u/AlexTheMunchkin

I started taking my YouTube channel more seriously recently. It’s still very small (86 subscribers 😄), but I’ve already made enough videos to realize that the part I need to improve isn’t really filming or editing — it’s understanding what makes a video actually work on YouTube.

I’m mainly looking to get better at:

• choosing video ideas/topics with good potential
• titles and thumbnails
• hooks and audience retention
• storytelling/pacing for long-form videos
• understanding analytics and knowing what I should actually learn from them
• building a clearer content strategy instead of just making individual videos and hoping they work

My channel is long-form travel content, so I’m especially interested in something that applies to that rather than Shorts/TikTok growth.

I’m happy to pay for a course if it’s genuinely useful. I’d also be interested in something that includes feedback/coaching on your actual channel rather than only prerecorded lessons.

I’m not really looking for a course about starting a YouTube channel, equipment, editing basics, monetization, selling courses, etc. I feel like I need to get much better at making videos people actually want to click on and keep watching first.

Has anyone here taken a course or worked with a YouTube coach that genuinely helped you improve? What would you recommend, or avoid?

I’d especially love recommendations from people who actually paid for the course/coaching themselves rather than affiliates. 😄

I travelled through SEA for 3 months this winter and it was one of my best trips in my life. First time Asia, first time travelling for so long (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam).

Now I am wondering where to go this winter (January, February). Many people mention South America for a similar and maybe for some even better experience, but my biggest problem is the budget.

We have up to 6k euros to spend for two people. We do budget travel (spend about 8.5k euros through the 3 months SEA for everything, flights included). So north America and Australia are out of the picture. Africa is also quite hard to reach, so it is out of the question as well.

For a reference we like to do a bit of everything, literally. Hiking, walking, biking, snorkeling, culture, history, food. So every new place is going to be a great adventure.

From Europe the only thing I am considering (concerning the months, and not willing to go for a skiing trip) maybe trip through northern Spain or Portugal for a shorter time, getting through small villages apart from the capital cities. We are in Europe, so the flights would be cheaper with some budget airlines.

Maybe I am overlooking some places that might be nice to visit in that time of year? Any advice would be appreciated 🙏🏻

I travelled through SEA for 3 months this winter and it was one of my best trips in my life. First time Asia, first time travelling for so long (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam).

Now I am wondering where to go this winter (January, February). Many people mention South America for a similar and maybe for some even better experience, but my biggest problem is the budget.

We have up to 6k euros to spend for two people. We do budget travel (spend about 8.5k euros through the 3 months SEA for everything, flights included). So north America and Australia are out of the picture. Africa is also quite hard to reach, so it is out of the question as well.

For a reference we like to do a bit of everything, literally. Hiking, walking, biking, snorkeling, culture, history, food. So every new place is going to be a great adventure.

From Europe the only thing I am considering (concerning the months, and not willing to go for a skiing trip) maybe trip through northern Spain or Portugal for a shorter time, getting through small villages apart from the capital cities. We are in Europe, so the flights would be cheaper with some budget airlines.

Maybe I am overlooking some places that might be nice to visit in that time of year? Any advice would be appreciated 🙏🏻

My partner and I nearly skipped Phong Nha because we hadn’t booked one of the longer cave expeditions in advance. Many were already full, the remaining options didn’t fit our available days, and they were also above our budget. We still decided to stop for one night and one full day while travelling from Hue to Ninh Binh, and I’m really glad we did. We started with the Botanical Garden and waterfall hike, then visited Paradise Cave, and finished the day at the Duck Stop.

Paradise Cave was easily the highlight. It was one of the best caves we saw during three months of travelling through Southeast Asia. Even though regular visitors only see a small part of the full cave, it still felt enormous and kept opening into one impressive space after another.

The Botanical Garden was a nice short hike and a refreshing change after Cambodia and southern Vietnam. However, someone arriving after hiking around northern Vietnam might find it less impressive.

