One of the sad rules of traveling is that no matter how much time or money you have, you always have to choose what to visit and what to skip. Based on my travels in Cambodia, I made a list of six things to do in Cambodia that really ought to be in every itinerary. Continue reading “6 Things you cannot skip in the Kingdom of Cambodia”
The great temples of Angkor need no introduction. Every traveler that plans on visiting Cambodia has both heard of and intends to visit them. Next to its infamous main temple Angkor Wat, the Bayon temple (temple of the heads) and the ‘tomb-raider temple’ Ta Prohm attract a daily massive crowd. Nevertheless few doubt their beauty when they are standing face-to-face with them, crowds or not. As a Dutchy I am obviously biased towards cycling, since we’re basically born on one. But with this read I am not merely going to explain how to visit the temples by bicycle. I am also going to convince you that cycling Angkor Wat is really the only way to go at it.
The only true urban metropolis in Vietnam is Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), formally known as Saigon. Think skyscrapers, never-ending streams of traffic and a surprisingly ‘western’ attitude of its inhabitants. HCMC has the best bars, the finest restaurants and the fanciest hotels in the whole country, so if you crave that urban feel, this is your spot. Whether you will be in town for a day or more, here are the top things to do in Saigon. Continue reading “Exploring Saigon (HCMC)”
The Mekong Delta, often called the ‘rice-bowl of Vietnam’ is the place where the mighty Mekong enters the South Chinese Sea. Picture hundreds of small meandering canals, lot’s of rice paddies, houses on poles and busy floating markets. All subjected to the shifting tides of the mighty river. Being this close to HCMC you really have no excuse to skip this one. Even if you can only spare a single day. Continue reading “Visiting the Mekong Delta”
Every trip to South-East Asia should include at least a few days of relaxing on a tropical island with wavy palm-trees lining pearly white sun-bleached beaches and azure-blue waters inviting you to take a dip. For Vietnam the best choice by far is Phu Quoc island. Wondering what to do in Phu Quoc (or actually on Phu Quoc, since its an island)? Kick back and relax of course.
Continue reading “What to do in Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s Paradise Island”
Hoi An is a small atmospheric town in central Vietnam, and one of the most iconic (and visited) places in the country. Its historic center is small, beautiful and pedestrians only. It offers both cultural and culinary thrills, lots of shopping opportunities and more tailors than one would expect in a town twenty times its size. There are just so many things to do in Hoi An it is mindboggling. Add to this a great countryside and palm-tree lined beaches nearby and you begin to understand why so many travelers intent to only stay here for a few days, but end up staying a lot longer..
Continue reading “Things to do in Hoi An: a complete city guide”
It is safe to say that everybody that visits Vietnam, visits Halong Bay. Considering hundreds of boats sail out daily, carrying thousands of tourists.. one would think that this place gets too crowded to enjoy. I certainly feared so. But I am happy (and a bit relieved) to tell you this is not the case! Yes you will see many boats, and yes certain ‘sights’ can get quite crowded. But a little Vietnamese law prohibits all boats that aren’t ivory-white to sail these waters. This gives the already stunning boats, ships, barges and galleons that roam Halong Bay a very uniform and calm look. Instead of being a hindrance they add a sense of perspective to the rocks and the wide waters in between. Making it hard not to love this utterly idyllic place.
Imagine yourself on a scooter, effortlessly cruising down a long winding road. On your left you see the rugged jungle, on your right stunning vista’s are constantly exchanged for idyllic beaches and rocky cliffs. Where can you combine a day-filling high-adrenaline activity, beautiful temples and brisk nature without a guide and with no fear of getting lost, all the while while actually covering distance and getting to your next destination? If it sounds to good to be true it probably is.. except its not. Its the Hai Van Pass, one of the things you really really really can’t skip when traveling Vietnam. Continue reading “The magnificent Hai Van Pass – Vietnam”
Hue Vietnam, a medium-sized provincial city in central-Vietnam, is included in most itinerary’s because of its history and location. It served as the capital of Vietnam from 1802-1945 and is perfectly on route as a stop-over if you travel the country from North to South. The town itself is a dirty, busy and rather uninspiring place. The Royal Tombs in close vicinity however are a delight and definitely make your visit worth the extra stop. Continue reading “Vietnam’s Imperial Capital: Hue”
Ninh Binh is a small rural town that many people skip when travelling Vietnam. People seem to think that it’s not really worth the stop since they are already going to see the iconic karsts-rocks in Halong Bay. If this applies to you, you are wrong! Ninh Binh shows the beautiful countryside of Vietnam and adds the karsts-rocks that dot this landscape, as a bonus. Also, Tràng An and Tam Coc are just too beautiful to not include in your itinerary. With the town being just a 150 kilometres (100 miles) south of Hanoi its really easy to ‘get in, and out again’, so go, if only for a day.
