From the time-honoured classics to craft breweries pushing the boundaries of flavour, Vietnamese beer culture has been steadily evolving over the past 150 years, resulting in the diverse array of choices we enjoy today.We caught up with longtime B&amp;R Guide, An Do Truong, as he shares insights and recommendations on Vietnamese beer culture.

Beer was first introduced to <a href="https://butterfield.com/destination/asia/vietnam" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vietnam</a> in the late 19th century, through French businessmen Victor Larue and Alfred Hommel, who built the first breweries in Gia Dinh and Ha Noi. Beer gained popularity among French soldiers and some Vietnamese locals with close connections to the community in the 1930s. Due to its high cost, the majority of the population, primarily rice farmers, preferred rice wine.

Amid the mid-20th-century conflicts, both Larue and Hommel breweries closed until the 1990s, when Vietnam's economy recovered. Under government ownership, they became Saigon Beer Company and Hanoi Beer Company.&nbsp;Beer played a crucial role in refreshing urban residents and workers in the tropical heat in the late 90s. Today, beer is integral to Vietnamese culture, with "beer o'clock" at 5 pm marking the time when beer gardens, bars and restaurants are filled with guests enjoying this ubiquitous beverage.

The term "craft beer" made its debut in Vietnam around 2014. Initially, it left locals puzzled, as the term "craft" in Vietnamese referred to handmade souvenirs, like bamboo crafts. As the craft beer movement gained momentum in Western countries, expats played a role in spreading the word.Initially, most locals didn't appreciate craft beer due to its perceived bitterness, thickness, bold flavours and higher cost compared to lager beer.In the years following, Ho Chi Minh City witnessed the gradual rise of the craft beer scene. Today, craft beers have become a popular choice among Ho Chi Minh City locals, often enjoyed with Vietnamese snacks.

The Saigonese lager "333" beer stands as the most popular in Vietnam and is the leading Vietnamese beer brand worldwide. Other local brands include Saigon, Hanoi, BGI (Can Tho city), Huda (Hue city), Larue (Hoi An town), and Qui Nhon (from the city of Qui Nhon).

Most craft breweries are still located in my home city, Saigon:&nbsp;<a href="https://pasteurstreet.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Pasteur Street</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://heartofdarknessbrewery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Heart of Darkness</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://eastwestbrewing.vn/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">East West Brewing</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/fuzzylogicbrewing/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Fuzzy Logic</a>, to name a few. As a beer-lover, I am lucky to live here! Hanoi and Danang also have a few (notably,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TurtleLakeBrewingCompany/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Turtle Lake Brewing</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/furbrew/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Furbrew</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.7bridges.vn/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">7 Bridges</a>).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;However, most of these breweries have brewpubs in other cities and distribute their stock throughout the country, so you can usually find them!

SaigonI like Heart Of Darkness the most because they have the best IPA in Vietnam. If I only have $5 in my pocket, I'll cycle straight to their taproom, sip a beer slowly, and then cruise home through the scenic neighbourhoods of Saigon.Mekong Delta After a morning on the bike, a nice bottle of BGI completes a lunch of local specialties aboard a boat on the canals of the Delta.Quy NhonWhen guiding our <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/vietnam-biking-expedition" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vietnam Biking Expedition</a>, I love visiting the patio bar overlooking the secluded cove at Zannier Bai San Ho, with the moon reflecting off the sea, is a fantastic vantage point where you can enjoy the local brew or the hotel’s selection of craft beers.Hoi AnI always go to Hill Station for a nice Jasmine IPA. The nearby An Bang beach is a great place to relax with some live music and a bottle of Seven Bridges.&nbsp;HanoiFor delicious beers in an amazing atmosphere, head to the Pasteur Street taproom on Ấu Triệu, a winding street just behind the historic St. Joseph’s Cathedral.Northern VietnamAfter hiking through jungles and villages on our <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/northern-vietnam-walking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Northern Vietnam Walking</a> trip, I like to dangle my feet in the infinity pool at Avana Retreat, looking across the intricate rice terraces under a glorious sunset, with a tall cold one in my hand!

