Train Street in Hanoi is a very popular tourist destination particularly with the Instagram and TikTok content creators.. Cafes set up tables along the tracks where the train comes by just a meter or two away. Occasionally the local police will try to shut it down but it always seems to reopen. The cafes have a list of times that the train passes though its…
Saigon has a new skyscraper to guide you around the city. Appropriately named Landmark it cast an imposing figure no matter where you are in the city. Along with Bitexco it is a great reference for navigation while walking or riding. Standing at 461.5 meters, this 81-story skyscraper is Vietnam’s tallest building, featuring a distinct architectural design resembling bamboo shoots reaching skyward. The exterior showcases…
Duong Lam Ancient Village is only about 45km outside of Hanoi proper but feels a world away. A well preserved village with lovely architecture and very hospitable locals. A great place for street photography. Check out the lake area for some stunning sunset light.
The temple of Literature dates back to 1076 when it was Vietnams first university or Imperial Academy. Lovely grounds and architecture with lots of quiet corners and street style photography opportunities. You will often see children having graduation photos taken here.
The Hanoi Opera House is a beautiful example of French architecture. It was modeled after the Palais Garnier in Paris and built during the French Colonial occupation of Vietnam starting in 1901.
In the heart of West Lake in Hanoi there is a well known lovely temple on an Island. Quanh Thanh Temple cast amazing reflections in the lake and a great source of photographs around sunrise and sunset.
The Black Hmong ethnic group are the majority population in the Mu Cang Chai terraced rice field areas of Yen bai province. In addition to creating these magnificent mountains of rice they are well known for their hand dyed fabric work. Photos by Phuong Luu an award winning member of the Ho Chi Minh City Photography Association and architect, originally from Yen Bai.
The Honda XR-150 is my ride of choice for trips in Vietnam. It’s an old school, low tech design with no modern technology. You don’t want to get into deep mud or super-steep trails with it. You can’t get up to highway speeds with it. So why is it great for Vietnam journeys?In Vietnam motorcycles are not allowed on freeways. Almost all roads have a…
Vietnam is a long country covering over 1600 km from south to north. There are complex weather patterns. When it is nice in the south it may be typhoon season or cold in the central and Northern provinces. Here is a general idea of the seasonal weather patterns: January – March Season: Dry season in the south, monsoons in the northern and central area, cold Hanoi…
Vietnam, like China, uses a Lunar Calendar for traditional festivals and other cultural events. Lunar dates are based on a start of the first moon of a year so unlike our standard Gregorian calendar New Years Day changes every year. It can be confusing to try to find the Gregorian date when a lunar date is provided for an event. Below is a conversion table…