VIETNAM

River Deep, Mountain High

Hey, I’m Julien! I’m the General Manager at ICS Thailand and I’m based in Bangkok. I’ve been living in Asia for 14 years in different countries (Taiwan, China, Vietnam & Thailand). Both my parents are also globetrotters and lived abroad (Algeria, Madagascar, Burundi, Lebanon, Armenia…), I assume this is how I got ‘inspired’! My wife is from Thailand and we have two mixed kids who speak three languages (how lucky!). 

My passion for Asia started at high school where I had the privilege to learn Chinese. I went on a student trip in China when I was 17 years old and fell in love with Asia. I then spent a year in Taiwan in my twenties, and moved there in 2012. 

My hobby? Running! Especially in new places I’m visiting for the first time. 

I was living in Vietnam during Covid and after a few months we decided to leave everything behind. We gave back the keys of our apartment, put all our stuff in a storage room in Saigon and hit the road for two months. We rented a car and started a long and unforgettable trip across Vietnam: Mui Ne, Dalat, Nha Trang, Qui Nhon, Hoi An, Hue, Phong Nha Caves, Mai Chau, Puluong, Hanoi and finally Sapa.

After our stay in Sapa, we realised we had only five days left to give back the car so we drove back to Hanoi where I put my wife and children on a plane and drove non-stop for five days back to Saigon. But this time I changed the itinerary to avoid the Covid checkpoints (everywhere in the country at the time), and also to experience different scenery. After having passed Hue, I drove through the highlands (Kon Tum, Pleiku…) and endless coffee plantations. What a journey! – Surely one of the best trips we have ever done.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!