About VIA

Nhan Phan

Hometown

Ho Chi Minh City

Travel must-have

A fully charged power bank

After the pandemic, Nhan was determined to leave the house as much as possible and is now an accomplished solo traveler, with over 40 countries and territories ticked off his bucket list. He will look for every reason to get out of the airport and explore if he’s given a long layover (even as little as 8 hours). Nhan is a student at Georgetown University.

Sid Mehrotra

Hometown

Dubai

Travel must-have

A good pair of sunglasses

Sid grew up across several different countries, from Africa to Asia, and from a young age, was fascinated by the ways in which communities around the world find ways to interact and grow. After moving to Dubai, he leveraged its location to visit more than 35 countries around the world. Closer to home, Sid is a lifelong reader, an amateur woodworker, and a committed aviation fan. Sid is a student at Georgetown University.

Eli Zainea

Hometown

Grand Rapids

Travel must-have

Music

With a particular passion for diplomacy, Eli has worked and studied in four different continents. At the same time, he is learning both Arabic and Spanish, driven by his interest in migration policy and development. He matches his global expertise with his love for art, photography, and anything that expands or exercises his creative side. Eli is a student at the University of Notre Dame.

Khue Pham

Hometown

Ho Chi Minh City

Travel must-have

Sleeping mask

Khue’s 4 years of high school in the United States introduced her to the world of solo traveling and hiking the backcountry. These experiences continue to inspire her adventures to this day, and she believes there is no experience quite as enchanting as a good trip. In her free time, she loves a good gothic novel almost as much as she does shoujo matcha. Khue is a student at the University of Birmingham.

Avery Simon

Hometown

Greenville

Travel must-have

Large water bottle

During her senior year of high school, Avery traveled abroad for the first time to Copenhagen, and loved the experience of trying new foods, meeting new people, and learning more about a completely different culture. Since then, she has made it a goal to visit a new country every year. She is a huge fan of Hozier, and just about any kind of indie rock music in general. Avery is a student at Georgetown University.

Monika Tran

Hometown

Ho Chi Minh City

Travel must-have

Sunscreen

A researcher of tourism and hospitality management, Monika’s motivation for travel comes from boredom, whether out of where she is or her current energy state. She loves to spend time closer to the ground, immersing herself in locals’ stories, cultural practices, and natural environs. Monika is a student at RMIT University Vietnam.

Justin Liu

Hometown

Philadelphia

Travel must-have

Chewing gum

Justin found his love for travel after receiving a scholarship from the German government to explore Germany and Austria with students from around the world, while speaking only German. Since then, he has continued to receive grants and funding to visit countries including Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Rwanda. He is an accomplished piano player, and loves to jog. Justin is a student at Georgetown University.

Zoë Curtis

Hometown

Jackson Hole

Travel must-have

Headphones

Although born in London, Zoë has been a Francophile all her life, and she recently moved back to the U.S. after studying political science in Paris. She believes traveling pushes her to keep learning new languages, whether that be in Israel, Japan, Alaska, or Monaco. In her spare time, she is an enthusiast of 60s nonfiction, skiing, and French butter. Zoë is a student at the University of Utah.

Bella Villarin

Hometown

San Diego

Travel must-have

Apple Maps

Having lived across Japan, the U.S., and Singapore as a child, Bella found the inspiration to keep learning and immersing herself in new environments. Just recently, she spent her summer volunteering at a youth hostel in Porto. She loves spending time outdoors, with her long-term goal being to travel the entire world, and eventually, live on a sailboat. Bella is a student at Georgetown University.

Grace Kim

Hometown

Seattle

Travel must-have

Dark chocolate (for energy bursts)

Grace found her love for travel during high school, leveraging local programs to discover new places with people her age. After entering college, she expanded her love to include more individual experiences and is always curious about the cultural drivers and effects of today’s travel industry. She has been to over 15 countries, where she loves taking long walks, café hopping, and visiting museums. Grace is a student at Georgetown University.

Hawley Dick

Hometown

Orinda

Travel must-have

Eye mask

Hawley found his love for travel while going abroad with his family, and as he got older, discovered that experiencing places on his own was even more appealing. He visited Spain and France after his high school graduation with some friends, and it made him realize just how much of the world is left to see, and how badly he wanted to explore it. Hawley is a student at Franklin & Marshall College.

Jordan Lubis

Hometown

Key Largo

Travel must-have

Apple AirTags

Jordan traveled abroad for the first time when he was 18 and has since been to more than 16 countries around the world, making the most of the opportunity to solo travel. He is passionate about learning new languages and believes travel is the best way to come across new perspectives and worldviews. Some of his favorite experiences include trips to France, the Netherlands, and Japan. Jordan is a student at Georgetown University.

Syrah Anand

Hometown

Dubai

Travel must-have

Scrapbook

Syrah counts herself lucky for having been able to visit more than 20 countries in the span of just a few short years, with Egypt, Turkey, and Monaco as some of her favorite destinations (and ones she can keep revisiting). She takes photos no matter where she is, adding to her scrapbook that is slowly overtaking her desk. Syrah is a student at Phillips Exeter Academy.