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    Plastic free dining is coming to Hoi An - one place at a time

    Photo feature

    Plastic free dining is coming to Hoi An - one place at a time

    One of the fascinating things about my recent travels has been watching the efforts of small cafes... enlarge

    FEATURES

    Vietnam's first international tourism campaign - from 1991?

    Hue Blog

    Vietnam's first international tourism campaign - from 1991?

    I’m gonna hazard a guess that this was the first post-war Vietnam tourism promotion in a Western country. It was 1991 and Vietnam was just opening up to the world. I was in my... more

    The drone - a symbol of heavy-handed self-centred tourism

    Hoi An Blog

    The drone - a symbol of heavy-handed self-centred tourism

    The drone has arrived. These high-impact flying machines are coming to a beautiful place near you. The drone has transitioned from... more

    A new heritage landmark in Hanoi?

    Hanoi Blog

    A new heritage landmark in Hanoi?

    A grand heritage building is being renovated in Hanoi’s picturesque Ba Dinh District. This is the nicest part of the capital - though few... more

    Tips for taking photos in Vietnam - people and ideas of beauty

    Hanoi Blog

    Tips for taking photos in Vietnam - people and ideas of beauty

    Taking photos of the local people you encounter as a traveller is complicated anywhere. In Vietnam, the locals have been remarkably... more

    A peek inside one of Hanoi's grand colonial villas

    Hanoi Blog

    A peek inside one of Hanoi's grand colonial villas

    A French colonial villa on Hanoi’s Chan Cam St has become one of the most photographed colonial ruins in the city. These days it’s... more

    Introducing a special new tour by Rusty Compass - Vietnam by the Book

    Hanoi Blog

    Introducing a special new tour by Rusty Compass - Vietnam by the Book

    2018 marks 25 years since I ran my first tour through Vietnam. To mark the anniversary, I’ve created a new 15 day tour - Vietnam by the... more

    Angkor has been protected from the worst tourism excesses - someone should be thanked

    Siem Reap Blog

    Angkor has been protected from the worst tourism excesses - someone should be thanked

    I spend more time than I would like lamenting the degradation of the places I visit while covering Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia for Rusty... more

    RECENT REVIEWS

    Piu Piu Saigon

    Ho Chi Minh City nightlife

    Piu Piu Saigon

    Piu Piu established itself as a little hotbed of tunes, dance and drinks before it shut down to redecorate in 2018. It reopened in 2019 a smaller... more

    Streets of food - best streets for foodies in Hoi An

    Hoi An eating

    Streets of food - best streets for foodies in Hoi An

    Hoi An’s old town has been colonised by tourist eateries. Some of them are good. Many are mediocre. Make sure you also head outside the old town.... more

    Saigon's backpacker nightlife - Bui Vien St

    Ho Chi Minh City nightlife

    Saigon's backpacker nightlife - Bui Vien St

    Saigon’s backpacker precinct is also home to the city’s rowdiest nightlife. And it goes all night. Bui Vien St is now a walking street by night too... more

    Hanoi Urban Alley Hotel

    Hanoi hotels

    Hanoi Urban Alley Hotel

    You probably should banish images of hidden alley cool that the name Urban Alley might conjure. Urban cool this is not. It’s a characterless 90s... more

    Tannin Wine Bar, Hanoi

    Hanoi nightlife

    Tannin Wine Bar, Hanoi

    Tannin’s the only proper wine bar we know in Hanoi - for selection and atmosphere. The range is huge - old and new world wines, weighted towards the... more

    Red River Tea Room, West Lake, Hanoi

    Hanoi nightlife

    Red River Tea Room, West Lake, Hanoi

    Unpretentious little Hanoi drinkery in the West Lake expat area with a beer garden vibe and craft beers in plentiful supply. We've never seen anyone... more