An Insider's Guide to Vietnamese Beer

After their two-year travel ban, <a href="https://butterfield.com/destination/asia/vietnam" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vietnam</a> recently opened their borders once more. The rich history, vibrant interactions, stunning natural beauty, and warm, friendly welcome from the locals are unchanged. However, it’s clear that Vietnam, like the whole world, has undergone some distinct shifts in recent years.&nbsp;What better witnesses to these changes than our B&amp;R planners and guides, who’ve been uncovering the very best of the country for the past quarter century? Our <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/vietnam-25th-anniversary-expedition" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vietnam Biking Expedition</a> is the perfect chance to honour and cherish Vietnam’s traditions while embracing all that’s fresh and forward-looking!Below are 25 reasons to visit the new Vietnam with B&amp;R in 2023.

1. Unparalleled cycling

Cycling is deeply woven into the fabric of everyday Vietnamese life, from grandmothers riding their vintage wheels to the market, to the flocks of school kids pedalling in their immaculate uniforms. We feel welcomed and celebrated when we show up to ride these scenic roads, led by our B&amp;R Expert Guides!

We love the diverse landscapes within this dynamic country: roll along idyllic beaches with the breeze in your hair, navigate the winding canal-side lanes of the Mekong Delta, or challenge yourself with the Hai Van (Ocean Cloud) Pass and its awe-inspiring views.

2. Varied voyages

If you’d rather walk than cycle, Vietnam’s got you covered! Paths spiral up limestone mountains with temples tucked away in nooks and crannies; local farmers beckon you to try your hand at some chores; the dense tenement blocks of Saigon lead to hidden dwellings seemingly insulated from the passage of time. Vietnam is a place to wander and invite serendipity!

3. Wondrous walks

Naturally, Vietnamese design sense makes its way into the properties we stay at on the Expedition trip, and in glorious fashion. Whether it’s the hushed, tree-shaded pathways of our longtime friends at <a href="http://www.pilgrimagevillage.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pilgrimage Village Hue</a>; the breezy beachfront of the luxuriant<a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/hoian/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Four Seasons Nam Hai</a>; or the <a href="https://www.zannierhotels.com/baisanho/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zannier Bai San Ho</a> with its stunning views of a secluded cove; each hotel will leave you awestruck and enamoured of the natural and built beauty of Vietnam.

4. Jaw-dropping hotels

Vietnamese have long subscribed to the notion that food is medicine. Here, gardeners and cooks will hold forth at length about the therapeutic properties of numerous herbs, fruits, seeds and flowers. The early morning callisthenics at Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake are another aspect of this emphasis on clean living and health. These values carry through to the on-trip restaurants we visit, as well as the fabulous spas of our hotels, where you can relax and decompress with a massage or treatment in complete serenity after the day’s ride. Your epic journey through Vietnam will leave you feeling joyful, healthy and inspired!

5. Wellness

Vietnam’s pandemic response was one of the most effective in the world, with relatively few lockdowns necessary in much of the country. This is in keeping with its reputation as one of the world’s safest countries, with very little crime and an excellent healthcare system. The reason? A solidarity among the people that they also extend to visitors from abroad, so that you’ll instantly feel accepted and welcomed on your journey.

6. A sense of security

If you love natural, locally grown fruit, produce and meat, you can’t do any better than Vietnam. Each town has not one but multiple markets bursting with all that this fertile land brings forth.

7. Farm-to-table feasts

With a coastline of 3,260 km (2,025 mi.) Vietnam is very much intertwined with the fishing culture. You’ll witness small wooden boats head out to sea with distinctive eyes painted on their prows to watch for danger. They bring back fresh, delicious seafood of every variety you can imagine, all of it on display at the morning markets for our selection!

