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.

in Saigoneer Getaways

Just 12km From Huế, a Hidden Lake Welcomes You to a Night of Stargazing

If you’ve been meaning to embark on a trip to escape from the chaos of daily life but aren’t quite keen to plunge straight into the wilderness, Huế might be the perfect next destination. The city center embodies calm, quietude and a sense of poetic beauty — these are all great qualities that have long drawn visitors to it, but not many are aware that there’s an entirely different side of Huế if one just takes a short ride away from the urban heartland alongside the Perfume River.

Back Travel

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VNA to Launch Direct Hanoi-Sydney Flights This March

Fans of Vietnam Airlines will be pleased to find out the air carrier has launched a direct route between Hanoi and Sydney.

in Travel

[Video] Timelapse Captures Vietnam's Beauty, North to South

Timelapse fans rejoice, as yet another stunning Vietnam travel video highlights the country's best sights and captures the bustle of urban Vietnam.

in Travel

Phong Nha’s Top Caving Tour Company May Cancel 2 Routes After Unexpected Fee Increase

Oxalis, Phong Nha’s leading cave tour operator, has announced it may stop running excursions to both Nuoc Nut and Va grottos in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park due to an unexpected management fee incr...

in Travel

Vietnam Launches Electronic Visa Program for 40 Nationalities

Starting this February, citizens from select countries will be able to apply for their Vietnam visas via an online portal.

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[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: Outdoor Adventures Abound on Cat Ba Island

Our smooth ride down the Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway comes to an abrupt end when our bus lurches into Dinh Vu Port, a hopelessly run-down facility beyond the huge factories of the city’s industrial par...

in Travel

Vietnam Eyes $35bn in Tourism Revenue by 2020

Vietnam is aiming to rake in US$35 billion in revenue from the tourism industry in 2020.

in Travel

Jetstar Holds Massive Ticket Sale to Celebrate Australia-Vietnam Direct Flights

As Vietnam’s aviation market heats up, Saigoneers are not the only beneficiaries of a steady stream of additional routes and cheap flights. Case in point: earlier this afternoon (at 12 noon to be exac...

in Travel

Quang Binh Officials Deny Plans for Son Doong Cable Car

After a petition against the construction of a cable to Son Doong, the world's largest cave, went viral earlier this week, provincial officials in Quang Binh have denied rumors that such a constructio...

in Travel

[Photos] Linh Quy Phap An: Vietnam's Temple in the Sky

Linh Quy Phap An, an elusive temple nestled high in the hills of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, is drawing attention from tourists all over the country thanks to a new pop music video.

in Travel

As Incomes Grow, More Vietnamese Are Traveling Abroad

While Vietnam welcomed 10 million foreign visitors last year, the country’s own citizens are also getting out to see the world beyond their borders.

in Travel

Vietnam Mulls Visa Waivers for Australians and Indians

Vietnam tourism industry leaders have asked the government to extend and expand the visa waiver program introduced in 2015.

in Travel

[Photos] 2 Weeks Before Tet, Tan Son Nhat Is Already a Traffic Nightmare

If you’ve been fretting over the impending Tet traffic nightmare that will take place around Tan Son Nhat International Airport, fret no more: it’s already here.

in Travel

Aviation Authorities Limit Number of Tet Flights Due to Overcrowding

Vietnam’s airports, especially Tan Son Nhat, are bursting at the seams due to Tet travel. 

in Travel

[Photos] Vietnam's 30-Hour Voyage From Hanoi to Saigon

Traveling by train in Vietnam is not simply a trip from point A to point B; it’s just as much about the time spent in transit as it is the destination.

in Travel

China Is Revamping Its Public Toilets in the Name of Tourism

In a concerted effort to boost tourism, China recently announced a new plan to upgrade its public toilets in addition to revitalizing its old industrial regions.

Brian Letwin

in Travel

[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: Cat Tien National Park

Three hours northeast of Saigon sits a patch of verdant forest among a landscape of neverending rice paddies. Cat Tien National Park is the closest you can get to hike-able, pristine nature from the m...

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Saigon-Hanoi Ranks 7th Among World’s Busiest Air Routes

Vietnam’s recent domestic travel boom has made the route between Saigon and Hanoi one of the world's busiest.

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Riding the Rails in Yangon and Beyond

“Hmmm…very interesting,” our new Myanmar friend muttered to herself, eyebrows arched, as she reached out to stroke Matt’s hirsute American arm.

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[Video] An Intimate Look at Vietnam's Lush Landscapes and Vibrant People

When it comes to travel videos about Vietnam, there are generally two styles: the usual fast-paced time-lapse sequences that shine the limelight on local cities’ myriad colors and bustling nightscapes...

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Vietnam’s International Tourist Arrivals to Hit 10m by End of Year

Before the year is out, Vietnam is on track to welcome its 10 millionth international visitor, a landmark achievement for the country’s tourism industry.