Planning a visit to the Vietnamese capital? Here are some things you simply must do when spending time in Hanoi WHAT TO SEE IN HANOI IT’S big, it’s busy, and Vietnam’s capital is filled with intriguing attractions — so we’ve put together a bucket list of the best things to do in Hanoi. OLD QUARTERContinue reading “VISIT – HANOI”
Category Archives: Vietnam
CRUISE – MEKONG RIVER
Customer demand prompts Pandaw to introduce a new three-night voyage sailing the mighty Mekong river between Saigon and Phnom Penh … PANDAW’S MEKONG ADVENTURE THERE’S now a new option for travellers looking to move between Saigon and Phnom Penh with Pandaw introducing a three-day voyage linking the two South-East Asian cities. The new itinerary willContinue reading “CRUISE – MEKONG RIVER”
Island time for InterCon …
PHU Quoc is emerging as Vietnam’s next holiday hotspot with the island’s newest place to stay, the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort, welcoming its first guests on June 28. The resort is a 15-minute drive from Phu Quoc’s international airport, and only 20 minutes from the “cultural attractions” of Duong Dong town, and guests enjoyContinue reading “Island time for InterCon …”
New look for Caravelle …
→ The Caravelle Saigon is already one of Vietnam’s great historic hotels with a room renovation set to start a new chapter … TODAY marks the start of a new chapter for the Caravelle Saigon with the historic hotel launching a renovation program that will see guest rooms receive an elegant upgrade. “For those ofContinue reading “New look for Caravelle …”
Saigon afternoon storm …
Where … Room 101, Villa Song Saigon When … Sunday, July 29, 2018 at 3.09pm What … I love the afternoon thunderstorms that sometimes sweep across Saigon at this time of the year. Puffy white clouds begin to bloom and bellow after lunch, reaching high into the sky, and while most harmlessly collapse some turnContinue reading “Saigon afternoon storm …”
Tan Son Nhat …
Where … On the runway at Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat Airport When … Thursday, August 2, 2018 at 1.16pm What … The “departure” runway at Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat Airport – with one typically for arriving and the other for leaving – which is the city’s international and domestic hub about 15km from District 1.Continue reading “Tan Son Nhat …”
Hue’s Imperial City …
HUE’S Imperial City is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful corners but because the address sits in the centre of the country, in the region most tourists fly over jetting between Hanoi and Saigon, it often goes unexplored and unappreciated. But on my most recent visit to Vietnam the itinerary includes a stay at the BanyanContinue reading “Hue’s Imperial City …”
Chef Luke moves up …
VIETNAM Airlines has added favourite Australian chef Luke Nguyen to its register of “global cuisine ambassadors” with the celebrity set to put his stamp on the in-flight menu. During the next three years the author and television host will develop a selection of dishes to be added to the business-class menu on flights between AustraliaContinue reading “Chef Luke moves up …”
Do South-East Asia in 2018 …
WHEN Aussies daydream about getting away it’s destinations around Asia that often provide the backdrop for holiday fantasies. Empty beaches, ancient temples, bustling cities, lush rainforests, hectic markets and serene islands promise something to satisfy every appetite, but where to go when new resorts, tours, experiences and destinations pop up every day? Escape chats withContinue reading “Do South-East Asia in 2018 …”
Deposited in Ms Duras’ Sa Dec …
SOMETIMES moments of great symmetry happen during travels. Like reading a great work of literature set in the bygone French Indochina while floating along the waterway that features in the story. From my armchair on the deck of a colonial-style riverboat, floating along Vietnam’s Mekong River somewhere between the Cambodian border and South China Sea,Continue reading “Deposited in Ms Duras’ Sa Dec …”
Temple etiquette for Asia tour …
DO you know the difference between a pagoda, a temple and a stupa? I have been to Asia dozens of times since my rookie tour back in 1994, and ventured inside more Buddhist sanctuaries than I can remember, but it wasn’t until my first sojourn in Myanmar at the end of 2015 that a guideContinue reading “Temple etiquette for Asia tour …”
River ship that feels like home …
“GOOD morning, welcome home,’’ the ship’s crew chant as we step back on board the RV Mekong Pandaw. It’s only 10.30am but the day is already fiercely hot, the dense humidity delivered by last night’s monsoonal downpour settling on the landscape like a wet woolen blanket. I’m pleased to be back on my graceful floatingContinue reading “River ship that feels like home …”
Shop for style in new Saigon …
THE first time I went to Saigon almost 20 years ago shopping was limited to a stroll through Ben Thanh Market. Nothing cost more than a couple of dollars and while items like clothes and shoes rarely fitted the western frame it was a chance to stock up on delicate ceramics, colourful handbags and vibrantContinue reading “Shop for style in new Saigon …”
Vietnam’s Sa Dec …
I’VE been to Vietnam’s Mekong Delta a few times now but this is the first time I’ve visited Sa Dec. The settlement sits upstream from big cities like Vinh Long and My Tho and, at first glance, looks much like all the other villages lining the banks of the might Mekong River as it snakesContinue reading “Vietnam’s Sa Dec …”
Slow journey is a fast boat …
