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Sunrise on Cat Ba
During my first time on Cat Ba I stayed for four days and mostly in the south of the island. This year when I visited again I stayed for an entire week. During this week I wanted to see the island behind the tourist destination, the areas that are still untouched by big companies, where nature is still intact and…
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Perfect trip to Hanoi – 2026 Update
As Vietnam's capital Hanoi has a lot to offer, from delectable food and a great coffee culture, a fascinating history and interesting architecture, there is something for everyone. Only the traffic is hard to manage, but you will get used to it. The best time for a trip to Hanoi, in my opinion, is from March to May, just outside…
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Knife Making Workshop in Hanoi
A Knife Making Workshop in Hanoi had been on my to-do list for a while, but I only got to it his year. Afterwards I wondered why I hadn't done it earlier. Making a knife was a lot of fun! Espeically since the weather was cold and rainy, so it was a perfect activity to do inside, near a fire.…
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Hmong Batik Workshop – Sapa
While in Sapa I divided my time between the city and a homestay with a Hmong family in Ta Van village near Sa Pa. They offer half-day and full-day trekking tours and two ethnic handicraft workshops to their guests: a Hmong Indigo Batik Workshop and a Traditional Hmong Embroidery Workshop. I choose to do both.
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Bar hopping in Hanoi – Vietnamese cocktail innovations
Bar hopping = special drinks at selected places. The beer street in Hanoi is well known, one pub next to the other, street vendors selling beer from giant tubs for little money. However, Hanoi also has a sophisticated bar scene with meticulously designed and curated interiors and innovative cocktails.
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Lan Ha Bay Cruise from Cat Ba
To see the beauty of Vietnam's northern coast, without the hoards of tourists, unregulated cruise ships, multiplying hotels, gigantic resorts and all the trash you will find nowadays at Ha Long Bay you can visit Lan Ha Bay instead. Part of me wanted to keep this a secret since the more people know about it the fuller and less beautiful…
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Cat Ba Island – Add this island paradise to your travel plans now
Before "tourism development" takes over. With its serene nature, a bay that isn't yet as overrun as Ha Long Bay and the sprawling national park Cat Ba has been a hidden gem for the longest time. And it still is as of now. However Cat Ba Island has become more of a trend-destination among the rich, inspiring investors to buy…
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How to get from Hanoi to Sapa
Getting from Hanoi to Sapa is an adventure in itself. You basically have three choices: Bus, Private Van or Train. While you can book all three on the same platform, the prices, departure and arrival times and the experiences will vary greatly.
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Sapa – In between mountains, fog and rice fields
When you follow travel pages on Instagram or TikTok and are interested in south-east Asia you will come across Sapa. Currently there seems to be a hype about this little northern Vietnamese mountain town. I had Sapa on my radar since 2019 and this year I went there. This is my honest experience and an overview of what to do…
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Silversmith Workshop – Hanoi
Always on the lookout for unique things to do and more things to learn I stumbled upon a silver smith workshop in Hanoi. In the silver crafting village Dinh Cong, about 30 minutes from the Old Quarter of Hanoi inside a community house this workshop takes you back to the time where Hanoi was still called Thang Long (1010).
