If you take a stroll through Saigon’s backpacker district of Pham Ngu Lao you’ll notice that the landscape is full of travel agents. They are everywhere. Although they all offer tours that will take you throughout Vietnam, their specialties are trips to the Cu Chi Tunnels and tours of the Mekong Delta. When you’re looking … read the full post

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

Now that Christmas and New Year are all wrapped up most of the world tidies up and gets on with their lives. This isn’t quite the case in HCMC, where the start of a New Year on the Gregorian calendar signifies a soon-to-come even bigger celebration: Tet, the Lunar New Year, celebrated this year between … read the full post

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

Let’s face it: sometimes you need a day away from all of life’s hustle and bustle. The daily grind of traffic and a constant state of busyness can really get you down if you don’t steal away for some ‘me’ time. This is especially true when you’re travelling and more so if you’re travelling in … read the full post

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

Ho Chi Minh City‘s many pagodas are renowned for their evocative burning incense, but none quite so much as Thien Hau Pagoda in the heart of Cho Lon — Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown. Dozens of slow-burning incense coils hang from the ceiling while yellow slicks smoulder at waist-level by the fistful. While the temple … read the full post

When you’re travelling in Vietnam, taking tours can become a common theme of your trip. Tours can be great, but after you’ve done a few they can get a little repetitive. Lately I’ve been looking for a little more adventure in my travels around Saigon so when my friend recommended I take a quick weekend … read the full post

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

Christmas in HCMC is a bit of an extravaganza, with fantastic decorations everywhere and people making an evening out of just hanging out around them. But as crazy as Christmas gets it has nothing on New Year’s Eve in Saigon. Ringing in the New Year right is a high priority for the city; decorations line … read the full post