Saigon isn’t much of a city for famous world-class landmarks — though certainly there are a few, it’s really the food on the street that’s something special. But despite the street food being great some people, rightfully, are concerned about the safety of food sold on the street in a country where you can’t drink … read the full post

I’ve recently moved to a new office next to West Lake and near to the Tay Ho temple. Whereas I was previously eating pho cuon for lunch, the local Hanoi dishes here are bun ca, bun oc and banh tom. Bun ca is prepared with bun noodles, the same round white rice noodles served with bun cha, but … read the full post

Riding on a ferry in Southeast Asia is quite an experience and unlike any boat ride you’ll go on back home. The ferries are small, a little old, and they have to fight for space on busy waterways. It’s not that I feel particularly in danger during a ride, but I don’t always feel 100% … read the full post

by Anna Heimbichner Hoi An is home to possibly the world’s highest concentration of tailors per capita, who will stop at nothing to get you to buy clothing you think you need. Having clothes custom made for you can be highly tempting; I certainly wanted to give it a shot. I met travellers who visited … read the full post

Advice on things to think about when selecting a cookery course in Hoi An and some recommended places.

Saigon is filled with bars, and it seems like new bars pop up everyday. There are all kinds of bars in the city: bars with live music, bars with trivia, pubs, taverns, and even a saloon. Quite a few rooftop bars are also sprinkled throughout the city. These happen to be my favourite, because there … read the full post

Hoi An is full of them: places where you can easily pass the time, just people-watching, reading a book or staring into space and letting your mind wander. A good place to start is along the river. Bach Dang is lined with restaurants, many of which have river-facing tables. I spent a very pleasant hour … read the full post

I’m a pretty big fan of Vietnamese street food, which you can tell because I constantly talk about it. As I’ve eaten more and more I’ve become increasingly adventurous with what I will try, but it has taken a year for me to get brave enough to try the Vietnamese specialty of hot vit lon … read the full post

Hoi An is best known for its town — the beautiful riverside setting, the shopping, the food — but with two beaches within easy reach it also meets the needs of the beach lover, when it’s not rainy season. So where is the best place to base yourself: the town or Cua Dai beach? The … read the full post

Saigon is a big and hectic city that can wear you out. If it’s not the grinding traffic of motorbikes and taxis, it’s the hoopla of Brad and Angelina, with their kids, visiting a restaurant that you reviewed. Sometimes it’s too much and all a person feels like doing is getting away. Luckily, the beach, … read the full post