Travel guide to Australia · Cambodia · Laos · Vietnam
handpicked · independent
Blog
The small businesses of the international travel industry are its heroes. Across the world, most...
Introduction
It took me more than 50 years to visit Tasmania. That was a big mistake. Make sure you don't leave...
Blog
Cemeteries and tombs have been a big part of my travelling life. From my first international...
see and do
The Rocks was the first British convict settlement in Australia and the place where the long...
see and do
If you like cycling, exploring the temples of Angkor by bicycle is a delight. In fact, we reckon...
Journalist Wilfred Burchett is the only Australian to rate a mention in the small museum around Ho... enlarge
Ho Chi Minh City Blog
Military parades and huge celebrations recently marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War (aka. the American War) and the fall of Saigon (aka. the liberation of... more
Hanoi Blog
Vietnam's big year of anniversaries will shift to Hanoi in September. In the second major celebration of 2025, the 80th anniversary of Ho... more
Sydney Blog
A visit to Singapore’s museums can open up some unexpected reflection for Australians - especially in times of global upheaval. The Changi... more
Hue Blog
There’s been a big dose of nostalgia running through my recent videos on Rusty Compass. I’ve loved thinking about Vietnam back in the 90s... more
Sydney Blog
New openings, improved cycling and walking and ways to get around - there have been many positive developments in Sydney in recent years.... more
Ho Chi Minh City Blog
In our latest video (below), I have a think about 30 years of change in Vietnam and some of the travel lessons and wider lessons from my... more
Ho Chi Minh City Blog
It's more than 60 years since South Vietnam was engulfed in what became known as the Buddhist crisis. It proved a critical point in the... more
Ho Chi Minh City see and do
An independent guide to Saigon's best museums - as well as some of the quirky less-visited places. We list three for those with limited time and... more
Ho Chi Minh City see and do
The Viet Cong tunnel network at Cu Chi, 70kms from Saigon, was an important base in the communist guerilla campaign against US and South Vietnamese... more
Siem Reap see and do
This handpicked list of the best experiences the temples of Angkor and Siem Reap, was updated in April 2024The incredible temples of Angkor will... more
Ho Chi Minh City see and do
Our handpicked list of things to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City from museums, historic sites, to walks, and cool tours, will be your entree to... more
Sydney see and do
Welcome to the Rusty Compass independent guide to the best things to see and do during a stay in Sydney. Our guide to Sydney is skewed towards... more
Sydney see and do
Sydney's museums and galleries are often overlooked by travellers. If you're a cultural traveller, make some time for them. Sydney hosts uniquely... more
Rusty Compass listings are always independent. We list the places we think are worth knowing about. Our Featured Listings allow a small selection of businesses already recommended by us, to pay a fee for a place at the top of our list. That’s it. Featured Listings have no impact on reviews, or on the curation and independence of our lists.