Stray Days – stories from the road. Straying with Brett!

This month we’re Straying with Brett Hudson from New Zealand who recently got off the beaten track in Vietnam on a Stray bus pass.

What is the most interesting thing you learnt or did while on tour?

We went to a restaurant that’s also a gallery in Da Lat, where we had an amazing dinner and watched the owner create a painting with his fingers right in front of our eyes, it was a very unique and impressive experience. A reminder of how talented humans can be.

What is a handy tip for other travellers thinking about Straying Asia?

Make sure your passport has at least 6 months on it if you’re going to Laos. My passport only had 5 months and 16 days left on it and they wouldn't let me in! Fail :(

What surprised you the most about your tour in Vietnam?

How much I would like the food, it was amazing! Our guide took us to all his favourite restaurants. My favourite dish was pho (pronounced 'fur') which is a really tasty soup loaded with meat, fresh herbs and chillies, noodles and bean sprouts. It doesn't look filling but it is!

What’s the one thing you’re going to tell everyone back home about your trip?

That the ability for the Vietnamese people to forgive the past and look forward is quite incredible, there are many cultures around the world that can’t. It was a real revelation that it’s tomorrow that matters and what we do with it that really counts.

What is the one thing you would want to say to the new friends that you made on the bus?

Keep travelling and thanks for sharing your stories with me and for listening to mine.

What is your favourite selfie/photo that you took on the bus and why?

I actually took a whole bunch of selfies and photos on the guided city tour of Hanoi and made a slideshow...

When you look back on your trip, what is the first thing that pops up in your mind?

Relaxing on the beach in Bai Xep – unreal.

Brett is the CEO of Stray. He strongly believes all Stray staff should get on the buses and experience our tours like our passengers do at least once a year. Every time we do, we come back with new ideas, renewed passion and a sense of pride in the epic life-changing experiences our team puts together for our passengers.