An Unforgettable Vietnam Adventure But With an Unexpected Catch - Nomad Notes | EP 41

Would you trade your usual weekend routine for a story you’ll still be telling ten years from now?

Host Ryan Mellon shares a deeply meaningful story of motorbiking through the Hi Giang loop in Vietnam’s northern mountains, but it wasn’t all smooth riding. A packing mistake left him scrambling, and what followed was equal parts hilarious and humbling.

As a digital nomad coach, Ryan reveals how low-cost travel can still deliver high-value experiences. This is the kind of trip that changes your mindset and connects you with people in unforgettable ways.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really costs to live the nomad life—or what gear not to forget—this story will shift your perspective. 

Listen to hear what Ryan learned and what he wishes he’d brought.

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DISCLAIMER:
Listening to stories of beachside zoom calls, mountainside work views, and island-hopping entrepreneurs may cause severe wanderlust and an irresistible urge to turn your laptop into a passport to freedom. Side effects include daydreaming about tropical co-working spaces, working with Ryan to learn how you can start working and traveling and buying a one-way ticket to Bali. Get ready to start living your dream life today!

Transcript

[00:00:00] Ryan Mellon: Welcome back to Digital Nomad Nation, nomad Notes edition where we dive into bite-sized insights to help you build a life of freedom, purpose, and remote work from anywhere on earth.

[00:00:09] Ryan Mellon: So today I wanted to talk to you about one of the questions I get from aspiring digital nomads, and that's how much does it really cost, not only to live this lifestyle, but to do fun things and do excursions. So I wanted to take you back one of my favorite experiences, not just because it was wild and beautiful, but because it shows how affordable.

[00:00:30] Ryan Mellon: Epic travel can be. So what would you believe me if I told you that for the price of a weekend at a Motel six, you could ride a motorcycle through the remote villages of Vietnam, eat amazing food and sing karaoke with locals under one hanging light bulb? And that was my experience in doing the hi giang loop in.

[00:00:53] Ryan Mellon: The northern mountains of Vietnam. So the hi giang loop is, about a little over 200 [00:01:00] miles and it snakes through the mountains. And it's quite an adventurous ordeal. Kind of an ice road trucker situation. It's at some point, no guardrail on the side, steep mountain cliffs, dirt roads, tight spaces, big trucks coming around, corners to dodge.

[00:01:19] Ryan Mellon: And it was all an absolute adventure. So I arrived at 3:00 AM by bus into hi giang, a small town in the mountains, and that's where you get started. And I had planned out and found A hostel that would put you up for the night and give you everything you needed to do and set you up for your adventure.

[00:01:41] Ryan Mellon: So, we got all our motorcycles there at the hostel They gave us two local guides they also gave you. A bike to ride around for the day before we set off the next day just to make sure that you're set and ready to go.

[00:01:57] Ryan Mellon: So get a little bit of a, hang of the [00:02:00] bike If you're not confident, you can ride on the back of a guides bike, which I saw a few people do. So, the next day we set out with our two Vietnamese guides and there were seven other of us, three from the uk, two from Poland, one from Switzerland and then myself.

[00:02:17] Ryan Mellon: And we went on this epic journey. we're running through the mountains and within the first 30 minutes it just starts pouring down rain. not the best start to the trip, but it only lasted for a little bit. We were able to change into warm clothes. Our guides have put our bags and plastic bags on the back of the bike to keep those dry.

[00:02:38] Ryan Mellon: And we did have some, I did have a rain jacket, so it wasn't too big of a deal. But, one of the best parts was just after spending all day riding through the mountains, seeing these epic views of waterfalls and lakes and farmland and valleys and mountains. Seeing how the [00:03:00] locals are still working the fields.

[00:03:02] Ryan Mellon: Just absolutely stunning. The first place we stayed at was a home stay and on the, it was kind of like this barn in the middle of nowhere in the countryside, a Vietnam, and we, on the first floor there was a like living area with some wooden benches and just an amazing spread of home cooked food that they put out for all of us.

[00:03:26] Ryan Mellon: Under one hanging light bulb. And then there was another room with a kitchen, and then there was one karaoke machine. So as we started getting through with our dinner, our guides break out a big bottle, like a gallon sized bottle of moonshine, like the local moonshine that they make, and proceeded to get us all blitz.

[00:03:49] Ryan Mellon: We sang karaoke till two in the morning. It was absolutely epic. And then we slept upstairs in beds and all in one room with some mattresses just [00:04:00] laid out on the floor. We all woke up super rusty and then drove another eight hours through the mountains. if you're not familiar with it, the northern part of Vietnam, it can get super cold.

[00:04:11] Ryan Mellon: So none of us went to Southeast Asia with warm weather gear. We all came with shorts and t-shirts It's quite cold in the north and especially in the mountains. It was freezing. So every chance we got, we bought jackets, hoodies gloves, scarves, anything we could to keep the cold away. I just remember after days and days of 

[00:04:32] Ryan Mellon: Epic waterfalls and cave experiences and driving through the scenic mountains, like I got to the last place that we were gonna stay and we had an amazing dinner. I could not wait to get. To a hot shower and the hot water was not working I was feeling so down about it, but, it ended up being okay.

[00:04:54] Ryan Mellon: One more day. And the last day was just filled with, more [00:05:00] epic views and just really enjoyed the time. Really enjoyed how many friends that I made on that trip and just. Seeing the rural northern part of Vietnam was just priceless. And so for four days, over 200 miles of driving, including bike rental, waterfall caves, home stays, karaoke, and lifelong friendships, that cost about $150.

[00:05:30] Ryan Mellon: And include the stays food, everything. And so today I looked it up, it's about 200 to 225 US dollars for those four days. But it's definitely something that I would tell you guys to check out and definitely do if you're in Vietnam. It's an incredible deal and it is worth the experience.

[00:05:51] Ryan Mellon: It's not just about saving money. This story, it's about changing your perspective. The digital nomad isn't just a luxury fantasy, [00:06:00] and it's accessible to more people than you realize. So, there's adventures like this out there waiting for you. All you have to do is take the leap. So, I hope that you guys have an amazing week, and then we'll see you on the next one. 

[00:06:12] Ryan Mellon: Thanks for listening to another episode of Digital Nomad Nation. I hope today's stories have inspired you to take the next step towards location independence. If you've enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. Your support fuels our mission to inspire the digital nomad lifestyle.

[00:06:35] Ryan Mellon: Before you go, don't forget to grab your free copy of my guide, Seven Ways to Become a Digital Nomad. It's packed with practical tips to kickstart your nomadic journey. You can find the link in the episode description. And remember, the life you've always dreamed of is just one bold decision away. Until next time, this is the Digital Nomad Coach, Ryan Mellon, signing [00:07:00] off.

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