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VIETNAM CORACLE
Vietnam Coracle is a free resource for independent travelers about motorbiking, food & drink, and hotels in Vietnam. 100% independent, no sponsored content whatsoever. PLANTS, FLOWERS & TREES OF VIETNAM A dark green bush which grows in many places in Vietnam, but particularly in the Central Highlands, the Rose Myrtle has very pretty, violet flowers. In Vietnam, the Rose Myrtle bush is most well-known for its dark berries, which are used to make a potent, flowery-flavoured liquor, called rượu sim SAIGON TO VUNG TAU BY FERRY BOAT VUNG TAU→SAIGON: 10.00am, 12.00noon, 2.00pm, 4.00pm (plus weekends: 1.00pm 3.00pm) Can Gio Extra Stop: Two of the daily sailings in both directions make an additional stop at Can Gio, which is at the mouth of the river as it empties into the sea. TAM HAI ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE A pleasant 1-2 hour drive south of Hoi An via the coast road, Tam Hai is an island at the mouth of the Truong Giang River, in Quang Nam Province, Central Vietnam. The placid river flows either side of island, thus cutting Tam Hai off from the mainland. Accessed via small ferries from the north and south, the island retains its own character THE GRAND HO TRAM RESORT & CASINO Welcome to The Grand: marble lions stand guard over the entrance to Ho Tram Casino & Resort. For some visitors, the lobby may be as far as they wish to go, because this is where the entrance to the casino is. Although gambling is illegal for Vietnamese citizens, it’s extremely popular in regional countries – especially those in which gambling is also illegal, notably China – and for 23 DIFFERENCES FROM SOUTH TO NORTH VIETNAM 5. Accent & Language: Of all the differences between south and north, accent and language is the most obvious. As a student of the Vietnamese language (and a rather slow one at that), I find it fascinating listening to the accent change as I move northwards fromSaigon to Hanoi.
HO CHI MINH'S CAVE: HANG PÁC BÓ Ho Chi Minh shrine at Pac Bo: Ho was unknown to most Vietnamese in 1941 when he re-entered Vietnam. Pac Bo Cave is an hours’ drive from Cao Bang, the provincial capital, on the Ho Chi Minh Road. This road now runs the length of Vietnam: starting, appropriately, at Pac Bo and ending nearly 2,000km to the south, in the Mekong Delta. THE FERRY FROM SOC TRANG TO CON DAO The first thing to note is that the Superdong ferry doesn’t leave from Soc Trang city; it departs from Tran De port, at the mouth of the Hau Giang River (a branch of the Mekong), about 40km southeast of Soc Trang. There are bus connections to Soc Trang city from all major towns across the Mekong Delta, and from Saigon’s Mien Tay bus station (roughly 6 hours). THE LUNCH LADY'S MENU: AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE First published June 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle. The Lunch Lady is Saigon’s most famous street food vendor. In addition to the quality of her food, her fame derives from her ‘rotating’ menu: she serves a different soup every day of the week. Below I’ve put together an illustrated guide to The Lunch Lady’s weekly menu. THE CAFE APARTMENT ON SAIGON'S WALKING STREET The Cafe Apartment is packed with cool places to hang-out, meet-up, socialize, bring a date, or do some work. The building, which is an attraction in itself, is like a library of coffee shops: browse each floor, checking out the décor of each cafe, before deciding which oneto settle into.
VIETNAM CORACLE
Vietnam Coracle is a free resource for independent travelers about motorbiking, food & drink, and hotels in Vietnam. 100% independent, no sponsored content whatsoever. PLANTS, FLOWERS & TREES OF VIETNAM A dark green bush which grows in many places in Vietnam, but particularly in the Central Highlands, the Rose Myrtle has very pretty, violet flowers. In Vietnam, the Rose Myrtle bush is most well-known for its dark berries, which are used to make a potent, flowery-flavoured liquor, called rượu sim SAIGON TO VUNG TAU BY FERRY BOAT VUNG TAU→SAIGON: 10.00am, 12.00noon, 2.00pm, 4.00pm (plus weekends: 1.00pm 3.00pm) Can Gio Extra Stop: Two of the daily sailings in both directions make an additional stop at Can Gio, which is at the mouth of the river as it empties into the sea. TAM HAI ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE A pleasant 1-2 hour drive south of Hoi An via the coast road, Tam Hai is an island at the mouth of the Truong Giang River, in Quang Nam Province, Central Vietnam. The placid river flows either side of island, thus cutting Tam Hai off from the mainland. Accessed via small ferries from the north and south, the island retains its own character THE GRAND HO TRAM RESORT & CASINO Welcome to The Grand: marble lions stand guard over the entrance to Ho Tram Casino & Resort. For some visitors, the lobby may be as far as they wish to go, because this is where the entrance to the casino is. Although gambling is illegal for Vietnamese citizens, it’s extremely popular in regional countries – especially those in which gambling is also illegal, notably China – and for 23 DIFFERENCES FROM SOUTH TO NORTH VIETNAM 5. Accent & Language: Of all the differences between south and north, accent and language is the most obvious. As a student of the Vietnamese language (and a rather slow one at that), I find it fascinating listening to the accent change as I move northwards fromSaigon to Hanoi.
HO CHI MINH'S CAVE: HANG PÁC BÓ Ho Chi Minh shrine at Pac Bo: Ho was unknown to most Vietnamese in 1941 when he re-entered Vietnam. Pac Bo Cave is an hours’ drive from Cao Bang, the provincial capital, on the Ho Chi Minh Road. This road now runs the length of Vietnam: starting, appropriately, at Pac Bo and ending nearly 2,000km to the south, in the Mekong Delta. THE FERRY FROM SOC TRANG TO CON DAO The first thing to note is that the Superdong ferry doesn’t leave from Soc Trang city; it departs from Tran De port, at the mouth of the Hau Giang River (a branch of the Mekong), about 40km southeast of Soc Trang. There are bus connections to Soc Trang city from all major towns across the Mekong Delta, and from Saigon’s Mien Tay bus station (roughly 6 hours). THE LUNCH LADY'S MENU: AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE First published June 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle. The Lunch Lady is Saigon’s most famous street food vendor. In addition to the quality of her food, her fame derives from her ‘rotating’ menu: she serves a different soup every day of the week. Below I’ve put together an illustrated guide to The Lunch Lady’s weekly menu. THE CAFE APARTMENT ON SAIGON'S WALKING STREET The Cafe Apartment is packed with cool places to hang-out, meet-up, socialize, bring a date, or do some work. The building, which is an attraction in itself, is like a library of coffee shops: browse each floor, checking out the décor of each cafe, before deciding which oneto settle into.
TAM HAI ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE Tam Hai is a laid-back place with quiet corners: a world away from the frenetic energy of the mainland. Tam Hai Island is widest at its southern end, where the brackish water of the river estuary nurtures mangroves, and fishing boats gather along the concrete embankments where the water is calm. SAIGON – VIETNAM CORACLE Saigon is at the heart of Vietnam’s economic boom: new high-rises and five-star hotels go up every year. On the upper storeys there are stylish bars with views over the city, catering to the country’s nouveau-riche and wealthy foreign visitors. But, with the price of drinks still relatively low, rooftop cocktails are HON SON ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE Hon Son is in the middle of a small chain of islands drifting west of Rach Gia, a thriving port city on the mainland, in Vietnam’s western Mekong Delta region. There are no outlying islands surrounding Hon Son, but the Nam Du Archipelago is to the west, and Hon Tre Island tothe east.
THE GRAND HO TRAM RESORT & CASINO Welcome to The Grand: marble lions stand guard over the entrance to Ho Tram Casino & Resort. For some visitors, the lobby may be as far as they wish to go, because this is where the entrance to the casino is. Although gambling is illegal for Vietnamese citizens, it’s extremely popular in regional countries – especially those in which gambling is also illegal, notably China – and for THE CAN GIO→VUNG TAU CAR FERRY On this page is a complete guide to the new Can Gio↔Vung Tau car ferry. I’ve done my best to explain in detail each aspect of taking this ferry: a route map, sailing schedule, ticket prices and how to buy them, information about departure and arrival ports, a description of the boats and the voyage, and a general overview of the ferry route and why it’s such good news for travellers. HO CHI MINH'S CAVE: HANG PÁC BÓ Ho Chi Minh shrine at Pac Bo: Ho was unknown to most Vietnamese in 1941 when he re-entered Vietnam. Pac Bo Cave is an hours’ drive from Cao Bang, the provincial capital, on the Ho Chi Minh Road. This road now runs the length of Vietnam: starting, appropriately, at Pac Bo and ending nearly 2,000km to the south, in the Mekong Delta. THE CHAM TOWERS & ANCIENT CITADEL OF VIJAYA Vijaya Citadel & Canh Tien Tower: Vijaya (also known as Cha Ban and Do Ban) is one of those places with a lot of history, but very little visible signs of it. The Cham capital from the 11th to the 15th centuries, Vijaya was rich and prosperous. It was subject to many besiegements, sackings, and bloody battles. THE FERRY FROM SOC TRANG TO CON DAO The first thing to note is that the Superdong ferry doesn’t leave from Soc Trang city; it departs from Tran De port, at the mouth of the Hau Giang River (a branch of the Mekong), about 40km southeast of Soc Trang. There are bus connections to Soc Trang city from all major towns across the Mekong Delta, and from Saigon’s Mien Tay bus station (roughly 6 hours). VU LINH HOMESTAYS, THAC BA LAKE About 150km northwest of Hanoi, Vu Linh is a rural commune on the eastern shores of Thac Ba Lake, one of the largest artificially created lakes in Vietnam. Formed by the flooding of the Chảy River for hydroelectricity projects, Thac Ba Lake is roughly 80km long and 10km wide. Its clear, placid waters spread out in tentacles, pepperedwith
EXPENSES FOR A MOTORBIKE ROAD TRIP IN VIETNAM Motorbike Rental | $10 per day One of the biggest expenses will be your motorbike. For this, there are two options: rent or buy. However, the rental market in Vietnam is increasingly sophisticated, and the only real reason to buy your motorbike is if you’re particularly keen on the idea of ‘owning’ it, or if you’re planning on travelling for more than a month.VIETNAM CORACLE
Vietnam Coracle is a free resource for independent travelers about motorbiking, food & drink, and hotels in Vietnam. 100% independent, no sponsored content whatsoever. PLANTS, FLOWERS & TREES OF VIETNAM A dark green bush which grows in many places in Vietnam, but particularly in the Central Highlands, the Rose Myrtle has very pretty, violet flowers. In Vietnam, the Rose Myrtle bush is most well-known for its dark berries, which are used to make a potent, flowery-flavoured liquor, called rượu sim SAIGON TO VUNG TAU BY FERRY BOAT VUNG TAU→SAIGON: 10.00am, 12.00noon, 2.00pm, 4.00pm (plus weekends: 1.00pm 3.00pm) Can Gio Extra Stop: Two of the daily sailings in both directions make an additional stop at Can Gio, which is at the mouth of the river as it empties into the sea. HO CITADEL (THÀNH NHÀ HỒ) Designated a World Heritage site in 2011, Ho Citadel still doesn’t receive many foreign visitors. Built at the end of the 14 th century, the inner walls and four main gates of the citadel are still standing. Called Thành Nhà Hồ in Vietnamese, the complex is surrounded by a fertile rural landscape. The walls are overgrown with TAM HAI ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE A pleasant 1-2 hour drive south of Hoi An via the coast road, Tam Hai is an island at the mouth of the Truong Giang River, in Quang Nam Province, Central Vietnam. The placid river flows either side of island, thus cutting Tam Hai off from the mainland. Accessed via small ferries from the north and south, the island retains its own character THE GRAND HO TRAM RESORT & CASINO Welcome to The Grand: marble lions stand guard over the entrance to Ho Tram Casino & Resort. For some visitors, the lobby may be as far as they wish to go, because this is where the entrance to the casino is. Although gambling is illegal for Vietnamese citizens, it’s extremely popular in regional countries – especially those in which gambling is also illegal, notably China – and for HON SON ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE Hon Son is in the middle of a small chain of islands drifting west of Rach Gia, a thriving port city on the mainland, in Vietnam’s western Mekong Delta region. There are no outlying islands surrounding Hon Son, but the Nam Du Archipelago is to the west, and Hon Tre Island tothe east.
23 DIFFERENCES FROM SOUTH TO NORTH VIETNAM 5. Accent & Language: Of all the differences between south and north, accent and language is the most obvious. As a student of the Vietnamese language (and a rather slow one at that), I find it fascinating listening to the accent change as I move northwards fromSaigon to Hanoi.
