Another wonderful example of French colonial architecture, the Saigon Museum of Fine Arts is a striking yellow colonial-era mansion. The building is set back from the street and can be nicely framed by the wrought-iron gates. The bright yellow facade contrasts…
Japan Town in Saigon, centered around Le Thanh Ton Street in District 1, has a unique blend of Japanese and Vietnamese urban culture. It’s a compact neighborhood, spanning roughly 4-5 blocks. Lots of sushi bars and a nice mix of…
Vinh Hy is just south of Camh Ranh and is characterised by it’s semi-circular harbor. A good place to stay and explore the Camh Lap peninsula or Hang Rai.
The Saigon Opera House is one of the best examples of French colonial architecture in Saigon. It’s an extremely elegant building. It has quite a rich history with the first production taking place in January 1900 by French actors. The…
The Saigon Central Post Office has to be one of the most elegant post offices in Asia. Another example of French Colonial architecture. I am not sure where the rumour started but you will hear it attributed to Gustav Eiffel…
District 1 has a large Japan Town with many restaurants, shops, and bars servicing Japanese clientele. But across the canal from the Zoo in Binh Thanh is a second smaller Japanese area.
Nam Du Island is serviced by ferries from Rach Gia in the southern Mekong. It is a lovely seldom visited island. There are a number of smaller islands that you can visit on daily tour boats. Don’t expect much for…
The ride from the Ha Giang or Hoang Su Phi area will take you past some lovely countryside and parts of Tuyen Quang. A nice alternate route to taking DT279 the entire way is to take DT279 to DT188. On…
Tu Le is the first rice growing area you reach when going from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai. It’s a bit closer to Hanoi so you can get there in one day if you leave early. Most of the rice…
When you see photographs of Vietnam’s spectacular terraced rice fields, there’s a good chance they were taken in Mu Cang Chai. The area contains some of the country’s most iconic rice terraces, along with Hmong villages and homestays that provide…