Can't afford a European vacation this summer? Do what our contributor Claire Duffett did: Explore Southeast Asia instead.
Are we talking about the same war? You don't know the history of the Vietnam War until you've learned about the "struggle against American aggression" from the tour guides at Ho Chi Minh City's Reunification Palace.]]>
Can't afford a European vacation this summer? Do what our contributor Claire Duffett did: Explore Southeast Asia instead.
The nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City is, well, tame. So spend the evening taking in the view of the city on the outdoor patio of the Saigon Saigon Bar on the ninth floor of the Caravelle Hotel. After a day in the hot, dusty, moped-filled city, the evening breeze feels great and the reggae-rap-fusion band is out of place but entertaining.
One bit of advice: Whatever you do, don't order The Hemingway. Ernest never visited Vietnam, and he certainly never would've stood for this tall, sweet and undrinkable cocktail.
That said, the view is excellent, with the city's stock market in one direction and Uncle Ho himself seated at the other end of the panorama. Down the elevator and across the street is Q Bar, which stays open late for a change of pace.
Related Stories:
· Ho Chi Minh City Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Southeast Asia Field Trip [Jaunted]]]>
Can't afford a European vacation this summer? Do what our contributor Claire Duffett did: Explore Southeast Asia instead.
The villages along the Mekong River from Cambodia's Phnom Penh to Vietnam's Chau Doc contain unspoiled culture, authentic food and kind, welcoming people willing to take in travelers. We remembered the film "Apocalypse Now," where a boat ride up the Mekong is a trip to the depths of hell. On the contrary: Often times it quite literally felt like heaven on earth.]]>
Pack your bags, C-List celebrities! You've just won a trip to... where? Given its name, the Miss Universe pageant can be held anywhere from here to the planet formerly known as Pluto, but perhaps co-hosts Mel "Scary Spice" Brown and Jerry Springer were surprised to learn they're headed not to Rio or Rome but to Nha Trang.
Nha Trang is actually a popular tourist destination on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, known for its great scuba diving. The Super World Travelers Brangelina have already been there, of course.
In the past 10 years, Miss Universe has been held in the US and Puerto Rico a total of four times, though other less-familiar locales like Cyprus and Ecuador have also played host.
Related Stories:
· Spice Girls' Mel B to Host Miss Universe Pageant [People]
· Welcome To Your Permanent Vacation, Pax Thien Jolie [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Twenty-7]]]>
Are we the only ones who think that the name of a huge casino strip planned for southeastern Vietnam could have been better thought out?
The Ho Tram strip will be built in Ba Ria, a city 78 miles southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. No doubt the name sounds perfectly fine in Vietnamese, but we're just seeing all the rich, foreign tourists adding a "P" to the end and taking plenty of happy snaps.
The development includes two five-star hotels, a Vegas-style casino and a Greg-Norman-designed golf course. Developers are proud that the resort has "proximity to one of the finest unspoiled beaches in the world," which we can only presume is about to be spoiled after all.
Related Stories:
· $42 Billion Luxury Hotel Resort for Vietnam [Asia Travel Tips]
· Vietnam Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Bung Phe]]]>
Scoffing at Scotland? Done Dubai? Golf off the beaten path with the New York Times, which in this week's Travel section highlights courses in Vietnam, for those still seeking spring break trips--and who don't mind being quite jetlagged.
Once the exclusive province of French colonial officers, golf in Vietnam is still largely the domain of visitors to the country, not locals--which begs the question raised of slum tours in another Times article this week. Is partaking in a ritzy pastime like golf exploitative of the people who tend the greens without ever getting to play on them? We're not sure.
But maybe your caddy can recommend a good place to taste the local rice wine and even--imagine!--partake in it with you.
Related Stories:
· This Ho Chi Minh Trail Ends at the 18th Hole [NYT]
· Vietnam Culture by the Glass [NYT]
· Golf coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Nguyen Ngoc Chinh]]]>
Ever heard of the city of Vung Tau in Vietnam? We haven't, despite being big fans of the country, but it sounds like it's the up and coming destination of Vietnam tourism.
Situated in the south of the country, just over an hour's ride by hydrofoil from Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau is the site of a lot of recent investment, most notably a $300 million resort that's currently under construction. It will include hotels, shopping and sailing facilities, and a large aquarium will be built nearby.
Not yet approved, however, is the plan to build a theme park in Vung Tau that will be modeled on Disneyland. How closely it's going to be modeled on Disneyland--and if the Disney guys are happy about that--is not yet publicly known, but one departure will be a "Wonders of the World" section with replica Eiffel Tower, Golden Gate Bridge and Pyramids. Hopefully not exact replicas, or they might have to pay Egypt royalties.
Related Stories:
· Vietnam Plans to Launch Disney-esque Amusement Park [eTravel]
· Egypt's Pyramid Scheme [Jaunted]
· Vietnam Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: ghwpix]]]>