8. Seafood paradise

The Vietnamese are discerning chefs who know how to bring out the maximum flavour from their healthy ingredients! Whether it’s our friend <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/get-inspired/2017/07/20/insiders-guide-restaurants-hoi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Duc in Hoi An</a> or Saigon’s Anan interpreting traditional cuisine in funky new ways, or the mom and pop serving the classic pho or banh xeo, Vietnam rolls out the red carpet for your tastebuds! Psst… we get to visit some of these chefs for exclusive cooking demos and meals at their homes on trip!

9. Talented chefs 

Every region in Vietnam is proud of its local dishes, from Huế city’s bánh khoái pancakes to Hội An’s scrumptious mì quảng noodles. In fact, McDonald’s completely <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/13/mcdonalds-burger-king-vietnam-fast-food.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">flopped</a> in Vietnam because the locals knew it couldn’t compare with their homegrown snacks!

10. Streetfood specialties 

11. Spiritual journeys

Faith is a major part of Vietnamese life. You’ll see little altars in most small businesses, intended to summon good fortune by honouring gods or ancestors with offerings of food. Throughout the country, you’ll come across spectacular pagodas and temples of many faiths in Vietnam, including Mayahana and Theravada Buddhism, the more modern Cao Dai religion, Cham Hinduism, Roman Catholicism (about 10% of Vietnamese identify as Catholic), and the traditions of Vietnam’s minority ethnic groups.

It’s no surprise that Vietnam excels at manufacturing, the country has long produced crafts that require precision, patience and skill. Lacquerware, silver carving, silk weaving, lanterns, fans and pottery… artisan families often congregate in villages centred on their particular crafts, so you can wander from house to house to enjoy the many variations on time-honoured techniques.

12. Master craftspeople

With one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, Vietnam is a country on the rise. Enterprising young Vietnamese, heartily encouraged by the older generations, look to the dawn of new possibilities in this booming era. The positive energy is palpable from the moment you arrive.

13. An optimistic outlook

Pristine beaches stretch for miles along the coast, from north to south Vietnam, inviting you to wade into the opalescent surf in the morning, grab your board catch some waves, or watch a glorious sunset over cocktails.

14. Endless beaches

15. An economic evolution

Since the victory of the communists led by Ho Chi Minh in 1975, Vietnam has undergone transformations, first to a hardline communist system that lasted until the early 1990s, then to a gradual opening that has seen the flourishing of private enterprise.The impulse to trade and build businesses is deeply ingrained in Vietnamese life, and the dichotomy between collectivism and free enterprise is fascinating to witness. “Ho Chi Minh Thought,” the revered leader’s precepts, themselves are a melding of philosophies and traditions.

The Vietnamese gracefully integrate the newfangled with the traditional. As you ride, you’ll see farmers using centuries-old techniques, then pulling out their smartphones for a chat with a friend! With its highly skilled workforce, Vietnam is producing many sophisticated goods, including smartphones and its domestic brand of an electrical vehicle, VinFast!

16. Technological transformation

There are a stunning 54 recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam. This richness of language and culture makes a trip here endlessly stimulating, with varied clothing, farming techniques, home construction, and cuisine.&nbsp;To read more on the many ethnic groups of Vietnam and its neighbours, check out James S. Scott’s fascinating overview, <a href="https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300169171/the-art-of-not-being-governed/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchist History of Upland Southeast Asia</a>.

17. A tapestry of cultures

18. Musical mélange

The Vietnamese love of music can be seen around every turn, from small bands playing in local bars to karaoke resounding through the fruit groves as you bike past.Vietnamese celebrate their history, legends and love of country through song, and you will hear these rendered beautifully on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Vietnamese_musical_instruments" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">numerous traditional instruments</a> of each region.

Through the influence of feng shui principles, geomancy and the realities of a tropical culture, Vietnamese architecture and the landscaping that goes with it have long induced feelings of openness, serenity and comfort. In ancient sites such as Hanoi’s Temple of Literature right through to their distinctive take on <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/06/27/vietnamese-modernism-was-ahead-of-its-time" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Modernism</a>, Vietnam’s designers usher us in to revel in their creations.

