Paul Christiansen

in Travel

Ruminate on Our Natural Legacies While Surrounded by Cây Sao at Ao Bà Om

I never pass up an opportunity to reflect on chò nâu and its dipterocarp relative, cây sao. The massive trees that gracefu...

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.

Back Travel

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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.

in Travel

Foreigners Now Allowed To Bring Motorhomes Into Vietnam

Here’s some good news for foreigners wanting to embark on a SE Asia road trip via motorhome.

in Travel

Vietnam Officially Waives Visas for 5 European Countries

After weeks of speculation, Vietnam is officially scrapping tourist visas for citizens of Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Spain starting July 1.

in Travel

Deputy PM Highlights 6 'Nightmares' for Tourists Visiting Vietnam

Last week, Vietnamese Deputy PM, Vu Duc Dam, highlighted six major problems that plague Vietnam’s tourism industry.

in Travel

Woman Fined For Kicking, Threatening VietJet Employee Over Carry-On Luggage

Nobody likes being told their luggage is overweight when checking in for a flight. But while most of us reluctantly pay the fee, others take to violence and threats to express their frustrations.

in Travel

[Video] VNA 787-9 Makes Breathtaking Maneuvers Ahead Of Paris Air Show Debut

We’ve heard a lot about Boeing’s new 787-9 Dreamliner, the first of which will be added to Vietnam Airlines’ fleet in a few months. But ahead of its delivery and debut at next week’s Paris Air Show, t...

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Vietnamese Customs Officers Ordered to 'Improve Attitude' Toward Tourists

In what seems to be yet another attempt to boost poor tourism numbers, the Vietnamese government has told customs officials to be nice or else.

in Travel

Vietnam 'Likely' to Give Visa Waivers for UK, France, Australia, Others

More details about plans to change the country’s visa policies have emerged with a tourism official announcing that visitors from the UK, France, Germany and Spain will soon enjoy visa-free stays in V...

in Travel

Phu Quoc’s Beaches Are Becoming Garbage Dumps: Reports

Phu Quoc Island’s once pristine beaches have become dumping grounds for hotels and tourists.

in Travel

Vietnam Set To Drop Visa Requirements For 15 Mystery Nations, Establish US$100 million Tourism Fund

Another week, another hopeful sign that Vietnam is committed to reforming its cumbersome tourist visa policies after 12 consecutive months of falling international arrivals.

in Travel

[Video] Beautiful Timelapse Takes You Through SE Asia In 5 Minutes

You may remember Dylan Ozanich and his girlfriend who, after a 1,800km road trip from Hoi An to Phnom Penh a few months back, gifted their Honda Dream to a Phnom Penh coconut vendor. This happene...

in Travel

Passengers Complain Of Missing Property At Noi Bai Airport

Numerous cases of stolen property have been reported at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, prompting VietJet to lodge a complaint with airport authorities and an increasing distrust among passengers.

in Travel

Saigoneer Getaways: Exploring The Mekong Delta By Bicycle

Pancake-flat roads criss-cross the Mekong Delta’s intricate water world of swamplands and paddy fields. Littered with exotic fruit orchards, sugar-cane groves and sleepy roadside cafés, it is a perfec...

in Travel

Vietnam Tourism Officials Push for Universal Visa Waivers

As Vietnam suffers from nearly a year of decline in international tourists, local tourism officials have called on the government to grant visa waivers for all nationalities from July to December.

in Travel

Walk Through Son Doong Cave With These Incredible 3D Panoramas

Amidst the live telecasts and drone videos of Son Doong Cave that have been making international headlines in recent months, National Geographic has quietly released an insane set of 3D panoramas that...

in Travel

[Photos] Vietnam Airlines' First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Almost Ready For Delivery

Vietnam Airlines’ first of 28 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners has received its first paint job at Paine Field, Washington and is almost ready to be delivered.

in Travel

[Video] 90 Days In 90 Seconds: Life On The Mekong River

Associated Press photographer, David Guttenfelder, recently traveled to the Mekong Delta on an assignment for National Geographic.

in Travel

33% Of Foreign Tourists Return To Vietnam: Survey

A recent survey conducted by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) found that the number of international visitors who have returned to Vietnam twice or more has reached 32.98%.

in Travel

[Photos] A Rare Glimpse of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago

Tensions appear to be escalating over thousands of disputed islands in the East Sea with reports surfacing last week that the Pentagon is considering deploying U.S. military assets to the area in a di...