Jan Rybnik I don’t even know where to begin. I have traveled through the entire length of Vietnam on a motorbike. It was 2012 and the trip took me a month. Unlike buses, trains or planes, riding a motorbike allowed me to explore more of the lesser-known places, meet more people from all walks of life and discover so many things I would have never been able to without my trusty two-wheeled steed. Not to mention how it was super cheap: that one-month trip only cost me $500. So with a motorbike, not only do you get the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want, it’s also much easier on your wallet. Needless to say, motorbikes have become my go-to vehicle each time I want to take a break from the quotidian rat-race and go somewhere far away. I’m sure many others share the same sentiment. For foreigners like me, motorbikes are as Vietnamese as fragrant bowls of pho or scrumptious loaves of banh mi. They are practically a part of Vietnamese culture. Meet … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s motorbike ban imprudent, bound to fail
Wild horse wild ride
The Tiger-Man
Viet Nam News by Nguyễn Văn Thọ Although the fast-food restaurant owned by Thanh was located in the outskirts of a German town, customers crowded in for lunch in great numbers as there were many offices, factories and small workshops nearby. To serve them more comfortably, one day the owner had to hire an assistant to cook and deliver food. September is an inter-season month with oak leaves turning yellow. Poor Thanh, as his assistant’s driving licence had been recently confiscated by the police, he had to deliver food by himself. One afternoon he took four rations of chicken dumplings to an office on Vonter Street. Away from the kitchen, he could enjoy fresh breezes in the open air and the fragrant smells of flowers and blossoms from roadside orchards. At the customers’ office gate, Thanh found an old man waiting for him outside to receive the food. “Thank you very much,” Thanh said to the white-haired old man in a … [Read more...] about The Tiger-Man
Pink grass hills of Da Lat entice visitors
November is the best time to discover the wild sunflowers’ vibrant yellow colours and the pink grass that covers the hills in Da Lat. Visitors to the area can easily find the wild grass on hillsides or in the middle of valleys, particularly in the outskirts of areas such as Trai Mat, Thai Phien flower village or Suoi Vang (Golden stream). The grass variety is mostly found in North America and China. Da Lat however, is one of the few places in Vietnam that visitors can enjoy this rare variety of grass. The area of pink grass in Suoi Vang is surrounded by a row of green pine forest. Visitors can also enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of horses grazing on the hills The hills in Lac Duong, Lam Dong are known for their pink grass after images of the area became popular on social media. Tourists have to travel 14 km from Da Lat city’s centre to Thung Lung Vang (Golden valley) and can walk or ride a motorbike to the pink grass hills. A visitor from HCM City says she loves the … [Read more...] about Pink grass hills of Da Lat entice visitors
Forest chanting beauty lures tourists to central Taiwan
Viet Nam News TAICHUNG, Taiwan — Dongshi Forest Garden in the Dongshi District, near the central city of Taichung, is emerging as one of the most attractive destinations for domestic and foreign tourists due to its continuing natural beauty throughout the year. Located on a high mountain, some 500 to 700 metres above sea level, the recreational spot, combined with mild temperatures, covers a vast area of 225 hectares and boasts the perfect spot for plants to thrive. Visitors who want a break from from their busy work lives and crowded streets in big cities will delight in the vibrant and ever-changing landscapes painted by all four seasons in Dongshi Forest. Visitors who want a break from from their busy work lives and crowded streets in big cities will delight in the vibrant and ever-changing landscapes painted by all four seasons in Dongshi Forest. Nicknamed the “Four Corners Forest” due to its lustrous greenery, the area, only about 8km from the … [Read more...] about Forest chanting beauty lures tourists to central Taiwan