Author name: Simon Stanley

Vietnam’s southern metropolis, officially known as Ho Chi Minh City, may not have the picture-postcard charms of its northern counterpart Hanoi, but as a melting pot of cultures, cuisines, old meets new and East meets West, where shimmering skyscrapers rub shoulders with colonial-era mansions, it has much more to offer than many first-time visitors give …

Travel to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) – The Complete Guide Read More »

For those visiting Saigon (officially known as Ho Chi Minh City) for the first time, uncovering the city’s local food scene can take time, patience and a few dodgy dishes before that ultimate bowl of backstreet pho is found. Unlike Hanoi’s tourist-friendly Old Town, Saigon doesn’t give up its secrets willingly. With a bit of …

Saigon’s International Food Scene Read More »

Saigon is a jigsaw puzzle, a mosaic of districts, either named or numbered, with each of those broken down into smaller wards denoted by name or number again. As the largest city in Vietnam, and one of the largest cities in Southeast Asia, choosing which area to base yourself in, either for a vacation or to …

A Complete Guide to Saigon’s Districts Read More »

For tourists visiting Saigon for the first time, many of whom come clutching one of just a handful of printed tour guides currently on sale, even those picking their own way around the city might start to feel like they’re following some organised group tour. When similar faces begin to pop up at each restaurant, …

Secret Saigon – A Guide to Ho Chi Minh City’s Hidden Treasures Read More »

Even if you’ve never even visited Vietnam, the chances are that you’ve already consumed its coffee at some point in your life. As the world’s second-largest coffee producer, its beans can be found all over the world in some form or another, though you may not know it. It’s output, until recently, had a reputation …

Saigon’s Coffee Revolution Read More »