Travelfish correspondent Caroline Mills

After years of camping in her back garden in the New Forest, Caroline Mills’ parents went wild and jetted her off to Morocco where her dream of becoming a traveling belly dancer was born. Somewhat wizened to the limitations involved in such a job at age 6, she sat on the idea until her 30’s when she took her dog-eared passport around Euorpe, S.E Asia and India. Finally settling in Hoi An where she traded in her belly dancing ambition (it never worked out) for the role of writer and associate editor of Live Hoi An magazine, where she passes on her passion for food, fashion and culture to the discerning traveler. A high/low end traveler, Caroline has developed an insatiable taste for exploring and become adept at hunting out new and memorable places to go. She is a treasure trove of tips and information, delivering honest, personal reviews and tales of misadventure along the way.
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Posts by Caroline Mills:

• Getting your motorbike licence in Vietnam

  First published: 30 Jan 2013
  

  Map – check, pimped up Honda Cub – check, Hello Kitty helmet with ponytail hole – check, drivers license… So you’re going to cruise the coast from Saigon to Hanoi, hoof it up the Ho Chi Minh Trail or challenge your road skills on the city streets. You’ve splashed out on the right insurance, but … read the full post

• Getting jewellery made in Hoi An

  First published: 22 Jan 2013
  

  Hoi An may very well be most known for its tailors but if you really want to get something designed that’s going to last longer than the first wash then jewellery is a very safe and surprisingly affordable option. Scattered among all the tailors, shoe makers and spas you will find a multitude of tiny … read the full post

• Review: Banyan Bar, An Bang Beach, Hoi An

  First published: 16 Jan 2013
  

  Perfectly positioned at the furthest end of An Bang beach’s stretch of seaside eateries, The Banyan Bar deservedly pulls in the crowds with alfresco beachside dining, cosy cabanas and a traditional Vietnamese house for chilly winter evenings. Huge beanbags and loungers line the beach for guests to stretch out on, which are very welcome after … read the full post

• Review: Thien Thanh Boutique Hotel, Hoi An

  First published: 05 Jan 2013
  

  The standard exterior of Hoi An’s Thien Thanh Boutique Hotel among the backpacker joints on popular Ba Tieu Road belies the charm inside. The 16-room hotel has a new boutique feel, great service and lovely extras such as a pool and great paddy views. This is the perfect spot if you want to mix town … read the full post

• Hoi An’s food

  First published: 02 Jan 2013
  

  Hoi An’s reputation for being one of the most touristy towns in Vietnam might put some people off a visit; and yes, the 460 tailors all squabbling for your business as you stroll through the old town can be a little relentless, and yes, $5 a night accommodation doesn’t exist. Some of the best dining, … read the full post

• Travelling between Hoi An and Da Nang

  First published: 28 Dec 2012
  

  Da Nang is Vietnam’s fastest growing city, a sprawling metropolis of modern high rise mixed with a sprinkling of French colonial architecture lounging between the Bach Dang river and My Ke, one of the longest stretches of beach in Vietnam. It’s very much a Vietnamese city — as bewildering and as it is beguiling, and not for … read the full post

• Hoi An’s central market food hall

  First published: 26 Dec 2012
  

  Hoi An’s central market food hall sits centre court in the old town, surrounded by a busy, colourful food market. This is a bustling and sociable spot to hang out with the locals and sample dish after dish of Hoi An’s best cuisine. Row upon row of sparkling stainless steel benches laden with fresh raw … read the full post

• Review: The Sunrise Hotel, Hoi An

  First published: 21 Dec 2012
  

  Head down to the Cham Island ferry point along the Cua Dai Road in Hoi An and you can’t fail to miss the futuristic, towering white and glass exterior of the five-star Sunrise Hotel basking high on a hill surrounded by tropical gardens. Located on the outskirts of Cua Dai, there’s not much within walking … read the full post

• The Ho Chi Minh Trail with Hoi An Motorbike Adventures

  First published: 13 Dec 2012
  

  With almost 1,000 miles of remote backwater paths and trails, paddy, narrow mountain passes, isolated hill tribes and dense jungle, Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Trail is one of the most rewarding and directionally challenging rides in the country. Unless you have a penchant for getting lost somewhere near the Lao border or breaking down on … read the full post

• Christmas in Hoi An

  First published: 09 Dec 2012
  

  If you are reading this from somewhere predominantly Christian in the West another mention of Christmas is quite possibly the last thing you need to hear; but for those of you lucky enough to be on the road, Christmas can be a tough time to be away from family and friends. But if you’re in … read the full post