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:

• A food splurge in Mui Ne

  First published: 24 Feb 2011
  

  I’ve covered accommodation and drinking (albeit with a bit of food thrown in), so for my last blog on Mui Ne I thought I’d write about our dinner treat. I’d heard good things about staying at The Sailing Club but it was well out of our budget — especially over Tet — so when our … read the full post

• Accommodation off the beach in Mui Ne

  First published: 18 Feb 2011
  

  Although traditionally most — and certainly the most desirable — accommodation has been located on the beach side of the road through Mui Ne, on my last visit I discovered two guesthouses that made me re-think the value of a beach view. It was somewhat through chance that I contacted Mui Ne Hills Guesthouse. I … read the full post

• Sankara: Changing the face of Mui Ne

  First published: 14 Feb 2011
  

  Mui Ne is often referred to as “quiet” and is considered to lack the buzz and nightlife of Nha Trang, a fact that can be off-putting to party-seeking travellers. While this may be true, the new kid on the block — Sankara — has certainly injected a bit of style and life into the bar scene. When … read the full post

• Hidden gems: Hanoi House

  First published: 11 Feb 2011
  

  There are a few neatly tucked away cafes and bars around Hanoi, and Hanoi House is one that is worth seeking out. Its inauspicious entrance is enough to put off the faint-hearted: it’s down a rather dingy alley, up a narrow flight of stairs and past their grotty toilet — don’t come here with a full bladder … read the full post

• Cabaret in Hanoi

  First published: 10 Feb 2011
  

  For those itching to to show off their vocal talents beyond a karaoke performance, L’Espace, the French Cultural Centre in Hanoi, is giving you just that chance. On 12th February and 5th March at 8.30pm they are having ‘Cabaret Nights‘ when song-writers and singers are invited to perform on stage. Anyone can participate but the organisers … read the full post

• The cheapest way to get around Hanoi

  First published: 08 Feb 2011
  

  Firstly: walking! The Old Quarter itself is reasonably small and it makes more sense to walk as then it’s easier to pop into shops, stop for a drink, take photos and generally observe. From the Old Quarter it’s not too far to the French Quarter and although the the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex is … read the full post

• Buying paintings in Hanoi: from copies to works of art

  First published: 01 Feb 2011
  

  Copying is rife across Vietnam, and art is no exception. Hanoi’s Old Quarter is littered with art shops selling life-size copies of a wide range of artists’ work: from Van Gogh to Da Vinci to Klimt. These aren’t prints; they’re freshly-painted by talented copy artists whom you can often see tracing and painting away in the shops. They’re generally sold … read the full post

• Live music in Hanoi: Hanoi Rock City

  First published: 26 Jan 2011
  

  The live music scene in Hanoi has been looking up recently. I don’t want to over claim — it’s certainly not London or Singapore — but it’s good to see new venues opening and the occasional visiting band. I was tempted along to Hanoi Rock City for the first time on Saturday night by the promise … read the full post

• Hanoi over Tet in 2011

  First published: 25 Jan 2011
  

  I’ve noticed a few forum posts recently with visitors worried about what they’ll find when they arrive in Vietnam during the 2011 Tet holidays. Yes, the country pretty much closes down for a few days at least, and yes, travel is difficult, but it’s really not the end of the world: hotels are available, tourist … read the full post

• Yes, Hanoi has cheap and decent massages

  First published: 19 Jan 2011
  

  I love a good — or even a reasonable — massage. So although I was happy to settle down in Hanoi I did feel a bit disappointed that there were no obvious places to get a $5 massage, such as I’d been used to in places like Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. But then to my joy I … read the full post