Emotional Connection is the Key to Luxury Travel at Banyan Tree Lăng Cô
What does luxury travel mean? The center of countless hospitality conference panels, LinkedIn posts, and marketing pitch decks, this question will elicit different answers depending on who is asked. Exclusivity, indulgent comforts, unique experiences, and dedicated service surely play a part, but a visit to Banyan Tree Lăng Cô, recent recipient of Two Michelin Keys, reveals that no matter one’s definition, true luxury travel requires an emotional connection.
An Ode to Vũng Tàu, Saigon's Unwavering Summer Crush
I recently took a trip to Vũng Tàu after a long summer of cultural research, which had me traveling up and down Vietnam. It had been seven years since I’d been back to the homeland, and 19 since I’d last seen the beaches of Vũng Tàu, when I was only 16. It felt like returning to a high school crush, and it made me think of the words of Trần Thiện Thanh, who once wrote, “Nhớ lúc xa xưa mười sáu trăng tròn…” I won’t say I wasn’t looking for something familiar, poetic, and possibly even as sappy.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
In Hội An’s Pottery Museum, Mini Clay Landmarks Hold Unexpected Memories
When preparing to visit Hội An’s Thanh Hà Pottery Museum, I didn’t anticipate an opportunity to reminisce. I hadn’t been to the museum dedicated to the region’s pottery traditions before, so how could it illicit fond memories?
Kit Humphrey in Travel
The Poetry of Everyday Life in Central Vietnam's Coastal Towns
Traveling south through central Vietnam by train can bring you to the familiar or the obscure: the Disney-fication of Hội An, the peaceful bays of Quy Nhơn, or the thrill of derelict spaces in Huế.
A Tribute to the Incredibly Eye-Catching, Organic Signage of Sa Đéc
Signs are like voices.
Linh Phạm in Travel
On a Walking Tour, Mulling Over the Glorious Past and Odious Present of Tô Lịch River
We began our journey in front of a bank where the street Trần Nhật Duật turned into Chợ Gạo.
Tuyết Nhi in Travel
Visit a 160-Year-Old Chapel Inside Saigon's Historic St. Joseph's Seminary
Hidden within the compound of the Saigon St. Joseph’s Seminary is a historic chapel that has withstood the test of time.
Tà Năng, One of Vietnam’s Most Beautiful Trails and Best-Kept Secrets
Whether we choose to participate or not, most of us are fascinated by Vietnam’s motorbike culture.
VNA Plans to Establish More Routes to the US, China, Australia, Europe This Year
2018 will see a boom in Vietnam’s aviation industry.
Vietnam Welcomes Record Number of Foreign Tourists in 2017: GSO
Last year was a good year for Vietnam's tourism industry.
[Video] Fly Across the Length of Vietnam in Filmmaker Thang Soi's Latest Short Film
Thang Soi’s short film Vietnam - Dream of Unity (Non Song Mot Dai) opens with a panoramic view of nacreous clouds reflected atop an idyllic expanse of flooded rice fields.
Vietnam Approves Master Plan to Turn Dong Van Plateau Into National Tourism Site
A new tourism development master plan has been approved for an area of Vietnam's northernmost province known for its stunning natural beauty.
VietJet Holds In-Flight Bikini Show to Celebrate Launch of Bangkok-Da Lat Route
VietJet has one again lived up to its reputation worldwide as “that bikini airline in Vietnam” after passengers on one of its new Thailand-Vietnam routes posted a surprise swimwear show.
[Photos] Snow Blankets Mount Fansipan During Winter Freeze
Many Saigoneers have bundled up for their morning commute this week, but the cool temperatures here are nothing compared to the weather up north.
Michael Tatarski in Travel
[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: The Serenity of Japan's Countryside
Japan is rightfully famous for its exciting, neon-bathed major cities. Every year, Tokyo and Osaka draw millions of visitors with their incredible food and bars, as well as their mix of traditional an...
The Guardian Names Quy Nhon Among 10 Best Winter Sun Escapes for 2018
The coastal city of Quy Nhon in central Vietnam has been named among the world’s top 10 winter sun destinations for 2018.
Lee Starnes in Travel
[Photos] The Hair-Raising Experience of Exploring South Korea's Creepiest Psychiatric Hospital
While accounts on the history of Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital are hazy, the facility was allegedly abandoned in 1996 and left to decay on a hillside outside the town of Gyeonggi-do, about an hour and ...
[Video] Experience the Majesty of Son Doong in This Epic Travelogue
Some intrepid spelunkers recently released a video chronicling their trek through the awe-inspiring Son Doong Cave, the largest cave in the world, located in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Travel
Mai Chau: A Delicate Balance of Mass Tourism and Independent Travel
With an expected 13 million international visitors this year, not to mention an ever-increasing number of domestic tourists, Vietnam’s tourism industry is growing at a rapid pace. Across the country, ...
[Photos] Under the Great Northern Sky: Life in Vietnam's Pastoral Provinces
In my travels, I don't think I've ever found a nation like Vietnam, whose landscapes differ so vastly from north to south. I imagine the great hills and sharp peaks of the north as the scaly, rugged h...
Guess Which Airline Is the Most Delayed in Vietnam This Year
Jetstar Pacific has once again claimed the top spot in Vietnam’s list of most-delayed airlines.
VietJet Aims to Launch Direct Flights to California in 2019
VietJet is rapidly expanding its fleet and preparing for direct flights to California by 2019.
Hanoi Sets Goal of Luring 23.85m Domestic, International Tourists This Year
Hanoi is aiming to become a bigger hotspot for tourism, as officials are expecting the city to host 23.83 total million visitors within 2017.
[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: The Winding Roads of Ha Giang
There are places in the world that humble us with the scale of their beauty, making us feel small and insignificant in the best possible way. Ha Giang is one of those places.
Vietnamese Motorcyclist Drives From Saigon to Paris in 150 Days
A Vietnamese motorcyclist has finished the first leg of his trip around world on a motorbike.
VietJet to Fly From Saigon to Chiang Mai, Phuket in December
VietJet Air is ready to expand its network yet again, with new flights from Saigon to Phuket and Chiang Mai in Thailand starting in December.
[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: Laos' 50 Shades of Green
The first thing you notice when you arrive in Laos is the green: it’s everywhere. It’s not the buildings that catch your eye but the landscapes: untouched wilderness, valleys, trees, fields, all of it...
Michael Tatarski in Travel
[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: Tokyo's Historic Tsukiji Fish Market After the Morning Rush
Tsukiji Market is one of Tokyo's most well-known destinations, famous for its early-morning tuna auctions and frenetic wholesale seafood stalls. However, visiting the market once the action has died d...