19. Incredible architecture

Vietnam’s biodiverse ecosystems are home to many rare and beautiful species, including monkeys, bears, cats, otters, birds, and the saola, sometimes described as “<a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2020/09/vietnam-creates-new-nature-reserve-possible-home-to-elusive-asian-unicorn/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Asian unicorn</a>.” Through B&amp;R's <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/who-we-are/sustainability/the-slow-fund" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Slow Fund</a>, we support the World Land Trust, which does <a href="https://www.worldlandtrust.org/who-we-are-2/partners/viet-nature/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">important work in Vietnam</a> protecting the homes of such precious and threatened wildlife.

20. Fabulous fauna

21. Water adventures 

Throughout our Vietnam trip, from north to south, we make use of boats to truly witness the amazing aquatic ways of life that are part of the Vietnamese identity. This can mean a ferry ride across a river during a bike ride; a sumptuous lunch on the Perfume River; or the arrival at the <a href="https://www.sixsenses.com/en/resorts/ninh-van-bay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Six Senses Ninh Van Bay</a>, located on a sun-drenched peninsula accessible only by boat, surrounded by white sand beaches.At the resorts on trip, you can also snorkel to explore the underwater coral palaces as shimmering schools of fish swim by.

As the mighty Mekong, the longest river in Asia, approaches the sea, it splits into nine large distributaries called the Nine Heads of the Dragon. Here, husband-and-wife teams steer puttering barges along winding river highways, and the floating markets feature small crafts piled high with durian, pineapple, jackfruit and mangoes. As we pass by on our own boat, we can haggle with them and buy our snacks for the day. Cycling the roads and canal side lanes of the Mekong Delta, we encounter a landscape unlike anything we’ve seen before.

22. The mighty Mekong

Vietnam is a garment-manufacturing hub, and it shows in the styles worn on the streets: vibrant colours and patterns, each chosen with a personal flair. You can join in the fun by visiting local tailor shops (we know the best in town); whether you’re on the hunt for a new bespoke suit or a comfortable shirt for the warm temperatures, you can have it made to measure and delivered to your hotel within a couple of days!

23. Forward fashion

24. A Trove of History

Vietnamese have a keen sense of history, and we mean deep history: artifacts found in caves date back to 20,000 years ago, and the average person is keenly aware of the dynastic periods, wars with Chinese occupiers, and resistance to colonization over the centuries.On our trip, we also encounter the towers of the Cham people, a Hindu culture that 1,000 years ago had an empire along the southern coast of Vietnam. The empire has long since been conquered by the Kinh (Vietnam’s majority ethnic group), Cham people still visit these towers to pay homage to the gods.

It’s more important than ever that we travel with the well-being of the planet in mind, and Vietnam is quickly moving to the forefront of the sustainable travel movement. The <a href="https://www.sixsenses.com/en/resorts/ninh-van-bay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Six Senses Ninh Van Bay</a> is one such example. Among many measures, they've drastically reduced the use of plastics, recycle all glass products into concrete used on-site, and help reduce poaching of sensitive species on their scenic peninsula by offering alternative opportunities.

25. Eco-awareness

Don’t just dream about it, see and stay for yourself! <a href="https://butterfield.com/start-planning" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get in touch</a> with Nathan Lane, our Experience Designer for Vietnam, to start planning.B&amp;R Experience Designer Nathan Lane has been named a Top Travel Specialist for 2023 by Condé Nast Traveler.

25 Reasons To Visit The ‘New’ Vietnam

Vietnam is a land of gorgeous vistas and vivid history, but when we cycle there, it’s the encounters with those we meet along the road that truly bring it to life, forming deep and unforgettable connections.For the Mekong Delta section of B&amp;R’s <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/cambodia-vietnam-biking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cambodia and Vietnam Biking</a> trip, we stay at the Azerai Can Tho, on a peaceful island in a tributary of the Mekong near the city of Can Tho. After breakfast, we take a scenic morning boat ride to get to reunite with our trusty bikes. We pass through floating markets where enthusiastic vendors tempt us with a huge variety of fruits and vegetables, and there are even little beverage boats selling water, juice, and beer (yes, it’s still morning, but you never know when the mood will strike).

