After Norway was added to China's visa-free list earlier in September, five more European countries have made the cut.
29.09.2024 - 08:03 / lonelyplanet.com
Sep 27, 2024 • 10 min read
Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as some still call it, is the largest city in Vietnam and the country’s economic capital. Though it does not boast literal millennia of history and culture like the capital Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City is still unquestionably the metropolis of the South. This no-less-historied city offers a captivating blend of old-world charm and contemporary vibrancy.
Built atop the ruins of the older Quy citadel and historically merging two sister cities together (Saigon and Cholon, or Chinatown) under French colonial rule, modern Saigon is a captivating patchwork of frenetic sleepless urbanized districts, quietly elegant French-era architecture, quirky alleyway labyrinths, and laid-back mini-sized suburban neighborhoods sandwiched between glistening glass-plated skyscrapers.
The city is separated into 16 inner districts, one satellite city, and five outer districts, and spreads over an area of 2095 sq km (809 sq miles). Due to the prevalence of cheap public transportation, exploring the entirety of Ho Chi Minh City is possible for those with time and enthusiasm. Get those feet wandering into one area at a time with our guide to HCMC's best neighborhoods.
Best for first-time visitors and nightlife
There’s a popular turn-of-the-century Saigonese saying: “Ăn quận 5, nằm quận 3, la cà quận 1” meaning, "eat in District 5, sleep in District 3, party in District 1."
District 1 lies at the center of Ho Chi Minh City, and as the old saying goes, it is where all the fun things in the city take place. Within it is Ben Thanh Market, an Indochine-style bazaar that has been the icon of Ho Chi Minh City for 112 years and counting. The market has borne witness to the city’s rise and fall and rise, and is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience vibrant street life while shopping for local goods.
Just five minutes' walk from Ben Thanh Southern Gate is Ð Dong Khoi, a narrow street lined with luxury boutiques, high-end restaurants, hip bars and lounges, private art galleries, and historic sites such as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House.
One turn away from Ð Dong Khoi and branching off of Le Thanh Ton is Nguyen Hue Walking Street. This broad, tree-lined pedestrian boulevard is the favorite gathering spot for Saigonese youths, especially during the weekends when the city regularly holds free public events and musical performances. Even during slightly slower weekdays, Nguyen Hue still boasts eclectic street performances, light displays and lively crowds.
At the end of Nguyen Hue Walking Street is the Dragon Wharf, yet another historic site that has since become a cultural hot spot for city youths. The Wharf is home to the Ho Chi Minh Museum and is flanked by various riverside
After Norway was added to China's visa-free list earlier in September, five more European countries have made the cut.
Sep 30, 2024 • 6 min read
Air Astana is launching one of the world's longest narrowbody routes with the aim of increasing comfort for passengers.
There’s never a wrong time of year to visit the Berkshires, the mountainous stretch of western Massachusetts located just 140 miles north of New York City. You can thank the fall’s vibrant display of foliage, summer’s Tanglewood music festival that draws crowds from all over the world, and a steady tide of new hotel openings to take advantage of as cozy winter getaways and for ski season. The region also has strong roots as an artists community, with a robust community of galleries, independent boutiques, and museums. And for city dwellers looking to stretch their legs, the Berkshires is also home to scenic hiking trails and winter slopes for every activity and ability level.
There’s a refreshing fluidity and freeness to the best wine bars of New York City, which can appear in many forms—a sleek power-lunch hotspot, a cozy bar on the Lower East Side, or a tranquil backyard in Brooklyn. “To me, a wine bar serves limited food and is more focused on the beverage at hand,” explains Chase Sinzer, owner of wine bar Claud and Penny in the East Village. “It might feel more ‘casual’ in that it invites guests to maybe peruse the bottles on the wall or pour their own wine from an ice bucket.”
There are two types of train trip: The long, slow, and often luxurious train journey that takes you through beautiful scenery that you book specifically to spend time on the rails; and the speedy, no-nonsense, cheap train ride you take to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. In the first category, you’ll find grand trips like Australia’s The Ghan, South Africa’s Blue Train, and Britain’s Caledonian Sleeper. In the second, there are trips from London to Brussels in just two hours, from Rome to Venice in four hours, and from Miami to Orlando in three hours. And if you’re a train traveler who belongs to the second category and likes getting places fast without flying, there are plenty of trains in this world that do just that at speeds previously unimaginable on land, including the fastest train in the world and its closest competitors.
Leaving the shores of Sicily, season three of HBO’s White Lotus is being filmed in Thailand. If you’re dreaming of a stylish beach vacation White Lotus style (minus the murder, scams, and sleeping around), you’re in luck because Unforgettable Travel, a premier luxury travel company, has just launched a White Lotus Thailand tour from Bangkok to the stunning island of Koh Samui.
To encourage travelers to Japan to get off the beaten path, delve deeper into the country’s cultural heritage, and venture beyond the popular tourist destinations, Japan Airlines is offering complimentary domestic flights all across the archipelago.
The opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics in Paris is designed to be a major spectacle on July 26. Yet issues have plagued the games before they’ve even begun. Just hours before the opening ceremony, arsonists attacked France’s high-speed rail network and disrupted travel to Paris from around Europe for 800,000 people — fans and athletes alike.
Bachelorette parties tend to be big extravagant parties. That’s why New Orleans is the ideal bachelorette party destination: There’s live music, seafood restaurants, drinking is allowed on the street — and of course, you can’t miss out on the rowdy atmosphere of the Bourbon street bars. So make the most of your time you need a New Orleans bachelorette party airbnb that is comfortable and stylish — and a pool doesn’t hurt either.
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