The Duck Stop surprised me the most. I expected it to be a little silly, but it was genuinely fun. We waited around 45 minutes, and the staff told us that late afternoon is usually the busiest because most people visit the caves first. They also gave us bánh xèo while we waited, which was a lovely touch.

A few tips from our visit:

- One or two nights is enough for this type of trip.

- Check the cave closing times if you want to visit both Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave. We returned too late and missed the last boat to Phong Nha Cave.

- Phong Nha is easiest to justify when it fits naturally into your route.

- On a short one- or two-week trip to Vietnam, I would mainly prioritise it if caves are a big interest.

So yes, I think Phong Nha can still be worth visiting even without one of the expensive multi-day cave expeditions. You just need to decide whether it makes sense for your route and interests.

Hi everyone! I’m working on a travel video that will rely quite heavily on clear route maps, and I’m curious how to create the visuals in the best way? I am still learning video editing and am exploring options that don't require motion graphics.

Do you know any specific apps or websites for animated/custom maps, or would starting with Google Maps screenshots and adding my own graphics, routes and labels on top be the smarter choice for a beginner?

Any recommendations for tools or workflows would be really appreciated!

Hi everyone! I’m planning a travel video that will rely quite heavily on clear route maps, and I’m curious how you usually create yours.

Do you use a specific app or website for animated/custom maps, or do you normally start with Google Maps screenshots and add your own graphics, routes and labels on top?

Any recommendations for tools or workflows would be really appreciated!

Your weekly Vietnam reporter is here again, trying to help you plan your trip to Vietnam a little easier 😄

Today, I wanted to talk about Sa Pa — specifically visiting Sa Pa in the wrong season — and also mention Mu Cang Chai, which ended up being one of the quieter and more memorable places we visited in northern Vietnam.

We went to Sa Pa in late March, and honestly, I don’t think we realized how much the season would affect the experience. The rice terraces weren’t green yet, the weather was quite cold and gloomy, and because of the smoky/burning season, a lot of the mountain views were covered in haze.

To be fair, Sa Pa was not all bad. Our first day outside the town was actually really nice. Heaven Gate, O Quy Ho Pass, Love Waterfall, and just riding around the mountains were beautiful. But the town itself felt much busier and more touristy than we expected, even though it wasn’t peak season.

Add the smoke, bad visibility, a very underwhelming hotel, lots of construction around town, and the fact that it felt harder than expected to find simple local food in the more touristy areas, and it just didn’t feel like the peaceful mountain escape we had imagined when we planned this trip.

After Sa Pa, we went to Mu Cang Chai, and even though the air was still smoky there as well, and the terraces were also not at their best, the overall feeling was very different. It was much quieter, less touristy, more affordable, and felt more like the raw mountain/rice terrace experience we were hoping for.

The roads were beautiful, the villages felt calmer, and it was one of those places where the imperfect parts of the trip still became good memories. We even found a homestay for €5 overlooking the mountains, with breakfast included. Probably the best value stay we had in Vietnam.

So my advice would be:

If you are going to northern Vietnam mainly for rice terraces and clear mountain views, definitely research the season before you go. From what I understand, May–June is usually better if you want greener rice terraces / water-filled fields, while September to early October is usually the golden harvest season. Late March was definitely not ideal for us.

And if you’re deciding between Sa Pa and Mu Cang Chai, I wouldn’t say Sa Pa is “bad”. Sa Pa has more hotels, restaurants, transport options, and easier tourism infrastructure. But if you want something quieter and less crowded, Mu Cang Chai might be worth adding to your itinerary. Also, the rice terraces there felt on another level, even though we didn’t see them in their best season.

Both areas also have beautiful mountain passes that are worth exploring by motorbike if you’re comfortable riding. O Quy Ho Pass near Sa Pa and Khau Pha Pass near Mu Cang Chai were both really scenic, with lots of small stops along the way.

I don’t want to spam the post with links, but if anyone wants the name of the homestay, coffee place, route, or anything specific, feel free to ask in the comments and I’ll share what I can. I’m also slowly documenting our Vietnam route on my small travel channel, so if anyone wants more visual context of the area, it is linked in my profile.

