Violet Cloutman

Stepping back in time at Vietnam’s Vinh Moc Tunnels

For many visitors to Vietnam, the country’s war history is a major draw. For those who grew up watching news coverage of the Vietnamese-American War (and those who grew up learning about it in school), seeing the key sites first-hand and meeting the people who lived through the conflict is a chance to see things […]

Luang Prabang morning alms ceremony: How to do it right

Luang Prabang is Laos’s premier tourist destination. A World Heritage City heralded for its beautiful blend of colonial architecture, traditional Buddhist wats, tropical atmosphere and riverside location, it has all the requisite elements of the perfect town – and the many visitors it welcomes every year agree. Yet despite its popularity, Luang Prabang has somehow […]

Burma or Myanmar: What’s in a name?

“InsideBurma Tours? But isn’t it supposed to be Myanmar now?” Ahh, Burma or Myanmar. The oft-asked question. And how we all wish there a simple answer. Just what is in a name? Well, when it comes to a certain country in Southeast Asia – quite a lot. Follow me as we dive into etymological history…

Golden Rock looking its best

Destination profile: Golden Rock

Located in the Eastern Yoma Mountains at the point where Mon State meets Bago State, the Golden Rock is almost unbelievable. Balanced precariously on the edge of a cliff, with just a tiny footprint actually touching the rock, this huge 7.6-metre boulder appears perpetually on the point of rolling off its perch and into the […]

Inside Phong Nha Cave

In praise of Phong Nha Cave

Violet recently returned from an Inside Vietnam Tours trip through Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam with her family. They spent three nights in Phong Nha National Park, where they visited several of the region’s spectacular limestone caves.

Down by the water in beautiful Hoi An

Tinker, tailor: A guide to ordering bespoke clothing in Hoi An

One of the top things to do in Hoi An is to visit a tailor, of which there are hundreds throughout the town. In fact, according to Travelfish, tailors outnumber all other businesses in Hoi An two to one – which isn’t difficult to believe for anyone who’s spent more than five minutes wandering through […]

6 surreal locations in Burma

As Burma only recently opened its doors to international tourism, many of its most beautiful locations remain little-known to the outside world. These are just six of Burma’s surreal, wanderlust-inducing wonders – how many have you heard of?

Black Hmong women in northern Vietnam

Responsible tourism & Vietnam’s ethnic minorities

Visiting one of Vietnam’s fascinating ethnic minority cultures is high on the to-do list of many travellers, and can be a memorable highlight of your trip to Indochina – but only if done properly. Here, I’ll be investigating the challenges faced by Vietnam’s ethnic minorities today, and the role tourism has to play in their […]