Just a half block away from the Ben Thanh market on Le Thanh Ton, Tokyo Deli may have one of the most convenient locations in Saigon for a traveller in search of Japanese cuisine. Although the location is great, to look at the Deli from the outside is far from awe inspiring. The building has … read the full post

About two kilometres south of Hoan Kiem Lake on Bui Thi Xuan – one of the small streets that runs parallel to Pho Hue and Ba Trieu – sits Hanoi’s latest must-go restaurant, Pots n Pans. Somewhat tucked away among the bright lights of karaoke bars, its subtle and stylish exterior is easy to miss, but … read the full post

A 20-minute drive from Pham Ngu Lao in Saigon, in the heart of the relatively untravelled Phu Nhuan district, The Fig Cafe sits cosily down a short alley on Nguyen Thi Huyen. Hidden from the street by high walls, once inside you’re treated to a lush courtyard filled with large-leafed plants. There are plenty of … read the full post

If you’re staying in Dalat, there is a good chance that your hotel or a member of the Easy Riders motorcycle club has offered you a motorbike tour of the surrounding highlands area. The only problem is that these trips tend to be light on details. If you’ve made the trip to Dalat and you’re … read the full post

Dau pagoda, considered Vietnam’s oldest, is located 24 kilometres south of the centre of Hanoi, in Bac Ninh province, and takes about one hour to reach by road. In the third century, the area in which it is located was the capital of Giai Chi, at the time Vietnam’s political, economic and cultural centre. Khau … read the full post

Scorning the trend to build tall, the sprawling low-rise InterContinental Hotel in Hanoi stands quietly proud alongside its high-rise neighbour the Sheraton. Jutting out into the northern edge of West Lake, the Intercontinental makes up for its distance from the atmosphere of the Old Quarter with its lake views and its proximity to the restaurants … read the full post

Roughly 300 kilometres from Saigon, the Central Highlands city of Dalat is a great spot to escape the traffic and humidity of the big city. If you want to visit the former French playground, here are the best ways to go. The quickest way to get to Dalat is by taking a plane from HCMC’s … read the full post

Although the sprawl of Hanoi makes it time-consuming to reach the countryside proper, a short jaunt to the banks of the Red River will have you feeling like you’ve left the city behind. The best way to explore is by bicycle, so ask at your hotel about hiring a bike for the day, pack your … read the full post

Just on the other side of the Troung Tran Nguyen Han roundabout from Ben Thanh market, behind the bus centre down Pho Duc Chinh, the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum sits in a flamboyantly yellow colonial building. Established in 1987, the Museum houses works of art on three floors, each representing its own … read the full post

It’s impossible to miss the most recent addition to the Hanoi Backpackers’ Hostel stable, with its seven-storey, eight-metre wide frontage slap-bang in the middle of the most tourist-orientated area of Old Quarter. The original Hanoi Backpackers’, on Ngo Huyen near St Joseph’s Cathedral, is still going strong, but the new venue combines more modern styling … read the full post