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 VN, 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...
Miniloc Island, Bayan ng El Nido, 5313 Palawan, Philippines
Imagine hundreds of tiny islands, coral reefs, limestone cliffs, turquoise water, white sand beaches, and hidden lagoons. Basically imagine a tropical paradise and you have the Bacuit Archipelago surrounding El Nido on the island of Palawan in the...
Batason, Buruanga, 5609 Aklan, Philippines
Ariel's Point is, by far, the best day trip from Boracay Island. That is, if you can manage to peel yourself off its beautiful beaches. What you get: A full day of Cliff Diving into the beautiful dark blue waters of the Philippine Sea. There are 4...
Tiaong, Quezon, Philippines
It is wort to spend a weekend at Villa Escudero South of Manila, near San Pablo. The former coconut estate welcomes guests in rustic bungalows and idyllic sorroundings near artificial lake. Beside peace and quite (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...
#0972 Zone 1 Sitio Diniwid Road, Balabag, Boracay Island, Malay, 5608 Aklan, 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...
Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
Visiting the Philippines without trying our "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....
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...
Angol Beach, White Beach Path, Boracay, 5608 Aklan, Philippines
There are so many islands in the Philippines, its hard to pick just one destination. However, if you want white smooth sand, open blue skies, clear warm water and a ton of water sport activities then Boracay is the island of choice. This hassle...
Mabinay, Negros Oriental, Philippines
Sea turtles—one after another—first in the shallows less than 20 meters off the beach; and then a couple more sightings 18 meters underwater, totaling nine in less than two days! It's a heart-stopping experience that this tiny island in the...
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...
