Dong Hoi is the gateway city for travel to the UNESCO World Heritage Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. Most visitors to Phong Nha go straight through Dong Hoi, and I nearly did as well. After spending a day looking around though, I think Dong Hoi might be a place you’ll hear more about […]
Could Hue be the next Chiang Mai?
The more I travel around Vietnam the more I see how much of a tourism giant this country could become. There are so many places that have yet to realise their potential, and Hue is one of those underachievers. While Danang and Nha Trang are now booming as beach destinations, Hue could easily position itself […]
Experience the Phong Nha Caves and rural life in Vietnam
Phong Nha is in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam in Quang Binh Province. The area is home to the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which is often referred to as the Phong Nha Caves. For reference here it is on the map. [Map of Phong Nha – Vietnam] This national park was listed […]
Visiting the world’s largest Starbucks in Tokyo
Here at Nomadic Notes I like to make lists of cool independent cafes to visit in cities of Asia. I’m not against visiting chain cafes either, so when I saw that the world’s largest Starbucks store opened in Tokyo I had to pay a visit. Before this visit I had been to what was at […]
Notes on Kyoto – temple hopping and urban wanders
Kyoto is one of the most popular destinations in Japan, to the point that it has become a global symbol of the overtourism phenomenon. I’ve been to Japan a few times now but had not visited Kyoto. The thought of fighting my way through crowds wan’t appealing, but I knew I had to see for […]
Notes on Kaohsiung – an underrated city for when you have the #overtourism blues
Kaohsiung is the second largest city in Taiwan, at the southern end of the island. Being in the travel business I know a number of people that have been and raved about it. Overall though it’s not a city that features on the international travel radar. There are direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City […]
Taroko National Park – highlights, and how to visit on a day trip from Taipei
Taroko National Park is one of the highlights of Taiwan, with the Taroko Gorge ranking among the great natural wonders of Asia. When I was planning my trip most of the information I found was from travel agents selling tours. If you are in Taipei on a short visit it is possible to visit Taroko […]
Notes on Haiphong – A historic port city in Northern Vietnam
Haiphong is the third-largest city in Vietnam, and it’s one of the five municipal cities. apart from being an industrial port city, it has a historic city centre that should attract more tourists than it does. It rarely makes anyones list of places to visit in Vietnam, but if you have time it’s worth a […]
Shamian – the historic concession island of Guangzhou
Shamian in Guangzhou is a former concession island that was established by the French and British after the Second Opium War. This small island has some of the best preserved colonial architecture in Asia. It might also be the best 19th century historical site that isn’t a UNESCO World Heritage Site (yet). The island was […]
Notes on Guangzhou: A worthy stopover city beyond the trade fair
I was in Guangzhou on a stopover with China Southern Airlines. In addition to being a modern megacity, it also has some of the best preserved heritage architecture in Asia. It had been nine years since my last visit to Guangzhou. Nine years is a long time in modern China, and Guangzhou (like Shenzhen) seemed […]
