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.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Travel
Tourism Businesses Are Trying to Clean up Vietnam
The sun already threatens to sap our energy even though it’s barely mid-morning on Thanh Da Island. Devoid of the tall buildings and claustrophobic blocks found downtown, this small patch of greenery ...
[Photos] Local Photographer Captures the Magic of Long Hai's Bustling Morning Port
Nguyen Hoang Phi, a photographer from the fishing town of Long Hai, has captured the bustling port under beautiful morning light in a series of vivid photos.
Vietnam’s Hike in Airport Service Fees Could Prompt Airfare Increase for Travelers
Airport service fees are set to rise this October, signalling a potential increase in airfare costs for local travelers.
Aviation Authorities to Blame for Vietnam-US Direct Route Delay
Travelers might have to wait until the end of this year to start flying directly from Vietnam to the US due to issues with the Southeast Asian country’s aviation authorities.
[Photos] A Visit to Nghe An's Verdant Tea 'Islets'
You’ve probably heard of kayaking in between Ha Long Bay’s mesmerizing limestone rocks, now get ready for a voyage to Nghe An province’s verdant tea islets.
Japan Airlines, VietJet Air Enter Strategic Partnership
Japan Airlines and VietJet Air have become strategic partners, an agreement that will allow the airlines to expand their networks and improve service.
[Photos] Flycam Photographers Capture Vietnam's Mesmerizing Landscapes From Above
From lush, green tea plantations stretching towards the horizon to islets dotting the ocean blue, flycam photography captures unique angles of Vietnam's landscapes in crisp, vivid images.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Travel
Is Over-Tourism Threatening Sapa?
Heading back from So’s village, there is only one way into Sapa, and one way out.
[Video] Wanderers: A Reminder of Vietnam's Intricate Beauty
After spending two months traversing the vast landscapes of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, videographer Stanislas Denis documented the intimate beauty of Southeast Asia in a series of contempla...
Cambodian Temple Complex Recognized as World Heritage Site
Sambor Prei Kuk, a Kompong Thom temple site that predates the Angkor period, has been acknowledged by the UN’s cultural organization as a World Heritage site.
VietJet Employees at Noi Bai Take Sick Leave en Masse, Delay 11 Flights
Fifteen ground service personnel at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport simultaneously took sick leave on Tuesday, delaying 11 VietJet flights at the facility.
Hanoi Launches Double-Decker Bus Tour for Visitors
In an effort to beef up Hanoi’s tourism sector, local authorities recently launched a city bus tour to give visitors a taste of the capital’s scenery.
Jetstar Pacific to Fly Directly From Hanoi and Da Nang to Osaka This Fall
Globetrotters on a budget will soon be able to jet off from Vietnam to Japan via Jetstar Pacific's new direct routes.
Hanoi's 5-Star Hotels Are Fully Booked Until Early 2018
For wealthy travelers, Hanoi seems to be the “it” destination to explore this year.
[Video] Travelogue Showcases the Vibrant Beauty of Southern Vietnam
It’s so easy to fall in love with Vietnam.
Construction of Son Doong Ladders Halted Over Public Concern of Damage
The installation of ladders inside Son Doong Cave has been put on hold due to public opposition.
Property Developer FLC Group May Launch Airline Called 'Viet Bamboo'
FLC Group, a prominent real estate group, plans to set up a new domestic airline in Vietnam.
Microsoft Vietnam to Turn Nha Trang Into Smart Tourism City
The administration of Khanh Hoa province recently signed an agreement with Microsoft Vietnam to turn Nha Trang into a smart tourism city.
Michael Tatarski in Travel
[Photos] A Peek Inside Da Lat's Abandoned Franciscan Mission
Da Lat is rightfully beloved for its cool climate, pine-scented air and verdant mountains. However, there is more to this popular Central Highlands city than just natural escapes.
Vietnam Should Extend Visa Exemptions to More Countries: Tourism Association
The Vietnam Tourism Association (VTA) has proposed expanding and extending the country's visa exemption program in order to attract more tourists.
