Monday, October 30, 2017

Sepia Restaurant - Australia's Best Restaurant (Terrific Review)

Sweeping three hats consistently since 2012, I finally had the opportunity to dine at Sydney's Sepia.

sepia australias best restaurant

After its meteoric rise to fame since opening in 2009, Sepia had been on my radar for quite some time. Since announcing their closure and relocation to Melbourne 6 months ago, I decided I must visit before they shut their doors forever.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Vietnamese Food Guide : 25 Mouthwatering Dishes You Won't Want To Miss

Vietnamese cuisine is renowned for its fresh ingredients with a strong harmony of textures, produce and distinctive flavours, making it one of the healthiest in the world.

vietnamese food guide

Before visiting Vietnam, the only thing I knew about Vietnamese cuisine was pho and those tasty bread rolls slathered with pate, chilli and soy sauce (now I can call them by their proper name, Banh Mi).

Monday, August 14, 2017

Vietnam's BEST Cooking Class in Hoi An (Taught by a Professional Chef!)

Cooking a 4 course Vietnamese Lunch was my most authentic cultural experience in Vietnam.

vietnamese cooking class hoi an

Personally I don't like cooking, but when our hotel recommended us a traditional Vietnamese cooking class and told us it is their most highly rated day excursion, we thought to ourselves why not?

Monday, July 10, 2017

Visiting Vietnam's BEST Snake Restaurant

If you're itching for an exotic feast in Vietnam, Le Mat Snake Village in Hanoi has you covered.

snake restaurant experience vietnam

A 15 minute drive from Hanoi Old Quarter you can find the Le Mat Snake Village. Famous for its reptilian specialty, the snake of your choosing is freshly prepared in every which way possible. The art of snakes on a plate is a family tradition in Le Mat, prepared with well guarded recipes.

Friday, June 16, 2017

My Unforgettable Halong Bay Cruise (2 Amazing Nights!)

Sitting on the north east coast of Vietnam, Halong Bay is a stunning sprinkling of 1600 islands and caves.

halong bay title

Shortly after arriving in Hanoi, we headed into the city centre and found a random travel agency to book a cruise in Halong Bay. One night or two, the agent asked us. Seeing as it is a 3 hour bus ride from Hanoi to Halong we decided one night was just not worth it.

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

One Week in Hanoi (Our Unforgettable Experience)

The capital of the nation, Hanoi is an amalgamation of diverse cultures, venerable shrines and narrow winding mazes in the heart of the city.

how to spend one week in hanoi

Hanoi was my second taste of the Vietnamese metropolis lifestyle. With chaotic inner city streets, a distinct European quarter and a unique food culture not found anywhere else in Vietnam, it's a must-do in any Vietnamese travel itinerary.

I did spend one full week in Hanoi, but I probably could have fit this itinerary into 3-4 days. After rushing ourselves in Hoi An and Da Nang we wanted to slow it down and give ourselves a little extra time - so if you're in a rush you could squeeze in all these places in about half the time.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

1 Day in Da Nang (Discover Vietnam's Secret Mountains)

Da Nang is a laid back coastal city popular for its tranquil beaches, thematic bridges, and mystic mountains with an ancient legacy.

da nang mystery mountains

During our stay in Hoi An we decided to spend one full day exploring the best of Da Nang. We debated whether we should move our accomodation to central Da Nang, but since Da Nang is a 30 minute drive from Hoi An we thought we could fit everything we wanted to see in one day.

HOW TO SEE THE BEST OF DA NANG IN ONE DAY


Da Nang is a BIG city (3rd biggest in Vietnam) so how did we fit everything we wanted to see in one day? For us, there was a bit of compromise, picking and choosing the most interesting things we found in guidebooks and tailoring a one day private tour suited to our needs. For $60 per person our customised tour took us to the places we wanted to go with a private car for an entire day, an English speaking guide and one meal included.

Monday, April 24, 2017

Discover Hoi An, Vietnam's Ancient Town (My Amazing Experience)

An elegant seaside retreat, Hoi An is a meticulously preserved trading port that blends French, Chinese and Japanese legacy into a modern Vietnamese town.

hoi an header

A stark contrast from the bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, we found Hoi An to be a relaxing five day escape. Driving to our hotel the atmosphere of the area was like a typical seaside resort town with palm trees lining the road and casual eateries along the waterside.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

1 Day Adventure in the Mekong Delta (My Jungle Experience)

The Mekong Delta is the quintessential Vietnamese experience - rice paddies, bamboo hats for everyone and relaxing canoe rides.

mekong delta one day adventure

The Mekong Delta, which lies on the southernmost tip of Vietnam, is a lush area of greenery and waterways. Offered with the option of 1, 2 or 3 day tours, we chose the 1 day tour seeing as it was not so far from where we were staying in Ho Chi Minh City.

Monday, March 27, 2017

13 Weird and Wonderful Things I Love About Ho Chi Minh City (Things to do in Saigon)

Known for its hustle and bustle, Ho Chi Minh City is an exciting metropolis that offers everything from outrageously cheap street food to fish foot doctors and everything in-between.

ho chi minh city header

My Ho Chi Minh City experience began the very minute I stepped off the aircraft. Honestly, it's not the greatest tourist city I've ever visited. But beneath the chaos and disorder, it is a uniquely Vietnamese city - unlike any other I've ever visited in Asia. Not only that, everything is outrageously cheap. So after spending almost a week in Ho Chi Minh City, these are 13 of the uniquely Vietnamese things I LOVED about this city!