Southeast Asia 9 Ways Immersing Yourself in Local Culture Enhances your Travel Experience (SE Asia) Pristine beaches, compelling history, sprawling rice terraces, and an abundance of activities to suit every type of traveler – Southeast Asia has these things in spades. It’s also steeped in rich, ancient customs and traditions that are remarkably different from those of the West. Taking a deep dive into local…
Southeast Asia The Passage of Time The new year of 2019 is well underway. However, in Vietnam, the old year is just ending and preparations for the Lunar New Year – Year of the pig, commencing February 5th, take center stage. Vietnam along with many Asian countries, marks the passage of time using simultaneous calendars. While the Gregorian calendar…
Vietnam Vietnamese Traditional New Year Tet Nguyen Dan Sino – Vietnamese for ‘feast of the very first morning of the first day’ & the name given to celebrate the lunar new year. ‘Tet’ as it is known by the locals, is Vietnam’s largest and oldest national celebration and epitomizes its cultural identity.
Vietnam 5 Noodle Varieties Most Commonly Found in Vietnamese Dishes What beer is to Germany, noodles are to Vietnam. The variety of noodles and the dishes they are used in could be comparable to the variety of pasta in Italian cooking; each distinctive in flavor, color and sometimes geographic regions.
Southeast Asia What Makes Southeast Asia Different From Other Destinations Countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam report record visitor numbers year after year. Just after tallying the first quarter of 2017 statistics, these countries, again, are on track to break last year’s records. But what makes this region such a special place for travelers?
Thailand Thailand’s Songkran – More Than Just an Epic Water Gun Battle The Songkran Festival is also known as the water festival and the new year festival. Regardless which title is used, the event, which takes place in mid-April every year, is the most important and celebrated event for the Thai people.
Cambodia 240 ½: The Street Almost Never Mentioned in Phnom Penh Guidebooks 240 ½ is a hidden alleyway off-of the well-known Street 240, which offers visitors quirky clothing, street art and exclusive eating and drinking venues.
Vietnam Pho – The Quintessential Vietnamese Dish It is impossible to visit Vietnam and not come across a bowl of Pho. This quintessential Vietnamese dish is more abundant throughout this country than 7 Eleven stores in Bangkok. Understanding the anatomy of Pho will make eating and enjoying it a more pleasurable experience.
Southeast Asia Visiting the “Kingdom of Wonder”, and the country of “Endless Charm” Cambodia, the Kingdom of Wonder, positions itself quite uniquely as a tourist destination among its neighboring countries. It may lack the luxurious shopping malls and relatively advanced infrastructure of neighboring Thailand; yet year after year, increasing numbers of tourist from all over the world flock to…
Laos Five Reasons Why Luang Prabang is Southeast Asia’s Most Romantic Destination Southeast Asia has many locations that are a great for a romantic getaway. However, there are several good reasons why Luang Prabang is often ranked as ‘the most romantic’ among them.
Vietnam A Trip to a Vietnamese Floating Market A trip to the Mekong Delta is like peering into a completely foreign and exotic world. The lives of those who live in the Delta are inextricably linked to the ebb and flow of one of the world’s mightiest waterways.
Southeast Asia Discovering the Architectural Diversity of Phnom Penh Any recent visitor to Phnom Penh can attest to the current construction boom which started about five years ago. But amidst the increasing number of high rise condominiums, hotels and office buildings that are seemingly being erected at every corner in this city, Phnom Penh still offers ample opportunities to discover…
Cambodia Wats or Vats ~ A Brief Glossary of Key Words A general understanding of certain terms used in Khmer art can really bring a frieze or panel alive. With just a few words under you belt, you’ll be able to differentiate between apsaras and asuras.
Vietnam Five Ways to Immerse Yourself in Vietnamese Culture Looking for an authentic experience? Try any or all the things below on your next visit to Vietnam.
Vietnam Saigon’s Colonial Heritage ~ 5 Iconic Landmarks The Ho Chi Minh City skyline has been reshaped following the frenetic development of the past decade. At street level, much of the past’s brick and mortar has been demolished to give rise to air-conditioned, steel and glass towers. With the global economic downturn, the appetite for construction is temporarily…