Happy Monday from this corner of the world! And what a corner it is. Standing atop Mua Cave in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam, I felt like I had stepped into another realm altogether—a world where mountains cradle rivers, where limestone cliffs rise from emerald rice fields, and where every glance feels like it belongs in a storybook.
Climbing the 500 stone steps to the summit was no small feat, but the view waiting at the top made every breathless pause worthwhile. From above, the landscape unfurled in every direction—lush green paddies stretched across the valley, rivers curled through the terrain like silver ribbons, and jagged peaks stood like guardians over the land. It’s no surprise filmmakers chose this region as a backdrop for Kong: Skull Island. Ninh Binh really does look otherworldly.
A Dress Made for Daydreams
For this moment, with this extraordinary view, I couldn’t resist pairing it with a dress that carried a little bit of fantasy of its own. My Anthropologie convertible dress, which can be styled in over fifteen different ways, seemed like the perfect match for a place that felt like pure magic.
I chose to braid the straps into delicate details along my shoulders, crisscrossing them in front and back—a small touch that felt both whimsical and intentional. It’s incredible how a single piece of clothing can transform depending on how you wear it, and in this case, it carried just the right amount of fairytale elegance against the rugged backdrop of Mua Cave.
Fashion has always been that for me: a way of creating, reimagining, and painting a new world. It’s never just about the fabric or the fit. It’s about the stories clothes can tell, the moods they set, and the hope they bring when the world feels heavy.
Why Fashion Saved Me
My love for fashion started early. When I was eight years old, all I wanted for my birthday was a fashion magazine. Not toys, not gadgets—just glossy pages filled with dresses and backdrops that carried me far away from reality.
Those magazines became my escape. At home, when things felt overwhelming and loud, I could flip through the pages and suddenly find myself in a different world—one filled with beauty, creativity, and possibility. It wasn’t just about clothes; it was about the sense of safety, wonder, and optimism that came with imagining a life beyond what I knew then.
Even now, fashion holds that power for me. It’s a form of storytelling, a canvas for expressing hope and joy, and sometimes, a lifeline. To be able to work in this field today still feels surreal. The dream that comforted me as a child grew into something tangible, something that continues to give me energy and purpose.
Where Travel and Fashion Collide
That’s why moments like this one at Mua Cave mean so much to me. Travel and fashion, when they come together, create something unforgettable. The landscape sets the stage, the clothes bring the character to life, and together they paint a scene that feels timeless.
At Mua Cave, the limestone cliffs and sweeping valleys created a canvas of strength and resilience. My dress added softness and imagination. And standing there, I felt like a character from the daydreams I used to lose myself in as a child—only this time, it was real.
Stepping Into Another World
There’s a kind of magic in places like Ninh Binh, where the line between reality and imagination blurs. It reminds me that wonder is not something we outgrow—it’s something we carry with us, if we’re willing to seek it out. For me, that search has always been through travel, through fashion, and through moments like this one that make the world feel bigger, brighter, and more alive.
In a small way, I hope this post takes you there too. Even if you’re reading this from your couch or desk, I hope you can picture the view from Mua Cave: the rivers winding through rice fields, the sun warming the limestone cliffs, the soft hum of life in the valley below. And maybe, just maybe, I hope you feel transported to a place full of joy, peace, and just a touch of fairytale magic.
Thank you so much for being here with me today, and as always, thank you for reading.
