Hue: A city of “perfume and purple”

Our journey to Hue from nearby city Danang in Central Vietnam had us go through a mandatory discomfort in a small, cramped bus (and being puked on by a seat mate) before finding peace in another old city that lives in the present.

By the time we arrived in Hue, it was nighttime but we drowned our worries of dealing with overbooked dormitels by eating heaps of rice and beef.

We didn’t have to worry, really. Hue City Hostel (40 Chu Van An Street) had more than enough space for two weary travelers. The hotel staff was friendly and accommodating; their chic dorm room (with paintings and red/white wall decals) was unbelievably cheap for its kind.

That’s how we ended up sleeping until ...

Sài Gòn, những điều chưa thấy

Many travelers talk about wanting have more local experiences – but how far will you go to get access to those experiences? One of the main things locals do in Saigon is ride motorbikes – so would you get on the back of one to ride around like the locals do?

Most people think that simply crossing the street in Ho Chi Minh City is a real life Frogger game – a death wish. Vietnam is known for their chaotic motorbike traffic and it can be quite intimidating to most tourists. I’ve heard many people say that they would never get on a motorbike in HCMC let alone drive themselves anywhere. However, my niece and I decided that we wanted to ...

Ten Iconic Dishes To Hunt For In Hue, Vietnam

A person can eat so very well in the Vietnamese city of Hue. Located in the center of the long, narrow country, between the Perfume River and the East Sea, it served as the country’s capital until 1945, and is still known as the Imperial City. Hue was also the site of some of the most destructive and mind-changing battles of the Vietnam War (known locally as the American War). With such a rich history, the city claims several distinctive dishes — from small and delicate creations originally created to please the appetites of Nguyen feudal lords, emperors (and their hundreds of wives) — to lusty, fiery street-level soups and sausages with complex, explosive and satisfying flavors. Here are the ...

Local Experiences Along the Tourist Trail in Hue

There is a well worn tourist trail in Vietnam, and yes, the Vietnamese can be quite aggressive when it come to tourism and selling you things, but once you step out of those tourist districts – you can find a very different experience. Sure – you will still stick out and probably still pay higher prices due to the color of your skin – but you won’t be catered or pandered to.

If you take some time, the Imperial City of Hue fits in that class of tourist city that with a little digging you can find a more local experience.

Due to its history ranging from the ancient Nguyen Dynasty to the infamous war battles – it’s a main ...

Saigon Street Food

There were three ‘rules’ to this Saigon street food tour:

We recommend that you don’t drink too much water as it will fill you up too fast.

You should pace yourself.

Know that you don’t have to eat everything given to you.

This is exactly what you want to hear when you take a food tour! These were the three pieces of advice our guides from Back of the Bike Tours in Saigon gave to us before we started out evening street market food tour. These 3 instructions pretty much set the stage for a Ho Chi Minh City streetfood feast – and the need for elastic waistbands.

Duy and Huong picked us up at our hotel on their motorbikes and were full ...

Vietnam on a plate: a tour of Vietnam's best regional dishes

Travel for even a week in Vietnam and you’ll soon realise how few of its gastronomic specialities are well known outside the country. Every region lays claim to unique edible delights.

Culinary classics such as northern pho, Hue imperial banquet fare, and southern sizzling pancakes are just a tasty sample of what's on offer.

In the north of Vietnam, the cuisine is closely aligned with China. Fewer spices are used than in southern and central Vietnam, but black pepper is very important. Here cooks use a superior grade of pepper that is mild but intensely aromatic, with a uniquely Vietnamese sweetness. Equally vital are pungent herbs including basil, mint, coriander and spring onions.

In the temperate centre of the country and the tropical ...

Move Over Pho! Bún Bò Huế Is The Vietnamese Soup You Need To Know About

The central Vietnamese city of Hue, once the capital of Vietnam and still known as the Imperial City, has a distinctive cuisine full of diminutive rolls, savory pancakes, dumplings, skewers and other snacky bites.

Standing in contrast is the mighty Bun Bo Hue, a soup that starts with pork and beef bones, gets a kick from lemongrass, annatto and shrimp paste, and finishes the job with a tangle of herbs, a squeeze of lime and a few delicious add-ons like sliced brisket, crab balls and, in some cases, cubes of congealed pig’s blood.

Phew! As with a ragu Bolognese, most cooks can agree on the basic structure of the dish, but everyone makes it with slight variations — and there’s no end ...

Sách ảnh tiết lộ bí mật kiến trúc ngầm ở Ấn Độ

A new photobook has been published that unveils the history behind one of India’s best kept architectural secrets – a series of idiosyncratic subterranean stepwells scattered all over the country.

The multi-hued Mahila stepwell lies adjacent to a road leading into the “old city” of Jodhpur

Photo: © Victoria Lautman

Called The Vanishing Stepwells of India, the project was completed by Chicago-based journalist Victoria Lautman over the course of seven years, and saw her exploring different parts of India to discover more about the background of the unique ancient structures.

Also known as baolis, vavs and kunds in various parts of the country, stepwells are manufactured storage systems that were created to allow people to access a water source by descending a series of ...

Tại sao phải nâng tấm che cửa sổ trước khi máy bay hạ cánh?

If you're a frequent flyer, you've probably heard a cabin crew member say this: “Before landing, please ensure that your window blinds are raised…” But why is it necessary? Aviation expert John Walton explains.

Why are we asked to raise airplane window shades? 

It’s not just to give you a better view out of the window on landing, although that’s a side benefit.

As with many of the things we must do on flights, it’s for safety.

Opening that blind is a good plan for a combination of reasons. First of all, it’ll give your eyes time to adjust to the ...