Chris Humphrey

in Travel

'Living Hanoi' Series by Joseph Gobin Delves Into the Capital's Eccentricities

Is there a photographic format more suitable for capturing Hanoi's abundantly complex and alluring culture than the crystalline clarity of medium format film?

in Travel

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.

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...

Back Travel

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[Video] How To Spend 36 Hours In Hanoi: NY Times

After spending 36 hours in Saigon back in May, The New York Times recently visited Hanoi and picked out a number of attractions that one should check out if short on time in the capital. 

in Travel

Website Tests Your Knowledge Of Vietnamese Geography

Think you know your Vietnamese Geography?

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Vietnam Hotel Takes Top Spot In Condé Nast Traveler Awards

The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi was ranked the top hotel in SE Asia Condé Nast’s Traveler’s recent Reader's Choice Awards jumping 5 spots from last year’s rankings.

in Travel

[Photos] Bugs of Vietnam

New Zealander, Richard Seaman, is a travel addict who crisscrosses the globe with his camera in tow, taking pictures and writing about the bugs he comes across on his blog, the Flying Kiwi. 

in Travel

Da Nang Company Given Go-Ahead To Build $212 Million Cable Car In World’s Largest Cave

Vietnam’s cable car addiction (see Sapa and Ha Long Bay) has reached Son Doong Cave, the largest in the world and one of the country’s most valuable natural treasures.

in Travel

Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai Ranked Among Worst In Asia, Airports Disagree

Both HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat and Hanoi’s Noi Bai were listed on the list of “Worst Airports in Asia 2014,” compiled by popular airport ranking site.

in Travel

[Video] A Journey Through Vietnam

Many of the visitors who make films while traveling in Vietnam point their lens towards the country’s beautiful landscapes and people. “A Journey Trough Vietnam,” however, has a decidedly personal fee...

in Travel

Report: 33% Of Hoi An Could Soon Be Underwater

Coastal erosion is threatening the ancient city of Hoi An which may loose a third of its land to surrounding bodies of water.

in Travel

[Video] A Bike Ride Through the Majestic Mountains of Sapa

This calming video follows a group of bikers through the peaks and valleys of Sapa’s beautiful but challenging terrain.

in Travel

Noi Bai’s Sleep Pods Back Online After 10 Week Suspension

Ten weeks after airport authorities closed them down, the sleep pods at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport are back in operation.

in Travel

US Travel Mag Lists Vietnam As Top 20 Destination For Solo Travelers

Vietnam has made Travel + Leisure’s list of top 20 countries for solo travelers, coming in at number 6 overall, and top in Asia.

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Passengers On Delayed Flights In Vietnam To Receive Compensation

Starting December 1, Vietnamese airlines will be required to give passengers compensation in the form of meals and accommodation if their flights are delayed or canceled, reports Sài Gòn Giải Phóng.

in Travel

Vietnam, SE Asian Countries Take A Step Closer Towards Single Visa Policy

At the 10th International Travel Expo last week in HCMC, tourism officials from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar agreed that a single visa policy should be put in place to ease trave...

in Travel

In Defense Of Vung Tau: Why It Might Not Be So Bad After All

We’re not exactly sure why Vung Tau gets a bad rap. Sure it doesn’t have the cleanest beaches in the world, nor is it the most charming coastal destination, but many Saigonese seem more willing to tak...

in Travel

[Video] Breathtaking Da Nang Time Lapse

While we love our Saigon timelpase videos, they’re decidedly urban. Sure Cu Chi and other rural districts are technically included for administrative purposes, but few consider them when discussing th...

in Travel

[Photos] Sunset Over Hanoi’s Hồ Tây (West Lake)

Hanoi’s West Lake, one of the signature lakes of the Vietnamese capital, has been an important part of the city’s history for over a thousand years. Hanoians have long revered the Lake, inspiring seve...

in Travel

Incredible Video Shows Man “Dive” Into Exploding Volcano

Explorer Sam Cossman, a documentarian who specializes in capturing extreme forces of nature, recently uploaded this shocking video to Youtube showing his slightly insane expedition into the Marum Crat...

in Travel

Tours Of Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave Suspended

Tours to Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave, the largest ever discovered, have been suspended following the conclusion of a one-year pilot program, reports Thanh Nien.

in Travel

Vietnam Considers Waiving Visas For 9 Nationalities

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Transport is seeking approval to waive visa requirements for citizens of France, Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, ...

in Travel

[Photos] A LEGO Couple’s Journey Across Vietnam

Earlier this year, we saw Scottish couple, Craig McCartney and Lindsey Haggerty, travel across Europe and SE Asia with 2 Lego companions, taking pictures of the plastic toys along the way.