Com binh dan roughly translates as commoner’s rice and is a popular cheap belly-filler in Vietnam. Com binh dan joints are buffet-like affairs, and are usually identified by a glass case showcasing the day’s selection — as well as the large signs. In Hanoi, the food selection varies from place to place, from day  to … read the full post

A few years ago market traders and food stalls were pushed out of Hoi An‘s old town in a bid to clean up the streets, leaving traders relocating outside the guarded boundaries of the pedestrian-ised zone. Then the Quang Nam authorities cleared the old central market and provided a new “cleansed zone”, in which a … read the full post

Located on the narrow but often busy Duong Ven Ho, which runs along the southern edge of West Lake, Commune has an enviable position overlooking the lake, and, while not the most convenient location, has a lot else going for it besides: good food, WiFi and a relaxed ambiance. Set-up as a joint work/cafe space … read the full post

Down a busy, narrow alley, filled with dozens of other hotels and guesthouses in Saigon’s backpacker district of Pham Ngu Lao, Vy Khanh Guesthouse has quietly become one of the area’s standout places to stay with their reputation for stellar service. At Vy Khanh you will find two types of rooms: 350,000 VND standards and … read the full post

The traditional yellow-fronted, wooden-shuttered frontage of the Long Life Riverside Hotel blends in so well with Hoi An‘s ancient town ethics that it’s very easy to discount this as yet another tailor/restaurant/spa. But this is a place to stay, and the hotel’s quiet riverside location on the An Hoi islet offers some of the best … read the full post

Saigon has no shortage of street food but the city’s selections of soups are where you will find some particularly impressive dishes. Here are a few soups that you should give a try while trawling the streets of the city. The most famous of Saigon’s street soups is easily pho, and the vendors on the … read the full post

Situated on the busy intersection of Le Thanh Ton and Ton Duc Thang, The Sushi Bar has been the standard by which all other Saigon sushi is measured. Open since 1999, the consistent quality delivered by the Sushi Bar has made it a favourite among locals, expats and tourists alike. Stepping inside the large restaurant, … read the full post

A search for “Hang Manh” unsurprisingly brings up a raft of sites which mention the well-known bun cha joint at number 1. Well-known it may be, but good value it is no more: the dish under-delivers on flavour and it’s seriously over-priced compared to other bun cha places. Thankfully, there’s a more to Hang Manh … read the full post

Having read what we’ve written here on scams in Hanoi and scams in Saigon and listened to a few sorry traveller tales of “Vietscam”, I thought maybe it was time to lift the lid on all the terrible things that go on in the sleepy little pocket of Central Vietnam where I live. So I … read the full post

May de Ville Backpackers Hostel opened about a year ago and wasn’t shy about it: it’s 10 storeys tall and has a large lit sign on the roof, visible from afar. The name is somewhat deceptive as although it has some features of a backpacker hostel, such as dorm rooms and lounge area, the reception … read the full post