✦ Author

Alex Nguyen

@alex-nguyen

Vietnamese backpacker, 5 years zigzagging across SE Asia on a shoestring. Budget travel, street food, hidden gems — the honest version.

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Where to Stay in Singapore for First Timers (Without Going Broke)
Singapore is expensive — not unaffordable. Here's where to base yourself for 2–4 days on hawker food and MRT rides, with hostel rates I actually checked in 2026.
Alex NguyenMay 13, 20268 min read
Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City: A District-by-District Honest Take
A Hanoi kid's honest map of Saigon's neighborhoods — who Bui Vien actually suits, why District 3 is the move, and the District 4 rooftops nobody talks about.
Alex NguyenMay 13, 20268 min read
The Cheapest Month to Visit the Philippines (And What It Actually Costs You)
September is the cheapest month to visit the Philippines. Whether that's a steal or a regret depends entirely on which islands you pick.
Alex NguyenMay 13, 20268 min read
Is 2 Weeks Enough for Vietnam? Yes — If You Stop Trying to See It All
Two weeks is plenty for Vietnam — as long as you skip the country-checklist trap. Here's the honest north-to-south route from someone who's done it a dozen ways.
Alex NguyenMay 12, 202611 min read
Is $50,000 Enough for a Thailand Trip? A Ridiculous Breakdown
Someone Googled this. So I did the math. Fifty grand in Thailand is either two years of your life, two weeks of helicopters, or one very bad weekend in Phuket.
Alex NguyenMay 11, 20268 min read