Paul Christiansen

in Travel

Ruminate on Our Natural Legacies While Surrounded by Cây Sao at Ao Bà Om

I never pass up an opportunity to reflect on chò nâu and its dipterocarp relative, cây sao. The massive trees that gracefu...

Paul Christiansen

in Travel

Art, Flowers Bloom at Huế’s Hidden Museum, Lebadang Memory Space

People often think that art is distant and difficult to appreciate, but a garden is different; everyone knows how to admire a flower.

Brian Letwin

in Travel

The Quiet Calm of Hiding From the Heat Under Phan Rang's Grapevines

The punishing mid-day sun dictates the pace of life in the corridor between Phan Rang and Cam Ranh, where locals escape to their living rooms or hammocks, and tourists seek the cooling breeze of the beach, seafood restaurants or resort pools. Perhaps one of the most underrated ways to take refuge from the heat is to duck into one of the nearby grape vineyards where winding vines create a natural oasis.

Paul Christiansen

in Travel

The Curious Case of Quy Hoà Leprosy Colony's Park of Busts

A delightfully bizarre place, Quy Nhơn’s Quy Hoà leprosy colony deserves exploration in full , but clustered in a grove of...

in Saigoneer Getaways

On Japan’s Shonan Coastline, a Wintry Vista of Mount Fuji

It was my first trip to Zushi Beach and the sun was beginning to set. 

in Saigoneer Getaways

Finding Solace in the Placid Water of Trị An Lake as a City Dweller

I took a deep breath, realizing that I was suspended in the midpoint of everything, above the calm, glassy surface of Trị An Lake and beneath the vast, enveloping azure sky that blanketed Mã Đà forest.

in Travel

In Gò Vấp, a 'Floating Temple' Stands the Test of Time and River Currents

On an isle amid the Vàm Thuật river in Gò Vấp District, Phù Châu Temple, colloquially known among locals as the “floating temple,” has welcomed religious practitioners looking for a serene quarter in fast-paced Hồ Chí Minh City for over three centuries.

Back Travel

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Vietnam’s International Tourist Arrivals to Hit 10m by End of Year

Before the year is out, Vietnam is on track to welcome its 10 millionth international visitor, a landmark achievement for the country’s tourism industry.

in Travel

Hanoi to Spend $2m on Promotional Materials With CNN

Hanoi city officials have inked a two-year, US$2 million deal with American news channel CNN to air promotional tourism material in the hope of attracting foreign visitors and boosting the capital’s i...

in Travel

Thailand to Cut Visa Fees for Tourists From 19 Countries

Thailand has decided to waive visa fees for some countries and halve visa-on-arrival costs for tourists from other nations as part of a three-month tourism promotion running from December 1, 2016 to F...

in Travel

Ly Son Island Breaks Ground on $8.8m Port

Last week, local authorities in Ly Son District, Quang Ngai province broke ground on the island’s new port.

in Travel

[Video] Hong Kong’s Frenetic Energy in 4 Minutes

Documenting the scenery of a city is pretty straightforward: you find a nice view, aim your camera and shoot. But capturing the energy of a city on film is often easier said than done.

in Travel

Earn a Free Stay in Da Lat by Planting a Tree

In Da Lat, the cozy Nha Gio Countryside guesthouse opens its doors to travelers who are willing to plant a tree as payment for a night’s stay.

in Travel

Indonesia's Lion Air to Launch New Airline in Vietnam

Indonesia’s largest airline, Lion Air, recently unveiled its plan to establish a joint venture airline in Vietnam.

in Travel

Saigon-Vung Tau Hydrofoil Service to End in December

By the end of this year, Saigoneers will no longer be able to take a hydrofoil to Vung Tau.

in Travel

[Photos] A Glimpse Into Mongolia's Tough Way of Life

Despite Mongolia’s -15oC winters, an intrepid photographer has waded through thick layers of snowfall and braved local hostility to capture life in the mysterious East Asian nation.

in Travel

Vietnam Launches New National Tourism Website

On Tuesday, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) launched its new and improved tourism website in an effort to boost the quality of the country’s tourism information and services.

in Travel

[Video] Saigon Slows Down In New 4K Travel Video

Through the lens of digital artist Lorenz Hideyoshi, Saigon appears serene even in the midst of a hectic day.

in Travel

TSN’s International Terminal Adds Free Napping, Play Areas

Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport continues to step up its amenity game as the airport has recently added a sleep zone and a children’s play place to its offerings.

in Travel

Thai Lion Air Opens Low-Cost Bangkok-Saigon Route

Saigoneers will soon have another option for flights to Bangkok, as Thai Lion Air is set to offer daily flights between the two cities.

in Travel

[Photos] Travel Vietnam With These Cheeky Nón Lá

Nón lá have become the star of the show for an upcoming sea voyage organized by the Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP), all thanks to a band of whimsical young Vietnamese.

in Travel

Phu Quoc Grapples With Fresh Water Shortage as Tourism Grows

Currently welcoming a staggering 1 million visitors a year, Phu Quoc is having a bittersweet moment. On the one hand, this figure marks an important milestone in the island’s tourism development; on t...

in Travel

Hanoi Tourism Union Proposes Controversial 'Formosa Tour' in Central Vietnam

Feeling inspired by the mass fish death that took place last April in central Vietnam, a Hanoi tourism union recently unveiled its latest travel package, which will take prospective tourists through a...

in Travel

[Photos] Meet the Indonesian Community Where Women Run the Show

For this series of colorful snapshots, Indonesian blogger and travel writer Rathina Sankari ventured into a unique ethnic enclave located in the highlands of Indonesia's West Sumatra, home to the Mina...

in Travel

[Photos] Time Stands Still on Sri Lanka's Colonial-Era Trains

The train from Colombo to Ella rolls along Sri Lanka’s undulating hills on a set of uneven tracks. Aging passenger cars, hot and crowded, click-clack past a patchwork of verdant tea plantations and qu...

in Travel

VNA to Buy 10 New A350 Airbus, Fly Nonstop to LAX

It looks like Vietnam is pushing to make nonstop flights to and from the United States a reality as Vietnam Airlines just signed a deal with Airbus for a fleet of 10 aircraft built especially for long...

in Travel

Japanese Budget Airline Opens Routes to Tokyo, Osaka and Okinawa

Budget carrier Vanilla Air now flies between Saigon and three Japanese destinations: Tokyo, Okinawa and Osaka.