THE CHAM TOWERS & ANCIENT CITADEL OF VIJAYA Vijaya Citadel & Canh Tien Tower: Vijaya (also known as Cha Ban and Do Ban) is one of those places with a lot of history, but very little visible signs of it. The Cham capital from the 11th to the 15th centuries, Vijaya was rich and prosperous. It was subject to many besiegements, sackings, and bloody battles. THE FERRY FROM SOC TRANG TO CON DAO The first thing to note is that the Superdong ferry doesn’t leave from Soc Trang city; it departs from Tran De port, at the mouth of the Hau Giang River (a branch of the Mekong), about 40km southeast of Soc Trang. There are bus connections to Soc Trang city from all major towns across the Mekong Delta, and from Saigon’s Mien Tay bus station (roughly 6 hours).VIETNAM CORACLE
Vietnam Coracle is a free resource for independent travelers about motorbiking, food & drink, and hotels in Vietnam. 100% independent, no sponsored content whatsoever. PLANTS, FLOWERS & TREES OF VIETNAM A dark green bush which grows in many places in Vietnam, but particularly in the Central Highlands, the Rose Myrtle has very pretty, violet flowers. In Vietnam, the Rose Myrtle bush is most well-known for its dark berries, which are used to make a potent, flowery-flavoured liquor, called rượu sim SAIGON TO VUNG TAU BY FERRY BOAT VUNG TAU→SAIGON: 10.00am, 12.00noon, 2.00pm, 4.00pm (plus weekends: 1.00pm 3.00pm) Can Gio Extra Stop: Two of the daily sailings in both directions make an additional stop at Can Gio, which is at the mouth of the river as it empties into the sea. HO CITADEL (THÀNH NHÀ HỒ) Designated a World Heritage site in 2011, Ho Citadel still doesn’t receive many foreign visitors. Built at the end of the 14 th century, the inner walls and four main gates of the citadel are still standing. Called Thành Nhà Hồ in Vietnamese, the complex is surrounded by a fertile rural landscape. The walls are overgrown with TAM HAI ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE A pleasant 1-2 hour drive south of Hoi An via the coast road, Tam Hai is an island at the mouth of the Truong Giang River, in Quang Nam Province, Central Vietnam. The placid river flows either side of island, thus cutting Tam Hai off from the mainland. Accessed via small ferries from the north and south, the island retains its own character THE GRAND HO TRAM RESORT & CASINO Welcome to The Grand: marble lions stand guard over the entrance to Ho Tram Casino & Resort. For some visitors, the lobby may be as far as they wish to go, because this is where the entrance to the casino is. Although gambling is illegal for Vietnamese citizens, it’s extremely popular in regional countries – especially those in which gambling is also illegal, notably China – and for HON SON ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE Hon Son is in the middle of a small chain of islands drifting west of Rach Gia, a thriving port city on the mainland, in Vietnam’s western Mekong Delta region. There are no outlying islands surrounding Hon Son, but the Nam Du Archipelago is to the west, and Hon Tre Island tothe east.
23 DIFFERENCES FROM SOUTH TO NORTH VIETNAM 5. Accent & Language: Of all the differences between south and north, accent and language is the most obvious. As a student of the Vietnamese language (and a rather slow one at that), I find it fascinating listening to the accent change as I move northwards fromSaigon to Hanoi.
THE CHAM TOWERS & ANCIENT CITADEL OF VIJAYA Vijaya Citadel & Canh Tien Tower: Vijaya (also known as Cha Ban and Do Ban) is one of those places with a lot of history, but very little visible signs of it. The Cham capital from the 11th to the 15th centuries, Vijaya was rich and prosperous. It was subject to many besiegements, sackings, and bloody battles. THE FERRY FROM SOC TRANG TO CON DAO The first thing to note is that the Superdong ferry doesn’t leave from Soc Trang city; it departs from Tran De port, at the mouth of the Hau Giang River (a branch of the Mekong), about 40km southeast of Soc Trang. There are bus connections to Soc Trang city from all major towns across the Mekong Delta, and from Saigon’s Mien Tay bus station (roughly 6 hours). PLANTS, FLOWERS & TREES OF VIETNAM A dark green bush which grows in many places in Vietnam, but particularly in the Central Highlands, the Rose Myrtle has very pretty, violet flowers. In Vietnam, the Rose Myrtle bush is most well-known for its dark berries, which are used to make a potent, flowery-flavoured liquor, called rượu simDESTINATIONS
With its wild and beautiful beaches, rugged, jungle-covered interior, and fascinating but tragic history, the Con Dao Islands is a remarkable place. Once a brutal penal colony, established by the French colonial administration, today the Con Dao Islands is one of Vietnam’s most beguiling destinations.. 104 HON SON ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE Hon Son is in the middle of a small chain of islands drifting west of Rach Gia, a thriving port city on the mainland, in Vietnam’s western Mekong Delta region. There are no outlying islands surrounding Hon Son, but the Nam Du Archipelago is to the west, and Hon Tre Island tothe east.
PANDEMIC SEASON IN VIETNAM: PRE-COVID, LOCK-DOWN, POST PART 2: Lock-Down Introduction to Part 2: While writing the second part of this ‘Covid trilogy’, a third wave of the virus hit Vietnam. The outbreak began in Danang in late July and was contained by September 2 nd, since when there hasn’t been a single reported community transmission.During that month, the total number of cases nationwide doubled (the tally currently stands at 1,304DATANLA WATERFALL
Datanla waterfall is only 6km from Dalat city centre. It’s no surprise then, that this is the most touristy and developed of all the falls in this list.Just off the pine-studded Prenn Pass, Datanla’s entrance tells you all you need to know about this waterfall: the big, asphalt car park is usually packed with coaches; there’s a queue of tourists outside the ticket office; the restaurant THE CON DAO ISLANDS: A GUIDE Location & Orientation:. Con Son is the largest of 15 islands that make up the Con Dao Archipelago, 80km from the mainland Mekong Delta region and 230km from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).The island’s remoteness and former use as a penal colony have kept it in relatively pristine condition: even today, 80% of Con Son is still forested. CÀ RI: VIETNAMESE CURRY IN SAIGON Vietnamese curry (cà ri) is a smooth, creamy and comforting dish; mildly spiced but richly aromatic. At Ngọc Hân you can choose between chicken (gà) or shrimp (tôm) with noodles, rice, or baguette, as well as many sides, condiments and accoutrements. Phan Xich Long is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s best-known dining streets,packed with
HO CHI MINH'S CAVE: HANG PÁC BÓ Ho Chi Minh shrine at Pac Bo: Ho was unknown to most Vietnamese in 1941 when he re-entered Vietnam. Pac Bo Cave is an hours’ drive from Cao Bang, the provincial capital, on the Ho Chi Minh Road. This road now runs the length of Vietnam: starting, appropriately, at Pac Bo and ending nearly 2,000km to the south, in the Mekong Delta. EXPENSES FOR A MOTORBIKE ROAD TRIP IN VIETNAM Motorbike Rental | $10 per day One of the biggest expenses will be your motorbike. For this, there are two options: rent or buy. However, the rental market in Vietnam is increasingly sophisticated, and the only real reason to buy your motorbike is if you’re particularly keen on the idea of ‘owning’ it, or if you’re planning on travelling for more than a month. THE LUNCH LADY'S MENU: AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE First published June 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle. The Lunch Lady is Saigon’s most famous street food vendor. In addition to the quality of her food, her fame derives from her ‘rotating’ menu: she serves a different soup every day of the week. Below I’ve put together an illustrated guide to The Lunch Lady’s weekly menu.VIETNAM CORACLE
Vietnam Coracle is a free resource for independent travelers about motorbiking, food & drink, and hotels in Vietnam. 100% independent, no sponsored content whatsoever. SAIGON TO VUNG TAU BY FERRY BOAT Ferry Operators & Contacts:. The Saigon↔Vung Tau ferry route is operated by Greenlines (www.greenlines-dp.com | tel: 0988 009 579), who run fast boats at least four times a day in both directions.. The Greenlines website is very clear, well-presented, well-organized, and available in English and Vietnamese. PLANTS, FLOWERS & TREES OF VIETNAM The list below is organized into two categories: Flowers & Plants and Fruits & Trees.. I know that many of the items technically belong in both categories, but I have simply chosen to put each one in the category that I most associate it with. TAM HAI ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE Tam Hai is a laid-back place with quiet corners: a world away from the frenetic energy of the mainland. Tam Hai Island is widest at its southern end, where the brackish water of the river estuary nurtures mangroves, and fishing boats gather along the concrete embankments where the water is calm. HO CITADEL (THÀNH NHÀ HỒ) Designated a World Heritage site in 2011, Ho Citadel still doesn’t receive many foreign visitors.Built at the end of the 14 th century, the inner walls and four main gates of the citadel are still standing. Called Thành Nhà Hồ in Vietnamese, the complex is surrounded by a fertile rural landscape. THE GRAND HO TRAM RESORT & CASINO Welcome to The Grand: marble lions stand guard over the entrance to Ho Tram Casino & Resort. For some visitors, the lobby may be as far as they wish to go, because this is where the entrance to the casino is. Although gambling is illegal for Vietnamese citizens, it’s extremely popular in regional countries – especially those in which gambling is also illegal, notably China – and for HON SON ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE Below is my full guide to Hon Son Island. I’ve divided this guide into categories, and then several sub-sections within those categories. The best time of year to visit Hon Son is from November to April, when the weather is generally dry and bright, rainfall is light, and seas are calm. THE CAN GIO→VUNG TAU CAR FERRY On this page is a complete guide to the new Can Gio↔Vung Tau car ferry. I’ve done my best to explain in detail each aspect of taking this ferry: a route map, sailing schedule, ticket prices and how to buy them, information about departure and arrival ports, a description of the boats and the voyage, and a general overview of the ferry route and why it’s such good news for travellers. THE CHAM TOWERS & ANCIENT CITADEL OF VIJAYA Phu Loc Tower & others:. The last tower in this ‘Cham loop’ is the least visited but, in many ways, the most exciting. North of Vijaya, a narrow paved lane branches off Highway 1, winding through an increasingly medieval-feeling rural area. THE FERRY FROM SOC TRANG TO CON DAO The first thing to note is that the Superdong ferry doesn’t leave from Soc Trang city; it departs from Tran De port, at the mouth of the Hau Giang River (a branch of the Mekong), about 40km southeast of Soc Trang. There are bus connections to Soc Trang city from all major towns across the Mekong Delta, and from Saigon’s Mien Tay bus station (roughly 6 hours).VIETNAM CORACLE
