Khôi Phạm in Travel
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.
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.
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 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?
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.
Live Music, Sports, Art and Activities Fill District VUI with Summer Fun
Vietnam’s south-central coast is blessed with warm sunshine, cool waves, and relaxed vibes all year round, creating a perpetual vacation atmosphere. With school breaks and summer holidays, there is no better time to explore the tropical regions at the nexus of forest and sea.
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.
Escape From the Tourists: 5 of Vietnam’s Underrated Islands
You want to have a lazy holiday on a tranquil beach, but Nha Trang and Mui Ne is a bit too touristy for your taste. We’ve come up with a list islands that should offer some relief from the throngs of ...
NY Times: Here’s What You Should Do with 36 Hours in HCMC
The New York Times recently visited HCMC for one of their popular “36 Hours” columns where they present a list of recommendations for things to do and places to go if you're short on time.
Brian Letwin in Travel
Thailand Amends Controversial Border Procedures for Vietnamese Tourists
After public outcry from Vietnamese tourists and tourism officials, Thai customs authorities have announced that they will amend “offensive” signage and procedures requiring proof of funds at the...
Vietnamese Tourists Furious About Thai Customs Procedures
At the border gate between Cambodia and Thailand, Vietnamese nationals are required to take photos holding at least $700 in cash. Many Vietnamese said that the procedure made them feel like criminals....
Brian Letwin in Travel
Vietnam Tourism Booming in 2014
Even though the country has received criticism for some of its tourism policies, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Vietnam welcomed 745,980 international travelers in April,...
Literal Translations of Beijing’s Subway Stations are Amazing
Like Vietnamese, Chinese can yield some interesting results when things are translated literally. With this in mind, the Wall Street Journal Asia recently published a map with literal translations of ...
Amid Heavy Criticism, Hoi An Amends Entry Fees
After getting a huge amount of flak from locals and tourists alike, Hoi An authorities have made amendments to the strict enforcement of $6 entry fee’s to the city’s old town, according to the Saigon ...
[Slideshow] Views of Hanoi's Lakes from Above
We’re all about Saigon pride, but Hanoi definitely has us beat in one category – lakes.
Reports: New $6 Entry Fee has Made Hoi An a Ghost Town
Last week we heard rumors that Hoi An has started to charge a $6 entry fee to tourists seeking to enter the city's old town. According to Kenh14, what we feared has become a reality - Hoi An is now a ...
Rumors: It Now Costs $6 to Enter Hoi An’s Old Town
In a move that’s sure to backfire, there are reports coming out of Hoi An that the city has started to charge a $6 entrance fee to access its famous old town area.
Japan Mulls Waiving Visas for Vietnamese
As part of a plan to increase tourism revenue, Japan is considering waiving visas for visitors from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Saigon Gets its First Capsule Hotel
It looks like the capsule hotel fad has finally hit Saigon. The Hongkong Kaiteki has opened its first location on Pham Ngu Lao, offering cheap and, for some, slightly claustrophobic accommodation...
Explore Hue’s Imperial City with Google Street View
It may not be as official or comprehensive as Google’s ‘Street View Treks’ of Angkor Wat but you can now take a virtual tour of Hue’s Imperial City thanks to 360view.vn.
This Singapore Tourism Commercial is One of the Worst We’ve Ever Seen
We hope this cringeworthy Singapore tourism promotion video is an ingenious viral marketing effort because it’s just that bad (shout out to Malaysia’s “Malaysia Truly Asia” campaign which is slightly ...
You Can Now Explore Angkor Wat With Google Street View
After finding all the Pokemon using Google Maps, take a break to visit Angkor Wat.
Vietnam's Top 20 Beaches According to Rough Guides
With over 3,200 kilometers of coastline, Vietnam offers a seemingly endless number of beach options, making them one of the country’s strongest tourist attractions. Rough Guides, an international trav...
Vietnam Announces Online Visa System
For foreigners traveling to Vietnam, getting a visa is set to get a bit easier as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Information and Communications have announced a new online visa system...
