Paul Christiansen

in Saigoneer Getaways

Waterfalls, Langur, Oysters and Abandoned Colonial Villas: A Lăng Cô Getaway

What lies between Đà Nẵng and Huế?

in Travel

Just 50km From Hanoi, Đường Lâm Village Is a Charming Historical Relic

If one were to strike out west from Hanoi and follow the Red River for some 50 kilometers, there they will find Đường Lâm Village — a quintessence of rural Vietnam.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigoneer Getaways

Cát Tiên National Park Is the Perfect Cure for the Festering Wounds of Chronic Urban Life

What’s new? What’s trendy? What haven’t I explored? Such questions often dictate our travel plans, but sometimes, we’d be better off asking the opposite: What’s old? What’s impervious to being in style? Where have I been before and loved? 

in Travel

Mũi Né Among Top 10 Trending Travel Destinations Globally in 2026, Booking Says

Travel site Booking.com dubbed Mũi Né “one of 2026’s trending travel spots,” reflective of the international attention and domestic emphasis the beach city is currently receiving.

in Travel

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.

in Travel

A Tribute to the Incredibly Eye-Catching, Organic Signage of Sa Đéc

Signs are like voices.

Back Travel

in Travel

Vietnam Removes Liquids Ban on Domestic Flights

Good news for those forced to chug their bottle of water in the airport security line before heading to the gate: Vietnam now allows you to bring your liquids, aerosols and gels on all domestic flight...

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Man Boards Plane to Hong Kong, Loses $250,000 Mid-Flight

Last week, one airline passenger arrived in Hong Kong with his pockets considerably lighter, after an inflight thief robbed him of US$250,000 on board the aircraft.

Lee Starnes

in Travel

[Photos] Con Dao: From Prison to Paradise

Fast earning a place on travelers' radar, sleepy Con Dao is home to pristine beaches, ornate rock formations and some of Vietnam's best diving. Pair these natural attractions with the island's trouble...

in Travel

[Video] 5 Places to Get out and About in Yangon

Though Yangon remains far less developed than the urban centers in other Southeast Asian countries, Myanmar's largest metropolis definitely has some bits and pieces going on. From tasty street food&nb...

in Travel

[Photos] Saigon Backpacker Brings His Furry Travel Companion to Phu Quoc

Traveling with friends can be difficult. While the old adage suggests that opposites attract, what might be a beautiful, blossoming friendship in your home city can quickly turn into a disaster when y...

Brian Letwin

in Travel

[Photos] Inside Taiwan’s Premier Fish Market

Taiwan has plenty to be proud of: it sports an efficient public transportation network, some of the highest food safety standards in the world, an abundance of nature and incredible seafood.

in Travel

[Photos] Nature Takes Over Abandoned Chinese Fishing Village

On tiny Gouqi Island, one of the 394 Shengsi Islands at the mouth of China's Yangtze River, lies Houtou Wan, a long-lost fishing village which now sits abandoned.

in Travel

Japan's Newest Trains Will Be See-Through

Japan: home of yogurt Pepsi, sushi nail art and middle-aged men in schoolgirl uniforms. While much of the island nation's culture can be described as eccentric, Japan is also responsible for many...

in Travel

[Video] Take a Trip to One of Saigon's Greener Districts

Saigon is not exactly what you'd call a natural paradise. While the city is surrounded by rivers, its landscape is far more a concrete jungle than an actual one.

Lee Starnes

in Travel

[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: A Laid-Back Morning in the Delta

While Can Tho has grown exponentially in population over the last 40 years, the capital of western Vietnam still retains much of its Delta charm. Here, the Hau River dictates local life, slowing down ...

in Travel

Quang Ninh to Ban Overnight Cruises in Ha Long Bay 'Soon'

Spending a night on Ha Long Bay will soon be a thing of the past, according to Quang Ninh authorities.

in Travel

Vietnam Sees Record Tourist Arrivals in First Quarter of 2016

When it comes to tourism, Vietnam is back.

in Travel

Vietnamese Tourists Called out for ‘Shameful’ and ‘Awful’ Behavior

Chinese tourists have received a great deal of criticism in recent years for their tourism habits, which include obliterating seafood buffets and defacing ancient Egyptian temples. However, according ...

in Travel

Meet Vietstar, Vietnam's Next Airline?

Just in case you felt something was missing between Vietnam's straight-laced national carrier and the flurry of budget airlines that have stormed onto the aviation scene in recent years, Vietnam will ...

in Travel

[Photos] It's Cherry Blossom Season in Japan

Springtime signals its presence differently around the world, but Japan's spring awakening is particularly famous. Every year, thousands upon thousands of cherry trees blossom across the country in a ...

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Hanoi Makes Trip Advisor’s Top 10 Destination List

While Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport was recently named among the best 100 in the world, the capital itself took home a bit of an honor this week, making the top 10 in Trip Advisor’s “Best Dest...

Lee Starnes

in Travel

[Photos] Time Stands Still Around Long Bien Bridge

Hanoi’s iconic Long Bien Bridge, once described as a “misshapen but essential component of Hanoi’s heritage”, has spanned across the Red River for over 100 years. It has been – and will continue to be...

in Travel

Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport Named Among 100 Best in the World

Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport is among the world's 100 best airports, according to a recent global survey.

in Travel

Cambodia to Resume Capital-to-Coast Train Service in April

After 14 years, Cambodia's train cars will once again begin carrying passengers next month.

in Travel

[Photos] China Has Its Own Jurassic Park

Like something out of Jurassic Park, China's Dinosaur Valley is home to a museum and theme park dedicated to earth's prehistoric residents.