Favourite Cafe in Nguyen Hue St Ho Chi Minh City
Hi I’m John Gordon, originally from Perth, Western Australia and I travelled overseas on a 3 week holiday in June 2006 for my first Vietnam Adventure. I flew into Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and fell in love with Vietnam. I have always been intrigued with Vietnam and its people. This stemmed from my memories of the Vietnam War television coverage and those of you about my age and older will remember these images. I returned to Vietnam many times over the following years as a tourist and I was also lucky enough to visit on several business trips. During this time, I devised a plan to move to Ho Chi Minh City on a more permanent basis and in February 2010, I packed a bag and made the move. My Vietnam adventure began.
Can Gio Beach
Two of my passions are motorcycling and photography and I try to combine these as often as possible with trips out from Ho Chi Minh City and around Vietnam. My road journeys are usually day trips and overnighters with the occasional 4 or 5-day tour.
Motorcycling in Vietnam is dangerous and extreme care has to be taken to adjust to local conditions. It is a matter of “Expect the Unexpected”. But, that said, it is all part of the experience and I enjoy the thrill of the ride, navigating there and back and meeting people along the way.
John and Van in Ho Chi Minh City
I have always said that Travel is the best education and I have to say now, that living in Vietnam has changed me for the better. I have developed a fuller understanding of the Vietnamese people and their ancient culture and have made many friends across the country. I have endeavoured to learn Vietnamese language and now speak enough to be understood and make basic conversation. I have come to love Vietnam, its food and coffee but the highlight of my Vietnam Adventure was marrying a Ho Chi Minh City girl in 2014.