Stories

Stories, inspiration, and recommendations for cultural adventures in Asia.

Vietnam
A Vespa night out in Saigon
The Magnificent Vietnam tour is currently travelling around the country staying in exciting cities, historical towns and rural mountains in...
Plain of Jars
Vietnam
The Plain of Jars: Laos' biggest mystery
In the third of our series on Southeast Asia’s archaeological wonders, we take you to Laos’ Plain of Jars: a mystery over 2,000 years old....
Woman at Market
Vietnam
A guide to money in Vietnam
Money in Vietnam – how much to bring, where to get it, how to exchange it – a task on everyone’s holiday prep list. So, let’s make it simple.
The ruins of My Son
Vietnam
My Son: Vietnam's Hindu legacy
The ruins of My Son Such is the overwhelming ascendancy of Buddhism in Southeast Asia today that few people know much about the...
Buddha offerings
Vietnam
New Year in Cambodia and Laos
This month, starting on the 15th of April, we’ll be ringing in the New Year once again in Burma, Cambodia and Laos. In countries where...
Tet flower shopping
Vietnam
Tết: A survival guide
Tết, short for Tết Nguyên Đán (Feast of the First Morning of the First Day) is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year - the...
Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh - Quang Nguyen Vinh Pixabay
Vietnam
Hanoi Vs. Saigon
If you’re planning on visiting Vietnam, the chances are that the northern capital Hanoi and southern hub of Ho Chi Minh City (AKA Saigon) will...
Train staff
Vietnam
All aboard Vietnam's new five-star train
There once was a time when the 31-hour trip from Hanoi to Saigon by train via the 1,726 km (1,072 mi) Reunification Railway was the preserve of the...
Dragonfruit, Lady Finger Bananas, Rose Apples and Watermelon
Vietnam
7 weird and wonderful fruits to try in Vietnam
With Tet approaching, Vietnamese families traditionally make a "five fruits" offering or the "Mam Ngu Qua" along with other Tet goods to their...
Phong Nha Cave
Vietnam
Vietnam to slash entrance fees to its famous caves
The national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Phong Nha-Ke Bang in Vietnam (which we recently mentioned in Five...
Holding hands
Vietnam
Vietnam at the forefront of LGBT rights in Southeast Asia
On New Year’s Day 2015, Vietnam repealed its ban on gay marriage – putting it leaps and bounds ahead of its Southeast Asian neighbours in...