And if you’ve visited Sa Pa or Mu Cang Chai in a different season, please add your experience below. I think it would be really helpful for people planning northern Vietnam to compare how different the area feels in March vs green season vs harvest season 🍀

Hi everyone!

I’ve recently been looking into VPNs, online security, and general file protection while travelling, and I wanted to ask how other creators handle this.

My biggest concern is protecting my travel footage and RAW files. Video files take up so much space, and after just one 3-month trip I already have more than 1TB of footage. Right now, I only have one copy of everything, which honestly makes me a bit nervous.

So I’m curious:

How do you back up your travel footage while travelling and after you get home?
Do you keep multiple copies? External hard drives? Cloud storage?
How much footage do you actually keep long-term, especially after a few years of creating content?

I’m also starting to think more about online safety now that I’m putting my content out there. I’ve started getting random emails and messages from companies/people wanting to collaborate, and I usually avoid opening anything that looks suspicious.

Would love to hear how you protect your files, avoid viruses/security issues, and manage backups as a creator.

Hello, it’s me again! Your unofficial Vietnam planning friend is back. This time with a few thoughts about Ninh Binh. 🏞

Today I wanted to write a little bit about Ninh Binh because I feel like a lot of people do it as a day trip from Hanoi, but after spending around 3 days there, I honestly think it’s one of those places that feels better when you slow down a bit.

We didn’t even have 3 full days, to be fair. It was more like one afternoon, one full day, and one last morning before leaving for Cat Ba. But even with that, I’m really happy we didn’t just rush it in one day.

On our first afternoon we went to Bai Dinh Pagoda and it was waay bigger than we expected. We thought maybe 2 hours would be enough, but somehow stayed for more than 4. It’s not only about one specific building, it’s just a really nice place to walk around slowly. My energy gave up in the end from all that walking and stairs, lol.

Trang An was probably the highlight for me. Even with cloudy weather and rain, it was beautiful. The boat ride is popular for a reason, and I think it was one of the nicest things we did in Ninh Binh.

We also went to Thung Nham, which I thought would just be a bird park, but it’s more like a whole eco-area with walking paths, caves, gardens and boats. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did.

Mua Cave viewpoint is also worth it for the view, but the dragon area at the top was honestly a bit chaotic. Everyone wants the same photo and the space is quite narrow, so I’d say go for the view, not for the “perfect” Instagram picture and go as early in the morning as you can to avoid most of the tourists.

One thing I wish we had done more is cycling. We rented a scooter, which was convenient, but the area feels so peaceful that I think bicycles would have been even nicer. We also skipped Bich Dong Pagoda, and I’d definitely add it next time.

So my personal opinion: yes, you can do Ninh Binh as a day trip, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you have the time to stay longer. It’s not really just about checking off the famous places. The best part is also just riding around, stopping randomly, walking, eating, and enjoying the scenery.

I could honestly imagine staying there for a week and not getting bored.

If anyone is planning Ninh Binh and has questions, feel free to ask. I’m happy to help whenever I can! ✨️

I recently shared our Vietnam budget breakdown here, and since a lot of people were helpful in the comments, I thought I’d share a few planning things I’d do differently after 4 weeks in Vietnam.

My partner and I travelled from Ho Chi Minh City up to the Ha Giang Loop, and even though we loved the trip, these are the things I’d tell myself before going:

1. Plan by season, not just famous places.

We went to Sapa in late March and it wasn’t the green rice terrace image I had in mind. It was gloomy and smoky, so I’d definitely check the best season for each region before building the route.

2. Don’t try to fit in everything.

One month sounds like a lot, but Vietnam is long. We still skipped Dalat, Phu Quoc, Ba Den Mountain and some activities we wanted to do. Slower moments were honestly some of the best.

3. Learn scooter basics, but don’t force it in big cities.

Scooters are very useful in smaller places, but we avoided renting in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Walking and Grab felt much easier there.

4. Budget for experiences.

Vietnam can be cheap day-to-day, but cruises, caves, Ha Giang, Ba Na Hills, tours and adventure parks can add up quickly.

