Saigon is the crucible of born-again capitalism. Officially named Ho Chin Minh City, for many—including its seven million-plus inhabitants—Vietnam’s most raffish and cosmopolitan metropolis will forever be Saigon. It’s a frenetic city on the make, but there’s far more to it than wheeling and dealing. Once you get over the traffic anarchy and air pollution, it makes a pulsating start to any Vietnam adventure.

The year 2000 was not a good one for Patrice Wynne. That spring, the Berkeley, California, bookstore she owned—and had poured her heart and soul into for years—was forced to close. Her income dropped precipitously. Shortly after that, her marriage ended, her beloved grandmother passed away, and a significant love affair came painfully to a halt. Even her cat died. That fall, it was more than the longtime political activist could take when the Supreme Court sent George Bush to the White House.

Scott Taylor grew up in Carlsbad, California, and lived there his entire life. It’s a great place to live—just outside San Diego, the “city of perfect weather”—the kind of place you just don’t leave. But Scott is leaving this idyllic town in search of an ideal of his own…he is moving to Panama. “I have long dreamt of the quality, inexpensive lifestyle of the tropics. Great food, beautiful beaches, friendly people, and the kind of low-cost living that can no longer be found in California,” Scott tells me.

Hotspots worth checking out...

Rocco Forte, Conrad Hilton, and Cesar Ritz all earned a lot of money from sleep, or, to be precise, from others sleeping. Their eponymous hotel ventures grew into international dynasties offering travelers some of the most opulent places in the world in which to lay their weary heads. Owning hotels is not something many of us can aspire to, but buying a stake in a hotel is now possible and is a growing investment trend worldwide.

Nearly one million sun seekers and travelers every year fall victim to the risk of infection and even death from the malarial mosquito.

Bring the language to life with activities as diverse as sangria tasting or salsa lessons at these six inspiring education centers

Paul and Vicki Terhorst retired young (they were 35-years-old) and have traveled the world ever since. As Vicki puts it "the world is our home." You, too, can do something extraordinary in 2007. All you need to do is make a decision to make the change. Every month this year, you'll here from Paul and Vicki, who'll pass on their hard-earned tips on life in retirement.