Vietnam Coracle is a free resource for independent travelers about motorbiking, food & drink, and hotels in Vietnam. 100% independent, no sponsored content whatsoever. SAIGON TO VUNG TAU BY FERRY BOAT Ferry Operators & Contacts:. The Saigon↔Vung Tau ferry route is operated by Greenlines (www.greenlines-dp.com | tel: 0988 009 579), who run fast boats at least four times a day in both directions.. The Greenlines website is very clear, well-presented, well-organized, and available in English and Vietnamese. PLANTS, FLOWERS & TREES OF VIETNAM The list below is organized into two categories: Flowers & Plants and Fruits & Trees.. I know that many of the items technically belong in both categories, but I have simply chosen to put each one in the category that I most associate it with. TAM HAI ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE Tam Hai is a laid-back place with quiet corners: a world away from the frenetic energy of the mainland. Tam Hai Island is widest at its southern end, where the brackish water of the river estuary nurtures mangroves, and fishing boats gather along the concrete embankments where the water is calm. HO CITADEL (THÀNH NHÀ HỒ) Designated a World Heritage site in 2011, Ho Citadel still doesn’t receive many foreign visitors.Built at the end of the 14 th century, the inner walls and four main gates of the citadel are still standing. Called Thành Nhà Hồ in Vietnamese, the complex is surrounded by a fertile rural landscape. THE GRAND HO TRAM RESORT & CASINO Welcome to The Grand: marble lions stand guard over the entrance to Ho Tram Casino & Resort. For some visitors, the lobby may be as far as they wish to go, because this is where the entrance to the casino is. Although gambling is illegal for Vietnamese citizens, it’s extremely popular in regional countries – especially those in which gambling is also illegal, notably China – and for HON SON ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE Below is my full guide to Hon Son Island. I’ve divided this guide into categories, and then several sub-sections within those categories. The best time of year to visit Hon Son is from November to April, when the weather is generally dry and bright, rainfall is light, and seas are calm. THE CAN GIO→VUNG TAU CAR FERRY On this page is a complete guide to the new Can Gio↔Vung Tau car ferry. I’ve done my best to explain in detail each aspect of taking this ferry: a route map, sailing schedule, ticket prices and how to buy them, information about departure and arrival ports, a description of the boats and the voyage, and a general overview of the ferry route and why it’s such good news for travellers. THE CHAM TOWERS & ANCIENT CITADEL OF VIJAYA Phu Loc Tower & others:. The last tower in this ‘Cham loop’ is the least visited but, in many ways, the most exciting. North of Vijaya, a narrow paved lane branches off Highway 1, winding through an increasingly medieval-feeling rural area. THE FERRY FROM SOC TRANG TO CON DAO The first thing to note is that the Superdong ferry doesn’t leave from Soc Trang city; it departs from Tran De port, at the mouth of the Hau Giang River (a branch of the Mekong), about 40km southeast of Soc Trang. There are bus connections to Soc Trang city from all major towns across the Mekong Delta, and from Saigon’s Mien Tay bus station (roughly 6 hours). PLANTS, FLOWERS & TREES OF VIETNAM The list below is organized into two categories: Flowers & Plants and Fruits & Trees.. I know that many of the items technically belong in both categories, but I have simply chosen to put each one in the category that I most associate it with. HON SON ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE Below is my full guide to Hon Son Island. I’ve divided this guide into categories, and then several sub-sections within those categories. The best time of year to visit Hon Son is from November to April, when the weather is generally dry and bright, rainfall is light, and seas are calm.DATANLA WATERFALL
Datanla waterfall is only 6km from Dalat city centre. It’s no surprise then, that this is the most touristy and developed of all the falls in this list.Just off the pine-studded Prenn Pass, Datanla’s entrance tells you all you need to know about this waterfall: the big, asphalt car park is usually packed with coaches; there’s a queue of tourists outside the ticket office; the restaurant THE CON DAO ISLANDS: A GUIDE Location & Orientation:. Con Son is the largest of 15 islands that make up the Con Dao Archipelago, 80km from the mainland Mekong Delta region and 230km from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).The island’s remoteness and former use as a penal colony have kept it in relatively pristine condition: even today, 80% of Con Son is still forested. PANDEMIC SEASON IN VIETNAM: PRE-COVID, LOCK-DOWN, POST Preface: This page is my account of what it’s been like to live through mùa dịch (‘pandemic season’) in Vietnam: part travelogue, part personal narrative, and part analysis of Vietnam’s strategy to contain Covid-19. I don’t claim to have any expert knowledge on the subject of coronavirus, nor am I suggesting that my ‘pandemic season’ experience has been especially unique. HO CHI MINH'S CAVE: HANG PÁC BÓ In the winter of 1941, Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam for the first time in 30 years. For several weeks he lived in Pac Bo Cave. Right on Vietnam’s northeastern frontier with China, Pac Bo is an important historical site in an enchanting location CÀ RI: VIETNAMESE CURRY IN SAIGON The menu at Ngọc Hân is reassuringly simple. Although there are a couple of other main dishes to choose from, the real decision is which curry you want: cà ri gà (chicken curry) or cà ri tôm (shrimp curry). Both are good, both are slow-cooked in their own separate cauldron, both are served with chunks of sweet potato, both are available over rice (cơm), noodles (bún) or with baguettes EXPENSES FOR A MOTORBIKE ROAD TRIP IN VIETNAM Motorbike Rental | $10 per day One of the biggest expenses will be your motorbike. For this, there are two options: rent or buy. However, the rental market in Vietnam is increasingly sophisticated, and the only real reason to buy your motorbike is if you’re particularly keen on the idea of ‘owning’ it, or if you’re planning on travelling for more than a month. THE LUNCH LADY'S MENU: AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE First published June 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle. The Lunch Lady is Saigon’s most famous street food vendor. In addition to the quality of her food, her fame derives from her ‘rotating’ menu: she serves a different soup every day of the week. BUN RIEU CUA OC: CRAB & SNAIL NOODLE SOUP Fundamental to bún riêu cua ốc is the broth: a tomato- and crab-based concoction that looks and smells as rich as it tastes. The crabs are traditionally small, freshwater, rice paddy crabs which are crushed and strained to give flavour and colour to the broth (this is the ‘riêu’ element in the name of the dish). However, in the case of Bun Rieu Cua Oc Phan Rang-Ninh Thuan, the crabsVIETNAM CORACLE
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KHMER TEMPLE-HOPPING MOTORBIKE LOOP | TRA VINH Connecting over 50 fascinating Khmer Buddhist temples via quiet back-roads through lush scenery in the seldom visited Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh, this motorbike loop is rich in culture & off thebeaten path…
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FIRST RAINS: AN ODE TO THE MONSOON Monsoon downpours & tropical storms are the quintessential expression of the tropics, representing the exotic & the mysterious. For me, the monsoon embodies the excitement & romance of living far from home….16 Comments
CAMIA RESORT, PHU QUOC | INDEPENDENT REVIEW A lush, tasteful & understated property with a narrow but beautiful beachfront & two elegant infinity pools, Camia Resort is a good value mid-range place to stay on Phu Quoc Island…Leave a comment
ANTHONY BOURDAIN IN VIETNAM: ALL 8 EPISODES REVIEWED Anthony Bourdain felt a special attachment to Vietnam. Over the course of his TV career, he filmed multiple episodes in the country. I’ve pulled together & reviewed all 8 of his Vietnam shows…10 Comments
AMIANA RESORT NHA TRANG | INDEPENDENT REVIEW Ten kilometres north of Nha Trang, Amiana Resort features a long seafront, lush gardens & several enormous, highly photogenic infinitypools…
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MOTOCAMPING SOUTH-CENTRAL VIETNAM IN THE DRY SEASON One of the most rewarding & deeply satisfying travel experiences I’ve had in over a decade of travelling in Vietnam, motocamping (‘motorbike-camping’) is thrilling, challenging, fulfilling & still a fairly niche activity…2 Comments
11 MOST-READ POSTS IN THE YEAR OF THE RAT A look at the most popular posts on my website during the Year of the Rat. Although generally a torrid time for travel due to the pandemic, for much of the year travel within Vietnam was still possible, thanks largely to the government’s successful pandemic response…Leave a comment
THE CAN GIO→VUNG TAU CAR FERRY A great boon to travellers, this new ferry connects two of the most popular destinations near Ho Chi Minh City: Can Gio mangrove forest and Vung Tau beach…8 Comments
THE PANDEMIC SESSIONS | INTERVIEWS FROM VIETNAM A series of long-form interviews with people in Vietnam focusing on their experiences & opinions of the pandemic, and how their lives have changed as a result of Covid-196 Comments
NEW YEAR’S CAMPING IN THE PINE FORESTS To mark the end of 2020 (the ‘Lost Year’), my friends & I went on a wild camping trip in the pine forests of the Central Highlands: an activity that’s possible in Vietnam, even as many countries continue to endure lock-downs & social-distancing4 Comments
LAK TENTED CAMP | INDEPENDENT REVIEW With luxury safari-tents & lakeside bungalows spread over a lush hillside on the shores of Lake Lak in the Dak Lak highlands, Lak Tented Camp is an atmospheric accommodation with a deep attachment to the natural environment…2 Comments
NGÕ NGÁCH: HANOI SNACKS ON A SAIGON ALLEY A diminutive eatery hidden down a narrow alleyway in Saigon, Ngõ Ngách is a simple but atmospheric place specializing in Hanoisnacks…
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THE SHELLS PHU QUOC | INDEPENDENT REVIEW Quirky but classy, The Shells is a modern resort on the west coast of Phu Quoc Island, offering generously proportioned rooms with sea-views & lots of light & space…Leave a comment
TRÀ ĐÁ: VIETNAMESE ICED TEA One of the many little joys of daily life in Vietnam, trà đá is an essential but uncelebrated element of Vietnamese dining culture &social life…
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MIA RESORT NHA TRANG | INDEPENDENT REVIEW A crisp, clean & contemporary beach resort straddling the cliffs on the spectacular coast road south of Nha Trang, Mia is the embodiment of minimalist-chic….Leave a comment
WILD CAMPING ON THE LA NGA RIVER: A GUIDE Midway between the coast & the mountains, the La Nga River runs clean & clear with dozens of potential campsites on its banks & opportunities for wild swimming2 Comments
BUN RIEU CUA OC: CRAB & SNAIL NOODLE SOUP A broth of tomatoes & pulverized crab poured over white rice noodles & topped with marinated snails, bún riêu cua ốc is one of Vietnam’s most complex soups2 Comments
VIETNAM CORACLE VIDEO LIBRARY A categorized archive of over 30 short films shot during my travels in Vietnam & intended to inspire wanderlust.2 Comments
IVORY FALLS VILLA, DI LINH HIGHLANDS | REVIEW Surrounded by coffee farms, tea plantations, rice paddies & fruit trees, Ivory Falls Villa is a quiet, secluded & peaceful place to stay in the mountains & valleys of the Central Highlands…3 Comments
PODCAST: VIETNAM CORACLE ON UNTOLD PACIFIC WITH JAMES BRADLEY A discussion with New York Times best-selling author, James Bradley, about my website & present-day Vietnam…6 Comments
CÀ RI: VIETNAMESE CURRY IN SAIGON Serving up a mild, thick & richly aromatic curry (cà ri) with chicken or shrimp, Ngọc Hân is a small, informal, well-organized, family-run soup house on Phan Xich Long Street, Saigon (Ho Chi MinhCity)….
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PANDEMIC SEASON IN VIETNAM: PRE-COVID, LOCK-DOWN, POST-VIRUS Part travelogue, part personal narrative, part analysis of Vietnam’s containment of Covid-19, this is a long-form account of thepandemic….
