the places I'm planning on visiting while in Vietnam:

Hanoi
Ha Long Bay (UNESCO site)
Hue (the Citadel, Vietnam's old capital)
Saigon
Vung Tau (fishing village)
Phuoc Tinh (birthplace)
Mui Ne (famous for its sand dunes, canyons, and world-class kite-surfing beaches)
Da Lat (known as "Le Petit Paris")
Hoi An (UNESCO town famous for its super cheap tailor made clothing shops)
Nha Trang (beach resort town)
Mekong Delta

I really want to go to Phu Quoc Island, but I don't think we'll have enough time to do so. Phu Quoc Island is said to rival Phuket. It's known for having some of the best unspoilt beaches in SE Asia.

I will try to update every few days once I get settled down in each town.

Anticipation

I've got my Visa. I've got my passport. T minus 2 days before I get on that plane and head back to Vietnam. We fled when I was only 9 months old so I don't have any recollection of our time there. We're from a little commune called Phuoc Tinh, which is near the fishing village of Vung Tau. I'll be taking a day trip there when I'm in Saigon and will try to find the house that we lived in back then. Mom said there should be people there who will still remember our families.

It would've been so great if the whole family was able to make this trip, but mom and dad aren't quite ready to go back just yet. They're still a little wary of the current government.

I've done months of research and am ready for my backpacking adventure through the country. Speaking of backpacking, here's what I'll be living out of for the next month. Talk about having to do some creative packing!

This is a trip that I've been looking forward to for years now. As I get older, I feel a stronger need to (re)connect with my roots. Whatever happens on this trip, I know that it will be a journey that will be, at least, an enriching one.

Who am I kidding? It's all about the delicious and authentic food I'll be having everyday! Yum! ;-)