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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

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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

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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.

Pete Walls

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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...

Back Travel

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[Photos] Tràng An: Getting To Know Vietnam’s Newest UNESCO Site

Highlighted by the ancient capital of Hoa Lư, rich wildlife and the heavenly Tam Cốc – Bích Động and Bái Đính temple complex (the largest of its kind in South East Asia), Tràng An is Vietnam’s newest ...

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13 Amazing Photos Of Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave

Vietnam is home to the world’s largest known cave, Son Doong in Quang Binh Province. Discovered by a Ho Khanh in 1991, it wasn’t until 2009 when a group of British cavers repelled into the cave where ...

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4 Beautiful Rock Formations Along Vietnam's Coast

While Phu Yen’s cliffs of stone plates (Ghềnh Đá Đĩa) may be particularly unique, we dug up a few other rocky beauties along Vietnam’s coast.

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Phu Yen’s Stunning Cliffs Of Stone Plates

While they may pale in comparison to Ireland’s beautiful natural basalt formations, their Vietnamese cousins, just north of Nha Trang are just a bus or a bike ride away.

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6 Great Pit Stops For Your Saigon - Nha Trang Road Trip

Driving along the coastal roads from Saigon to Nha Trang on motorbike is a beautiful journey, but also a bit of a grind. Here are 6 great places to stop between the 2 cities that will help break up th...

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A Guide to Dalat’s Waterfalls

Dalat, the former French resort town, is quickly developing and will soon boast the same land area as Hanoi. Though the city has been undergoing rapid urban and agricultural development, hundreds of t...

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5 Of Vietnam’s Most Beautiful (And Terrifying) Mountain Roads

With both potentially deadly turns and stunning natural beauty, these 5 mountain passes can simultaneously strike awe and fear into the hearts of drivers.

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Soon You’ll Be Able to Catch A $300 Seaplane Flight To Phan Thiet

So who’s down to spring for a $300, 45-minute seaplane ride instead a $10, 5-hour ride on a Phuong Trang bus?

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Vietnam Considers Visa Exemptions For Tourists From EU, US, Others

While Vietnam may be shooting itself in the foot with work permit regulations, the country may take an important step forward when it comes to tourist visas.

Brian Letwin

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World Famous LEGO Couple Takes A Trip To Vietnam

You’re traveling the world but don’t want to make the pictures from your trip stand out. What better way to do so than travel with another couple, one that’s photogenic and…made of plastic?

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[Video] A Surfer’s Quest to Find Vietnam’s Legendary Waves

To show that Mui Ne isn’t the only place to catch a decent wave in Vietnam, a group of surfers recently explored Vietnam’s 3,444 km long coast and found nirvana in Phan Rang, a relative backwater comp...

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Amid Criticism, Hoi An To Issue Visitor “Passports”

Hoi An authorities and UNESCO representatives announced a plan to implement a tourist “passport” program to replace the current ticketing system which has created controversy since April.

Brian Letwin

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Bobby Chinn Nominated for Vietnam Tourism Ambassador

Bobby Chinn may not be Vietnamese but he’s been identified as one of the “most promising candidates” to replace Ly Nha Ky as the country’s tourism ambassador.

Brian Letwin

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Phu Quoc Ranked as One of the World’s 10 “Lost Paradises”

Phu Quoc has undergone drastic changes over the last few years but compared to many of Vietnam’s tourist destinations, it’s remained relatively undeveloped. Singaporean newswire, AsiaOne, recently fea...

Brian Letwin

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[Photos] Hanoi's Ancient Wells

Illegal wells may be one of the main reasons Saigon is sinking, but up North, their ancient cousins still provide life-sustaining, clean water to many communities.

Brian Letwin

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[Photos] VietJet Brings Back In-Flight Bikini Shows

VietJet Air is the honey badger of airlines; it just doesn’t give a sh*t. After getting fined for in-flight bikini shows in 2012, the budget airline has brought back the performances to celebrate its ...

Brian Letwin

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[Video] Yet Another Reminder of How Beautiful Vietnam Really is

Marco Santi and a friend spent 6 days in Vietnam, stopping in Saigon, Can Tho and Chau Doc before heading off to Cambodia. Even though it was short trip, the smiles of the Vietnamese and the country’s...

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The Mekong Delta: Home to 3 of Vietnam's Most Spectacular Mansions

While Hanoi, Hai Phong and Saigon are known for their beautiful colonial architecture, some of Vietnam’s best specimens can be found in the Mekong Delta. Here are 3 ornate buildings known for their mi...

Brian Letwin

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This Video Reminds Us Just How Beautiful Vietnam Really is

It’s time to take a break from Saigon time lapse videos set to electronic music and enjoy this slow-paced short film, Somewhere in Vietnam which reminds us just how beautiful this country is.

Brian Letwin

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Russian Tourists are Abandoning Mui Ne

Mui Ne, long considered a haven for Russian tourists has been experiencing a drop in visitors from the Motherland as they seek out “easier accesses” destinations, reports Thanh Nien.