Our captain steers us towards the shore with its shantytowns and rickety wharves among flotsam and water hyacinths, and we just manage to fit into a narrow canal, practically in the living rooms of the people who live on the banks. They don’t mind though; there are friendly smiles from every direction as our boat passes under low bridges with school children peddaling their bikes across. We soon see our own beautiful B&amp;R bikes parked in a neat row on the laneway above.We disembark from the boat and pedal along a concrete path just wide enough for bikes, scooters and pedestrians to safely pass one another. We pass through households that straddle this tiny roadway, gardens bursting with limes, oranges, pomelos, jackfruit, durian and many more of the fruits that thrive in the fertile soil of the Mekong DeltaNow it’s our turn to cross over the little bridges, which offer great viewspoints up and down the canals, where boats bear the heavy loads of fruit and other goods throughout this aquatic network.

As we round a bend, flanked by rows of coconut and banana trees, we can hear music and laughter through the vegetation ahead. Suddenly, an obstruction presents itself directly on the road ahead: a large, white, festive tent. We draw nearer, and beside the tent, we see a large photo of a happy young couple. It’s clear now: we are about to pass through a wedding!That’s right: in Vietnam, wedding receptions take place in these huge tents placed over the entire width of the road. You have two options: go directly through the event if space permits, or take a detour.Here, though, we are welcomed warmly to momentarily join in the celebrations! The bride herself greets us at the entrance. We congratulate her on her nuptials and pose for photos; it’s a moment to cherish. Our guide, Dinh, grabs the MC’s mic and sings, “Happy wedding to you! Happy wedding to you!”

Within the tent, the attendees sit at rows of tables laden with beer and ice, cheering the interlopers in helmets and bike gear and inviting us to join in a toast as we wheel through. It’s impossible to keep from dancing to the energetic beat emanating from the sound system that we pass on our way out of the tent. We ride out into the sunlight and birdsong once more, warmed and uplifted by this serendipitous encounter. The music recedes in the distance, but we still feel the rhythm for days to come.&nbsp;It’s the moments like this that make a bike trip through Vietnam so worthwhile. Part of their beauty is that we can’t predict their exact nature. We just know that they will happen, and that they will be the indelible impression of a place and a people that we will look back on with joy for years to come, spurring us to get in the saddle once more.

Cycling Through a Wedding in Vietnam

If you’re anything like us, you’ll be anxious to get outdoors by the time spring rolls around. In&nbsp;the spirit of “it’s never too early,” you can begin planning now for sunny adventures with the new&nbsp;The Road Less Travelled Northern Vietnam Walking luxury tour&nbsp;from&nbsp;Butterfield &amp; Robinson.This trip includes multiple opportunities to set off on foot to discover the beauty, culture, history and fascinating culinary traditions of Northern Vietnam.Dates determine specific itinerary details, but a sample tour of the country’s sensory-rich&nbsp;locations begins in Hanoi, with visits to Hoan Kiem Lake, the city’s lively Old Quarter, and&nbsp;guided Cyclo jaunts to explore temples and fortresses. Learning about the country’s coffee&nbsp;culture also comprises part of the experience, along with chef-led cooking classes and plenty of time to shop and peruse museums.Long hikes will take in peaceful countryside locations beyond the city, where rice fields and limestone cliffs make up the landscape. Along the way, meet members of the Tay community and visit with local farmers who use centuries-old agricultural traditions.

