Local Insider

Comprised of 3 main streets: Bui Vien, De Tham and Pham Ngu Lao, this area is called by locals as “Backpacker district,” which refers to plenty of backpackers who frequent this area of Ho Chi Minh City. Backpackers, usually compare Bui Vien street to Khao San (the tourist street of Bangkok) and called it Khao San Saigon sometimes. Though tourists are trolling around the area day and night, doesn't mean you can't go off-the-beaten-path and have some authentic local experiences. Read our article t

Buildings in Ho Chi Minh City have a huge influence on foreign countries, especially French and China, two that have a long time ruled over Vietnam during the history. Learning about these buildings not only gives you knowledge in terms of art and architecture but also helps you understand further Vietnamese history and culture. If you notably admire the Notre Dame Cathedral, a typical French construction, then you must see other nine buildings on the list. Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saig

Southeast Asia is one of the easiest and most affordable places to travel in the world. As a French student currently residing in Singapore, I know I must utilize and explore the amazing destinations here as much as I can before returning home. The more research I did, the more I was intrigued by the idea of venturing to Ho Chi Minh, a thriving city in Vietnam. One day, I decided this would be my next destination. I booked a flight, reserved a hotel, and packed my belongings to venture to Ho Chi

Hanoi has so much to offer travellers. Vibrant culture, rich cuisine, breathtaking nature: there is seemingly nothing this city does not have. Visitors can expect to discover what local life is like in the city, and one place that surely exposes tourists to the real capital is the Hanoi night market . Found in the Old Quarter, this market bridges the gap between tourists and locals. It is equipped with delicious food and souvenirs, and while the market is a popular destination, it remains off th

Hanoi Old Quarter is a long-standing urban area located outside the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Here formed characteristic streets in order to support small-scale industry and commercial trade. In the past, each street had shops which only sold the same particular goods; for example, Hang Bac (Silver) Street only has silver shops. Nowadays, only some streets still keep their traditional jobs, but the others still retain the traditional beauty of the city. Below is the Hanoi Old Quarter Map and

Formally known as Rangoon, the city of Yangon is one of the top destinations in Myanmar. Foodies flock here to devour the delicious eats. Culture vultures make it a must-see city because of the many pagodas found sprawling the city. Whatever your reasoning for visiting, here are the top 15 things to do in Yangon. Visit the Sule Pagoda The Sule Pagoda is one of the most recognizable structures in the entire city. Found at the core of Yangon, this golden pagoda towers over the surrounding area an

Trekking in Vietnam [https://inspitrip.com/search?text=trekking%20vietnam&utm_source=4548&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=ENblog] is a favourite thing to do for many adventurous travellers. Thanks to the diversified topography, Vietnam offers many stunning trekking routes with varying levels of difficulty, making them suitable for different health conditions and those with different levels of experience. We’ve made a list of the top 10 trekking trails worth exploring, as voted by both locals an

Pho has been considered the delicacy of Hanoi cuisine and known as one of the best food in the world. It's always an irresistible attraction to any traveler who enjoys to discover the Hanoian eating culture.

I had been living in Hanoi for three months teaching English when I saw some pictures on social media of large temples and stone archways nestled high in the mountains. It was tagged as the Perfume Pagoda (or Chua Huong and Huong Pagoda). I asked around my workplace but many of the other teachers had not been, many said that they had heard it was a beautiful place. I started to do some research, there was not a ton of information on the internet about it, so I decided it was something I had to s

Pho is a traditional dish that represents Vietnamese cuisine and brings it closer to the global eaters. Discovering a restaurant that sells the perfect bowl of best pho in Ho Chi Minh city is an ultimate quest for any foodie that is excited to discover the Vietnamese eating culture. Pho in Vietnam is sold everywhere, from street vendors to luxury fine dining restaurants, but not all bowls of pho are equally delicious. The two main types of Pho in Saigon are Northern Pho (which mostly follows Han

Chinatown Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most bustling areas in the city, also called Cho Lon (which means “big market”). Located in District 5, it is the centre of Chinese culture and where the majority of Chinese communities have been established. Over many generations, the Chinese have lived here, built many streets and several constructions that maintain the Chinese cultural spirit. Chinatown is an attraction not only for tourists but also for the Saigonese. A trip here should start with a w

During my seven-month trip to Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, I unexpectedly found a job in Ho Chi Minh City. I decided to stay and call this place my new home. My parents came for a visit while I was teaching here. As I had already been to most places so I was not interested in joining them for the entirety of the trip. However, my mum heard of Mekong Delta was really excited about going there. It was also very close to where I was living so I only needed one day off from work. As I

It was my birthday in May, so my partner, Anthony and I decided to go on an overseas trip to celebrate. We love South-East Asia and all that the region has to offer as a holiday destination, especially being so close to us as Australians!  We had heard so many amazing things about Vietnam from our friends, and we had both never been. As we have limited time and this is our first trip to Vietnam, we thought this was an excellent opportunity for us to book a local Vietnamese tour guide to show us

I came to Ho Chi Minh City needing a break from work ( I am a high school teacher from Singapore) and partly to reconnect with a city and country that I'd last visited in 1992 as a high school student on a study tour. I knew the city would have been completely changed and wanted to find a good way to discover it, especially my favourite culture aspect: Buddhism. I have heard many good things about Vietnam Buddhist temples such as Zen monasteries and wanted to find out more about them. Inspitrip

