This guide on where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City lists the best areas for visitors . This includes all accommodation types, from budget guesthouses to iconic five-star hotels. Ho Chi Minh City has a population of over 9 million people and is made up of 21 districts and 1 sub-city. There are thousands […]
Train SE22 from Saigon to Danang
Train SE22 is the Vietnam Railways service that operates from Saigon to Danang. Here is what to expect on this overnight service. There are usually 4 trains a day from Saigon to Hanoi that offer different times for arriving in Danang. There is also a train that only operates on the Saigon to Danang section. […]
Defunct airports of Southeast Asia
A list of closed airports in Southeast Asia, and which airports you can still visit. Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport opened on 16 October 2023, replacing Siem Reap International Airport. This airport closure got me thinking about other airports in Southeast Asia that have closed and been replaced. This is a list of airport that have […]
Notes on Boten: The border station of the Laos-China Railway
Boten is a town in Laos on the China–Laos border and the most northern stop on the Laos-China Railway, which was what brought me there. Boten is a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that features in the news for all the wrong reasons. I have been keeping track of Boten news and construction projects at Future […]
Notes on Muang Xai: A stop on the Laos-China Railway
Muang Xai is the capital city of Oudomxai Province in Northern Laos. The city is one of the main stops of the Laos-China Railway, which was what brought me there. Muang Xai isn’t a touristy city, but I wanted to see what it was like and if the railway could change its fortunes. I also […]
Where to stay in Bangkok: the best areas and hotels for visitors
A guide to the best areas to stay in Bangkok Do a search for hotels in Bangkok and you will be presented with hundreds of options to choose from (over 1400 when I last checked). If you’ve never been to Bangkok, then picking which area to stay in will also add to the challenge. To […]
Where to stay in Singapore: The best areas and notable hotels
This guide on where to stay in Singapore lists the best areas for visitors in the central area of Singapore. This includes all accommodation types, from the cheapest guesthouse room to the famous five-star hotels and resorts. The city-state of Singapore is the most modern country in Southeast Asia. While it sometimes feels like a […]
Sumatra Railways: A guide to every train line in Sumatra
Sumatra has a small railway network that operates in different provinces of the island. The eventual plan is to build a railway network that will form the Trans-Sumatra Railway. The railway system of Sumatra is fragmented and not of great use for tourists. If you plan your itinerary right, there are a few lines that […]
Notes on Luang Prabang in the new era of the train
I visited Luang Prabang by train from Vientiane shortly after Laos reopened in 2022. While Luang Prabang was abnormally quiet then, it was evident that Luang Prabang would be transformed by the Laos-China Railway. This is my trip report and general observations. Visiting Luang Prabang before the train My first visit to Luang Prabang was […]
How to get from Medan to Lake Toba by train and bus
Lake Toba is the largest lake in Southeast Asia and one of the highlights visiting Sumatra. The nearest big city is Medan, and it takes about four hours by road to travel from Medan to Parapat (the main city on the lake). There is also a railway network in North Sumatra, with Medan as the […]
