Travelfish correspondent Sarah Turner

Sarah's South East Asia expedition started in 2009, when she packed up her company, home and beloved car and left South West London with her boyfriend and a vague plan to travel and then live in the region. Whilst travelling they both fell in love with Hanoi, and seven months, seven countries, a few scars and more than a few memorable experiences after leaving England they found themselves on a 44 hour journey from Don Dhet back to Vietnam's capital. As well as writing for Travelfish, Sarah runs a design and branding company called Crunchy Frog with her partner and does a bit of English teaching for pocket (massage) money. She also sits on the Community Aid Committee of Hanoi's International Women's Club, helping to distribute funds to local charitable organisations, and spends her free time either indulging her love of food and drink or frenetically exercising to compensate.
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Posts by Sarah Turner:

• Minh’s Jazz Club in Hanoi

  First published: 25 Jan 2012
  

  Quyen Van Minh is Vietnam‘s best-known jazz saxophonist, having fallen in love with the music some 30 years ago and developing his own style of Vietnamese jazz. Now he teaches young musicians at the Hanoi Conservatory and runs a popular jazz club in Hanoi. For years, Minh’s Jazz Club was on Luong Van Can Street … read the full post

• Indian restaurants in Hanoi

  First published: 20 Jan 2012
  

  Given I eat it at least once a week I thought a post about Indian food in Hanoi was due. Also, perhaps surprisingly, there are plenty of Indian restaurants in Hanoi – perfect for when you’re after a change of cuisine. My regular is Foodshop 45. Not because the food is the most authentic or … read the full post

• Hanoi’s villages: Cu Da, or Vermicelli Village

  First published: 17 Jan 2012
  

  After my enjoyable visit to Bamboo Village (Bang So) I was really looking forward to the trip to Vermicelli Village (Cu Da); I love food and am always keen to learn more about it. I was not disappointed, as not only was it fascinating to see and hear about the production of vermicelli but I … read the full post

• Teaching English in Hanoi: Part 2

  First published: 13 Jan 2012
  

  My previous post on teaching English in Hanoi focused on how you should prepare yourself in terms of qualifications and expectations. But what about actually finding a job? Most of the teachers I know in Hanoi found work once they arrived, rather than setting up a job in advance. As long as you have a … read the full post

• HanoiKids: City tours the fun way

  First published: 10 Jan 2012
  

  HanoiKids was set up in 2006 and is a student-run organisation offering free city tours in Hanoi. The programme provides students with the opportunity to practise their English and provides visitors with a great value guide to Hanoi. The organisation says it hopes to bring to travellers insights into Vietnamese culture, tradition and sightseeing. Tempted … read the full post

• Hanoi’s 36 streets: Hang Vai and Lan Ong

  First published: 05 Jan 2012
  

  Hang Vai, which runs off Phung Hung, was traditionally Hanoi’s main textiles street. Nowadays its main attractions are twofold: firstly, it’s got a pleasant vibe about it, with few tourists and little traffic but plenty of onstreet action such as sugar cane juice spots, pho restaurants, tea stands and street vendors; secondly, it’s home to … read the full post

• Teaching English in Hanoi: Part 1

  First published: 03 Jan 2012
  

  If you’re planning on doing more than just passing through Hanoi, you may have considered teaching English as a foreign language as a way to fund your time here. There’s certainly an opportunity to do that, but you do need to come prepared. Firstly, you should be prepared in terms of training. While it is … read the full post

• Where to buy classy souvenirs in Hanoi

  First published: 30 Dec 2011
  

  While the standard Hanoi souvenirs available all over Old Quarter offer plenty of options for take home pressies for pals, if you want something more special, or just want to avoid the haggling and trooping around, Hanoi also offers some good little shopping spots. Tan My Design on Hang Gai is one of the most … read the full post

• Dong Xuan night market

  First published: 23 Dec 2011
  

  I have a confession to make: it’s taken me nearly two years to get round to fully exploring Hanoi‘s Dong Xuan night market. I’ve wandered in half-heartedly before but never have I explored the depths of its wonder. But now all that has changed. The night market runs along Hang Ngang and Dong Xuan streets, … read the full post

• December getaways: Hanoi to Sapa

  First published: 19 Dec 2011
  

  If you end up in Hanoi at Christmas but don’t want a city-based festive season, what are your options? With no good beaches within easy travelling distance – and the weather not likely to be good enough for lazing on a beach anyway — why not go in the opposite direction and head for the … read the full post