Ruth Hubbard

Laotian monks in Luang Prabang

Getting to know Laos through Vientiane

I had no expectations of Vientiane. Most visitors to Laos head straight for the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang skipping the country’s capital. But my day tour of Vientiane was one of the unexpected highlights of my two week journey through Laos. For while Luang Prabang is simply unique and a world-class cultural […]

Sayaboury Elephants

Sayaboury Elephant Conservation Centre

There was no way I was going to travel all the way to lovely Laos and not see an elephant. The old name for Laos, Lan Xang, literally means ‘land of a million elephants’ and I have loved elephants since I was a child. Sadly there are no longer a million elephants in Laos; today’s […]

Hoi An Bike Ride

Journeys Vietnam: by bike

Cycling has been a really fun way to see Vietnam. It’s nice to travel by bike at a slower pace and get off the beaten track. In Hoi An we rode simple granny bikes without gears to get out into the countryside…

Angkor beer

The local beers!

As well as trying as much Vietnamese food as our stomachs can handle, I feel it’s important to try the local beers too. Interestingly a lot of local beers here are named after the city in which they are made, which means you can chart our journey through Vietnam by the drinks we’re having. Above, […]

Delicious food

Top tips for travelling in Vietnam

We’ve learned some things on our journey through Vietnam… And made some mistakes as well, just so you don’t have to! Here are our top tips for smooth travels in this part of the world. 1. Happy room If you need the loo in Vietnam, just ask for the happy room…

Thien Mu Pagoda

Hue and the Thien Mu Pagoda

Hue was a lovely surprise. A big city with a relaxed small town feel perhaps thanks to it’s huge student population. Coming from Hanoi, the roads here are one hundred times calmer and despite the rain, it was great to see some of Vietnam’s most important historical sites. This morning we hopped on a dragon […]

Green papaya salad

Love Food: Central Vietnam

We were already hooked on Vietnamese food, but as we’ve travelled south down to Hue and Hoi An the meals are just getting better and better. No offence to the north, but in Hoi An especially everything just seems soooooo fresh and now with a little extra chilli. We are officially in culinary heaven and […]

Buffalo at the market

Coc Ly Market, Sapa

It was a privilege to visit the Tuesday morning market at Coc Ly, in Lao Cai province near Sapa in north-western Vietnam. This is a real working market that draws huge number of Flower Hmong people each week to buy and sell fruit, clothing, electronic goods and animals, especially water buffalo. Enjoy our photo blog […]