Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi was our final stop on our adventure through Vietnam, and we were looking forward to visiting the capital city, with its 19th century French architecture, modern skyscrapers and ancient narrow streets. Although by this point we realised the entire place would likely be filled with mopeds. And it was. After our last few days spent in the relative tranquility of Hạ Long Bay and … Continue reading Hanoi, Vietnam
Hạ Long Bay, Vietnam
Hạ Long Bay is a ridiculously beautiful part of the world. Thousands of limestone karsts tower out of the clear blue water, in which secluded white beaches nestle among caves worn by millennia of waves. It is a stunning, magical place. Before planning our trip to Hạ Long Bay, we had carried out some careful research. The bay has earned a reputation for being full … Continue reading Hạ Long Bay, Vietnam
Phong Nha-Ke Bàng, Vietnam
We were on the train to Đồng Hới when I first read about the tigers. I secretly thought I could outwit the snakes. But with tigers, I wasn’t so sure. We had caught the train from Huế to go to Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, an area in central Vietnam which borders Laos. The national park is home to the world’s largest cave (a five-day … Continue reading Phong Nha-Ke Bàng, Vietnam
Huế and the Hải Vân Pass, Vietnam
The 2008 Christmas Special of Top Gear, irritating as the programme may be, had drawn our attention to a winding mountain road called the Hải Vân Pass. The mountain pass was superseded by a tunnel a few years ago, meaning the route is quiet, and ideal for scenic mountain road driving. Due to various Vietnamese laws which I won’t pretend to understand, we weren’t allowed … Continue reading Huế and the Hải Vân Pass, Vietnam
Hội An, Vietnam
Hội An is a small town that sits on the Thu Bồn River, a few miles inland from the South China Sea. A warren of old buildings layered in crumbling yellow paint, Hội An comes alive at night, when the streets are illuminated by thousands of silk lanterns. Now a Unesco world heritage site, Hội An used to be one of Vietnam’s main trading ports … Continue reading Hội An, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City was our first stop on a trip from the south of Vietnam to the north. Formerly known as Saigon, the city is home to eight and a half million people, and is chaotic, vibrant and bewildering. More so when you have just stepped off a plane into 35°c heat and it’s 7am. After a short bus ride from the airport to … Continue reading Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Valletta, Malta
Visiting somewhere for a stag do is very different to a normal holiday. You become semi-nocturnal, and spend more time in bars than you would on a regular sightseeing trip. But it’s a good way to see a different side to a city; in this case, it was Valletta. Chris (regular readers may remember him from camping) is getting married to the lovely Heidi-Lee (also … Continue reading Valletta, Malta
Prizren, Kosovo
Kosovo, at the time of writing, is the world’s second newest country. I was visiting Macedonia with my friend Dave, so it seemed a good chance to cross the border and explore Kosovo, a place largely overlooked by guidebooks and travel blogs. Our destination was Prizren, a town in the south of the country. The main road from Macedonia to Prizren is varied. Giant potholes, … Continue reading Prizren, Kosovo
