The Final Say
Adverts for ‘special dumplings’ without the special; ecotourism resorts without the eco — Douglas Pyper is starting to wonder if anything means what it says, or says what it means.
Forums such as travelblog.org are full of reports of hotels given bad reviews under suspicious circumstances or long after the guest has stayed. Steve Kaufer, head of Trip Advisor, told The Economist in an interview “someone on your team should be reading reviews”, implying that Trip Advisor is a fair and democratic platform where everyone has the right of response.
The last decade has seen Vietnamese cuisine spread its tentacles to the four corners of the culinary globe. Even the most unlikely destinations have not been forgotten. Welcome to Saigon Pho, the first Vietnamese restaurant in Kathmandu. Words and photos by Galen Stolee
Detachment, identity and a place you can’t quite call home. Despite its advantages, life as an international school student is not a stroll in a well-manicured park. Words by Charlotte Porter
Over the past decade, backpacking in Vietnam has become a lifestyle. Its form, though, contrasts greatly with that experienced in the west. Words by Mien H. Pham.
With increasing numbers of people posting photos of themselves online, narcissism, or excessive self-interest in our own appearance, is huge in Vietnam. But why? Vu Ha Kim Vy explains
There are few students who would not be excited about the concept of open studying, but as Hoa Le discovers, the reality brings somewhat different results to the idea
For the novice, Vietnamese kinship terms are confusing at best. They also help define a person’s identity. Words by Kaitlin Rees. Image by Eddy Coubeaux
It’s dirty, it smells, and there’s a lot of it about. Natalie Krebs follows a trail of trash to find out what happens to the litter that we fritter
If you can afford it, hiring a maid comes relatively cheap. Hoa Le lifts the lid off the laundry basket and explores the rising demand for home help in Vietnam