Lee Nguyen, the standout midfielder for the New England Revolution, has played professional soccer around the world — including in Holland, Denmark, and Vietnam — but is happy to now be honing his skills in the US and living in Boston. The McKinney, Texas, native, who has dual citizenship in the United States and Vietnam, started playing soccer when he was 4 years old, and never looked back. And while his first love is soccer, he also loves to travel and has a penchant for fashion. In fact, he was named one of the Globe’s most stylish Bostonians in 2012. “I love fashion and the whole art of it and being able to do something different,’’ he said. We caught up with Nguyen, 29, who is in his fifth season with the Revs, to talk all things travel.
Favorite vacation spot and why? I really enjoyed this past offseason going to Vietnam and Thailand. I loved Vietnam, being able to be in Ho Chi Minh [City] and basically enjoying the restaurants, the shopping, and the city life there. At the same time, when we were able to get out to De Nang and go to the beach, we were able to have that bit of vacation where you can get away from the city and be secluded and be on the beach.
Favorite food or drink while vacationing? I like Thai tea. It’s Thai iced tea. It’s a good drink for when I’m vacationing because it’s sweet and refreshing at the same time.
Where would you like to travel to but haven’t? I’d probably say Australia and Greece because I have friends who live there or have lived there and said that I have to go check them out. They’re on my bucket list. My friends have given me some really cool things to check out while I’m there, so I’m looking forward to that.
One item you can’t leave home without when traveling? Running shoes and I’ve always got to bring a good pair of walking shoes because I know I’m going to be on my feet a lot.
Aisle or window? Aisle. I like to be able to get up out of my seat whenever I want without bothering anyone.
Favorite childhood travel memory? Probably when I was in middle school, me and my sister and the family would get in the car and my parents would drive us all the way from Dallas to Florida to go to Disney. I remember that was a great road trip. We always enjoyed going on the road.
Guilty pleasure when traveling? Really just being able to enjoy food that I can’t eat during the season because I have to watch my diet.
Best travel tip? Wherever you’re going, try to go out and try the local foods. Dine out instead of dining in the hotel. You get a better bang for your buck and also you get to taste the real food of the city and the culture.
JULIET PENNINGTON