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Insights, Polished History Lessons Await in Hanoi's Massive, Brutalist Military Museum

When I pitched a review of Hanoi’s massive new Vietnam Military History Museum to the Saigoneer editorial staff, I expected to find the museum somewhat boring. After all, although I am a historian, I am not really that interested in military stuff, and I’d been to the original location on Điện Biên Phủ Street several times — how could this new museum improve on the old one? What could this new museum say that the old one didn’t? What could I learn here that I haven’t already learned at Saigon’s War Remnants Museum and Hồ Chí Minh Campaign Museum, at Điện Biên Phủ’s war museum, at Hải Phòng’s naval museum, and at the countless other shrines to Vietnamese martial prowess across the country? Quite a lot, it turns out.

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Tourists Generate Up to 3 Times More Plastic Waste Than Locals, UNDP Finds

A recent report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns that plastic waste pollution poses increasing pro...

Paul Christiansen

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'Chuyện Của Pao' Turned a Historic H'Mông Home in Hà Giang Into a Tourist Attraction

The photos don’t do it justice. That’s what you’ll often hear from people who visit Hà Giang to cruise its famed highway loop.

Paul Christiansen

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From Dark to Dawn, an Early Morning at Hội An's Duy Hải Fish Market

At 3am, Hội An’s streets resemble dog-gnawed pork bones, licked clean of all scent and viscera. No light, no noise, no movement. But that’s the time you must venture out to witness the Duy Hải Fish Market in action.

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Vietnam Welcomes 21m Tourists in 2025, Highest-Ever Figure in History

Last year marked an impressive year for tourism in Vietnam. A record number of 21.17 million international tourists visite...

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Hanoi's Proposal to Stop Train Service Might Spell the End of 'Train Street'

Hanoi’s infamous train street might be going away if a new municipal plan becomes a reality.

Pete Walls

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At Kon Tum's Đăk Đrinh Lake, Life Slows to a Therapeutic Pace

Đăk Đrinh Lake lies in the northern reaches of Kon Tum, where the hills rise in slow, deliberate waves and the pace of life is set by the land. The Ca Dong ethnic communities remain here, maintaining their language, stilt houses, and routines that have shaped this corner of the highlands for generations.

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Vietnam Eyes $35bn in Tourism Revenue by 2020

Vietnam is aiming to rake in US$35 billion in revenue from the tourism industry in 2020.

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Jetstar Holds Massive Ticket Sale to Celebrate Australia-Vietnam Direct Flights

As Vietnam’s aviation market heats up, Saigoneers are not the only beneficiaries of a steady stream of additional routes and cheap flights. Case in point: earlier this afternoon (at 12 noon to be exac...

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Quang Binh Officials Deny Plans for Son Doong Cable Car

After a petition against the construction of a cable to Son Doong, the world's largest cave, went viral earlier this week, provincial officials in Quang Binh have denied rumors that such a constructio...

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[Photos] Linh Quy Phap An: Vietnam's Temple in the Sky

Linh Quy Phap An, an elusive temple nestled high in the hills of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, is drawing attention from tourists all over the country thanks to a new pop music video.

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As Incomes Grow, More Vietnamese Are Traveling Abroad

While Vietnam welcomed 10 million foreign visitors last year, the country’s own citizens are also getting out to see the world beyond their borders.

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Vietnam Mulls Visa Waivers for Australians and Indians

Vietnam tourism industry leaders have asked the government to extend and expand the visa waiver program introduced in 2015.

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[Photos] 2 Weeks Before Tet, Tan Son Nhat Is Already a Traffic Nightmare

If you’ve been fretting over the impending Tet traffic nightmare that will take place around Tan Son Nhat International Airport, fret no more: it’s already here.

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Aviation Authorities Limit Number of Tet Flights Due to Overcrowding

Vietnam’s airports, especially Tan Son Nhat, are bursting at the seams due to Tet travel. 

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[Photos] Vietnam's 30-Hour Voyage From Hanoi to Saigon

Traveling by train in Vietnam is not simply a trip from point A to point B; it’s just as much about the time spent in transit as it is the destination.

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China Is Revamping Its Public Toilets in the Name of Tourism

In a concerted effort to boost tourism, China recently announced a new plan to upgrade its public toilets in addition to revitalizing its old industrial regions.

Brian Letwin

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[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: Cat Tien National Park

Three hours northeast of Saigon sits a patch of verdant forest among a landscape of neverending rice paddies. Cat Tien National Park is the closest you can get to hike-able, pristine nature from the m...

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Saigon-Hanoi Ranks 7th Among World’s Busiest Air Routes

Vietnam’s recent domestic travel boom has made the route between Saigon and Hanoi one of the world's busiest.

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Riding the Rails in Yangon and Beyond

“Hmmm…very interesting,” our new Myanmar friend muttered to herself, eyebrows arched, as she reached out to stroke Matt’s hirsute American arm.

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[Video] An Intimate Look at Vietnam's Lush Landscapes and Vibrant People

When it comes to travel videos about Vietnam, there are generally two styles: the usual fast-paced time-lapse sequences that shine the limelight on local cities’ myriad colors and bustling nightscapes...

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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.

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[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.

Dana Filek-Gibson

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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.