A side trip to the Marble Mountains located midway between Hoi An and Da Nang is on its own merits an awesome experience, but there is a lesser travelled path that is consistently overlooked when going to see the main big one. Marble Mountain has four little sisters, all within a five-minute walk and included … read the full post

Map – check, pimped up Honda Cub – check, Hello Kitty helmet with ponytail hole – check, drivers license… So you’re going to cruise the coast from Saigon to Hanoi, hoof it up the Ho Chi Minh Trail or challenge your road skills on the city streets. You’ve splashed out on the right insurance, but … read the full post

Noodle and Roll is a two-storey restaurant serving up bun bo nam bo, bun cha and other tasty, well-priced Vietnamese dishes. It’s the perfect choice if you like street food but either you can’t agree with your companion about what to eat, you don’t like sitting on plastic chairs or stools or it just plain … read the full post

Some of the best restaurants in Vietnam are special because they focus on just a single dish. While these spots tend to not occupy the most prestigious locations in town, searching them out is worth your time if you really love to eat well. One case in point: Banh Xeo 46a. Tucked down a tight … read the full post

Where to start with The Hanoi Bicycle Collective? This bicycle shop / rental store / cafe / bar / entertainment venue really does cover all the bases, but my write-up was inspired primarily by the rental opportunity. I’ve written before about biking around West Lake and The Hanoi Bicycle Collection is a great place to … read the full post

Hoi An may very well be most known for its tailors but if you really want to get something designed that’s going to last longer than the first wash then jewellery is a very safe and surprisingly affordable option. Scattered among all the tailors, shoe makers and spas you will find a multitude of tiny … read the full post

HCMC has a fair share of museums giving the city’s, and the Vietnamese government’s, side of its historical story. Here are a handful of museums you’ll find around town which are worth a visit. A little outside of downtown, on the edges of District 3, the War Remnants Museum is probably the most popular of … read the full post

Au Coeur — or The Heart — certainly captures the location of this new hotel on Hang Be street as it’s about as central as you can get to the Old Quarter tourist hub, but does it have one? With comfortable rooms from $40, we think so. Rooms at Au Coeur d’Hanoi Hotel are on … read the full post

Ho Chi Minh, affectionately referred to as Uncle Ho, spent his life fighting for Vietnamese independence and, for this, he is still the country’s most celebrated figure. His images are found nearly everywhere — on signs, in schools, on money and of course it’s the official name of the commercial capital, Ho Chi Minh City … read the full post

For a city that’s cold and grey for a few months of the year, Hanoi has an unfortunate lack of venues to get cosy in. But in the absence of open fireplaces and comfy sofas, here are a few places we’ll be spending time this winter. Drinking tea or coffee might be great for warming … read the full post