Southeast Asia
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How to travel Central & South Vietnam in 12 days
Desperate for an adventure, but limited on time? Here’s how to travel Central & South Vietnam in 12 days. Encouraged by my travel-loving sister, I totted up my leftover holiday allowance and took a deep breath as I booked a solo trip to Vietnam last year. However, it didn’t take long for the word to spread. Next thing I knew, there were three of us packed into an Uber at 5am! With return flights booked to Ho Chi Minh City and limited time, we opted to only go as far north as Central Vietnam. 12 days is certainly not enough time to fully explore all this beautiful country has to…
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Hoi An: What you shouldn’t miss
I never fully understood why Hoi An, a small town south of Hue & Da Nang on the Eastern coast of Vietnam, meant so much to travellers until I’d witnessed it myself. With quaint cafes to unwind in, a riverside and thriving night markets to wander and iconic lanterns to pose next to, Hoi An is the perfect midway point when travelling the expanse of the country. With lots of elements to take in, this guide will tell you what you shouldn’t miss when visiting this coastal town. Where to stay in Hoi An I’d recommend staying at Tribee Bana Hostel, as it’s ideally located a short walk from the…
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Hai Van Pass: Everything you need to know
The winding stretch of coastline along the Hai Van Pass is truly breath-taking. This journey south from Hue to Hoi An is one of my highlights of our trip. I’d highly recommend you add it to your must-see list when visiting Vietnam! We booked our tour through Vietnam Backpacker’s Hostel (roughly £50pp). Eager for the day ahead, we made the 5 minute walk from The Dreamers Hostel in Hue (£3-£16pp per night), post instant noodle breakfast. Opting for a jeep, we sat in the back with our driver, Hi, and Aussie tour guide, Alissa, riding up front. (We didn’t fancy risking our lives as novice moped motorists). Together with an…
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Ho Chi Minh City: How to spend 3 days
Of all the places I’ve visited, the city of Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon) in south Vietnam, is a place that truly encapsulates the phrase “organised chaos”. With 14 million people and roughly 10 million mopeds, this city is constantly buzzing. The vibrations of bodies, vehicle exhausts and beeping horns is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Whole families, including the dog, pile onto the back of scooters. The streets are so jam packed with motorists, not even the pavements are safe! It was a great way to begin our Vietnamese adventure. Day 1 in Ho Chi Minh After an hour’s bus journey (20k VDN/70p) through the city from Tan…
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Guide to Travelling Bali in 2 Weeks
This guide to travelling Bali is a beginner’s intro on what to see, do and eat when visiting this beautiful island. Sadly, it’s over Westernised these days and reminds me of an Australian’s version of Ibiza, but there are plenty of untapped spots to still enjoy. Guide to travelling Bali For my 2017 summer holiday, my then-boyfriend and I headed for two weeks in sunny Bali. Me being me; my lead time was spent researching and planning as much of the trip as I could. With my newfound wealth of information, personal experience of visiting and gathering tips from other travellers, here’s my beginner’s guide to travelling Bali in 2…
