Phan Rang–Thap Cham is the capital of Ninh Thuan Province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. It’s between Mui Ne and Nha Trang, though it doesn’t get anywhere near the number of visitors compared to those places. In fact, travelling during these covid times I was wondering if there were any tourists (domestic […]
Da Lat – Trai Mat Railway – A restored heritage railway in Vietnam
The Da Lat – Trai Mat Railway is a restored section of the former Da Lat–Thap Cham railway. The original railway connected Da Lat to the main North-South railway of Vietnam. Da Lat became a popular place to escape the tropical heat and enjoy the cool mountain air. Like the hill-stations of India, a railway […]
Notes on Da Lat – The cool mountain city in the Central Highlands of Vietnam
Da Lat is the capital of Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam. The city is a popular tourist destination in Vietnam, famous for its cool climate and mountain scenery. It’s literally and figuratively a cool mountain city. I last visited Da Lat in 2012, so I was well overdue for a […]
Notes on Nha Trang – pandemic edition
In the plague year that was 2020, I was fortunate to have spent most of the year in Vietnam, where the virus has so far been contained. I’ve been making the most of my time here by travelling around the country. During my travels, I’ve seen how hard the pandemic has hit tourism destinations that […]
Notes on Lao Cai – The provincial capital on the Vietnam-China border
Lao Cai is the capital city of the province of the same name, in the Northwest region of Vietnam. Most visitors only pass through here on the way to Sapa. Train enthusiasts know it as the place to disembark and then walk across the border to China to get the train to Kunming. This year […]
Notes on Sapa – Visiting a tourist town without tourists (2020 pandemic edition)
Sapa is a market town in the Northwest region of Vietnam, near the border of China. Its proximity to Mount Fansipan (the highest mountain in Vietnam) makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. It’s become so popular in recent years that the town has also become famous for over-tourism. There is […]
Sky 22 – A rooftop cafe on the most famous roof in Saigon
Every time I see the rooftop of 22 Ly Tu Trong I can’t help but think about that famous photograph by Hubert van Es that came to symbolize the U.S. evacuation of Saigon. Even if you don’t know the name you would know the photo, as it’s one of the most iconic images of the […]
Notes on Ha Long – the city by its namesake bay
Ha Long is the capital of Quang Ninh province in Northeast Vietnam, and as the name would suggest it’s also the main city of Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam, yet most people visit straight from Hanoi. I visited Ha Long Bay on my first visit […]
Notes on Phan Thiet – Mui Ne Beach, Phan Thiet city, and riding along the Binh Thuan coast
Phan Thiet is the capital of Binh Thuan province, located in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. The main drawcard of Phan Thiet is the beach that runs from Phan Thiet city to Mui Ne town. The beach is marketed as Mui Ne, even though only a small section of the beach is in […]
Hanoi beyond Hoan Kiem – how the metro will open up the city outside the old quarter
Hanoi is a city of over 8 million people that is composed of 12 urban districts, 1 district-level town, and 17 rural districts. Most visitors – including myself – stay in the old quarter in Hoan Kiem district, and visit Ba Dinh District (the political and cultural heart of Vietnam). With a new metro system […]