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FUSION SUITES, VUNG TAU | REVIEW With an immaculate rooftop infinity pool & sky bar with 360-degree views of the city & sea, Fusion Suites is set to become one of the most photographed places in Vung Tau…Leave a comment
VICTORIA CAN THO RESORT | MEKONG DELTA A handsome, colonial-style hotel on the banks of the Mekong River, Victoria Can Tho is an excellent place to stay with lots of ambience & plenty of amenities to match….Leave a comment
AN INTERVIEW WITH VIETNAM CORACLE A written interview featuring long-form, detailed answers to questions ranging from the evolution of Vietnam Coracle to its purpose and function, and the nature of travel writing in the Internet age…4 Comments
RIDING THE GREAT NORTH: 9 MOTORBIKE ROUTES Northern Vietnam offers some of the best motorbiking opportunities anywhere in the world. In the north, the mountains are higher, the passes are loftier, and the scenery is more majestic than anywhere else in the country….Leave a comment
BAMBOO COTTAGES OFF-GRID RESORT, PHU QUOC ISLAND Situated on one of Phu Quoc Island’s most attractive & least developed bays, Bamboo Cottages is a small, tasteful, mid-range beach resort powered by solar energy….Leave a comment
VIETNAM READING LIST & BOOK REVIEWS A categorized reading list including personal reviews of over 50 books about Vietnam, ranging from Vietnamese authors in translation to travel writing, journalism, history, poetry, politics & more…18 Comments
THE QUARANTINE OF TAZ IN VIETNAM My friend, Taz, was quarantined for 17 days in Vietnam as part of the government’s strategy to contain COVID-19. After her release, I interviewed Taz about her experiences at the quarantine facility, just outside Ho Chi Minh City….17 Comments
FOOD IN THE TIME OF CORONA: LAST MEALS BEFORE LOCK-DOWN Before the lock-down, street food was still thriving: indeed, sitting down to a bowl of noodles was one of the only times you could take off your mask. I documented my last meals before the spread of COVID-19 forced a nationwide lock-down.8 Comments
MOTORBIKE CHRONICLES: FILM, MAP, DIARY To provide an opportunity for vicarious travel during this time of self-isolation & travel bans, I’ve republished my film, route map & diary of a two-month road trip across Vietnam…2 Comments
VIETNAM VS CORONA VIRUS: HOW TO DONATE TO FIGHT COVID-19 Vietnam is doing an excellent job in the fight to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Please donate to help Vietnam continue its good work…16 Comments
SAIGON WATERBUS: GUIDE & ITINERARY The Saigon Waterbus should be near the top of every visitor’s itinerary for Ho Chi Minh City. As a way of seeing the city’s skyline, of experiencing its many different neighbourhoods & for sheer value for money, the Saigon Waterbus is practically unbeatable…Leave a comment
ISLAND-HOPPING IN VIETNAM: A GUIDE From north to south, the Vietnamese coast is flecked with thousands of islands; hundreds of which are inhabited & dozens of which can be visited by island-hopping. A handful of these islands are already well-established tourist destinations, but many are only just emerging as potential attractions….2 Comments
DAK NONG GEOPARK↔DONG NAI RIVER MOTORBIKE LOOP A meandering road trip in the cool, clear air & vivid ‘HD’ colours of the Western Highlands, the Dak Nong Geopark↔Dong Nai River Motorbike Loop is a sensory route, full of smells, sounds, sights & tastes: coffee blossom, blue skies, damp earth, wood smoke, rain, birdsong, spices & hot cups of locally-grown coffee.11 Comments
PHU QUOC ISLAND: NORTH & EAST COASTS Newly completed roads have opened access to the beaches, bays, forests & hamlets of the north & east coasts of Phu Quoc Island. Previously difficult to get to, these parts of Phu Quoc are the least developed, most characterful & charming on the island….6 Comments
HANOI→LANG SON→DONG DANG BY TRAIN: PASSENGERS & MOTORBIKES A train runs once daily in both directions between Hanoi, Lang Son & Dong Dang, on the Chinese border. Linking Vietnam’s capital with its mountainous northeastern provinces, this is a scenic rail journey & passengers can carry their motorbikes on board14 Comments
BEACH BUS: SAIGON↔RACH GIA LIMOUSINE | PASSENGERS & MOTORBIKES Thien Thanh Limousine runs luxury buses between Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) & Rach Gia in the Mekong Delta, gateway to Vietnam’s islands in the Gulf of Thailand. This is a great service for passengers &motorbikes…
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PIRATE ISLANDS (ĐẢO HẢI TẶC) | TRAVEL GUIDE Lying in the Gulf of Thailand, just off Vietnam’s southwest coast, Pirate Islands is a rugged archipelago, only recently opened toforeign visitors…
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BEST TIMES OF DAY TO RIDE IN/OUT OF SAIGON & HANOI BY MOTORBIKE Riding a motorbike in/out of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) & Hanoi can be congested & polluted, but some times of the day are better thanothers…
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ESCALADE RESORT, CAM RANH BAY A small-scale, affordable mid-range resort with dazzling sea views over one of the prettiest bays in Vietnam, Escalade Resort, Cam Ranh is tasteful, good value for money & great place to unwind….Leave a comment
CAT BA ISLAND, HALONG BAY: TRAVEL GUIDE An island of dramatic coastlines & jungle-clad limestone pillars, Cat Ba is one of Vietnam’s star natural attractions & part of world-famous Halong Bay….Leave a comment
THE NORTHEAST BY MOTORBIKE: 5 ROUTES & LOOPS A bucolic corner of Vietnam, the Northeast is a garden of rice fields, forests, lakes & rivers ambling through limestone corridors. This guide focuses on 5 motorbike loops on meandering back-roads & freshly-sealed highways through three provinces: Cao Bang, Lang Son &Bac Kan…
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PHONG NHA BY MOTORBIKE: ROUTES & LOOPS Phong Nha has some of the most sublime landscape in Vietnam. These motorbike routes & loops explore all corners of the area’s extraordinary natural beauty….12 Comments
HANOI TO HAI PHONG BY TRAIN: PASSENGERS & MOTORBIKES The Hanoi↔Hai Phong train is a brilliant option for travellers with motorbikes looking to get from the capital city to Cat Ba Island (or vice-versa), without having to negotiate the horrible highways….2 Comments
PLANTS, FLOWERS & TREES OF VIETNAM The colours, shapes, sizes, smells & variety of flora in Vietnam is mesmerizing. In this guide I’ve compiled an illustrated index of some of the flowers, plants & trees I regularly see in Vietnam’s countryside & cities….22 Comments
HOI AN→DANANG→HUE BY MOTORBIKE: ROUTES & LOOPS There are now four different routes between these three cities in Central Vietnam. Each route has something different to offer: choose between The Coast, The River, The Mountains, or The Tunnel…..16 Comments
WHERE TO STAY IN PHONG NHA: A GUIDE Backpacker dorms, family homestays, boutique farmstays & luxurious lakeside bungalows: here’s my independent guide to accommodation in & around Phong Nha….Leave a comment
LY SON ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE A volcanic island surrounded by a ring of reefs, Ly Son is a striking, stark & geologically fascinating destination. Easily reached by regular fast ferries, Ly Son Island is located off the coast ofcentral Vietnam….
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TAM HAI ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE A small & tranquil island at the mouth of a river, Tam Hai is within easy reach of Hoi An & Danang. This little island is a self-contained, peaceful world, with its own beauty, its own festivals, and its ownresort….
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PHU QUY ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE A new & exciting destination, Phu Quy Island is but a drop of green land in the vast blue ocean, and has only very recently opened its doors to domestic & foreign travellers. A fascinating place with a real sense of isolation, this is my comprehensive guide to Phu QuyIsland….
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SON TRA PENINSULAR, DANANG: MOTORBIKE GUIDE A rugged headland at the northern tip of Danang’s municipal beach, Son Tra offers mountains & forests, cliffs & coves, wildlife & centuries-old banyan trees, lofty mountain passes with majestic views & sandy beaches untainted by concrete high-rises….12 Comments
HON SON ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE Hon Son Island is a gem. It’s a rugged yet green & exceptionally beautiful isle. With jungle-covered mountains rising from the ocean, peaceful fishing hamlets in picturesque bays, and palm-fringed beaches, Hon Son has got it all…30 Comments
SKETCHES OF SAIGON: 5 SCENES Over the course of a week, I sat & wrote for half an hour on five separate occasions at five random locations in Saigon, and described the scenes as they appeared to me, in the hope of capturing something of the spirit of the city….8 Comments
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL: SINGLE-USE PLASTIC IN VIETNAM By making some simple changes to way I travel & live in Vietnam, I’m trying to reduce the amount of single-use plastic I consume. Here’smy experience….
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NAM DU ISLANDS: TRAVEL GUIDE A glistening archipelago of small tropical islands off the southwestern coast of Vietnam, Nam Du is beautiful & undeveloped. With mesmerizing beaches & bays, a jungle-clad interior, and over 20 outlying islands, Nam Du is a treat…21 Comments
THE SOUTHERN DRY SEASON: TRAVEL GUIDE A period of glorious, warm, sunny weather in the lower regions of Vietnam, the southern dry season lasts from November to May. Here are some of the best places to travel & stay during this time of year.Leave a comment
TOP 10 MOST-POPULAR VIETNAM CORACLE GUIDES Having reached 1,000 subscribers to this website, I’ve decided to celebrate by compiling a list of the top 10 most-popular (i.e most-read) guides on Vietnam Coracle….2 Comments
VU LINH HOMESTAYS, THAC BA LAKE Vu Linh is a rural commune on the eastern shores of Thac Ba Lake, where several excellent homestays offer atmospheric lodgings & access to the lake & local community….6 Comments
PANHOU VILLAGE ECOLODGE, HA GIANG Deep within the folds of steep mountains & plunging valleys, Panhou Village Ecolodge is set in the middle of a remote & seldom-visited part of Ha Giang, Vietnam’s northernmost province….Leave a comment
THE CAFE APARTMENT AT NO.14 TON THAT DAM, SAIGON The old apartment block on Ton That Dam Street, in downtown Saigon, has been colonized by cool cafes, hipster bars & fashion boutiques. Gritty & intriguing architectural vestiges lurk in every nook & cranny of this enigmatic French colonial-era complex….4 Comments
AUBERGE DE MEO VAC MOUNTAIN LODGE, HA GIANG A timber, tile & rammed-earth structure encircling a stone courtyard surrounded by a stone wall with haunting limestone peaks looming all around, the Auberge de Meo Vac is a remarkably atmospheric place to stay in Vietnam’s northernmost province, Ha Giang….8 Comments
THE VIETNAM CORACLE MAP An interactive map of Vietnam with all my guides, posts, articles, reviews, and videos marked on it, including direct links from the map to all my content. The Vietnam Coracle Map will help readers navigate the content on my website, in order to get to the information they arelooking for….
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ELEGANT SUITES WESTLAKE, HANOI Comfy, smart & luxurious but unpretentious, Elegant Suites is a great alternative to staying in the cramped streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Located in the well-to-do district of West Lake, it’s a chance to see a different, albeit more affluent, side of the capital. The facilities are fantastic & it’s perfect for families, couples, or business travellers….2 Comments
A GUIDE TO CLIMBING MOUNT FANSIPAN INDEPENDENTLY Known as the ‘Roof of Indochina’, Mount Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. At 3,143m (10,312ft) it’s a ‘real’ mountain. But Fansipan can be climbed independently, without a guide or porters or any specialist climbing equipment, inone day…..
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THE EXTREME NORTHWEST LOOP: MOTORBIKE GUIDE Straddling the Chinese & Lao borders, the extreme northwest of Vietnam is one of the least travelled & most remote regions of the entire country. Mountain roads carve a circuitous course between Lao Cai, Sapa, and Dien Bien Phu, running perilously close to the infamousGolden Triangle….
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BA BE LAKE HOMESTAYS At Ba Be Lake, limestone cliffs meet the placid water at right angles, creating a spectacular backdrop to Vietnam’s largest natural lake. On its southern shores, where the terrain is slightly less vertical, several dozen homestays offer cheap, atmospheric accommodation & excellent home-cooked food….6 Comments
THE BEACHES OF QUY NHON & PHU YEN: A GUIDE The beaches of Phu Yen Province & Quy Nhon have been laying low, but their popularity is on the rise: now is the time to visit this seductive coastal region, full of hidden bays, beaches & coves. This is an extensive guide to Vietnam’s next big beach destination….32 Comments
PHƯƠNG BỐI HILL: THE BUDDHIST MONK THÍCH NHẤT HẠNH’SRETREAT
In the misty forests on the slopes of the B’lao mountains, the young Buddhist monk, Thích Nhất Hạnh, came to build a retreat in the late 1950s. Now a world-famous spiritual leader, Thich Nhat Hanh was forced to abandon the retreat in the 1960s, but the site stillexists….
