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.
A Tribute to the Incredibly Eye-Catching, Organic Signage of Sa Đéc
Signs are like voices.
Linh Phạm in Travel
On a Walking Tour, Mulling Over the Glorious Past and Odious Present of Tô Lịch River
We began our journey in front of a bank where the street Trần Nhật Duật turned into Chợ Gạo.
Tuyết Nhi in Travel
Visit a 160-Year-Old Chapel Inside Saigon's Historic St. Joseph's Seminary
Hidden within the compound of the Saigon St. Joseph’s Seminary is a historic chapel that has withstood the test of time.
Tà Năng, One of Vietnam’s Most Beautiful Trails and Best-Kept Secrets
Whether we choose to participate or not, most of us are fascinated by Vietnam’s motorbike culture.
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.
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...
