Preparing for your trip to Vietnam

Vietnam is a culturally diverse and fascinating country, and is often a big step away from familiar cultures for visitors to the area. It has a variety of different climates, ranging from tropical to temperate mountainous zones, and the country experiences a high amount of rainfall and also some ...

Sa Pa

Sa Pa (or Sapa) is a small market town in the north west of Vietnam which attracts a lot of tourists due to it's picture perfect views, it's dramatic landscaping and it's cultural antics. Snuggled into the mountains and overlooking a deep valley, this French settlement has become the tourism cent...

Stray in Vietnam

Stray is tour company that operates in South East Asia and in New Zealand. They operate guided bus tours, mostly aimed at younger backpackers who wish to experience the country with some like minded people. Founded in New Zealand in 2002, the company prides itself on taking travellers off the bea...

Vietnamese Food

Quickly growing in popularity all over the world, Vietnamese cuisine is packed full of flavour, and is a central part of the culture of the country. One of the greatest things about travel is immersing yourself in the local food scene and venturing as far away from the comforts of your own cuisin...

Vietnam by motorbike

One of the most popular ways to experience Vietnam, or indeed any of the countries in South East Asia, is by renting or buying a motorbike to travel between points of interest. This is particularly popular among the backpacking community, and is a unique and interesting way to experience the coun...

Exploring the largest cave – Son Doong

Visitors to the beautiful landscapes of the Far Eastern jewel of Vietnam are often struck by the country's sheer diversity. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are as bustling and cosmopolitan as anywhere else in the Far East; or, in fact, the world. The Mekong Delta and the bays of Ha Long contain fabulo...

A taste of Vietnam

Throughout the world, people have developed a taste for Asian food, principally the dishes emanating from China, Japan or India. However, by travelling beyond these locations it's possible to immerse yourself in a diverse world of mouth-watering national dishes. Vietnamese cuisine is no exception...

Family holidays in Vietnam

Last century, Vietnam only made the news for all the wrong reasons. However, the destructive conflict that afflicted the country for many years remains an aspect of its distant past. Vietnam's present couldn't be more radically different. In the intervening decades it has steadily emerged as one ...

Kids activities during Vietnam vacations

Are you thinking about visiting Vietnam but are unsure if there will be sufficient facilities to keep young charges occupied? Well, rest assured, you have absolutely nothing to worry about on that score. There is a wealth of activities for children to enjoy during Vietnam holidays.Boat tripsVietn...

Recommended Vietnam hotels - The Church Boutique

Located in Hanoi's Old Quarter, the Church Boutique is a relatively small international hotel (31 rooms), but what it may lack in stature compared to some of the country's larger hotels, it makes up for in customer service. Its situation is a mere 45-minute journey from Hanoi Airport.Building man...

Recommended Vietnam hotels - Sheraton Saigon Hotel

Located in the Dong Khoi neighbourhood of District 1, on the doorstep of Ho Chi Minh City Hall, the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica and Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Sheraton is a mere 25 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City airport. Its enviable city centre location means that this hotel is perfect for sightseers...

Recommended Vietnam hotels - The Grand Hotel, Saig

The Grand is one of the country's oldest and most respected hotels, having kept its customers satisfied for over a century and a half. Opening in Ho Chi Minh City in the 1930s, it provides modern travellers with an oasis of colonial-era elegance, slap bang in the middle of bustling modern streets...

ASEAN Foundation and SAP

The ASEAN Foundation and SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced a strategic partnership to create positive social impact in South East Asia, including social enterprises in Vietnam. This joint effort will focus on areas of Education, Volunteerism and Entrepreneurship. Through this partnership, the AS...

River tours in the Mekong Delta

There are many ways to explore the hinterland of Vietnam's lush Mekong Delta. Tours of this vicinity range from luxurious boat cruises to cycle tours to cross-country hiking. The latter are popular because the terrain is quite flat, and the roads are all in reasonable condition. But because the w...

Scuba diving in Vietnam

Vietnam's diverse natural seascapes, abundant marine ecosytems and tropical waters all lead to one thing: scuba diving has become one of the country's most sought-after holiday experiences.Amongst the many fabulous resorts, one of the best known is Nha Trang. Basically a central coastal town (Nha...