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HOI AN WATERWAY RESORT Sitting on the palm-studded banks of a narrow channel, Hoi An Waterway Resort boasts river views, superbly designed rooms, a low-key ambience, lush gardens & a good swimming pool. Low rates make Hoi An Waterway excellent value for money….Leave a comment
THE CHAM TOWERS & ANCIENT CITADEL OF VIJAYA Scattered across the plains of Binh Dinh Province, the ruins of the ancient kingdom of Champa are a powerful reminder of the rich history of what is now Vietnam. Visiting the remains of the Cham towers & Vijaya citadel is a rewarding day trip from Quy Nhon….7 Comments
EXPLORING SAIGON’S RAILWAY TRACKS: A GUIDE Lined with intriguing architecture, temples, shrines, pagodas, fruit trees, flowers, cafes, casual dining & other such urban miscellanea, exploring the lanes alongside Saigon’s railway tracks, on foot or on two wheels, is a fascinating experience….14 Comments
THE HIGH ROADS: HA GIANG→BA BE LAKE→CAO BANG The roads between the northern provinces of Ha Giang & Cao Bang travel through some of the most spectacular & remote regions of Vietnam. Here are three highly scenic (but not always easy) motorbike routes linking Ha Giang, Ba Be Lake & Cao Bang….80 Comments
VILLA HUE HOTEL
This gem of a hotel is located on a quiet yet central street in Hue, walking distance from the Perfume River & Royal Citadel. Drawing on modern, French colonial & Imperial Vietnamese decor & design, Villa Hue is superb value for money…2 Comments
COCONUT ICE CREAM IN SAIGON In the heart of one of Saigon’s best street food neighbourhoods, Nguyen Huong offers up a colourful, textural, tasty, Thai-style coconut ice cream. This sweet treat is a fun way to end a night of street food exploration along the buzzing sidewalks of District 10…6 Comments
LONG THỦY BEACH VILLAGE, PHU YEN More than just a lovely white sand beach & glistening sea; Long Thủy is also a charming network of narrow backstreets, lined with crumbling homes, small temples & cowsheds. Wandering through its tangle of alleyways is like stepping back several generations…Leave a comment
THE FANXIPAN EXPRESS: HANOI TO LAO CAI BY TRAIN (PASSENGERS &MOTORBIKES)
Rattling through the night from the capital city, along the Red River Valley, and into the northwest mountains surrounding Lao Cai on the Chinese border, the Fanxipan Express is a romantic rail journey that’s cheap, comfortable & easy to organize….22 Comments
LOCAL BBQ IN PHONG NHA Just north of Phong Nha town, Quán Bình Hoa serves up an excellent BBQ in a local atmosphere. Roast pork, whole roasted duck, ox tail, grilled quail stuffed with lemongrass, hot & spicy baby clams and much more await you at this smokey roadside eatery….2 Comments
THE JUICE LADY, SAIGON I’ve only recently started to visit my local juice lady in Saigon. Now, however, I go there every day for fresh fruit juices & smoothies. In Vietnam, fruit juices are often served with added sugar, and smoothies with condensed milk, but it’s pretty easy to order themwithout…
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25 OF THE GREATEST RIDING ROADS IN VIETNAM Vietnam has some incredible riding roads: possibly some of the most scenic in the world. Based on my experience of riding around Vietnam for the last decade, I have compiled a list of what I consider some of the greatest riding roads in Vietnam…20 Comments
AIRA BOUTIQUE SAPA HOTEL & SPA On the edge of Sapa town, Aira Boutique is a brightly-painted, alpine-style lodge affording spectacular vistas across the plunging, mist-filled valley, with the jagged peak of Mount Fansipan casting a long shadow over the scene. Aira is one of Sapa’s best higher-endaccommodations…
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CAFE CULTURE ON CON SON ISLAND Vietnam has a rich & thriving cafe culture – probably among the most active, dynamic, and independent cafe scenes in the world. And now, the cult of coffee has reached the remote, utterly beautiful island of Con Son, in the Con Dao Archipelago….Leave a comment
THE FERRY FROM SOC TRANG TO CON DAO This new ferry route connects Tran De Port in Soc Trang Province with Con Son Island, meaning that travellers can now add the Con Dao Islands (which is, without doubt, one of the most remarkable destinations in Vietnam) onto their Mekong Delta itineraries….67 Comments
ON THE ROAD & UNDER THE SKY: LUNAR NEW YEAR, 2018 Lunar New Year (Tết) is a time of gathering: of family & friends; of people & parties. But this year, I undertook to spend my Tết holiday in peace & solitude: I took my motorbike, my tent & my guitar & set off for 11 days on the road & under the sky…6 Comments
NÚI DINH MOUNTAIN & SPRINGS Some 90 minutes from Saigon, Núi Dinh Mountain is an unexpected swell of high ground rising above flat floodplains. The mountain offers a peaceful retreat into trees & streams on its rocky slopes, upon which perch dozens of temples & pagodas….2 Comments
THE FLOATING FOREST OF LONG AN Only 100km west of Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Lap Floating Forest is an enchanted patch of wetland where cajeput trees rise from the black, swampy waters, creating beguiling corridors through which canoes glide and raised walkways wind….7 Comments
FLOATING LOTUS LAKE HOMESTAYS, MEKONG DELTA In the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, a collection of bamboo & palm-thatch huts on wooden stilts above a sea of lotus flowers, offer a night in a hammock or on a futon under a mosquito net, just a few feet above the frogs, the fish & the flowers…30 Comments
EATING BÁNH KHỌT IN VŨNG TÀU Bánh Khọt are delicious gems: crispy discs of rice flour batter & coconut milk, fried until they’re crunchy on the outside but moist on the inside, then wrapped in herbs & dipped in a sweet-spicy sauce. Here are 7 places to eat bánh khọt in Vũng Tàu…4 Comments
LASENTA BOUTIQUE HOTEL, HOI AN A comfortable & aesthetically pleasing synthesis of the exotic & the familiar, the modern & the traditional, and Asian & European elements, Lasenta Boutique Hotel is yet another addition to Hoi An’s list of excellent value, mid-range accommodation…6 Comments
THE COAST ROAD: SAIGON TO HOI AN & BEYOND Thanks to new coastal roads, it’s now possible to ride from Saigon to Hoi An, and beyond to Dong Hoi, following the coast all the way & avoiding the busy main artery of Highway 1 for the vast majority of the route. This is a salty, sunny, sandy & scenic road trip….45 Comments
BÃI RẠNG BEACH, QUY NHON A small crescent of toast-gold sand lined with coconut palms & casuarina trees, Bãi Rạng Beach is squeezed between two rocky bluffs, 15km south of Quy Nhon. It’s still a local, working beach & remains undeveloped….2 Comments
HẢI ĐĂNG VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT, SAIGON Hải Đăng is a simple, local, informal vegetarian restaurant in Saigon’s Binh Thanh District. The sheer variety and freshness of vegetable dishes on offer (not just tofu and ‘fake meat’) sets it apart from other Vietnamese vegetarian eateries in the city….4 Comments
TOMB RIDER: HUE TO DONG HOI ON BACK-ROADS Covering nearly 200km of completely empty beach, coastal back-roads lead from the old imperial capital of Hue to the beach city of Dong Hoi. Scattered with thousands of traditional-style tombs, this coastal region is rarely explored by foreign visitors…29 Comments
BINH CHAU HOT SPRINGS RESORT & SPA Just a couple hours’ drive from Saigon, Binh Chau Hot Springs Resort & Spa has improved it’s facilities and aesthetics in recent years: it’s now a lush, relaxing and satisfying retreat from the city….2 Comments
SAPA-Y TY SCENIC MOTORBIKE LOOP Sapa’s dramatic mountainous landscape continues north of town, via Y Ty Village, all the way to the Chinese border. Several small roads penetrate deep into steep, terraced valleys & climb high above ferocious rivers creating a scenic loop….46 Comments
SAIGON TO HANOI: A FOOD DIARY On a recent road trip between Saigon & Hanoi I made a record of some of the meals I ate along the way, to try and illustrate the variety of food available, and what a delight it is to eat your way from one end of the country to the other…2 Comments
LIBERTY CENTRAL HOTEL, NHA TRANG Liberty Central Nha Trang is a contemporary, stylish, high-rise hotel just a block from the beach. Featuring elegant, minimalist decor, extraordinary sea views, rooftop bar & its own section of beach, Liberty Central is a solid place to stay in Nha Trang….2 Comments
HA TIEN: JEWEL OF THE MEKONG DELTA The most attractive place to be in Vietnam’s Mekong region, Ha Tien’s irresistible combination of bustling markets, languid backstreets, crumbling shophouses, forested hills, delicious food & local temples, makes it the ‘Jewel of the Delta’….16 Comments
THE OCEAN ROAD: SAIGON TO MUI NE The scenic route between Saigon and Mui Ne, the Ocean Road is an easy, feel-good road trip, with a great balance of off-the-beaten-track experiences & creature comforts. Ride it in a day or linger for a week soaking up all it has to offer…27 Comments
VIDEOS: CELEBRATING 100,000 VIEWS To celebrate this modest milestone, I’ve compiled two video libraries: The 5 most-viewed videos on my channel, and my 5 personal favourite videos on my channel. Together they illustrate the rich diversity of Vietnam as a travel & food destination…2 Comments
THE TWIN PASSES: CỔ MÃ & CẢ Historically, four great passes have divided what is now Vietnam. These occur at the four points along the coast where spurs from the Truong Son Mountain Range spread eastwards to the sea. Of these, my favourites are the ‘twin passes’….2 Comments
DIEP SON ISLAND & SANDBAR, VAN PHONG BAY Lying in the calm, warm waters of Van Phong Bay, just an hour north of Nha Trang, Diep Son is a mini-archipelago of small green islands. At low tide, a curving sandbar is exposed, linking three of the islets via a ‘sand bridge’….25 Comments
HOW TO SEND A MOTORBIKE ON THE TRAIN Putting your motorbike on the train is a very convenient option for road-trippers in Vietnam, allowing you to start or end your journey pretty much anywhere along the coast between Saigon & Hanoi. These days, it’s a fairly easy & efficient process…83 Comments
MEAT FEAST: HIEU MAP BBQ SHOP A very local, long-running establishment offering a variety of cheap, simple and tasty barbecued meats to take away, Hieu Map BBQ Shop is a decent option for a meat feast to share with friends….6 Comments
LA NGA RIVER & THAC BA WATERFALL The La Nga River and Thac Ba Waterfall offer freshwater bathing, lush jungle, mountain scenery and opportunities for wild camping, all within a few hours’ drive of Saigon. It’s a great inland escape for city-dwellers with their own wheels….17 Comments
THE BOAT CAFE, SAIGON Two wooden junks floating on the milk tea-coloured waters of the Kenh Te Canal in District 7, The Boat Cafe is one of those special places in Saigon that offer respite from the noise & chaos of the city without actually leaving it…10 Comments
QUÁN ỐC CẨM: SHELL FEAST Dining out on snails, shellfish & beer is a national pastime in Vietnam. Everyone has their favourite quán ốc (snail restaurant) for a night of shells, booze, banter & fun: Quán Ốc Cẩm, in Saigon’s District 10, is one of mine…2 Comments
SAIGON TO VUNG TAU BY FERRY BOAT Taking the boat between Saigon & Vung Tau is one of Vietnam’s most underrated journeys. It’s a fascinating voyage from downtown Saigon, along several rivers, and across open sea to Vung Tau. New, comfortable & more reliable boats now ply this route…60 Comments
THE MYST DONG KHOI, SAIGON The Myst is a new, quirky, stylish & elegant boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Saigon. From its enigmatic exterior to its eccentric interiors, The Myst is a bold & unique addition to the high-end hotel scene in Ho Chi Minh City…4 Comments
MÌ QUẢNG 85 NOODLE HOUSE, SAIGON Defined by its thick yellow noodles, crunchy rice crackers, quail eggs, fresh mint & salty-sweet sauce, mì quảng is a much-loved dish from Central Vietnam. The version at Mì Quảng 85 in Saigon is full of texture & colour, if a bit too sweet….2 Comments
TWO SAIGON SOUP HOUSES There are thousands of soup houses in Saigon: these are just two of them, but they are good ones, and they both offer three different kinds of soups. One of them is a longtime favourite of mine; the other was a recent ‘random encounter’…4 Comments
LEMAN CAP RESORT, VUNG TAU Sitting on the rocks above Vung Tau’s attractive seafront promenade, Leman Cap Resort is an excellent option for expats or mid-range travellers looking to escape Saigon for a couple of nights by thesea…
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THE CAFE BY THE BANYAN TREE Named after a grand old tree by the roadside, this cafe is located on the scenic road between Phan Thiet & Di Linh, in the Central Highlands. With good views & strong local coffee, it makes a pleasant pit-stop on a motorbike road trip…8 Comments
THUAN PHAT SEAFOOD RESTAURANT, PHAN THIET Venture out of Mui Ne & find better, cheaper seafood in nearby Phan Thiet. More specifically, at the string of seafood restaurants lining the bờ kè (riverfront) road, where hundreds of fishing boats lie at anchor. My favourite is Thuan Phat restaurant….9 Comments
VICTORIA NUI SAM MOUNTAIN LODGE Built on a rocky escarpment near the summit of a scared mountain, Victoria Nui Sam Lodge offers tasteful, well-appointed rooms with fantastic views over acres of rice fields. It makes a great stopover when travelling through the Mekong Delta…Leave a comment
