Before I launch into Saigon, I want to update everyone on our itinerary, as we just booked the rest of our flights last night, since we are (sadly) nearing the end of our Asian campaign. On Sunday we will be catching a bus over the border of Cambodia and going directly to Siem Reap, the [...]

After saying a sad goodbye to Lloyd I headed back into Bangkok where I managed to get some cheap accomodation. The next day it was off to the Vietnam embassy first thing to try to sort my visa. Thankfully they were very nice and efficient and I managed to pick it up that afternoon. I [...]

HCM City(sai gon) Department of Tourism has launched a photo contest about the city’s tourism titled “HCM City – Hidden Beauty” with total bonus of nearly VND70 million ($4,300) and bonus tours to Thailand and the Mekong Delta. This is the first photo contest about the beauty of Ho chi minh city(sai gon), which will [...]

Looking for more of those Vietnam experiences that make you take a moment to scratch your head and marvel at the situation you’ve found yourself in? Fred Bane finds seven mind boggling destinations, all within a day’s travel from Saigon. Dam Sen Park is Saigon’s take on Disneyland. Hard to miss, with an enormous three-arched [...]

Location: Ly Nhon commune, Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City. Characteristics: Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Zone contains most beautiful forests of Can Gio which is one of the world’s Salt-Marsh biosphere preserve. Situated between the stream flows of Vam Sat and Long Tau River, Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Zone contains [...]

Location: 03 Hoa Binh St., Ward 3, District 11, HCM City Characteristics: Dam Sen Cutural Park is one of largest and most modern parks in the country with area of approximately 50 ha. Dam Sen is a harmonic association of two cultures: gardens rich of Oriental characteristics such as Nam Tu Thuong Uyen (Southern Royal [...]

Location: Ben Thanh Market is situated at the intersection of Le Loi Avenue, Ham Nghi Avenue, Tran Hung Dao Avenue and Le Lai Street, 700m south-west of the Rex Hotel. Characteristics: At first, the market was situated near the Ben Nghe River Dike. After being moved many times, it is now standing in the centre [...]

Location: The ecological forest of Can Gio is situated 50km away from downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Characteristic: With an area of over 70,000 ha, of which 35,000 ha is salt-watered forest, Can Gio has been recognized as a biosphere reserve of the world by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Can [...]

Location: Giac Lam Pagoda is located at 118 Lac Long Quan Street, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Characteristic: It is one of the city’s oldest pagodas with many Buddha statues made of brass and precious timber Giac Lam Pagoda (also known as the Cam Son or Cam Dien Pagoda) was built in 1744, [...]

Location: Duc Ba Cathedral is located on Han Thuyen Street, facing down Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Characteristic: The resplendent Governor’s Palace, completed in 1875, symbolized the regime’s political power in Asia. And five years later, the Duc Ba (Our Lady’s) Cathedral was inaugurated, and became the spiritual and cultural crucible [...]