Why Ta Nang - Phan Dung? If you like trekking in Vietnam [https://local-insider.com/the-top-10-iconic-trekking-trails-in-vietnam/], you cannot miss Ta Nang Phan Dung trekking route. At about 250km by car from Ho Chi Minh, it is one of the most beautiful trekking routes in Vietnam, with landscape transitting from highland to central coastal plateau. The typical scenery here includes pine forest, green meadows spreading over hills, and tiltled trails filled with basalt soil. Despite offering amazi

I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on a national holiday weekend. It was Reunification Day in Vietnam and International Workers’ Day. Although I am very interested in Vietnamese history, my arrival on Reunification Day was not intentional. I was drawn to this country after watching the musical, Miss Saigon. One of the best memories of my trip was the Mekong Delta non-touristy tour [https://inspitrip.com/ho-chi-minh-city/the-best-non-touristy-mekong-delta-tours-780431] I took with a local insider tha

When people hear about Vietnamese coffee, they immediately think of iced milk coffee, the most famous type of Vietnamese traditional coffee. Nonetheless, Vietnamese coffee has numerous other coffee recipes that can please drinkers, having different favorite flavour. The special thing is ingredients of those drinks are very simple and available in any home kitchen. Here are concise guide of how to brew most popular types of Vietnamese: Black coffee Black coffee is for those who like strong bitte

Saigon's many cafes are a necessary and large part of the city's unique culture. All over the bustling city, Saigonese start their busy days with a delicious cup of coffee. Saigon coffee is sweeter and less bitter than coffee from other regions around the country, making it the perfect drink for those travelers with a sweet tooth. A part of Saigon history is brewed into every cup of coffee made, and every visitor to Saigon must enjoy at least one cup before leaving the city. Here, five unique ex

Unlike Hanoi, where the local cuisine (read my guide about Hanoi food [https://local-insider.com/what-to-eat-in-hanoi-10-hidden-specialities-recommended-by-a-local/] here) is oriented around traditional foods from complicated recipes, Saigon is better known for its simple street food, which is made up of a combination of the best dishes from 3 regions,  leading to it being called  the “Heaven of Vietnamese street food” by CNN. The perks of enjoying the Saigon street food lie not only in satisfyi

Visitors may be surprised to hear that many temples are in the heart of the capital of Thailand. Bangkok, while it is known for its epic nightlife, street food, and more, is one of the most historical cities in Southeast Asia. Some of the most stunning temples call Bangkok home. Every temple is noteworthy, but the three most popular and arguably most stunning of them all are Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew, and Wat Arun. Here, things you need to know about the most popular temples in Bangkok. Structures

Riding across Vietnam on a motorcycle is a dream to almost any Vietnamese youngsters. It sounds crazy but nobody can resist the beautiful scenery that you witness, the crazy and chaotic traffic and the kind people you meet along the way. All these things make riding a motorcycle in Vietnam one of the best things you will ever do. But as a traveller, even when you don't have that much time to do so, you can still find the same experience by hopping on a bike when you're in Vietnam for just a few

Strange eats, an abundance of options, affordable prices: we are talking Thailand's street food. Self-proclaimed foodies and even the least of knowledgeable foodie traveler can all get behind the delicious eats found across Thailand, particularly Bangkok. The capital has the most diverse cuisine is that it draws upon all of the regions for the delicious eats find lining the streets. Here, a guide as to where to eat in Bangkok. Must-Try Street Foods Thai cuisine is so unique that visitors to t

There is nothing worse than traveling across the globe (or even a few countries over) and only frequenting the most touristic of attractions. Traveling like a local is good for both the tourists and the people of the country in which they are visiting. In doing so, travelers will find more authentic destinations and attractions, a better understanding of local customs and cultures, and find themselves traveling down the least beaten of paths. Here, the top local things to do in Bangkok. 1. Tra

You have filled your travel itinerary with day by day excursions. You have booked your flights. Your visa is a go. Now, the only task left to tackle is filling up your luggage with everything you will need while exploring the Kingdom. Whether you are travelling for one week or one year, there are several things you will need to be sure to stow away before boarding your red eye. Here, a complete guide on what to pack for Thailand. © Courtesy of Kelly IversonEssential Things to Pack When travell

One of top Vietnam travels tips [https://local-insider.com/vietnam-travel-tips-15-things-you-need-to-know/] is understand the weather and make sure you know the best time to visit Vietnam and don't get caught out by the rainy season.In Vietnam, the weather varies across the country. The northern and highland regions exhibit more seasonal trends than the likes of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and the south. If you are coming here for the first time, best time to go is from January to MarchThe infograph

Learning a new language is no easy task. When the new language is Thai, the difficult task seemingly transforms into an impossible feat. Thai grammar is relatively simple. The language is tonal, however (of which there are five). The meaning of every word depends on how it is said. Regardless of how easy or difficult learning a language can be, every traveller should memorise a handful of Thai words before venturing to the Kingdom. Luckily for you, we compiled 100 of the most basic Thai phrases

The Mekong Delta a.k.a the rice bowl of Vietnam is one of the most fascinating places to see in Vietnam. With nothing but river behind you and nothing but the river in front of you, these tours are amazing. It's pretty easy to book a Mekong Delta day tour from Ho Chi Minh city [https://inspitrip.com/ho-chi-minh-city/the-best-non-touristy-mekong-delta-tours-780431] , usually, you get a bus to the region you choose and from there hop on a boat or a bike and get ready to explore.The Mekong Delta i