Khôi Phạm

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Bask in the Morning Sun in the Green Heart of Huế Along the Hương River

As tourists, it's in our built-in compass to seek out novelties and excitements, if anything, to remind us that our daily humdrum is not everything, and there exists a world out there with multitudes to explore.

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Chùa Một Cột in Thailand Reminds Me of the Familiar in an Unfamiliar Land

On my last full day in Khon Kaen, Thailand, I was on a mission to catch the sunset, although the cloudy and gloomy sky didn’t give me much hope. Instead, I randomly stumbled upon a gate with signs written in Vietnamese. Out of curiosity, I decided to walk in, and the farther I walked, the more clearly I spotted a familiar image from afar: a one-pillar pagoda standing right on the edge of the reservoir.

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Bạch Nam Hải’s Documentary Photo Series Captures Sapa's 7 Years of Transformation

From the town to the depths of the misty mountains of Sapa, Bạch Nam Hải embarked on a documentary photographic journey, capturing the essence of local life, the intimate connections between people and nature, and the contrast between the natural landscape and rapid urban development fueled by tourism expansion.

Chris Humphrey

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'Living Hanoi' Series by Joseph Gobin Delves Into the Capital's Eccentricities

Is there a photographic format more suitable for capturing Hanoi's abundantly complex and alluring culture than the crystalline clarity of medium format film?

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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.

Paul Christiansen

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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

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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.

Back Travel

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[Photos] The Breathtaking Natural Landscapes Of Tràm Chim

Home to the famous and endangered Sarus crane, Tràm Chim houses a vast array of natural beauty.

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Officials Deny Plans For Cable Car in Son Doong Cave

Another chapter in the Son Doong cable car saga is emerging as officials from Quang Binh Province announced earlier this week that rumors of a cable car line to be built inside the cave were false.

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Survey: Only 6% Of Tourists Return To Vietnam

A recent survey by the Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programme management board found that “Vietnam is not attractive enough to gain stable repeat business...

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[Video] How To Spend 36 Hours In Hanoi: NY Times

After spending 36 hours in Saigon back in May, The New York Times recently visited Hanoi and picked out a number of attractions that one should check out if short on time in the capital. 

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Website Tests Your Knowledge Of Vietnamese Geography

Think you know your Vietnamese Geography?

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Vietnam Hotel Takes Top Spot In Condé Nast Traveler Awards

The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi was ranked the top hotel in SE Asia Condé Nast’s Traveler’s recent Reader's Choice Awards jumping 5 spots from last year’s rankings.

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[Photos] Bugs of Vietnam

New Zealander, Richard Seaman, is a travel addict who crisscrosses the globe with his camera in tow, taking pictures and writing about the bugs he comes across on his blog, the Flying Kiwi. 

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Da Nang Company Given Go-Ahead To Build $212 Million Cable Car In World’s Largest Cave

Vietnam’s cable car addiction (see Sapa and Ha Long Bay) has reached Son Doong Cave, the largest in the world and one of the country’s most valuable natural treasures.

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Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai Ranked Among Worst In Asia, Airports Disagree

Both HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat and Hanoi’s Noi Bai were listed on the list of “Worst Airports in Asia 2014,” compiled by popular airport ranking site.

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[Video] A Journey Through Vietnam

Many of the visitors who make films while traveling in Vietnam point their lens towards the country’s beautiful landscapes and people. “A Journey Trough Vietnam,” however, has a decidedly personal fee...

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Report: 33% Of Hoi An Could Soon Be Underwater

Coastal erosion is threatening the ancient city of Hoi An which may loose a third of its land to surrounding bodies of water.

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[Video] A Bike Ride Through the Majestic Mountains of Sapa

This calming video follows a group of bikers through the peaks and valleys of Sapa’s beautiful but challenging terrain.

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Noi Bai’s Sleep Pods Back Online After 10 Week Suspension

Ten weeks after airport authorities closed them down, the sleep pods at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport are back in operation.

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US Travel Mag Lists Vietnam As Top 20 Destination For Solo Travelers

Vietnam has made Travel + Leisure’s list of top 20 countries for solo travelers, coming in at number 6 overall, and top in Asia.

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Passengers On Delayed Flights In Vietnam To Receive Compensation

Starting December 1, Vietnamese airlines will be required to give passengers compensation in the form of meals and accommodation if their flights are delayed or canceled, reports Sài Gòn Giải Phóng.

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Vietnam, SE Asian Countries Take A Step Closer Towards Single Visa Policy

At the 10th International Travel Expo last week in HCMC, tourism officials from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar agreed that a single visa policy should be put in place to ease trave...

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In Defense Of Vung Tau: Why It Might Not Be So Bad After All

We’re not exactly sure why Vung Tau gets a bad rap. Sure it doesn’t have the cleanest beaches in the world, nor is it the most charming coastal destination, but many Saigonese seem more willing to tak...

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[Video] Breathtaking Da Nang Time Lapse

While we love our Saigon timelpase videos, they’re decidedly urban. Sure Cu Chi and other rural districts are technically included for administrative purposes, but few consider them when discussing th...

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[Photos] Sunset Over Hanoi’s Hồ Tây (West Lake)

Hanoi’s West Lake, one of the signature lakes of the Vietnamese capital, has been an important part of the city’s history for over a thousand years. Hanoians have long revered the Lake, inspiring seve...

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Incredible Video Shows Man “Dive” Into Exploding Volcano

Explorer Sam Cossman, a documentarian who specializes in capturing extreme forces of nature, recently uploaded this shocking video to Youtube showing his slightly insane expedition into the Marum Crat...