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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[Video] Southeast Asia Travel Video Weaves Together Vignettes of Everyday

Thanks to GoPros, Vimeo and the power of the internet, we've all seen our fair share of Southeast Asia travel videos. These days, it's pretty hard to stand out amid the sea of camera-toting backpacker...

in Travel

The Guy Who Visited 198 Countries Thinks Hanoi Is Great

Everyone in Vietnam is, of course, partial to their hometown. For locals, it's the place they grew up; for foreign residents, it's where they first fell in love with Vietnam. But for one intrepid trav...

in Travel

Vietnam's Visa Waiver Fail

While Vietnamese officials are making an effort to boost the number of visitors to the country, it may not be enough to pull Vietnam out of its tourism slump.

in Travel

The Tragic Demise Of Phu Quoc's Coral Reefs

Phu Quoc, Vietnam's top island destination, has been the subject of environmental controversy for a while now. Between luxury hotels dumping wastewater into the ocean, thousands of sea cucumbers washi...

in Travel

[Video] Here's What Vietnam Looks Like From Above

It's easy to get cynical about Vietnam's tourism industry. While this is a country with plenty to offer, there are a whole host of things that can bring a traveler down. But every now and again, someo...

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Vietnam To Waive Visas For Việt Kiều, Foreign Spouses Of Vietnamese

Việt kiều and foreign spouses of Vietnamese nationals will soon be able to save a few extra pages in their passport, thanks to a new decree from the Ministry of Public Security granting visa exemption...

in Travel

[Photos] Vietnam's Rice Terraces Among the World's Most Surreal Landscapes

In mountainous northern Vietnam, farming conditions aren't exactly ideal: the terrain is uneven and the weather fickle. But with a lot of hard work and some solid planning, the country's farmers manag...

in Travel

Check Out Vietnam's Latest Tourism Promotion Video

On September 21, Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially released a new video aimed at promoting tourism in the country.

in Travel

Saigon Railways To Open Daily Route To Ninh Thuan Province

On October 3, Saigon Railways will begin offering a daily train service from Saigon to Phan Rang-Thap Cham in coastal Ninh Thuan province.

in Travel

[Video] Drone Video Goes Behind the Scenes of Son Doong Cave Expedition

There's a lot of hype around Son Doong these days, and when you take a look at the ever-growing collection of photos and videos from within the place, it's not difficult to see why. The world's larges...

in Travel

[Video] A Day In The Life Of A Saigon Container Ship

When we think of container ships, the first image that springs to mind is usually a gigantic man-made vessel that pollutes the water and obstructs our view of the ocean.

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Get Ready For Gondola Rides On A Saigon Canal

Gondolas will no longer be solely the symbol of Venice, reports Tuoi Tre.

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15 Photos Of Vietnam's Most Beautiful Sunrises

Whether it is a metropolitan hub, a sleepy central Vietnam highland town in mist or a tranquil remote island, these photos of sunrise capture the beautiful transition between night and day that is rar...

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Son Doong Tops Smithsonian's List Of Places To See In The 21st Century

Late last week, Smithsonian magazine announced its 21st Century Life List, giving a fancy name to what most of us call a “bucket list”. The lineup included several hair-raising experiences, from ...

in Travel

Stunning Video Captures Snapshots Of Northern Vietnam

When German photographer Stefan Siebert visited Vietnam earlier this year, he wanted to travel light but also capture images of his journey. Using a handy Blackmagic camera and monopod, the photograph...

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Military Area in Cam Ranh to Be Converted Into Tourism Beach

In a bid to boost tourism in Cam Ranh, the Vietnamese military has agreed to hand over a beach to their civilian counterparts for tourism development.

in Travel

Uber Is Giving Away Free Helicopter Rides In Da Nang This Weekend

To inaugurate the launch of UberCHOPPER, Uber’s new helicopter service in Vietnam, the company is giving away flights to a few of its Da Nang users this weekend.

in Travel

[Video] A Day in the Life of a Vietnamese Train Conductor

Ever wonder what it would be like to drive a train through the winding, verdant hills and claustrophobic tunnels of central Vietnam?

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Vietnam Planning To Extend US Tourist Visas From 3 Months To 1 Year

In a bid to draw more visitors from the US, the Vietnamese government is planning to extend the validity of tourist visas for Americans from three months to 1 year.

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Chinese Overtake Russians In Mui Ne

Mui Ne, long a stronghold for Russian tourists has been attracting a different set of international visitors in recent months – Chinese.