5. Cheapest accommodation isn’t always best value.

Smaller towns often gave us better rooms and nicer stays than the big cities, where budget places were more hit or miss.

6. Don’t trust every perfect review.

Some of our best meals were simple local places with small chairs, one main dish, and lots of locals.

7. Pack less.

Hoi An tailoring, markets and souvenirs made me wish I had more luggage space.

Overall, I loved Vietnam, but I think I would enjoy it even more with a slower route, better seasonal planning and more flexibility.

What would you add? What’s something you wish you knew before travelling Vietnam?

I’ve seen a few people asking lately if their Vietnam budget is enough, so I thought I’d share our real numbers in case it helps anyone planning a similar trip.

My husband and I travelled Vietnam for 29 days, from Ho Chi Minh City up to the Ha Giang Loop. We were budget-conscious, but not travelling as cheaply as physically possible.

We stayed in private rooms, ate mostly local food, used sleeper buses, took one domestic flight, rented scooters in different places, did some paid activities, and also had a few optional shopping expenses.

Our Vietnam-only total was around €2,343 / $2,720 for two people.

Rough breakdown:

• Food & drinks: ~€597
• Accommodation: ~€374
• Public transport: ~€339
• Scooter rentals + fuel: ~€100
• Activities/tours: ~€438
• Shopping: ~€310
• Admin costs: ~€200 Visa, insurance, SIM cards, laundry, bank fees, etc.

Without shopping, it worked out to around €35–36 per person per day.

A few things we learned:

• Eating local food keeps the budget very reasonable.
• Coffee, smoothies, snacks, and bottled water add up more than expected.
• Sleeper buses can help save on accommodation for longer routes.
• Renting scooters can be cheaper than joining tours, especially for two people.
• Moving around Vietnam costs more than people expect because the country is very long.
• Paid activities can change the budget quickly, so it depends a lot on your travel style.
• Hoi An tailoring is very tempting, but obviously completely optional.

For us, Vietnam still felt very affordable, but I wouldn’t describe it as automatically “super cheap” if you want private rooms, activities, transport across the country, and a bit of comfort.

I also made a full budget breakdown video with more exact prices and examples, but I don’t want to spam the group — happy to share it if anyone finds it useful.

My husband and I spent 29 days travelling through Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City up to the Ha Giang Loop, and after removing shopping from the total, it worked out to around €35 / $40 USD per person per day.

That included private rooms, local food, sleeper buses, one domestic flight, scooter rentals, activities, visas, insurance, SIM cards, laundry, and some small extras.

We weren’t travelling ultra-cheap, but we were definitely budget-conscious.

A few things that surprised me:

- Food was affordable, but coffees, smoothies, snacks, and bottled water added up.

- Moving around the country cost more than I expected because Vietnam is so long.

- Paid activities and tours can quickly change the budget.

- Shopping in Hoi An was very tempting, but obviously optional.

For anyone who has travelled Vietnam recently, does this sound cheap, expensive, or realistic compared with what you spent?

We did the Ha Giang Loop and wanted to share some honest notes for anyone planning it on a small budget or without a motorbike licence.

We rented a small semi-automatic bike that was registered as 50cc, which is the option our rental place offered for people in our situation. The actual engine was 97.5cc, so basically almost 100cc — but with two people on steep mountain roads, it still felt tiny.

A few things we learned:

The bike was fine… until the mountains started.
One person on flat roads would probably be okay. Two people on steep passes was a completely different story. Every major climb became first gear, full throttle, and hope. Bigger bikes, Easy Riders, and locals were passing us constantly. If you’re doing the loop on a small bike with two people, budget more time than Google Maps or standard route estimates suggest.

We got a flat tyre 20 minutes into day one.
Not ideal. A mechanic came out and fixed it on the spot for 230,000 VND, around $9. So yes, things can go wrong early, but help was easier to find than we expected.

