Recently I was driving to a friend’s house on my motorbike when I caught something out of the corner of my eye that nearly made me lock the brakes: a fishing pond! I come from a family of fishermen and, since I have fishing in my veins, it was something I had to investigate. I … read the full post

Ask any foreigner in Hanoi, particularly one who’s already tried to learn the language, and you’ll be told how difficult it is to master. Well, not just to master: even to speak more than a few words. I came to Hanoi full of positive expectations: I was top of the class at languages at school, … read the full post

In a few weeks, my parents and brother are visiting Saigon, and Vietnam as a whole, for the first time. As I’m being a good daughter and helping with them plan their trip, I thought it would be a good idea for them to go on a tour of the city. Although I found a … read the full post

A few months ago I wrote about Dong Xuan Market, perhaps the best known market to tourists in Hanoi. However, Hanoi’s a city full of markets so there are a lot more worth exploring. Food markets can be found all over town. Despite the growth of the supermarket, most shopping is still conducted at local … read the full post

I haven’t been on many train rides in my life and I’ve been on even fewer that were for more than a couple of hours long. I don’t have anything against trains; it’s been more of a lack of opportunity coupled with travel time restraints. While at this point in my life I’d say I … read the full post

Many hotels in Hanoi will include breakfast in the room rate, be this an egg in a bread roll – most common in the cheaper places – or a full breakfast buffet. But what if your hotel doesn’t or you’re just not up early enough? The cheapest option is to eat with the locals and … read the full post

The best way to travel in Ho Chi Minh City is by motorbike. While it is easy to catch a xe om, and have them taxi you around, it is even cooler to drive yourself. Luckily, if you cruise around Pham Ngu Lao it is easy to find a shop that will rent you a … read the full post

An overview of what can be found on two of the Old Quarter’s 36 streets.

I’ve always been a fan of a good bike ride, but Saigon never seemed like a great place to peddle around. Sure, plenty of locals gingerly roll up and down the busy streets, dodging traffic as they go; it’s just not my cup of tea. Little did I know, however, that within Ho Chi Minh … read the full post

Cheap and pricey gyms in Hanoi – you get what you pay for.