When you've traveled in Europe as long as I have, you experience changes, big and small. And more and more, I've been noticing that traditional local businesses are being pushed out by the playground economy that comes with modern affluence.

It's one thing to see hotels, restaurants and shops come and go in the normal course of business. But I've also seen the slow churning of local traditions and lifestyles as unique family-run enterprises have given way to...

Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City as it’s been called since 1975 (though both names are used throughout Vietnam), is a bustling city. 

During our January 2015 trip, my husband, John, and I visited the War Remnants Museum (28 Vo Van Tan, Ward 6, District 3, HCMC; http://warremnantsmuseum.com), which chronicles the Vietnamese people’s struggles against invading forces.

While a visit to this museum can be distressing for Americans, we remembered a comment made by our...

Mastery of Europe’s major cities — Rome, Paris, London, Vienna — is the mark of a good traveler. Teeming with color, energy and cultural vibrancy, these places, while expensive, richly reward the thoughtful traveler.

There are plenty of ways to thrive in big European cities without going broke. And the good news is that, in so many ways, the less you spend, the more you’ll engage in the life around you. 

So stow your camera, roll up your sleeves and enjoy the real thing. Here...