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...
Escape From the Tourists: 5 of Vietnam’s Underrated Islands
You want to have a lazy holiday on a tranquil beach, but Nha Trang and Mui Ne is a bit too touristy for your taste. We’ve come up with a list islands that should offer some relief from the throngs of ...
NY Times: Here’s What You Should Do with 36 Hours in HCMC
The New York Times recently visited HCMC for one of their popular “36 Hours” columns where they present a list of recommendations for things to do and places to go if you're short on time.
Brian Letwin in Travel
Thailand Amends Controversial Border Procedures for Vietnamese Tourists
After public outcry from Vietnamese tourists and tourism officials, Thai customs authorities have announced that they will amend “offensive” signage and procedures requiring proof of funds at the...
Vietnamese Tourists Furious About Thai Customs Procedures
At the border gate between Cambodia and Thailand, Vietnamese nationals are required to take photos holding at least $700 in cash. Many Vietnamese said that the procedure made them feel like criminals....
Brian Letwin in Travel
Vietnam Tourism Booming in 2014
Even though the country has received criticism for some of its tourism policies, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Vietnam welcomed 745,980 international travelers in April,...
Literal Translations of Beijing’s Subway Stations are Amazing
Like Vietnamese, Chinese can yield some interesting results when things are translated literally. With this in mind, the Wall Street Journal Asia recently published a map with literal translations of ...
Amid Heavy Criticism, Hoi An Amends Entry Fees
After getting a huge amount of flak from locals and tourists alike, Hoi An authorities have made amendments to the strict enforcement of $6 entry fee’s to the city’s old town, according to the Saigon ...
[Slideshow] Views of Hanoi's Lakes from Above
We’re all about Saigon pride, but Hanoi definitely has us beat in one category – lakes.
Reports: New $6 Entry Fee has Made Hoi An a Ghost Town
Last week we heard rumors that Hoi An has started to charge a $6 entry fee to tourists seeking to enter the city's old town. According to Kenh14, what we feared has become a reality - Hoi An is now a ...
Rumors: It Now Costs $6 to Enter Hoi An’s Old Town
In a move that’s sure to backfire, there are reports coming out of Hoi An that the city has started to charge a $6 entrance fee to access its famous old town area.
Japan Mulls Waiving Visas for Vietnamese
As part of a plan to increase tourism revenue, Japan is considering waiving visas for visitors from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Saigon Gets its First Capsule Hotel
It looks like the capsule hotel fad has finally hit Saigon. The Hongkong Kaiteki has opened its first location on Pham Ngu Lao, offering cheap and, for some, slightly claustrophobic accommodation...
Explore Hue’s Imperial City with Google Street View
It may not be as official or comprehensive as Google’s ‘Street View Treks’ of Angkor Wat but you can now take a virtual tour of Hue’s Imperial City thanks to 360view.vn.
This Singapore Tourism Commercial is One of the Worst We’ve Ever Seen
We hope this cringeworthy Singapore tourism promotion video is an ingenious viral marketing effort because it’s just that bad (shout out to Malaysia’s “Malaysia Truly Asia” campaign which is slightly ...
You Can Now Explore Angkor Wat With Google Street View
After finding all the Pokemon using Google Maps, take a break to visit Angkor Wat.
Vietnam's Top 20 Beaches According to Rough Guides
With over 3,200 kilometers of coastline, Vietnam offers a seemingly endless number of beach options, making them one of the country’s strongest tourist attractions. Rough Guides, an international trav...
Vietnam Announces Online Visa System
For foreigners traveling to Vietnam, getting a visa is set to get a bit easier as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Information and Communications have announced a new online visa system...
Visa-Free Stay for Phu Quoc Visitors Extended to 30 Days
The island of Phu Quoc has bumped up its visa-free stay to 30 days for international visitors, reports Thanh Nien.
Vietnam Named a Top-50 International Tourist Destination
Vietnam ranks as one of the Top-50 international tourist destinations according to www.movehub.com, a popular website for those seeking to move abroad, reports VietNamNet.
National Geographic: Phu Quoc a Top-3 Winter Destination
Another week, another set of subjective travel ratings, this time from National Geographic Traveler Magazine. The publication just released their 2014 list of “Best Winter Trips” in which Phu Quoc ran...