THE pastel tropical dawn is fusing with the white glow of street-light fluorescents to illuminate our path along the wharf and we can hear the staccato throb of the motors on the back of the speedboat ferry awaiting our arrival. We’re in Chau Doc, on the Vietnamese side of the Cambodian border, and my WorldContinue reading “Slow journey is a fast boat …”
Asia’s top temples to tempt …
SOUTH-East Asia’s top temples, in settlements from Bangkok to Yangon, are ideal places to find serenity in the region’s bustling cities. Angkor Wat Cambodia’s Angkor Wat isn’t just the world’s biggest temple – the sanctuary occupies a 162ha plot 5km from Siem Reap – but it’s also one of the most famous with more thanContinue reading “Asia’s top temples to tempt …”
Saigon’s secrets …
SAIGON – yes, that’s right, Saigon, only government officials and neophyte tourists call it Ho Chi Minh City – is Vietnam’s high-octane settlement and a place that manages to be brash and brassy while retaining a traditional simplicity. This metropolis of eight million people is divided into 24 districts, but it’s District 1, between theContinue reading “Saigon’s secrets …”
Best value city breaks …
TRIPINDEX, TripAdvisor’s annual cost-comparison study, has named Hanoi (below) as the best-value destination in the world for a city break. The study looked at 20 destinations and found the average price for a short break was $1,238, excluding flights, with prices varying significantly from the least to most expensive. The investigation compared the cost ofContinue reading “Best value city breaks …”
Hotels bathrooms with a view …
IT’S not unusual for a hotel room to come complete with a remarkable view. But what about the bathroom? Long gone are the days when this most functional space was placed in a dark corner, out of sight and out of mind, with today’s architects and interior designers positioning the bathroom so those occupying theContinue reading “Hotels bathrooms with a view …”
French style in Vietnam …
VIETNAM’S newest hotel will delight Francophiles with the Mercure Bana Hills French Village taking its inspiration from a mountain-top settlement in the south of France. The resort is a 30-minute drive from Da Nang and has 494 modern guestrooms in six categories – standard and deluxe rooms as well as executive, family and royal suitesContinue reading “French style in Vietnam …”
Saigon’s new stays …
IF YOU like hotels with history then Saigon is the place for you. Stately properties – the Rex Hotel, Caravelle Saigon, the Hotel Majestic, Hotel Continental Saigon, the Grand Hotel – carry the delightful design flourishes of a bygone era, tell interesting tales, and have been welcoming guests since long before the “American War’’. TheseContinue reading “Saigon’s new stays …”
Vietnam’s Aussie battlefields …
NEVER have the notes of the Last Post seemed more significant than at this moment. I’m standing in a nondescript corner of southern Vietnam, deep inside a rubber plantation that looks like all the others carpeting this region of Southeast Asia. The bugle call that marks the end of day and commemorates Australia’s fallen servicemenContinue reading “Vietnam’s Aussie battlefields …”
Where to wander …
THERE are more ways than ever to explore a holiday destination – trams, horse-drawn carts, Segways, vintage cars, bicycles – but there are some streets that should be seen on foot so pack your walking shoes and prepare to pound the pavement. Budapest Budapest’s Andrassy Ut stretches 2.5km from Heroes Square to Erzsebet Square withContinue reading “Where to wander …”
Top-floor tipples …
ASIA has sky-high socialising down to a fine art. Right around the region there are rooftop bars perched in lofty locations that provide the perfect place to match a casual drink with a remarkable view after – or even during – a day playing tourist. 1. Singapore’s 1-Altitude, occupying the 63rd floor at One RafflesContinue reading “Top-floor tipples …”
Footsteps of the fallen …
SATURDAY’S Anzac Day services will commemorate more than the 100th anniversary of Australian troops landing at Gallipoli. This significant day also signals the start of a century of Australian men and women serving in wars, police actions and peace-keeping missions that have taken our army, navy, air force and merchant mariners to battlefields around theContinue reading “Footsteps of the fallen …”
Riding the rails …
FROM The Oriental Express to the Rocky Mountaineer, the romance of train journeys have long captured the imaginations of travellers the world over. We’ve chosen the top ten rail experiences that will bring out the explorer in you. 1. Peru’s Andean Explorer (below) takes 10 hours to rattle from Cuzco to Puno, making for aContinue reading “Riding the rails …”
Go with the flow …
THERE are some boat crews that refuse to drop anchor at night in this wide section of the Mekong River. It has nothing to do with dangerous tides, unpredictable weather, or even concerns about running aground. The Vietnamese mariners are frightened of ghosts, and they suspect the spirits of more than 50,000 Thai soldiersContinue reading “Go with the flow …”
On your bike …
LAST year I seemed to take a lot of photos of doors, from Argentina and Italy to Sri Lanka and the Philippines my travel snaps featured lots of doorways. I have been organising my Vietnam photos and this year the theme seems to be bicycles and you can see from the collection above that IContinue reading “On your bike …”
Eat, drink and be memorable …
During the eight days we spent in Vietnam, where the top three holiday activities were eating, drinking and shopping, there was one meal that’s worth a special mention. It was my birthday dinner on January 1 and it consisted of real Vietnamese spring rolls and lime juice at my favourite spot on the roof ofContinue reading “Eat, drink and be memorable …”
Far Near Or Here 