THE ROAD EAST OF THE LONG MOUNTAINS (ĐƯỜNG TRƯỜNG SƠN ĐÔNG) A romp through the Central Highlands, the Truong Son Dong Road is a ride to be savoured. With mystical overtones & military undercurrents, the name in Vietnamese translates as ‘The Road East of the Long Mountains’. It’s one of the best riding roads in Vietnam…79 Comments
SAIGON TO DALAT: THE ‘BACK WAYS’ There are many ways to ride from Saigon to Dalat, but if you want a relatively direct route that avoids highways, there are several great options. These ‘back ways’ to Dalat utilize new, quiet & scenic roads to make the journey as fun as possible…58 Comments
PARADISO BEACH CLUB, PHU QUOC ISLAND Occupying the best spot on Bai Sao, the most popular beach on Phu Quoc Island, Paradiso Beach Club is a great place to chill, drink, eat &swim…
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VUNG BAU BEACH: GO NOW Vung Bau beach is one of the last vestiges of ‘old’ Phu Quoc. Located in the northwest of the island, the largely undeveloped sands are lapped by a sapphire-coloured sea, a reminder of what Phu Quoc’s western shore was once like…Leave a comment
HOTEL NIKKO, SAIGON
Ever since it opened a few years ago, Hotel Nikko has set the standard for modern, sleek, chic, high-end accommodation in Saigon. Its success has spawned many decent imitators in the city, but Nikko still has the edge over its competitors…2 Comments
CAM RANH BAY: CAM LAP PROMONTORY Cam Lap Promontory is one of those rare places that’s easily accessible yet largely undeveloped and utterly beautiful. It’s the kind of place you fall in love with, and one that really does deserve the overused epithet of ‘hidden gem’….44 Comments
SILK PATH HOTEL, HANOI Walking distance from Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake, the Silk Path Hotel offers clean, crisp, modern and comfortable rooms in the capital. Stylish yet restrained, Silk Path is a good, solid mid-range hotel for couples or families visiting Hanoi…4 Comments
COFFEE WITH A VIEW: PHOTO & BIKE CAFE The Central Highlands is famous for its coffee and its mountains. Photo & Bike Cafe marries these two elements nicely, making it the perfect pit-stop on any road trip that passes through Bao Loc, on the way between Saigon and Dalat…8 Comments
CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK: WHERE TO STAY Traditional longhouses, luxury safari tents, bamboo huts, camping under tall trees: accommodation in & around Cat Tien National Park is atmospheric, good value and, more often than not, environmentally & socially responsible…28 Comments
23 DIFFERENCES FROM SOUTH TO NORTH VIETNAM One of the most interesting aspects of travelling through Vietnam is observing & experiencing the changes that occur from one region to the next. Whether serious or superficial, significant or frivolous, I’ve jotted down some of the differences I notice when travelling south tonorth…
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SILVERLAND JOLIE HOTEL & SPA, SAIGON Pseudo-colonial decor, a very central location, good river views, and a lush rooftop bar and spa make Silverland Jolie a cosy nest in which to base yourself while visiting Saigon…Leave a comment
VINH HY BAY RESORT
Vinh Hy is a gorgeous natural harbour between Phan Rang and Nha Trang. At the centre of the pretty bay and fishing village, there’s an excellent-value place to stay. Vinh Hy Resort is perfect if you’re on a road trip along the coast…7 Comments
THE HOTEL ON THE WESTERN HO CHI MINH ROAD The Western Ho Chi Minh Road is one of the most spectacular & isolated routes in Vietnam. For nearly 240km there is no accommodation. But that’s all changed now, with the opening of the first & only hotel on the Western Ho Chi Minh Road…14 Comments
HO TRAM & HO COC BEACHES Just 120km from the city, Ho Tram & Ho Coc are by far the best beaches within easy reach of Saigon. Forget Vung Tau, Long Hai & Can Gio, this is where you should head for sun, sea & sand when you don’t have time to go to Mui Ne or Phu Quoc.15 Comments
DIM SUM IN SAIGON
Dim sum is increasingly popular in Saigon. But my favourite dumpling joint is an old-timer in Chinatown. Boasting a 10 page bible of dim sum dishes, this unassuming place offers great variety, quality andvalue for money…
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OCEAN DUNES RESORT, PHAN THIET On the beach in Phan Thiet City, the Ocean Dunes Resort is excellent value for money. Offering high-end amenities at mid-range prices, the Ocean Dunes is a great option for budget travellers looking for a slice of luxury and, because of its wide greens spaces, forfamilies…
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MOUNTAINS IN THE MEKONG: MOTORBIKE LOOP Most of the Mekong Delta is as flat as a sheet of rice paper. But my favourite corner of the region, the western edge along the Cambodian border, is blessed with some high ground, in the form of a mini mountain range, which rises from the plains of An Giang Province. These mountains are connected by beautiful back-roads, perfect for aroad trip…
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MANGO BAY RESORT, PHU QUOC ISLAND By now, most travellers & expats know about Mango Bay Resort on Phu Quoc Island. It’s been around for over a decade & withstood the massive changes the island has gone through. But, despite increasing competition, Mango Bay is still the best place to go if you want to live the tropical island fantasy for a few days…8 Comments
VIDEO: SAIGON, MY SAIGON My Saigon is not the high-rises or attractions of downtown. My Saigon is the local neighbourhood where I live – the alleyways, the market, and the people who inhabit it. In this film I’ve tried to capture the rhythm of daily life over 24 hours on a rainy season day in thearea I live in…
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GOAT NOODLE SOUP IN CHINATOWN Deep in Saigon’s Chinatown, there’s a bowl of goat noodles that’s meaty, rich, silky and smooth. This soup is full of farmyard flavours: it’s a barn in a bowl. Make no mistake, this is a heavy breakfast, but it’ll keep you going till the evening…2 Comments
SAIGON MIDNIGHT MOTORBIKE LOOP At night, Saigon is at its best: temperatures are cool, humidity is low, and traffic is light – it’s the perfect time to see the city. The Midnight Loop is an urban motorbike route designed specifically for riding after dark: a night out on two wheels…17 Comments
THE CAFE APARTMENT ON SAIGON’S WALKING STREET Boasting over 30 independent coffee shops & fashion boutiques, the old apartment block at No.42 Nguyen Hue is the coolest address on Saigon’s Walking Street. I call it the Cafe Apartment: this is my complete floor-by-floor guide…18 Comments
THÙNG XE MÁY GIVI CỦA TÔI Đây là câu chuyện về Thùng xe máy GIVI, phụ trách mang vác hành lý cho tất cả những chuyến du lịch xe máy của tôi. Tiện lợi, an toàn, bền chắc và phong cách, chiếc thùng xe máy cho phép tôi tự do đi đến bất cứ nơi đâu và nhìn ngắm mọi thứ có thể, đó là điều mà du lịch bằng xe máy mang lại cho chúng ta…Leave a comment
SAIGON’S STREET FOOD ‘GHETTOS’ Throughout Saigon, there are clusters of crumbling old apartment complexes, all of which are on the verge of either collapse or demolition. Living conditions appear cramped and grim but, outside on the sidewalks, the street life and street food is among the best and most vibrant in the city…6 Comments
MY GIVI BIKE BOX
This is the story of my GIVI bike box, bearer of my baggage on all my road trips. Convenient, secure, durable and stylish, my bike box has allowed me the freedom to go anywhere and see everything, which is what motorbiking is all about….22 Comments
SAIGON TO HANOI BY MOTORBIKE: 5 SUGGESTED ROUTES Thinking about riding the length of Vietnam by motorbike? Here are 5 great routes between Saigon and Hanoi, each one specifically designed to suit the needs of different travellers, based on scenery and time frame among other things….391 Comments
VIDEO: THE SAIGON RIVER Exploring the waterway that flows through my adopted home: this is my film of the Saigon River…2 Comments
BINH THUAN BACK-ROADS: INLAND LOOP Binh Thuan Province is known for its beaches, but inland there’s a rich and varied landscape waiting to be explored. A network of rarely used, rural back-roads takes you on an inland loop – over arid plains, through forests, and across rivers….12 Comments
RIVER ROAD: THE CAI VALLEY A silver seam of glistening water, the Cai River meanders through a beautiful valley between Dalat & Phan Rang. A new road follows the course of the river, from its source in the high, forested hills to its mouth on the eastern seaboard….6 Comments
THE PINE TREE ROAD
An enticing road leads north from Dalat and into the remote forests and mountains of deepest Lam Dong Province. Coniferous forests stretch to the horizon, making this route great for camping or picnicking….26 Comments
PORTRAIT OF MS CA
This is Ms Ca. Born sometime in the 1930s (she can’t remember the exact year), I met her sitting in the shade of a cashew tree, sheltering from the midday sun….2 Comments
THE TẾT CLASSIC: LUNAR NEW YEAR MOTORBIKE LOOP Tết (Lunar New Year) is the biggest festival of them all in Vietnam, but travel can be very difficult at this time of year. That’s why, every year, I take a meandering road trip that bypasses popular tourist spots & makes the most of the dry season weather…37 Comments
THE NORTHERN HOTEL, SAIGON In the shadow of downtown Saigon’s high-rises, the Northern Hotel sits on a quiet street in the affluent yet quirky enclave known as the Japanese district. A five minute walk from such major landmarks as the Opera House and the Saigon River, the Northern Hotel offers very comfortable, mid-range accommodation…Leave a comment
THE GOLDEN LOOP: CENTRAL VIETNAM BY MOTORBIKE Many people choose to travel by motorbike between Hoi An and Hue, via the scenic Hai Van Pass. The popularity of this route is largely thanks to the 2008 Top Gear Vietnam Special episode. But there is an extension of this road trip which takes the ride, quite literally, to another level. I call it The Golden Loop…66 Comments
SAIGON’S BUDGET SUSHI SCENE The last few years has seen an explosion of good-quality yet reasonably-priced sushi joints in Saigon. Décor is cheerful, ambience is informal, and customers are young & convivial: welcome to Saigon’s budget sushi scene….18 Comments
THE SAIGON RIVER: A GUIDE Many cities are closely associated with a major waterway that runs through them: Saigon has the Saigon River. Currently, the city is in the process rediscovering and redeveloping its river. This is my personal reflection & guide to the Saigon River…12 Comments
6 REASONS TO SLURP YOUR NOODLES Slurp and suck: this should be every traveller’s primary objective when sitting down to enjoy a bowl of one of Vietnam’s famous noodle soups. Here is my guide to why you should embrace local etiquette and leave your preconceived table manners at home….4 Comments
THE GRAND HO TRAM RESORT & CASINO Big, indulgent & exceptionally good quality, The Grand Resort & Casino marks the beginning of the transformation of the quiet & unassuming coastline of Ho Tram, into what is hoped will become Vietnam’s answer to Macau & Las Vegas….Leave a comment
GRILLED CHICKEN CORNER, SAIGON At night, a scented fog hangs over a busy intersection in Saigon. The aromatic haze is the ‘Chicken Mist’ resulting from a dozen roadside barbecues hissing, smoking and grilling hundreds of fresh chicken carcasses. This is Chicken Corner, and this is where you come to get your poultry fix of crispy, tasty, delicious, grilled chickenin Saigon…
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THE FOOD TRIANGLE, SAIGON Everyone knows Saigon is full of great food. But there’s one corner in District 1, where you can eat three excellent meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner – in three excellent establishments, all within a few metres of each other: I call it the Food Triangle….7 Comments
SAIGON TO PHAN THIET BY TRAIN: PASSENGERS & MOTORBIKES The daily, non-stop express train between Saigon & Phan Thiet/Mui Ne is a cheap, easy, fun, fast & efficient way to get from the city to the beach. Put your motorbike on the train with you & let the rails carry your wheels….53 Comments
DESERT, SEA, SKY: THE NINH THUAN LOOP Located between the two most popular beach towns in Vietnam – Mui Ne and Nha Trang – Ninh Thuan Province boasts coastal scenery to rival its famous neighbours. One of the most sparsely populated, least developed, and driest regions in southern Vietnam, ambitious new roads have opened up access to Ninh Thuan’s captivating scenery…6 Comments
WEATHER IN VIETNAM: WHEN & WHERE TO GO Many people assume that Vietnam is bathed in tropical sunshine year-round. But Vietnam’s climate is complex, variable, and very local. Having travelled to all of Vietnam’s 63 provinces, I’ve put together this personal guide to where in Vietnam I would most want to be at different times of the year…105 Comments
CAMPING THE OCEAN ROAD: SAIGON TO NHA TRANG Pitch your tent under a coconut palm just metres from the surf & enjoy Vietnam’s south coast sleeping in the open air: This is my guide to camping on the beaches along the Ocean Road from Saigon to NhaTrang….
