Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam‘s financial capital. It’s also the country’s most global, most metropolitan city. Otherwise known as Saigon, the city is home to almost 8.5 million people. There’s a noticeable Western influence in the city centre, more so than in other parts of Vietnam, with coffee shops on street corners and a large shopping centre full of well-known high street brands. Our first stop was the Notre Dame Cathedral, an elegant 19th century French-style cathedral covered with red tiles. The cathedral was closed when we arrived, and while it was a shame we couldn’t go inside, it…

The ingenious, sprawling network of tunnels at Cu Chi, 70km north-west of Ho Chi Minh City, were used as a base by the Viet Cong to carry out their guerilla war campaign against the US between 1960 and 1975. It’s hard to describe just how clever and extensive these tunnels are. From the ground, you’d never know there was a series of intricate tunnels under your feet. There’s no indication there’s a hidden world beneath the jungle floor. The entrances are expertly concealed, while the ventilation shafts, that ensured a circulating flow of air throughout the network, were built to…

Hidden away in the jungly hills of central Vietnam is the ancient religious complex of My Son. The ruined complex, built by the Cham people, is home to a series of ornate red brick temples. Sadly some of the most striking examples were destroyed by the US during the Vietnam War, but what remains offers a fascinating glimpse into a magnificent ancient culture and the people who built it. Built between the 4th and 13th centuries, the complex of My Son was discovered by the French towards the end of the 19th century and has since been designated a UNESCO…

The ancient trading port of Hoi An is utterly charming and its old town embodies traditional Vietnamese culture, as for the most part, it’s remained unchanged for centuries. In 1999, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the pretty port is the perfect place to spend a few days mooching around – which is exactly what I did. Sights One of the town’s most notable sights is the Japanese Covered Bridge (above) in the old quarter near to the Thu Bon River. The beautifully ornate bridge was built by members of the town’s Japanese community in 1593 and…

On our way from Hue to Hoi An, we stopped off briefly in Danang, a bustling city on the banks of the Han River. The city is home to a majestic golden Dragon Bridge, which apparently breathes fire and sprays water. Sadly the weather was atrocious the day we visited and with the gloomy clouds and lashing rain, it was hard to get a good photo of the bridge (above). It also sadly didn’t breathe fire or spray water while we were there! After taking a couple of photos of the bridge, we headed across the road to the Museum…

My main take away about Vietnamese cuisine is that the Vietnamese love to wrap their food. Even if you don’t think it can be wrapped, it will probably be wrapped and then dipped in a sauce before being eaten. Spring rolls, summer rolls, pancakes wrapped around a filling which are then wrapped in a giant lettuce leaf, fish wrapped in banana leaves… the list of foods I had to wrap before eating was long – but tasty! Vietnamese food is very healthy. Think lots of fresh vegetables, fish and grilled meats, rice, noodles and piles of fruit for dessert. Peanuts,…

Alright, so you’ve just landed in Hue, maybe you’ve hit the Citadel, and now you’re thinking about exploring the countryside. You walk past a guesthouse, and there it is: a line of beat-up bicycles, handlebars askew, tires looking deflated, probably for a few bucks a day. You think, “Hey, it’s just a bike, right? How bad can it be?” Wrong. Dead wrong. If that’s your starting point, stop. This isn’t just about getting from A to B. It’s about experiencing Hue, really *feeling* the breeze through the paddy fields, finding those hidden pagodas, and not spending your afternoon sweating over…

Your second day in Hue is best spent immersing yourself in the city’s imperial past and natural beauty. The most impactful approach involves dedicating your morning to the Imperial City, choosing one significant tomb for your afternoon, and concluding with a serene Perfume River journey. This combination offers both depth and breadth without rushing the experience. Focusing Your Morning: Inside the Imperial City Citadel Do not attempt to ‘see it all’ within Hue’s Imperial City Citadel in a single morning. This sprawling complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, demands focus. Its sheer size and the weight of its history mean…