Posts listed under the ‘Vietnam’ category
Sri Lanka updates
Thursday, December 24th, 2009, by Sam ClarkWe’ve had 2 directors and a staff member in Sri Lanka for the bulk of this month - looking at product, talking to suppliers and generally making a nuisence of themselves. The overwhelming impression that were left with is how Sri Lanka is starting to take off after the end of the war 6 months ago. It aint a bed of roses by any means - but there is hope for the future and that is something new in Sri Lanka in many ways.
One of our directors, Mick Lowe, below gives his personal reflections on the political scene in Sri Lanka, from a tourist point for view and watch out for some great product news and reviews over the coming weeks.
Happy Christmas One and All!
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Air Asia to fly Saigon to Phuket
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009, by Sam ClarkWe were delighted to hear that Air Asia are now flying Saigon to Phuket. This opens up a world of possibilities for those wanting some Thailand beach action following a hectic tour of Vietnam. Do ask us for more details and we can built that in to your tour!
The Mekong Delta: Phnom Penh to Saigon
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009, by Tom ArmstrongThe Mekong River is one of Asia’s great waterways –a powerful, mesmerising and life-giving force that careers from the icy mountains of Tibet to the humid rice fields of southern Vietnam. Along its journey the river blesses Tibet, China, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam with its bounty of food and transportation opportunities and is the lifeblood of thousands of people who live along its banks and survive from its fish and the irrigation opportunities it presents to otherwise remote rural areas.
A family travelling through the waterways
I have explored and journeyed along the river at various points of its path through south east Asia. On my first trip to the region as a young backpacker in the late 1990s I took a slow boat from Huay Xai (the border town in the north of Thailand and Laos) to Luang Prabang, and from this time onward I have been fascinated by exploring the Mekong and its tributaries. I have been fortunate to travel down and stay alongside the river in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. However, the so-called ‘Mekong Delta’ region of Vietnam had eluded me on my travels until recently, and what a treat I had been missing! (more…)
Constance - Halaveli
Monday, October 19th, 2009, by Sam ClarkHalaveli is an old Maldives favourite and it is has recently been totally refurbished by the Constance Hotel group. We have had really good reports from a very trusted source - saying it is right up there with the best in the Maldives and with their 2 for 1 offer right up until April 2010, it is incredible value! Not yet on our site but you can read their official website here and get these brilliant offers directly through us.
Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey - a review:
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009, by Sam ClarkRick Stein did us a massive favour by doing a programme that focused, almost exclusively, on the area that we specialise in. Apart from Laos, all our bases were covered – Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia and of course, Thailand. A big ‘thank you’ to Rick then, as we saw a definite increase in inquiries from the sort of people keen to do something a little different and sample the true flavours of the region – something which we can deliver!
I also think we are well placed to review the show and watched it with great interest. Not only do we know the countries very well, but we are all fairly greedy and get thoroughly over-excited by the thought of South East Asian food. We also know a few of the characters featured in the programme and all of the hotels featured.
The 5 Best Eco Lodge’s in Asia
Friday, July 31st, 2009, by Sam ClarkThe last two posts about new eco lodges in Sri Lanka has got me thinking about the abundance of this sort of place in Asia now, coming under the somewhat subjective heading of an ‘Eco Lodge’.
The Mudhouse at night!
Saigon and the Mekong Delta
Thursday, June 18th, 2009, by Harriet ClarkAs we walked through Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), or Saigon as the locals still determinately call it, we realised that it is a very different city to Hanoi. While the traffic remains as insane the feel of the city and the set up for tourists is very different.
Selling Pineapples on the Mekong Delta
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Special Offers Vietnam!
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009, by Sam ClarkSorry to keep harping on about low fares, but we have just had some even better specials given to us by Singapore Airlines. These allow you to fly in or out of Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh, Danang (Hoi An) or Hanoi, so are incredibly flexible. Obviously Singapore Airline are second to none in terms of the quality of service they offer too. The fare part is coming out at including tax, around £350 each.
They have meant that we can take at least £100 per person off all our advertised website prices at the moment and in some cases up to £300 each! There really has never been a better value time to visit Vietnam and/or Cambodia. Hotels also have some fantastic offers and in combination we can do some amazing deals! The Nam Hai is a case in point - Vietnam’s best hotel is doing a stay 2 get 1 free offer from now until April 2010. We’ll pass you the savings directly.
You will have to hurry though - the Singapore offer ends on the 30th June and already the limited seats released for this price seem to be going fast.
Nha Trang
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009, by Harriet Clark
Arriving in Nha Trang was quite a strange experience as it is so different from all the places we have visited so far in Vietnam. It is a real ‘holiday’ destination (for Vietnamese as well as westerners) and has a Vietnamese feeling of a spanish holiday resort! If you want peace and quiet then this is not the place for you, but we had a lot of fun there nonetheless.
Hoi An
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009, by Harriet Clark
Hoi An is a charming town in central Vietnam and is a fantastic place to spend a few days. It one of three UNESCO world heritage sites in central Vietnama and as such oozes history. You do not even need to set foot inside a museum to soak up the past that has made the town as it is. The different influences from the French to the Chinese is evident in the architecture and it is easy to imagine how it used to hustle and bustle as a trading port.
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