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.

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VietJet Will Fly to Hong Kong in December

Beginning in December, VietJet will offer direct flights between Saigon and Hong Kong.

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Ha Long Bay Cave Parties Annoy Locals and Officials

Move over, boat tours: lavish parties are the new “it” travel experience in Ha Long Bay’s secluded caves, despite opposition from locals and conservationists.

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[Video] Vietnam’s Beauty Takes Center Stage in This Breathtaking Timelapse

Travel videos are a dime a dozen these days, and Vietnam is especially suited to such productions thanks to its diverse geography. As a result, it is hard to stand out from the YouTube crowd, but we’r...

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[Photos] A Black-and-White Glimpse of 1977 Thailand

In a stunning, black-and-white photo collection, one unknown photographer gives viewers a glimpse of Thai life in 1977.

in Travel

Experts to Dismantle Hoi An’s Japanese Bridge for Restoration

In an effort to restore Hoi An’s famed 17th-century Japanese Bridge, conservation experts plan to dismantle the structure entirely and perform restoration work on its individual pieces before rebuildi...

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[Photos] Check out Vung Tau’s Massive Arms Museum

Next time you’re in Vung Tau, skip the beach and the giant, outstretched arms of Jesus. Instead, swing by the largest private weapons museum in the country.

in Travel

[Video] A Quick Dose of Thai Travel Inspiration

In an age of GoPros and DSLRs, everyone’s a filmmaker. Many a backpacker has set off on their very own Southeast Asian adventure and come home with a detailed, hour-long opus documenting their travels...

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Vietnam Lifts Travel Restrictions on Foreign Visitors to Co To Island

Pack your bags: Quang Ninh province officials recently lifted travel restrictions for foreigners visiting Co To Island.

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[Photos] Cool, Calm and Collected: Life in Cau Hai Lagoon

Forty kilometers southeast of Hue, Cau Hai Lagoon is among the largest freshwater lagoons in Southeast Asia. Tucked between the East Sea and the mountains of central Vietnam, its placid waters are hom...

Brian Letwin

in Travel

[Photos] Take a Trip Through Taipei’s Tech Wonderland

Though Taiwan is known abroad for its electronics, the most impressive by-product of this robust industry lies in the heart of Taipei.

in Travel

Vietnam Airlines May Fly Nonstop to USA in 2018

Long layovers between Vietnam and the United States might soon be a thing of the past as Vietnam Airlines recently announced its wishes to begin nonstop flights to the US in 2018.

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[Video] A Skateboarding Journey Through Vietnam

When it comes to travel porn on the internet, Vietnam has its fair share of flashy, share-worthy vacation videos.

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[Photos] Photographers Capture Firefly Season in Japan

For Saigoneers, the arrival of summer usually equals either raincoat season or swimming pool season. But, for a select group of photographers in Japan, with summer comes fireflies and a chance to capt...

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[Photos] Down From the Mountains: Da Lat to Nha Trang by Motorbike

The winding northern route which snakes between Da Lat and Nha Trang is full of pine forests, mountain jungles and coastal plains.

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ASEAN Nations Mull Joint Visa to Boost Tourism

Tourists visiting Southeast Asia will be able to move freely among ASEAN member countries if talks over a single visa policy prove fruitful.

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Vietnam Renews Visa Waivers for Europeans

In an effort to boost Vietnam’s tourism industry, the government has extended a visa exemption program for citizens from five European countries for another year.

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[Video] French Travel Program Showcases Southern Vietnam

In a recently aired episode of French travel show Echappées Belles, Vietnam takes center stage.

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[Photos] 57 New Caves Discovered in Quang Binh

A team of international experts has uncovered a slew of new caves in Vietnam, adding to the country’s already impressive subterranean collection.

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[Photos] Vietnam's 'Human Tsunami' Has Hit This Thanh Hoa Beach

In the wake of a 40-degree heatwave, northern residents are flocking to Thanh Hoa province's Sam Son Beach by the thousands.

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[Video] Drone Captures Enormity of Vietnam's Largest Buddhist Pagoda

Home to sprawling pagodas and incredible natural scenery, northern Vietnam's Ninh Binh now makes regular appearances on travelers' itineraries, often for its most famous attraction, Tam Coc.