The best way to explore an off-beat destination

Once the sun sets, Ho Chi Minh City (aka “Saigon” to the locals and abbreviated as “HCMC”), Vietnam offers some of the best nightlife. While there are so many attractions to visit in Ho Chi Minh City in the daytime, there is something special about exploring the streets at night.  The city is buzzing with people, tourists, and has plenty of activities to keep you occupied. Interested in seeing a performance? Want to eat dinner on a rooftop? We have you covered with this guide on the 17 best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City at night . Any of these nighttime activities would be a perfect addition to your itinerary whether you have 1 day , 3 days , or 5+ days in HCMC . We currently live in Ho Chi Minh City so we will update this guide when we find new and exciting opportunities for you to try! Check out our other Vietnam posts to help you with your travel plans: Reasons to visit Vietnam How to travel around Vietnam  Incredible things to do in Vietnam *Di...

Merry Christmas from Australia! Yes, this month I finally set foot in Australia — over a year later than originally planned! The past month has been action-packed, filled with far too much movement as usual, an incredible festival and several amazing road trips. My month began in Chiang Mai, my former home in Thailand and somewhere I will always be delighted to return to. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel this time around — it had been six months since my last visit, a lot of our friends have now moved on and left, we would be staying on the opposite side of the Old Town…  Would I regret leaving my beloved Cambodia? Fortunately, I needn’t have worried. Setting eyes on the moat, inhaling, and choking on, the familiar aroma of the night markets, glimpsing the shimmering gold of temples lining every street. It felt familiar and welcoming. It felt like home.   This time, I was back in Chiang Mai for one main reason. The Yi Peng lantern release. Ever ...

When I first began planning my time in Vietnam, I did it without knowing anything about which day the Lunar New Year would fall in 2014. I was basing my decision more around the holidays back home in the U.S., and my elephant volunteering gig in Thailand. It just so happened, though, that I found myself in Vietnam as the country prepared for and then celebrated Tet , or the Lunar New Year in Vietnam. Yes, I rang in 2014 twice this year! Being in Vietnam during Tet definitely made my travels in the country more interesting, especially from a cultural standpoint. I got to see how the locals prepare for Tet, and then got to celebrate right alongside them. Talk about a memorable experience! In the U.S., Christmas and New Year's are packaged more or less as one giant holiday, and that's kind of what Tet is, too. The locals celebrate the coming of the Lunar New Year with all sorts of celebrations, including a “holiday” period that can last for days. And, just like in the U.S. ...