I took this photo as a historical reference to the changing face of Ho Chi Minh City. The city is finally getting a sorely needed metro system and there are numerous blocks in district 1 that are now boarded up in preparation for construction. The building in the foreground is the Saigon Tax Trade Centre; […]
Notes on Mui Ne: A convenient beach break from Ho Chi Minh City
Mui Ne is a beach resort area in Southern Vietnam. When people refer to Mui Ne they usually mean the long stretch of beach that runs between Mui Ne and Phan Thiet. The town itself is a fishing port with only a few places to stay. If you are travelling around Southeast Asia or only […]
Hotel Review: La Marina Hotel, Mui Ne – Vietnam
Hotel Name: La Marina Hotel Address: 246/2B Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet, Vietnam. Mui Ne is a beach resort town about 3-4 hours from Saigon (depending on the traffic). I booked La Marina online and I selected the hotel for its close proximity to the beach. Mui Ne/Phan Thiet is basically one long […]
Hotel Review: Laska Hotel, Vung Tau – Vietnam
Hotel Name: Laska Hotel Address: 81/6 Thuy Van, Back Beach, Vung Tau, Vietnam. The Laska Hotel is one of dozens of cheap hotels that are clustered around the southern end of the Back Beach in Vung Tau. There wasn’t any distinguishing feature that stood out when I choose the booking apart from wifi and location. […]
Hotel Review: Dai Huy Hoang Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam
Hotel Name: Dai Huy Hoang Hotel Address: 283/22 Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I stayed at the Dai Huy Hoang Hotel in Saigon while I was looking for a new apartment to rent. I stayed for two nights at $14 a night and I booked via Agoda. Whenever I […]
Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and the unofficial business capital. If you love chaotic cities with a buzz and want to visit a city that is transforming into a modern Asian metropolis then this is the place to be. I’ve put together some notes on the city and linked to […]
In Pictures: Cai Rang Floating Market in the Mekong Delta
Cai Rang is home to the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta. The market is near the city of Can Tho, which is about four hours from Ho Chi Minh City; too far for a day trip, so an overnight stay is required. Here is my guide on where to stay in Can Tho. […]
The first meal I will eat when I get back is…
“What’s the first thing you are going to eat when you get back?” I asked Dan while we waited for our flight to Hanoi. “Fried eel soup.” Dan said this without missing a beat. He said it like he had already thought of this, and I asked him because I knew he would be the […]
Best cafes in Hanoi
Following up on my guide to cafes in Ho Chi Minh City I now present my guide to cafes in Hanoi. In my previous cafe reports I have usually had at least a month to try out the cafes of each city. My trip to Hanoi was for one week, so this meant I had […]
Iconic Saigon war photo locations revisited
There are some cities in the world where I can’t help but think about its troubled past. I lived in London for two years where its ugly post-war buildings are a constant reminder of the blitz. I have spent several months in Budapest where you see plaques everywhere inscribed with 1956. Ho Chi Minh City […]
