Vietnam & Philippines Holiday
Tan Thoi Nhat, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
In Vietnam’s bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, glittering high-rises and global brands are on the rise—but at L’Usine, a café-boutique hidden along shopping strip Dong Khoi, it’s the old, the handmade, and the local that are revered. Housed...
73 Đường Mai Thị Lựu, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Emperor Jade Pagoda is a fascinating temple full of haunting carvings, figures and altars. The peeling courtyard walls evoke a sense of time and history.
Chợ, Lê Lợi, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Jackfruit and dragonfruit on display at a fruit stand in Banh Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh.
38 Nguyễn Ư Dĩ, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Arriving at the Deck Saigon, a restaurant in District Two on the Saigon River, is often one of the highlights of an evening here—many customers come by boat directly from District One to dock right at the restaurant’s waterside steps....
While traveling in Vietnam in 2010, I had heard mentions of a legendary "lunch lady" who served the most delicious soups out of a small cart in Ho Chi Minh City's city center. Each weekday she features a different soup, each hand made with fresh...
Số 86 Lê Thánh Tôn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 710212, Vietnam
Walk around Saigon and you will inevitably run into Ho Chi Minh Hall, one of Saigon's most iconic buildings. Although it is not open for any tourist it remains an important Saigon landmark. Saigon is littered with French influence. It was a French...
29-31 Tôn Thất Thiệp, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
We had an overnight in Saigon and after our lunch at the Temple Club went downstairs for dessert at Fanny. The shop is adorable and the flavors were extensive. While I didn't try the avocado ice cream the ones I did have were fantastic! Fanny's...
135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Phường Bến Thành Quận 1 Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hear the sizzle of the grills while sitting outside sipping a cold beer – this is what the locals do in Vietnam. The Vietnamese love grilling but most families don’t have patios and gas grills in their backyard – so they come to BBQ Garden in...
187 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
The thing I love most about traveling (and living) in the tropics, is that you are never far from finding good tropical fruit. Such was the case on this afternoon as we walked to the bakery. A woman had staked out the sidewalk next to the shop to...
Coron, Philippines
The mountainous Coron Island, just northeast of Palawan, is part of the officially designated ancestral domain of the indigenous Tagbanua people (possibly descendants of the original inhabitants of the Philippines). They steward the land and sea,...
Boracay, Malay, Philippines
Even during the low season White Beach on Boracay Island is full on. Dance music blares out of clubs and bars. Restaurant hawkers shout out their daily deals in front of massive seafood buffets. Korean tour groups block the beach path and touts...
Tiaong, Quezon, Philippines
Spend a weekend at Villa Escudero South of Manila, near San Pablo. The former coconut estate welcomes guests in rustic bungalows and idyllic surroundings near an artificial lake. In addition to peace and quiet (and romantic evening serenades by...
White Beach Path, Malay, 5608 Aklan, Philippines
Boracay has an amazing array of water sports and activities ranging from jet skiing, scuba diving, parasailing, and snorkeling. Each activity is quite inexpensive and with so many vendors competing to get your attention, you can easily talk them...
San Antonio, Pasig, Kalakhang Maynila, Philippines
Visiting the Philippines without trying "Halo Halo" won't be complete. Everytime I have friends or relatives from abroad come visit, I would bring them out to have Halo Halo. Halo Halo came from the Tagalog word for "mix" which is what it is. Halo...
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines
Vigan City is one of the last few hispanic towns left in the Philippines and has been named a world heritage site by Unesco. Walking along this tiny cobbled street aptly named Heritage Row, you would find yourself nostalgic at a time that was. The...
White Beach Boracay, Malay, Aklan, Philippines
About 4 kilometers long, White Beach is the highlight of Boracay. Its immaculately white and soft sand strand is dotted with resorts, hotels, and lounge chairs where you could spend the happy hour sipping Piña Colada as the sun sets. That...
Apo Island, Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelago made up of more than seven thousand islands, many have never been named and only about one thousand of them are inhabited. These locally made outrigger boats known as a Bangka can vary in size and are widely used...
Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
Makati houses most of the big hotels like Makati Shangri-la, The Peninsula, Mandarin Hotel, New World Renaissance Hotel. It is the largest and most central business district where most major companies and banks are situated. It's a relatively safe...
Unit 102A, Groudn floor, CYA Land Building, 110 Rada, Legazpi Village, Makati, Kalakhang Maynila, Philippines
Located in Legaspi Village in Makati, Metro Manila, this coffee/juice shop offers well-made coffee and drinks plus a very tasty S.E.C. Sandwich which consists of chicken sausage, fried egg, and gruyere cheese underneath the bread. A delectable...
