We spent most of our time in Hanoi wandering around the narrow alleys of the historic and chaotic Old Quarter. Pulsating with life, this district has been the commercial center of the city for centuries, and today it is a captivating mix of ancient and modern. Bikes zip by in all directions and a steady […]
Destinations
Hanoi’s Temple of the Lake
Ngoc Son Temple (Jade Mountain Temple) sits on an island in Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of old Hanoi. Built in the 18th century and reached via a red bridge lined with colorful flags, the temple is dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao who defeated the Mongols in the 13th century. Other figures honored […]
Going Inside Vietnam’s Cu Chi Tunnels
One of Ho Chi Minh City’s most famous sights is the Cu Chi Tunnels. First dug in the 1940s to help the local Vietnamese fight French forces, the tunnels played a pivotal role in the Viet Cong (VC) defeat of US and allied troops during the Vietnam-American War in the 1960s. When we arrived at […]
Making Friends Over Vietnamese Crepes
While in Ho Chi Minh City, I had the pleasure of meeting up with another blogger friend, James of fly, Icarus, fly. Knowing my love of food, he suggested we meet for dinner and listed several restaurants that all sounded great. But as soon as he said “sizzling crepes,” I knew that was the place […]
A Tour of Snail Street with Saigon Street Eats
In a happy coincidence of timing, a fellow blogger and her husband recently started their own tour company, Saigon Street Eats. Their focus is solely on the local street food of Ho Chi Minh City, and they have several tours to choose from. We opted for their “Seafood Trail,” billed as a nightime eating adventure. […]