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:

• How to get an Indian visa in Hanoi

  First published: 21 Apr 2011
  

  If you’re travelling extends beyond SE Asia and into India, you can sort out a 6 month visa for India in Hanoi. Yes, 6 months – single or multiple entry. I was surprised. As an aside, if you want to stay longer than 6 months it looks like you have to leave the country for 2 … read the full post

• How to get a Laos visa in Hanoi

  First published: 19 Apr 2011
  

  For most nationalities, 30-day tourist visas for Laos are available on arrival at airports and most land crossings. At the airports, at least, it’s a straightforward and relatively quick process — fill in a form, provide one passport photo, pay your fee and it’s done — but if you’re travelling through a lesser used border or just like to be … read the full post

• The re-opened Vietnamese Women’s Museum

  First published: 14 Apr 2011
  

  The Vietnamese Women’s Museum was closed for some time for extensive renovations but opened again recently. It’s well worth a visit for anyone interested in women’s studies or the culture of Vietnam: it gives a broad insight into Vietnam’s population, including its 54 ethnic groups, addressed through a lens of women’s issues. The positive impression … read the full post

• Roadside drinking in Hanoi

  First published: 11 Apr 2011
  

  In many countries it’s illegal, but when you’re just talking iced tea and sugar cane juice, drinking on the pavement or in the park is the thing to do. Throughout Hanoi the streets — and parks — are alive with food and drink stalls, waiting for those seeking quick refreshment or those wanting to chew … read the full post

• Getting a haircut in Hanoi

  First published: 06 Apr 2011
  

  Neatly groomed hair might not be a priority when backpacking, but most of us need a haircut once in a while. So where’s a good place to get a haircut in Hanoi? Plenty of options for men The most interesting option is to stop at one of the roadside barbers scattered throughout town. I’ve not … read the full post

• Tenpin bowling in Hanoi

  First published: 31 Mar 2011
  

  It’s not top of most people’s lists of things to do when coming to Vietnam, but for those seeking a taste of home or just something different to do one evening, the Star Bowl tenpin bowling centre in Hanoi can provide an hour or so of laughs. The set up is exactly as I remember from … read the full post

• Fine arts and dining: Hanoi’s Matchbox restaurant

  First published: 24 Mar 2011
  

  Matchbox Restaurant used to be a cosy restaurant hidden away on Nui Truc; it was one of those places I always planned to visit but never quite made it to. Then it moved to the grounds of the Fine Arts Museum, upgrading its environment and planting it more firmly in tourist land. The restaurant is now housed in a … read the full post

• Biking around Hanoi’s West Lake

  First published: 21 Mar 2011
  

  I know I must have mentioned a few times how much I love West Lake. Well, now the weather’s improving — at least a bit — it’s a good time to hire a bicycle, get away from the madness of Old Quarter and cycle round the 17km shoreline of what must be one of the … read the full post

• Renting a motorbike in Hanoi

  First published: 17 Mar 2011
  

  As I’m sure you’re aware, motorbikes are THE mode of transport in Vietnam, and Hanoi is the epitome of this love affair with two wheels. For many visitors, a drive from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or vice versa is the best way to see the country, but others are satisfied with just the experience of a … read the full post

• Hanoi street food: Legs, wings and feet at BBQ Chicken St

  First published: 10 Mar 2011
  

  So called ‘BBQ chicken street’, on Ly Van Phuc just off Nguyen Thai Hoc, is hard to miss in the evening, as the plumes of  smoke drift into the night sky and the smell of barbecueing drifts along the street. Very distinct from the “BBQ Chicken” fast food joints that are rapidly springing up all … read the full post