Three days is doable, but tight.
We did the loop in three days because we didn’t have time or budget for a fourth. The hardest part was the final day: around 150km in one push. The roads south of Du Gia were rougher, muddier, and more tiring than the first two days.

The weather is unpredictable.
We went in early April, which is supposed to be one of the better months, but we still rode through rain. Pack a rain layer no matter what the forecast says. Most rentals give a rain poncho for free.

Our full budget for two people was $132 total.
That included bike rental, fuel, food, accommodation, toilet fees, and the flat tyre repair. It did not include transport to/from Hanoi.

One place I’d really recommend:
There’s a viewpoint north of Lung Cu where you can clearly see the Chinese border. We arrived around 9am and had it completely to ourselves. It felt much quieter and more special than some of the more famous stops.

Overall, I’m glad we did it this way, but I wouldn’t say it was easy. The small bike made the loop slower, more tiring, and sometimes honestly stressful — but it also made the whole trip feel like a proper adventure. No regrets.

I documented the full story, including the flat tyre, rain, rough roads, budget breakdown, and the last brutal day. The video is in my profile if anyone wants to see how it actually looked on the road.

Happy to answer any questions here too.

Spent way too long trying to figure this out before our trip, so posting this in case it saves someone else the research spiral. There are actually four options if you don't have a valid Vietnamese licence:

1. Easy Rider — a local driver takes you on the back of their bike. Social, stress-free navigation, but be honest with yourself: if you've never been a motorbike passenger before, don't make Ha Giang your first time. Some of the riding we witnessed was genuinely reckless.

2. Rent a bike + pay a fine upfront — rental places in Ha Giang city offer to sort the fine (~2 million dong) before you leave. Works for many people, but there's no guarantee you won't be stopped again further along. Luck-dependent.

3. The 49cc special bike — this is the one most people don't know about. It's registered as a 49.5cc engine, which in Vietnam legally requires no licence. In reality it's been custom-built to 97.5cc and registered properly with local authorities. Insurance included. Police know these bikes and don't stop you. We found it through a Reddit thread and booked via WhatsApp the day before.

4. Private jeep tour — exists, but on the actual loop we saw nothing but motorbikes. Some viewpoints have barely enough room for a bike to pull over. Go in with realistic expectations.

We went with option 3, two people on the bike, clockwise direction. The 49cc is ideal for one person. Two people meant some slow uphill sections, but we got there. Would I do it again with two people? Honestly, no. I'd pay the fine and take a more powerful bike.

Happy to answer any questions. I also made a full video covering all of this: costs, the IDP licence situation in Vietnam, what to do if something goes wrong, planning days and direction. If anyone wants the full breakdown. Just ask and I'll drop the link.

Hey everyone! I'm finally posting my first travel video tomorrow and I'm equal parts excited and nervous. I've done a lot of research, I know growth takes time, but I'd love to avoid any rookie mistakes right out of the gate. Any tips or things you wish someone had told you before you hit publish for the first time? Really appreciate any advice!

How much do you research before traveling somewhere new? I feel like too much research can kind of ruin the surprise because you already saw every place in videos and photos before you even arrive. But researching too little can also cause problems, like booking a bad neighborhood, missing important things, getting scammed, or wasting time.

So what do you usually research before a trip and where do you look for information besides Reddit?

In my teens and 20s, birthdays always felt exciting. I loved gathering friends, going out, throwing parties, making the day feel special. But now that I’m turning 30, I suddenly feel this weird pressure that it’s supposed to be some huge milestone and that I should be doing something grand or meaningful to celebrate it.

The thing is, I currently don’t have family or close friends nearby. It’s just me and my partner, and while we could go out for dinner, for some reason that feels… not enough? I can’t tell if I genuinely want a bigger celebration or if I’m just attached to the idea of what turning 30 is “supposed” to look like. I feel like going for dinner is just something I could do any other day.

I am grateful and calm about entering a new decade, but I do feel like I want to do something meaningful and memorable. Just not the usual party mode.

Did anyone else feel strange turning 30? How did you celebrate it, especially if you were far from friends/family or in a different phase of life than you expected?