All Aboard the Languorous 35-Hour Train From Hanoi to Saigon
The train connecting Vietnam’s largest cities takes 35 hours. Yet even after the first time I finished the trip, I was already coming up with excuses for why I needed to do it again. For me, the journey is much more than a chance for great views and time to reflect. It’s an exploration of life itself.
Kit Humphrey in Travel
In Thổ Hà Village, Rice Paper Spills Onto the Streets and Wraps Around Daily Life
A few hours after sunrise in the small village of Thổ Hà, Bắc Giang Province, alleyways morph into picturesque tunnels of drying rice paper, while ladies toast crackers over fire in the streets.
Pete Walls in Travel
Watching the Sunset From Lai Châu's Fansipan, the Roof of Indochina
Conquering Mount Fansipan’s 3,147 meters was once a feat reserved for those willing to take on the potential multi-day hike from Sapa to the summit and back.
Family-Friendly Summer Vacations Made Easy at Crowne Plaza Phu Quoc Starbay
The ripening of sweet jackfruit, mangosteen and mangos; hammocks swinging gently in patches of cool shade; and evenings that stretch on with the comfort of knowing there is no alarm clock waiting the next morning: summer arrives as opportunity. When school holidays begin, families scramble to adjust schedules and secure care and activities, creating the potential to carve out some time for a vacation to savor fresh air, explore thrills, and simply bond as a family in a beautiful destination.
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...
[Photos] Sapa Is Currently Covered in Ice
While the sun seems intent upon scorching every surface in Saigon, it's winter elsewhere in Vietnam. Up north, people are pulling out their heavy coats and staving off the December chill with scarves,...
Vietnam Approves Proposal for 1-Year Visas for American Citizens
After months of discussion and foot-dragging, the Vietnamese government has finally approved a proposal to extend the validity of temporary visas for Americans from three months to one year.
Nha Trang Just Held Its First-Ever LGBT Tourism Seminar
In the last couple years, Vietnam has made some impressive strides in the realm of LGBT rights. From legalizing same-sex marriage (though such unions are still not officially recognized by the state) ...
Brian Letwin in Travel
[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: Boracay and Tourism Done Right
With picture-perfect beaches, well-organized tourism activities and customer service a cut above its Southeast Asian neighbors, could the Philippines' Boracay be a glimpse into the future of Vietnam's...
Epic Drone Video Takes You From Saigon to Hanoi
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from drone video maker Troy Nguyen, and for good reason. The Youtuber has spend the last few months traveling the length of Vietnam to produce this 1 hour video tha...
Foreign Arrivals in Vietnam Surge 20% in November
Vietnam’s tourism sector has had a strong showing in November with 723,740 international arrivals, a 12.9% increase over October and 20.4% compared to the same time period last year.
You’ll Soon Be Able to Play Slot Machines at Vietnam’s Airports
In what may be a push to compensate for poor mixed airport rankings earlier this year, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a proposal that will allow Vietnam’s international airports to i...
Who Are the Top-Spending Tourists in Vietnam?
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has released its first-ever annual tourism report that contains some interesting data about visitors to Vietnam.
What CNN's Saigon Guide Got Right
Earlier this month, CNN released its Insider Guide to HCMC, hitting all the usual highlights of our fair city, from Ben Thanh Market to the Reunification Palace. Here's what it got right and what we f...
British MP: Tourists Won't Visit Vietnam If They Know About Dog Meat Trade
For whatever reason, last week Britain's House of Commons decided to discuss the number of dogs killed annually in Asian countries like China (20 million), Vietnam (5 million) and South Korea (2 milli...
Vietnam May Waive Visas for Tourists on Package Holidays
In the ever-changing world of Vietnamese tourist visas, a new crop of foreign visitors may soon receive a free pass into the country.
Hanoi, Saigon Make No. 2 Spot on Lonely Planet's List of Value Destinations
On Tuesday, guidebook publisher and thorn in the side of locals everywhere Lonely Planet released its list of 'Best Value Destinations for 2016'. Of course, Vietnam was on it.
Tourists Are Ruining Ha Long Bay With Cave Graffiti
Ha Long Bay, the crown jewel of northern Vietnam's tourism industry, is looking a little worse for wear these days. Between the toxic slurry flowing into its waters earlier this year and the ghos...
[Video] One Traveler's Mind-Bending 3D Images of Southeast Asia
When photographer Garret Suhrie packed his bags and bought a ticket to Southeast Asia, he had plans to make a travel video, something more and more travelers seem to be into these days.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Travel
Pham Ngu Lao Looks Downright Whimsical in This Travel Video
There are a lot of mixed feelings when it comes to Pham Ngu Lao. Some see it as a haven for cheap beer and wild nights; others avoid Bui Vien like the plague.
Miniature Landscape Video Showcases Snapshots of Nature in Ba Ria
In a city that's increasingly devoid of nature, it can be hard to recall the sight of a lush, green forest or a crystal-clear river.
Vietnam Tourism Authority Supports Son Doong Cable Car
It's hard to argue with the majesty of Son Doong. As the world's largest cave and one of the most remote places not just in Vietnam but on earth, this never-ending subterranean wilderness is truly one...
Vietnam to Cut Visa Fees Next Month
In the wonderful world of Vietnamese tourist visas, the rules seem to change everyday. Whether it's permitting certain passport holders to enter the country visa-free or discussing whether to wai...
Pack Your Bags: VietJet Now Flies to Yangon
Planning a trip to Myanmar just got a little easier, thanks to VietJet.
Vietnam May Waive Visas For 19 More Countries But Who Knows
In this week's installment of visa-related news, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) is discussing the possibility of waiving visas for 19 more countries in an end-of-year push to ra...