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EDENSTAR HOTEL: SAIGON MID-RANGE Centrally located with a rooftop pool and sleek modern rooms, Edenstar is a solid Saigon mid-range hotel. Catering to all types of visitors, Edenstar is on a narrow street, lined with tall trees, and within walking distance of most of Saigon’s major attractions…..Leave a comment
THE DEEP SOUTH: RIDING THE DRAGON’S TAIL After 9 years travelling in Vietnam, the last four provinces that I have yet to visit are all in the Mekong Delta. These are the southernmost provinces in the country: the Deep South or, as I like to call it, the Dragon’s Tail. I thought it was about time I made it to all Vietnam’s 63 provinces, so I finally set out to travel as far south as roads go…12 Comments
CƠM TẤM, SAIGON: 7 OF MY FAVOURITES I love cơm tấm. Some of my happiest moments in Saigon have been sitting down with a good plate of barbecued pork & broken rice, watching the city go by. Saigon and cơm tấm are inseparable, and this city does it better than anywhere else. Cơm tấm is the quintessential Saigon experience. Here’s where to eat it….11 Comments
SWEET SAIGON: WHERE TO EAT CHÈ A kaleidoscopic world of luminous colours, shifting shapes, unfamiliar textures, esoteric ingredients & rich flavours, chè is a fascinating sub-category of Vietnamese cuisine. Commonly translated as ‘dessert’, in reality chè is so filling & nutritious that it’s a meal in itself….18 Comments
SAIGON’S OTHER LUNCH LADY Everyone knows who Saigon’s Lunch Lady is, right? Well, probably not this one. Ms Nga is 43 years old. She serves a different soup each day of the week, from her cramped, ramshackle soup stall. Originally from Thai Binh (a northern province famous for producing excellent cooks), she moved to Saigon in the mid-90s…Leave a comment
SOUTHERN ISLANDS: CON DAO OR PHU QUOC? Con Dao and Phu Quoc islands are the two most alluring beach destinations in Vietnam. But these two southern islands are very different in character, and therefore appeal to different types of travellers. As most visitors or expats only have time to go to one, which island should you choose?73 Comments
TRASH TALK: LITTER IN VIETNAM’S BEAUTY SPOTS Vietnam is an extraordinarily beautiful country, but thousands of scenic areas across the nation are increasingly ruined by trash. A major catalyst for litter in beauty spots are picnickers, who neglect to clean up after themselves….32 Comments
ROUTE MAP: TWO MONTH MOTORBIKE ROAD TRIP During the autumn of 2014, I spent two months travelling over 9,000km by motorbike across Vietnam. This annotated and illustrated map of my road trip is designed as a resource for other riders. On it I’ve included links to relevant motorbike guides for specific regions; all of my overnight stops; and my exact route…22 Comments
MA MAISON BOUTIQUE HOTEL, SAIGON Hidden deep within a network of alleyways, Ma Maison is a warm, bright boutique hotel in a typical, local Saigon neighbourhood. Decorated in French Provençal fashion and located away from the city centre, Ma Maison plugs travellers straight into genuine local life…4 Comments
BREAKFAST IN HA GIANG When I had breakfast at a noodle house in Ha Giang, Vietnam’s northernmost frontier, it was one of those occasions when food, people and place come together perfectly…12 Comments
EXPENSES FOR A MOTORBIKE ROAD TRIP IN VIETNAM When preparing for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam, it’s helpful to know how much to budget for each day on the road. I’ve put together a list of expenses & an estimated daily budget in order to give travellers an idea of how much they can expect to spend…99 Comments
THE HANOI IMPRESSIVE HOTEL In the quiet, shaded alleyways, behind the neo-Gothic façade of St Joseph’s Cathedral, the Hanoi Impressive Hotel is my go-to place to stay when visiting the capital. At around $45 a night, it’s fantastic mid-range value…12 Comments
THE BURNT ROAD: VIETNAM’S DESERT A short, easy ride through a big, hot landscape of barren hills and abandoned farmhouses, Highway 27B is the Burnt Road. This road trip takes you inland, through the vast open spaces of Vietnam’s driestprovince…
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VIDEO: THE NORTHEAST MOTORBIKE LOOP One of my favourite corners of Vietnam, this is my film of riding the Northeast Loop by motorbike…10 Comments
THE CAFÉ QUARTER, SAIGON In Phú Nhuận District – Saigon’s unofficial ‘café capital’ – a small grid of leafy streets plays host to a collection of trendy coffee shops. Bounded by the Thị Nghè Channel and Phan Xích Long Boulevard, I call this the ‘Café Quarter’…8 Comments
HOT TODDY: RICE WINE PUDDING Anyone who’s spent time in Vietnam’s highlands will have come across rượu nếp – rice wine. However, on a recent visit to Cao Bang, I was introduced to rượu nếp in its pure, non-liquid form: a hot toddy meets rice pudding…6 Comments
THANH KIEU BEACH RESORT, PHU QUOC ISLAND The unsung hero of seafront, mid-range accommodation on Long Beach, Thanh Kieu Resort is an exceptionally lush, peaceful, and unassuming place to stay on Phu Quoc Island. It’s been my go-to resort foryears…
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SAIGON’S PARKS & OPEN SPACES Saigon might be known as a burgeoning city full of motorbikes and exhaust fumes, but it still has a great many green spaces in which to escape the heat, noise and pollution. From lush gardens dating from French colonial times to sleek, modern, waterfront promenades, here are Saigon’s best parks and open spaces…20 Comments
BAC HA SUNDAY MARKET In the rugged mountains of northwestern Vietnam, the town of Bắc H holds a big, bright and busy market every Sunday. Attracting colourfully dressed ethnic minorities from across the region, the market has become a major magnet for tourists…14 Comments
VICTORIA BEACH RESORT, MUI NE One of the first luxury resorts to grace the sands of Mui Ne, Victoria Resort & Spa is still one of the best places to stay on this popular beach on Vietnam’s southeast coast. With lush tropical gardens & a long stretch of beach, Victoria is far more spacious than itscompetitors…
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GRILLING ON HOT ROCKS: CHU QUÁN, DALAT One of Dalat’s new & exciting places to eat, Chu Quán is run by a young Vietnamese couple with a passion for good food & inventive decor. A smoky, open-sided BBQ-grill restaurant, this place has been buzzing since it opened…8 Comments
DON’T MISS THE DAWN Dawn is the best time of day in Vietnam. Yet most travellers and expats never experience it. Wake up before sunrise and you’ll witness exquisite skies and the ‘roots’ of Vietnamese daily life. Rising early should be on everyone’s list of things to do inVietnam….
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MY PROTEIN DIET WEEK I spent a week on a protein diet in Saigon. I ate Vietnamese food from street vendors & informal eateries as much as possible, and I recorded it all in my Protein Diet Diary on this page…10 Comments
BAN GIOC WATERFALL: A GUIDE Ban Gioc Waterfall is one of Vietnam’s most impressive natural sights, yet very few foreign travellers make it here. Located right on the Chinese border in a beautiful pastoral landscape, Ban Gioc is the widest & most scenic waterfall in the country…77 Comments
VIDEO: TWO MONTHS ON A MOTORBIKE In September & October of 2014 I made a road trip by motorbike through Vietnam. Travelling over 9,000km & covering much of the nation, I saw many wonderful things, some of which I captured on film. This is the video of my 2 month road trip…15 Comments
BORDERS & BACK-ROADS: SAPA TO HA GIANG BY MOTORBIKE Connecting two of the most mountainous provinces in Vietnam, this motorbike route straddles the Chinese border, passing through some of the remotest parts of the country…97 Comments
HO CHI MINH’S CAVE: HANG PÁC BÓ In the winter of 1941, Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam for the first time in 30 years. For several weeks he lived in Pac Bo Cave. Right on Vietnam’s northeastern frontier with China, Pac Bo is an important historical site in an enchanting location…6 Comments
HA GIANG EXTREME NORTH MOTORBIKE LOOP Ha Giang, Vietnam’s northern-most province, is home to a mythical landscape of conical limestone peaks & craterous valleys. Over the years, it has gained an almost legendary status among travellers. This motorbike loop is perhaps the most thrilling road trip in thecountry…
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THE HARVEST ROUTE: MÙ CANG CHẢI Every year, between September & October, the terraced rice fields of Mù Cang Chải, a rural district in northern Vietnam, put on a luminous show of picturesque harvest colours. I spectacular road runs through this region: I call it ‘The Harvest Route’….19 Comments
THE THEATRE OF RICE: MÙ CANG CHẢI Every year, from summer to autumn, the terraced rice fields of Mù Cang Chải, a rural district in northern Vietnam’s Yen Bai Province, put on a luminous show of picturesque harvest colours. I call this spectacular sight ‘The Theatre of Rice’….32 Comments
SAPA-SIN HO SCENIC MOTORBIKE LOOP Sapa and Sin Ho are two towns high up on the slopes of the Tonkinese Alps. They are connected by lofty mountain passes, offering grand scenery on a scale not seen anywhere else in Vietnam. This is an ideal scenic loop by motorbike…168 Comments
HO CITADEL (THÀNH NHÀ HỒ) Designated a World Heritage site in 2011, Ho Citadel is a 14th century royal enclosure surrounded by pretty farmland. The ruins, partly obscured by foliage, are extensive and farming still continues inside this former imperial city…4 Comments
HOI AN: THE LANTERN FESTIVAL During the Mid Autumn Festival, Hoi An’s old town echoes to the sound of dragon dances and the streets are lit by colourful lanterns hanging from trees and adorning shop-fronts….10 Comments
TWO MONTHS ON A MOTORBIKE In 2014, I embarked on a 9,000km, two-month motorbike road trip through Vietnam. During my time on the road, I kept a full and illustrated diary of my travels, an annotated map of my route, and made a short film of the journey…46 Comments
PHỞ GIA HÂN, SAIGON I was first drawn to Phở Gia Hân by the enticing aroma that wafted over the narrow street on humid evenings. A family-run soup house in a local neighbourhood, this is one of my favourite places for phở inSaigon…
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LOCAL GUEST HOUSES: NHÀ NGHỈ Essential knowledge for the adventurous or budget traveller in Vietnam, ‘nhà nghỉ’ means ‘guest house’ in Vietnamese. However, this form of cheap accommodation often goes unnoticed by foreign travellers & suffers from a bad reputation among localpeople…
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VIDEO: DALAT’S WATERFALLS A vicarious tour of the region’s best cascades…4 Comments
7 GREAT STREETS FOR STREET FOOD IN SAIGON Saigon is arguably the best place to explore Vietnam’s extraordinary street food scene. The city boasts so many street food outlets that it feels like a gigantic open-air restaurant. This is my guide to 7 of the best streets for street food in Saigon…49 Comments
PHU QUOC’S BEACHES: A GUIDE A halo of sand encompasses this green & forested island in the Gulf of Thailand. But Phu Quoc is currently undergoing major development, so now is the time to visit its beaches, before it’s too late (in some cases, it already is)…90 Comments
HOTEL DU PARC, DALAT The Hotel Du Parc offers excellent value mid-range accommodation in the Central Highlands’ city of Dalat. Housed in a French building from the 1930s, this hotel has colonial ambience with modern amenities at very reasonable prices…12 Comments
THE LUNCH LADY’S MENU: AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE The Lunch Lady in Saigon is famous for serving a different soup every day of the week. Here’s her weekly menu, illustrated with tantalizing images of each of the dishes…Leave a comment
THE LUNCH LADY: A DIARY Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh is The Lunch Lady. Her famous ‘rotating menu’ (she serves a different dish each day) is a huge draw for locals, tourists & foodies from around the world. I ate lunch here everyday for a week to see how good it really is…21 Comments
PRENN, ANKROET & CAM LY WATERFALLS Prenn Waterfall | Ankroet Waterfall | Cam Ly Waterfall First published May 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle I’ve put these three small waterfalls – the least attractive in my list – together, because they are all within … Continue reading →Leave a comment
DATANLA WATERFALL
Description | Image Slideshow | Map First published May 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle Datanla waterfall is only 6km from Dalat city centre. It’s no surprise then, that this is the most touristy and developed of all … Continue reading →4 Comments
LIEN KHUONG WATERFALL Description | Image Slideshow | Map First published May 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle Liên Khương is a dusty, busy, and unattractive town, 20km south of Dalat. From the horrible highway that passes through town, you’d never … Continue reading →5 Comments
DAMBRI WATERFALL
Description | Map First published May 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle Dambri waterfall is 130km from Dalat, but it still makes this list because the falls lie within Lâm Đồng Province. This impressive waterfall is, by some … Continue reading →4 Comments
PONGOUR WATERFALL
Description | Image Slideshow | Map First published May 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle Pongour is one of the most famous waterfalls in the province. It’s much loved and much visited by Vietnamese of all ages. As … Continue reading →7 Comments
ELEPHANT WATERFALL
Description | Image Slideshow | Map First published May 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle Elephant waterfall is in a heavily farmed valley at the bottom of a mountain pass, 30km southwest of Dalat. It’s a popular excursion … Continue reading →4 Comments
TIGER WATERFALL
Description | Image Slideshow | Map First published May 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle Tiger waterfall is situated deep in the pine forests surrounding Dalat. Only 15km east of the city, these falls are easily reached but … Continue reading →7 Comments
BAO DAI WATERFALL
Bao Dai Waterfall is one of the most spectacular but least-visited of all the cascades within reach of Dalat…8 Comments
DALAT’S WATERFALLS: A GUIDE Dalat is located in Lâm Đồng Province, a mountainous region that boasts lots of waterfalls. I visited them all, in order to compile this list & guide to the waterfalls of Dalat & the surrounding area. Many of the falls are truly spectacular, while some are ruined by tourist development…22 Comments
BO BLA WATERFALL
80km southwest of Dalat, Bo Bla is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the area. Once a popular tourist attraction, it’s now in an attractive & spooky state of decay: it’s like entering the abandoned theme park in ‘Spirited Away’.18 Comments
BÚN THỊT NƯỚNG: AN ELEGANT CLASSIC This cold noodle salad is a classic of southern Vietnam. Simple, cool & refreshing, bún thịt nướng is the perfect antidote to the heat & humidity of the south.6 Comments
THE PEOPLE’S FOOD: LOCAL RICE EATERIES There’s at least one quán cơm bình dân (common rice eatery) on every urban street in Vietnam. Offering dozens of typical, home-cooked dishes at affordable prices, these eateries feed the nation. It doesn’t get more local than this…4 Comments
GOUGAH WATERFALL
Description | Image Slideshow | Map First published May 2014 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle The once mighty falls of Gougah have been tempered by the construction of a dam and reservoir nearby. As the water has subsided … Continue reading →6 Comments
MY MOTORBIKE, STAVROS: 200,000KM A week ago, my motorbike (known affectionately to me as ‘Stavros’) turned 13 years old & the odometer ticked over to 200,000km….40 Comments
VUNG RO BAY
A drop-dead gorgeous bay on the south-central coast, Vung Ro has been slated for development for several years now, but none has arrived. So, for the time being, this beautiful area remains virtually empty and perfect for exploration….42 Comments
TOP 5: VIETNAM CORACLE VIDEOS To celebrate 10,000 views on YouTube, here are the Top 5 most-watched Vietnam Coracle videos…Leave a comment
THE BEST PHỞ IN SAIGON It’s surprisingly difficult to find a truly outstanding bowl of phở (beef noodle soup) in Saigon. But, after 8 years living & eating in this city, I’ve finally found a place that, in my opinion, serves the best bowl of phở in Saigon…30 Comments
SAIGON TO PHU QUOC ISLAND MOTORBIKE LOOP Flying to Phu Quoc is easy, but if you want a real adventure, riding there by motorbike is much more fun. This road trip takes you from Vietnam’s biggest city to some its best beaches, via the waterways & back-roads of the Mekong Delta…58 Comments
HORSE MEAT
After the horse meat scandal in 2013, many people in Europe discovered they’d eaten horse without knowing it, but in Saigon some restaurants specialize in horse meat, and it really is delicious!1 Comment
WHICH MAP TO USE FOR A MOTORBIKE ROAD TRIP? A good map is essential for an independent motorbike road trip in Vietnam, but no map is 100% reliable. However, by cross-referencing certain printed maps, online maps, local knowledge & online advice, you’re sure to find the best roads & routes.36 Comments
PHU QUOC ISLAND BY BOAT Taking the boat between the Mekong Delta & Phu Quoc Island is fun, cheap, convenient & relatively hassle-free. A huge increase in fast boats & car ferries operating on several routes, means it’s now easier than ever to reach Phu Quoc Island by sea….56 Comments
ISLAND BROTH: BÚN KÈN This soup is a speciality of Phu Quoc island, in Vietnam’s extreme southwest. Packed with fish, fruit & colour; it’s a tropical islandin a bowl.
