Tra Vinh is the provincial capital of Tra Ving Province, deep in the Mekong Delta region about 140 km south of Ho Chi Minh City. It’s not on the way to anywhere unless you are going to another place even more out of the way. It’s worth a visit though if you have more time […]
Notes on Ben Tre – Coconuts and the bad-ass women of Vietnamese history
Spend time in Southern Vietnam and you’ll soon notice the prevalence of Ben Tre coconuts. This provincial variety is so well known that vendors advertise coconuts as being from Ben Tre to let you know that you are getting a premium coconut. Maybe the Ben Tre Coconut Marketing Authority has got to me, but I […]
Guesthouse Review: Hien Guesthouse II, Can Tho – Vietnam
Hotel Name: Hien Guesthouse II Address: 106/3 Phan Dinh Phung, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho, Vietnam. I stayed at the Hien Guesthouse II in Can Tho, Vietnam. I booked online at the rate of 250,000 VND ($10.80 USD) per night and picked it for its price and location. The Hien Guesthouse II is in the old […]
Hotel Review: Gia Hoa 2 Hotel, Tra Vinh – Vietnam
Hotel Name: Gia Hoa 2 Hotel Address: 50 Le Loi, Tra Vinh, Tra Vinh, Vietnam. I stayed at the Gia Hoa 2 Hotel in Tra Vinh, Vietnam. I booked online at the rate of 420,000 VND ($18.12 USD) and picked it for its location close to the central market. I didn’t know the best area […]
Ben Tre Farm Stay – An easy escape from Saigon life in the Mekong Delta
Hotel Name: Ben Tre Farm Stay Address: Cai Suc Bridge, Hamlet 3, Xa Phu Nhuan, Ben Tre, Vietnam. When exploring the Mekong Delta region I suggest staying for at least some of your time at a home or farmstay. Part of the appeal of the Mekong is exploring the rural roads and the many waterways […]
Jalan Jaksa – The slow demise of Jakarta’s backpacker street
On my first trip to Indonesia in 2009 I travelled from Medan to Bali by ferry, bus, train, and plane. Midway through that trip I arrived in Jakarta with a copy of Lonely Planet Indonesia in hand. The Book directed me to Jalan Jaksa – the backpacker street of Jakarta. I don’t remember where I […]
Notes on Jakarta – Metros, moto apps, an airport train, and a giant seawall
Jakarta has been making headlines in 2019, and not always in a good way. In August the Indonesian government announced that it was planning to move the capital of Indonesia to a location in the jungles of Borneo. This news, coupled with high-profile reports that the city is sinking, has led news agencies around the […]
Palembang to Bandar Lampung by train – riding the coal-subsidised railway of South Sumatra
Sumatra is the sixth-largest island in the world with a population of over 50 million people, yet there are only a few railway lines on the island. There are plans to unite the current lines to form a trans-Sumatran railway that would travel from Medan to Bandar Lampung. This is a distance of over 1750 […]
Flight Review: VietJet Air – Denpasar (Bali) to Ho Chi Minh City
Flight: VietJet Air VJ 894 From: Denpasar (DPS) To: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) I flew with VietJet Air from Bali to Ho Chi Minh City. This is a new route that started in 2019, though it was initially announced a few years ago. When the tickets became available I started planning a trip as […]
Hotel Review: Eddys Cottages & Villa, Legian, Bali – Indonesia
Hotel Name: Eddys Cottages Address: Jl. Arjuna – Double Six, Gang Eddys, Legian, Bali, Indonesia I stayed at Eddys Cottages in Legian, Bali. I booked online for the amazing rate of $15.66 USD per night. I just happened to find a good deal for the days I was staying at, but you can often find […]
