Asia

Asia is such a culturally rich and vibrant continent. I’ve never met a traveller who didn’t love Asia and once you travel there you’ll understand why. From the street markets of Taiwan and the towering buildings of Hong Kong; the backpacker trail in Vietnam to the tranquil oceans of the Philippines; Asia is an incredible shock to the senses. Sizzling street food, bustling cities, crazy bus rides, mountain villages, rice paddies and hot bowls full of noodles. Who wouldn’t want to go travelling in Asia?

Why Living in Taiwan Drastically Improved my Lifestyle

When I graduated from university back in 2012, I remember thinking to myself: What am I going to do with this BA in English? Fortunately for me, I didn’t have to think about it for too long. Luke, my boyfriend of only a few months at the time, told me he was moving to Taiwan to teach English for a year.

Did I want to come? he asked. Well, a job in the UK certainly wasn’t coming my way any time soon, so yeah, I said. A few months later, and we moved to Taiwan.

6 mins read

Why You Should NOT Ride Elephants

A few years ago, a friend told she rode an elephant in Thailand. Until she said it, it hadn’t really occurred to me that riding an elephant was something anyone would want to do, but it turned out this was a popular ‘bucket list’ activity for many travellers. I asked her whether that was humane, she said she didn’t know. Then she said that it was a once in a lifetime experience, so she had to do it.

6 mins read

What Street Food is there for a Vegetarian in Vietnam?

Ask around about Vietnamese street foods and you’ll be told about phở bò (beef noodle soup), bánh mì (French baguettes) filled with slices of ham, liver pate and salad, and gỏi cuốn (fresh spring rolls) usually filled with pork and prawns. I love street food, but as a vegetarian I always end up heaving a big sigh when I’m excitedly told about only meaty foods.

After hearing about these foods again and again, and after only a quick glance around the streets, I didn’t have much hope for veggie-friendly Vietnamese street food. However, as I started exploring the small side streets, heading out earlier in the morning and later at night, and looking at what all the street vendors had in their carts and baskets, I found that there is plenty of vegetarian street food in Vietnam!

4 mins read

The Dangerous Allure of Tailoring in Hoi An

Hoi An was the siren of Vietnam. On the surface, it’s a gem. The streets are lined with yellow-painted French buildings, the cafés have luscious coffee, fresh fruits are everywhere, then you hear the melodious singing voices of the tailors offering exquisite clothing. Hoi An captivates you, puts you at ease, and then suddenly you find yourself unwittingly captured by a tailor, money flooding out of the palms of your hands as you see chiffon dresses, smart suits and suave brogues all around.

5 mins read

A Vietnamese Vegan Cooking Class in Hoi An

There are signs everywhere advertising cooking classes in Vietnam. All claim “authentic Vietnamese food,” “the best pho in town,” and “delicious, fresh spring roll masterclasses.” I love cooking, and so does Luke. We often quarrel because we both want to do the cooking, even more often we bicker during the cooking, and we even prefer eating in to eating out. So naturally we wanted to take our bickering out of our own kitchen and into someone else’s.

4 mins read

How to Survive Overnight Buses in Vietnam

Vietnam’s north-to-south, or vice versa, backpacking route spans the whole length of the country. During that time, you will no doubt end up on a less than ideal overnight bus or sleeper train. These can take anywhere from 8 to 15 hours.

6 mins read

Hanoi’s Café Culture: How to Make the Most of Coffee in Vietnam

Whilst sipping coffee all around Vietnam, I heard Westerners sniff at Vietnamese coffee because 1) you can’t get a good latte like in the UK (not that I’ve ever had a good latte in the UK) or because 2) the condensed milk used on the streets can be overwhelming, or because 3) it’s just too strong.

2 mins read
Sapa in Vietnam by Jorge Cancela - Charlie on Travel

Vietnam Backpacking Route

Backpacking in Vietnam is incredible. This wonderful country will keep you captivated with its rolling rice terraces, beautiful landscapes, cultural and historical sites, bustling cities, steaming bowls of pho and addictive sweet coffee. In this guide, we share our 3-week Vietnam travel route and the best places to visit in Vietnam.

13 mins read