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ANA MANDARA VILLAS, DALAT 17 beautifully restored French colonial villas on a pine-studded hillside, Ana Mandara Resort & Spa keeps the romance of Dalat alive. Luxury accommodation in the Central Highlands doesn’t get more atmospheric than this…2 Comments
CON DAO ISLANDS ON A BUDGET Despite several high-profile luxury developments, travel to the Con Dao Islands needn’t be too expensive. Budget travellers & backpackers can still enjoy this beautiful archipelago by taking certain steps. This is my guide to how to keep the cost of visiting one of Vietnam’s most enchanting destinations to a minimum.44 Comments
JULIET’S VILLA RESORT Surrounded by coffee farms, tea plantations, rice paddies & fruit trees, Juliet’s Villa Resort is a family-run, quiet, secluded & peaceful place to stay near Di Linh, a part of the Central Highlands most travellers overlook….5 Comments
TOP 5: THINGS TO DO IN SAIGON Saigon is a fantastic city, but it’s not one that’s filled with typical tourist attractions. To get the most out of this city, leave the so-called ‘must-see’ sights behind, and follow my Top 5 Thingsto Do in Saigon.
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HO TRAM BEACH BOUTIQUE RESORT Just a couple of hours southeast of Saigon, Ho Tram Beach Resort is one of Vietnam’s most tasteful & charming coastal retreats. It’s romantic, elegant, refined yet understated, and blends in with the natural surrounds….8 Comments
MY TOP 5 MARKETS IN SAIGON Saigon’s markets seem to exist in another dimension to the rest of the city. In downtown District 1 you’d be forgiven for thinking that the traditional Vietnamese market no longer exists; replaced by generic high-end shopping malls. But local markets outside the city centre continue to thrive: here are my favourite wet markets inSaigon…
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CAMPING IN DALAT: A GUIDE One of the best travel experiences in Vietnam’s Central Highlands is wild camping under a canopy pine trees in the misty mountains north ofDalat….
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WHERE TO EAT & DRINK IN DALAT My guide to where to eat & drink in the former French colonial hill station of Dalat, high up in the Annamite Mountains.35 Comments
SAIGON’S HIDDEN CAFES Saigon has thousands of independent coffee shops. Hidden down narrow alleyways, tucked away in forgotten colonial villas, or concealed in enigmatic old apartment buildings, there’s a whole sub-culture of ‘indie’ cafes in this city. These are my favourites.24 Comments
FETAL DUCK EGG
If you like eggs, you’ll love fetal duck eggs! They are, quite simply, ‘eggier’ than regular chicken eggs. Don’t be put off by the name or what they look like; this is a great, tasty, nutritious and cheap road-side snack anywhere in Vietnam.9 Comments
CAT MEAT
Although less widely eaten than dog, cat meat is still on the menu in many Vietnamese restaurants, especially in the north. So what does ittaste like?
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WALKING SAIGON’S ALLEYWAYS Between all the busy main roads, Saigon is riddled with narrow alleyways, which are quiet, cool, charming and great for walking. Here are some of my favourite areas in the city for alley walks….29 Comments
23 OF THE BEST BEACHES IN SOUTHERN & CENTRAL VIETNAM With a coastline of over 3,200km & thousands of islands lying offshore, Vietnam is a great beach destination. Blue bays, hidden coves, white sands, swaying palms & dramatic cliffs, Vietnam has itall….
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SOUTHEAST LOOP: MOTORBIKE GUIDE If you’re looking for a road trip within reach of Saigon that takes you to beaches & mountains, but stays off busy main roads; this is it. Saigon, Mui Ne, & Dalat are all connected by quiet, scenic back-roads: this motorbike guide shows you how to do it.57 Comments
RAT MEAT
Each morning for the last couple months I’ve opened my front gate in Saigon to greet the new day, only to find a fresh mound of rat droppings on my door step. By way of ‘revenge’ I decided to pay a visit to one of Saigon’s rat meat restaurants…4 Comments
HO CHI MINH ROAD: MOTORBIKE GUIDE Stretching almost 2,000km along the mountainous spine of Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh Road is fast becoming famous as one of the finest motorbike rides in Asia. Now fully paved from Saigon all the way to Hanoi, this is my updated and extended guide to the entire Ho Chi MinhRoad….
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13 PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS IN SAIGON If you’re not lucky enough to be staying at one of the smarter hotels with a pool, or if you’re an expat looking to escape the heat & clamour of the city, Saigon has plenty of good & inexpensive public swimming pools to choose from…61 Comments
STREET FOOD WEEK
Can you live only on street food in Vietnam? Is it any good and is it really that cheap? To find out I spent a whole week eating exclusively street food in Saigon. Find out what I ate, where I ate, & how much I spent in this Street Food Week diary.6 Comments
BẾP THAN EATERY: VIETNAMESE TAPAS Bếp Than Eatery is a small, cool, and ‘cutesy’ place to relax with some lite Vietnamese snacks & mojitos by the Thi Nghe Channel in Saigon: a great place to ‘snack & chat’ with friends.2 Comments
VIDEOS: SAIGON TO HANOI BY MOTORBIKE Four films made during our motorbike trip from Saigon to Hanoi. These videos give you a good idea of how fabulous the scenery is, and how much fun a road trip in Vietnam can be.2 Comments
SAIGON TO HANOI: THE SCENIC ROUTE Vietnam Coracle will be away from August 1-23 on a motorbike trip from Saigon to Hanoi with a best friend. Click this post for an introduction, route map & photos of the road trip. Follow our journey on my Twitter, Facebook & Google+ pages!126 Comments
THE SAND DUNE HIGHWAY: MUI NE TO CA NA Get off the beaten track from Mui Ne with this short, scenic, easily navigable and rewarding road trip. Excellent coast roads lead between Mui Ne, Phan Ri Cua, Lien Huong and Ca Na, passing some great coastalscenery…
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HON GOM SANDBAR
Stretching 30km out to sea, like a giant causeway to a sunken castle, Hon Gom Sandbar is a beguiling peninsular on the south-central coast. A road leads along most of its length, offering access to deserted beaches, sheltered coves & isolated fishing hamlets…24 Comments
DAI LANH BEACH
A broad sweep of sand between two dramatic headlands, Dai Lanh Beach is a strikingly beautiful spot. Long blighted by the traffic & noise of Highway 1, Dai Lanh is on the cusp of great things, with the imminent opening of a new tunnel…20 Comments
BÚN MẮM: THE MEKONG IN A BOWL Bún Mắm is a robust Vietnamese soup from the Mekong Delta. It’s packed with contrasting flavours, textures and colours. You’ll find bún mắm all over southern Vietnam, but one place in Saigon isespecially good.
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THE NUI CHUA COAST ROAD: PHAN RANG TO CAM RANH Nui Chua is a beautiful promontory jutting into the ocean between Phan Rang City & Cam Ranh Bay, on Vietnam’s south-central coast. A spectacular coast road has opened up access to its superb beaches, forests, rivers & fishing villages….26 Comments
VIDEO: CON DAO ISLANDS From the moment you step off the plane on the Con Dao Islands, you know you’re somewhere special. The main island of Con Son has a tragic past as a penal colony, set up by the French colonial administration. But today, it is the gorgeous natural beauty of this archipelago that’s attracting attention.2 Comments
HOMESTAYS IN PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE Set among sublime landscape just a few hours southwest of Hanoi, the homestays in Pu Luong Nature Reserve are some of the most atmospheric & romantic places to stay anywhere in Vietnam….43 Comments
ONE OF THE BEST SOUPS IN VIETNAM Nho Quan is a small, industrial town in Ninh Bình Province, 90km south of Hanoi. The bare concrete buildings and dusty streets are a far cry from the natural beauty of the surrounding area. However, hidden amongst the unappealing sprawl is one of the best soups inVietnam…
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BEEF STEW (BÒ KHO)
Bò kho (beef stew) is a hearty, spicy and aromatic broth with diced beef, carrot and lemongrass. Eaten on its own with a warm baguette for dunking or served over noodles, this is one of my favourite dishes inVietnam.
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DRAGONS’ GRAVEYARD COAST ROAD: PHAN RANG TO CA NA A new coast road has opened access to an arid, wild, windswept, boulder-strewn & cactus-studded section of coastline. People say this is where dragons’ came to die, and the earth scorched itself ingrief….
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TOP 5: ROOFTOP COCKTAILS IN SAIGON Saigon is at the heart of Vietnam’s economic boom: new high-rises and five-star hotels go up every year. On the upper storeys there are stylish bars with views over the city, catering to the country’s nouveau-riche and wealthy foreign visitors. But, with the price of drinks still relatively low, rooftop cocktails are affordable for travellers on all budgets, especially if you make the most of HappyHours.
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CÀ PHÊ BỆT: SAIGON’S STREET COFFEE SCENE At 5 o’clock in the afternoons in Saigon, high schools and universities disgorge their students into the busy streets. Dusk is one of the coolest times of day, and many of these students head for one of the city’s parks, where they buy food and drink from street vendors and sit on the grass talking into the evening hours – thisis Cà Phê Bệt.
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THE LIMESTONE LOOP: MOTORBIKE GUIDE Thanh Hoa is a province of limestone pinnacles, rivers & rice paddies. Quiet roads meander through steep valleys cloaked in bamboo forests, & mountain passes twist skyward toward remote Lao border crossings. This motorbike loop is easily accessible from Hanoi, but travels through remote & beautiful landscapes….113 Comments
SNAILS & SHELLFISH: A GUIDE Snail eating is incredibly popular in Vietnam. A night of shells & beer is a very local experience. Young & old feast late into the night. The snails come in all shapes and sizes and they’re delicious. ‘Shell tapas’ is a fun night out that everyone shouldtry
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THE CON DAO ISLANDS: A GUIDE With its wild and beautiful beaches, rugged, jungle-covered interior, and fascinating but tragic history, the Con Dao Islands is a remarkable place. Once a brutal penal colony, established by the French colonial administration, today the Con Dao Islands is one of Vietnam’s most beguiling destinations…..104 Comments
BROKEN RICE & PORK STEW, SAIGON Wherever you are in Vietnam, you can always rely on broken rice or pork stew to fill you up. Breakfast, lunch or dinner; these two pork dishes are always available. Forget phở – the famous beef noodle soup – the real national dish of Vietnam is pork and rice!3 Comments
THE HAI VAN PASS: MOTORBIKE GUIDE One of the most famous roads in Vietnam, the Hai Van Pass weaves around a mountainous stretch of coastline in Central Vietnam, linkingDanang & Hue
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