Pete Walls in Travel
For the Freshest Fish of the Day, Head to Hội An's Coast Before Sunrise
The alarm goes off at 3am. By 3:30am, scooters laden with empty crates and baskets are already moving through the dark lanes and sandy passages towards Hội An's coast. Long before the old town wakes, the beaches along the shore are coming alive with engines, head torches, waves, and fishermen preparing to return to land. Thankfully, coffee is readily available almost anywhere.
In Saigon's Bửu Long Pagoda, a Meditative Escape and Pan-Southeast Asian Architecture
It all started with a sparkle on the horizon, a beam of solar brilliance bouncing off a garish metallic surface.
A Special 'Doraemon' Episode Taking Place in Vietnam Will Be Released in May
After decades of watching Doraemon and his close friend groups adventure to all sorts of strange lands from the deepest trenches on Earth to fantastical planets, fans of the beloved cat robot in Vietnam will finally see our country in the cartoon series.
ACV Proposes Moving 90% of Saigon's Overseas Flights to Long Thành
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has proposed plans to transfer flight operations in Hồ Chí Minh City from Tân Sơ...
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.
Tourists Generate Up to 3 Times More Plastic Waste Than Locals, UNDP Finds
A recent report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns that plastic waste pollution poses increasing pro...
Paul Christiansen in Travel
'Chuyện Của Pao' Turned a Historic H'Mông Home in Hà Giang Into a Tourist Attraction
The photos don’t do it justice. That’s what you’ll often hear from people who visit Hà Giang to cruise its famed highway loop.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
From Dark to Dawn, an Early Morning at Hội An's Duy Hải Fish Market
At 3am, Hội An’s streets resemble dog-gnawed pork bones, licked clean of all scent and viscera. No light, no noise, no movement. But that’s the time you must venture out to witness the Duy Hải Fish Market in action.
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...
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.
Michael Tatarski in Travel
[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...
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.
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...
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...
[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.
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.
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.
[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.
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.
[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.
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...
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.
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.
[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...
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.
Hanoi to Spend $2m on Promotional Materials With CNN
Hanoi city officials have inked a two-year, US$2 million deal with American news channel CNN to air promotional tourism material in the hope of attracting foreign visitors and boosting the capital’s i...
Thailand to Cut Visa Fees for Tourists From 19 Countries
Thailand has decided to waive visa fees for some countries and halve visa-on-arrival costs for tourists from other nations as part of a three-month tourism promotion running from December 1, 2016 to F...
