One man escapes frenetic Saigon to find serenity on a remote resort in Nha Trang Reclining in a speedboat looking back at the jetty I watch the two An Lam Villas Ninh Van Bay staff who greeted me at the mainland check-in facility waving to me. It’s as if they represent the real world saying… Read more »
Getting lacquered in Old Hoi An For the past seven months, I have been painting and drawing in Hoi An. I have watched the change of seasons and witnessed the drama that major weather events bring to the lives of people who inhabit this peaceful corner of Vietnam. Since October a rice crop has been… Read more »
The roaming lifestyle Stretching out from across the vast desolate Gobi Desert in the south, through the seemingly endless grassy steppes of the central plateaus towards the magnificent snow capped peaks of the Altai Mountain range of the northwest, this is Mongolia, “The Land of the Blue Sky,” a land of extremes and contrasts. Although… Read more »
Traveling in uber style Most people in Vietnam never thought it would happen, but it has – the Uber app has arrived. The luxury transportation startup that connects users with a driver at the tap of a smartphone screen debuted in Bangkok in February, Beijing in April, and Jakarta in June. This month it reached Ho Chi… Read more »
Dear Hadrien, My Vietnamese girlfriend and I want to open a coffee shop here. We are very excited about the plan and really can’t wait to get started. However, I have little knowledge about the administrative procedures that we will need to go through. Can you give me some advice please? Congratulations on your startup… Read more »
Promotions and news in HCMC and beyond… Delicious Décor Debuts Delicious Décor has launched in Ho Chi Minh City, offering artfully arranged fruit and confectionery bouquets. It blends the concept of fruit baskets with designs inspired by the floral business. All the fruit products are sourced and handpicked from accredited suppliers and delivered fresh daily…. Read more »
West Coast, US breakfast “Californians have been drinking smoothies as a healthy breakfast since the 1960s, but this concept really caught on in the 1990s when many people started to become more aware of the importance of natural foods for health and wellness. It is now pretty mainstream in the US, Australia, and even in… Read more »
A new Japanese whiskey bar & grill is home to some of the city’s best Kobe beef. Set in a pretty old manor just back from the main restaurant strip on leafy Han Thuyen, Monde (7 bis Han Thuyen, D1) has been the Japanese community’s best-kept secret since quietly opening its doors last October. The… Read more »
There’s never been a better time to eat barbecue Whenever I hear someone remark that America has no real cuisine, I simply reply, “American barbecue.” Rooted in the South, barbecue applies heat indirectly by smoking. Wrapped in foil, various cuts of meat that would otherwise tend to be tough spend hours in a smoker where they… Read more »
Delicious Hanoian cuisine that offers more than just bun cha… Quick. Think of a Hanoian restaurant that’s not streetside bun cha or Hanoi-style pho. Narrow it down to posh surrounds and an already tiny number just became non-existent. It seems Hanoian cuisine in Ho Chi Minh City has suffered the fate of Vietnamese cuisine worldwide, an entire… Read more »
Drawing from the ancient traditions of Hue, designer Huynh Hai Long captures the culture of this imperial city with his new collection. Green grass hugs the curving line of the Perfume River where traditional attire merges with modernity to create seamless beauty. Producer: Nguyen Tra My Set up: Hoang Dao (hoangdao@swot.vn) Photographer: Vu Minh Tuan… Read more »
Travel gear is all about enhancing your travel experiences. With the wrong gear, your entire trip could be jeopardized. On the other hand, the right gear can take your travels to the next level 1. Stashing the Cash Keep your secret stash of bills safe from pickpocket with the Travelon money belt (Nylon USD15, Leather USD60). I’ve worn this while… Read more »
A controversial new law on surrogacy has just been passed in Vietnam. Thu Thuy (not her real name) is 29 this year, and is now six months into her second pregnancy. You might not think there’s anything unusual about that – except that once again, this is not her baby. Thuy is a surrogate mother…. Read more »
