Editor’s Note: Updated October 2026. This feature preserves my workshop observations and photographs, with additional background on the material and Vietnamese inlay techniques checked separately. Mother-of-pearl inlay was one of the details that kept drawing my attention to Vietnamese woodworking. […]
There are cities where you eat simply because it is time, and then there is Saigon. Here, food can become the reason you cross the street, turn down an alley, or postpone whatever sensible plan you had for the afternoon. […]
Editor’s Note: Updated September 2026. We visited these Saigon cafes on an earlier trip, so our descriptions, orders and scores reflect those experiences. However, some cafes are permanently closed now and we marked them as closed. Always check directly before […]
The natural wonders of Ninh Binh were easy to admire and surprisingly difficult to describe afterward. Before arriving, we had heard plenty of stories about limestone mountains, boat rides and green countryside. Then a sweet scent caught our attention on […]
Hue Imperial City was the ceremonial and residential heart of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty. Behind its gates are palaces, ancestral temples, gardens, and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, all within the larger Citadel of Hue. Knowing how these […]
When an older woman first brought us green tea alongside a strong Vietnamese coffee, we assumed something had gone wrong with our order. By the end, we could not decide which we liked more: the sweet, thick coffee or the […]
After weeks in Hanoi, we wanted a few days among fields and mountains. A local friend suggested Mai Chau Valley, and his description settled the discussion. We took the bus, stayed in a homestay and explored by bicycle before heading […]
Editor’s Note: Updated September 2026. This review is based on our stay in a Colonial Suite and reflects the hotel as we experienced it. Practical details have been checked again, but rates and hotel services may change. Hotel Majestic Saigon […]
Editor’s Note: Updated September 2026. MÂM later became Ngon Villa Saigon Restaurant, which has also closed. No restaurant operates at this address today. The meal below is our historical review, first published in 2022. Our MÂM Restaurant Saigon review begins […]
Editor’s Note: Updated September 2026. This review records our meal at the former Lý Club Saigon. Its old address is now home to CoCo Saigon, a different restaurant concept. The food, price and 8.7 rating below belong to the Lý […]