Chris Humphrey

in Travel

'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?

in Travel

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

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...

Back Travel

in Travel

[Photos] Tràng An: Getting To Know Vietnam’s Newest UNESCO Site

Highlighted by the ancient capital of Hoa Lư, rich wildlife and the heavenly Tam Cốc – Bích Động and Bái Đính temple complex (the largest of its kind in South East Asia), Tràng An is Vietnam’s newest ...

in Travel

13 Amazing Photos Of Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave

Vietnam is home to the world’s largest known cave, Son Doong in Quang Binh Province. Discovered by a Ho Khanh in 1991, it wasn’t until 2009 when a group of British cavers repelled into the cave where ...

in Travel

4 Beautiful Rock Formations Along Vietnam's Coast

While Phu Yen’s cliffs of stone plates (Ghềnh Đá Đĩa) may be particularly unique, we dug up a few other rocky beauties along Vietnam’s coast.

in Travel

Phu Yen’s Stunning Cliffs Of Stone Plates

While they may pale in comparison to Ireland’s beautiful natural basalt formations, their Vietnamese cousins, just north of Nha Trang are just a bus or a bike ride away.

in Travel

6 Great Pit Stops For Your Saigon - Nha Trang Road Trip

Driving along the coastal roads from Saigon to Nha Trang on motorbike is a beautiful journey, but also a bit of a grind. Here are 6 great places to stop between the 2 cities that will help break up th...

in Travel

A Guide to Dalat’s Waterfalls

Dalat, the former French resort town, is quickly developing and will soon boast the same land area as Hanoi. Though the city has been undergoing rapid urban and agricultural development, hundreds of t...

in Travel

5 Of Vietnam’s Most Beautiful (And Terrifying) Mountain Roads

With both potentially deadly turns and stunning natural beauty, these 5 mountain passes can simultaneously strike awe and fear into the hearts of drivers.

in Travel

Soon You’ll Be Able to Catch A $300 Seaplane Flight To Phan Thiet

So who’s down to spring for a $300, 45-minute seaplane ride instead a $10, 5-hour ride on a Phuong Trang bus?

in Travel

Vietnam Considers Visa Exemptions For Tourists From EU, US, Others

While Vietnam may be shooting itself in the foot with work permit regulations, the country may take an important step forward when it comes to tourist visas.

Brian Letwin

in Travel

World Famous LEGO Couple Takes A Trip To Vietnam

You’re traveling the world but don’t want to make the pictures from your trip stand out. What better way to do so than travel with another couple, one that’s photogenic and…made of plastic?

in Travel

[Video] A Surfer’s Quest to Find Vietnam’s Legendary Waves

To show that Mui Ne isn’t the only place to catch a decent wave in Vietnam, a group of surfers recently explored Vietnam’s 3,444 km long coast and found nirvana in Phan Rang, a relative backwater comp...

in Travel

Amid Criticism, Hoi An To Issue Visitor “Passports”

Hoi An authorities and UNESCO representatives announced a plan to implement a tourist “passport” program to replace the current ticketing system which has created controversy since April.

Brian Letwin

in Travel

Bobby Chinn Nominated for Vietnam Tourism Ambassador

Bobby Chinn may not be Vietnamese but he’s been identified as one of the “most promising candidates” to replace Ly Nha Ky as the country’s tourism ambassador.

Brian Letwin

in Travel

Phu Quoc Ranked as One of the World’s 10 “Lost Paradises”

Phu Quoc has undergone drastic changes over the last few years but compared to many of Vietnam’s tourist destinations, it’s remained relatively undeveloped. Singaporean newswire, AsiaOne, recently fea...

Brian Letwin

in Travel

[Photos] Hanoi's Ancient Wells

Illegal wells may be one of the main reasons Saigon is sinking, but up North, their ancient cousins still provide life-sustaining, clean water to many communities.

Brian Letwin

in Travel

[Photos] VietJet Brings Back In-Flight Bikini Shows

VietJet Air is the honey badger of airlines; it just doesn’t give a sh*t. After getting fined for in-flight bikini shows in 2012, the budget airline has brought back the performances to celebrate its ...

Brian Letwin

in Travel

[Video] Yet Another Reminder of How Beautiful Vietnam Really is

Marco Santi and a friend spent 6 days in Vietnam, stopping in Saigon, Can Tho and Chau Doc before heading off to Cambodia. Even though it was short trip, the smiles of the Vietnamese and the country’s...

in Travel

The Mekong Delta: Home to 3 of Vietnam's Most Spectacular Mansions

While Hanoi, Hai Phong and Saigon are known for their beautiful colonial architecture, some of Vietnam’s best specimens can be found in the Mekong Delta. Here are 3 ornate buildings known for their mi...

Brian Letwin

in Travel

This Video Reminds Us Just How Beautiful Vietnam Really is

It’s time to take a break from Saigon time lapse videos set to electronic music and enjoy this slow-paced short film, Somewhere in Vietnam which reminds us just how beautiful this country is.

Brian Letwin

in Travel

Russian Tourists are Abandoning Mui Ne

Mui Ne, long considered a haven for Russian tourists has been experiencing a drop in visitors from the Motherland as they seek out “easier accesses” destinations, reports Thanh Nien.