I've learned that when a city is proclaimed as a country's cultural capital, it usually means it's cold. True to form, Hue (pronounced h-way) features gray-hued skies, a chilly wind drafting over the river and squat buildings crowding the winding...
Hoi An is one of the prettiest cities in Vietnam: recognized by UNESCO as an exceptionally well-preserved Asian trading port, the riverfront buildings are colorful and diverse examples of 19th- and 20th-century French-influenced...
Every once in a while, I surprise myself and willingly break away from beaches for a chilly, cloudy destination. Exploring Ke Bang National Park was one such adventure: renowned for having some of the oldest, largest caves in the world, the region...
When I think of cities surrounded by walls and moats, I think France in the Middle Ages (i.e. Avignon). I certainly don't think of 19th-century Vietnam.
But the Imperial City of Hue was constructed in 1802, its ruin only amplified by American...
In my opinion, the best thing you can do in Vietnam is eat: I could live forever on prawn spring rolls, steaming bowls of pho and fresh-cut mango dipped in chili salt. After an awesome cooking class in Indonesia and learning how to make papaya salad...