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.

in Saigoneer Getaways

Hà Giang's Thôn Khun Is a Soothing Oasis for the World-Weary Traveler

Located in the heart of a valley surrounded by verdant stretches of forest, the little hamlet of Khun retains much of its pristine natural charms. From the enigmatic beauty of the local Bó Mỳ Cave to babbling creeks, Khun is a must-visit destination during northern Vietnam’s sweltering summer season.

Back Travel

in Travel

Saigoneer Getaways: Hue

In our latest addition of Saigoneer Getaways, we bike through Vietnam’s former Imperial capital, Hue. Despite rapid modernization throughout Vietnam, Hue has somehow retained is 'charm.

in Travel

Vietnam's International Tourist Arrivals Increase for the First Time in 13 Months

For the first time in 13 months, Vietnam’s tourism industry is showing signs of life with the country registering a relative surge in international visitors.

in Travel

Vietnam Looks To Eliminate Visas For Overseas Vietnamese And Spouses Of VN Nationals

After a round of successful visa exemptions for European travelers, Vietnam is pushing ahead with scrapping visas for overseas Vietnamese, their families and foreigners married to Vietnamese nationals...

in Travel

VietJet to Offer Direct Flights Between Saigon And Yangon

It will soon be easier for Saigonese to visit Yangon with VietJet announcing it will soon offer direct flights between the southern Vietnamese metropolis and Burma’s commercial capital.

in Travel

[Video] Does This New Thailand Tourism Promotional Video Go Too Far?

Like Vietnam, Thailand is a country famous for its culinary offerings that serve as a major selling point for the country’s tourism industry. It’s an obvious strength to play to and one that a local f...

in Travel

Singapore (Kind Of) Explains Why It’s Been Turning Away Vietnamese

Singapore has been barring entry of Vietnamese travelers, especially women, in recent weeks without explanation. Following questions from their Vietnamese counterparts, the city-state's immigration au...

in Travel

Australian Vietnam Airlines Passenger Tied up for Smoking Mid-Flight

Though some first time flyers have been known to mistake emergency exits for lavatories, some blatantly disregard well-known airline regulations, like this Vietnamese-Australian man who had to be tied...

in Travel

2 Workers at Tan Son Nhat Caught Stealing iPhone, Jet Fuel

When it comes to theft at Tan Son Nhat Airport, it seems like everything is on the table.

in Travel

Photos of Foreign Tourists Cleaning Beaches Highlight Vietnam’s Trash Problems

The spotlight was put on Vietnam’s well-documented problems with garbage strewn across its natural landscapes last week when two photos of foreign tourists collecting litter on a Hai Phong beach went ...

in Travel

Hanoi and Saigon Make Travel + Leisure’s Best Cities in Asia List

Popular American travel magazine Travel + Leisure just released their 2015 edition of their “World’s Best Awards” wherein Vietnam’s two largest cities ranked in the Asia top 10.

in Travel

[Video] The Making Of Vietnam Airlines’ First A350-XWB

One of the only things in the world we enjoy more than watching massive machines being assembled is when we actually have a shot of traveling in one of them.

in Travel

[Video] A Flight Over The Majestic Mountains And Rice Paddies Of Ninh Binh

Last June, filmmaker Phan Vu grabbed his flycam and took off to Ninh Binh, the pearl of the Red River Delta.

in Travel

Vietnam Plans To Add More Countries To Visa Waiver List

Two weeks after visa waivers went into effect for a number of European nations, Vietnamese officials said that they were planning to extend visa waivers to visitors from a number of other countries.

in Travel

Drone Video Perfectly Captures Vietnam’s Beauty From North To South

The Yamaha Blue Core Touring campaign recently released this lengthy but beautiful drone video, “Vietnam through Flycam’s lens.”

in Travel

[Video] Inside North Korea's Shiny New International Airport

You wouldn’t know it by the smile on his face in these photos, but Pyongyang’s shiny new international airport has been plagued by defects, reportedly prompting Dear Leader 3.0 to execute its architec...

in Travel

Vietnam Airlines Aims For 4-Star Rating To Dominate SE Asia

Vietnam Airlines is making a bid to dominate air travel in SE Asia and climb the international rankings, investing heavily in new airplanes and service upgrades.

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European Tourists Reportedly Charged For Visas At Noi Bai Despite Waiver

Apparently, immigration officials at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport didn’t get the memo about Vietnam’s highly publicized visa exemptions for German, French, British, Italian and Spanish tourists that went i...

in Travel

[Video] Man Fined $35 for Shattering Smelly Pickle Jar at Security Checkpoint

Vietnam’s northern airport authority has fined a passenger VND750,000 (US$35) for throwing a jar of picked eggplants at Noi Bai International airport.

in Travel

Vietnam Tourism Numbers Drop for 13th Consecutive Month

Vietnamese tourism officials are probably praying that the effects of the recent visa waivers will kick in soon as the number of international visitors traveling to Vietnam has fallen for the 13th con...

in Travel

Hanoi Ranked Cheapest Destination In TripAdvisor Index

Hanoi has been named the cheapest destination in TripAdvisor's latest TripIndex Cities cost-comparison study.