Northern Vietnam Walking Tour with Butterfield & Robinson

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<h2>Skip: </h2>
<h3>Cū Chi Tunnels—Outside of Ho Chi Minh City</h3>
Social media can help the world shrink in size, it can also help—if you are looking intelligently—reveal other stories and help round out a more comprehensive understanding of the world. As I&#8217;ve matured in my role as Trip Designer, I&#8217;ve tried to make very thoughtful and considered choices in how I help people understand a country or region. As such, the Cū Chi tunnels are another place I recommend avoiding.
From a logistics standpoint alone, the trip is at least a one hour drive each way (this is a best-case scenario since traffic in Ho Chi Minh City can be horrendous); if your trip involves limited time in Ho Chi Minh City, it&#8217;s hard to justify more time sitting in a van.
But mainly don&#8217;t recommend the experience to my travellers due to its glorification of war. The whole tour has a cartoon feel to it and is presented less as a thoughtful explanation of history, but a mockery of the pain and suffering of all the people that this war affected. This is most poignantly expressed at the end of the tour when you are offered the opportunity to shoot a gun, for the bargain price of one dollar per bullet.
There&#8217;s a complete disconnect between the historical reality and the experience of visiting the tunnels and I find it hard to support an enterprise that tries to present this war as a lighthearted, commodified anecdote for visitors.
<h2>The Alternative:</h2>
If travellers are interested in learning more about the American War, then I highly recommend that they visit the thoughtfully presented and meaningful War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. The museum does an excellent job of explaining the war from the Vietnamese perspective, one that we don&#8217;t always hear as loudly.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-46272 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Museum720x460.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="460" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Museum720x460.jpg 720w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Museum720x460-470x300.jpg 470w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" />
Of course, if the Cui Chi Tunnels are a non-negotiable bucket-list for you—I can easily arrange the visit; as with all my travel tips, they are a reflection of my many years travelling and working in the region and reflect my impression of the best and most authentic way to understand the country. If you do end up going, I would love to hear your thoughts.

<h2>Plan Ahead for 2019</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40755 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/kids-seal-galap-400.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="254" />If you’re a long-term planner, clear your schedule for winter 2019! Our most popular trips usually need to be booked a year in advance, especially when it comes to the busy holiday season. Wait any longer, and the best hotels, guides, and spaces for these trips won’t last. 
<h3> 
An eco-adventure to remember in the Galapagos</h3>
Get the jump on Galapagos as you witness Darwin’s beloved islands on an eco-adventure with the whole family. Our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/ecuador-galapagos-family-private/">Ecuador &amp; Galapagos Family Adventure</a> takes you to see the tortoises, sea iguanas, blue-footed boobies, accessing islands by private ship.
Go your own way in the Galapagos. Let Trip Designer <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/veronika-macas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Veronika Macas</a> work her magic!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40754 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/galapagos-jump-732.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="536" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/galapagos-jump-732.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/galapagos-jump-732-410x300.jpg 410w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h3> 
Explore the remotest regions of Patagonia</h3>
Go to the edge of the earth as you explore untamed, wild Patagonia. A place of explorers, rugged glaciers and craggy mountains, we take you into the vastness of the region. Emerge renewed and inspired for just about anything: get further into the wild on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/patagonia-expedition/">Atacama to Patagonia Active Expedition</a> or bring the whole gang along on an unforgettable <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/patagonia-family-adventure/">Patagonia Family Adventure</a>!
Prefer to do Patagonia your way? Reach out to B&amp;R&#8217;s tough-as-nails Patagonia expert, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/amanda-gary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amanda Gary</a>.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40756 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patagonia-960.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="720" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patagonia-960.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patagonia-960-400x300.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patagonia-960-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Patagonia-960-800x600.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3> 
Embrace Safari Season </h3>
From the rainbow sprays of Victoria Falls to some of the most luxurious lodges on the continent, gain early access to the best. From seeing the Hemingway-approved “most beautiful lake” on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/ecuador-galapagos-family-private/">Northern Tanzania Walking Safari</a> to marvelling at the balancing granite boulders at the Matobo Hills on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/zimbabwe-active-expedition/">Zimbabwe Active Expedition</a>—or simply enjoying the lush urban playground that is Cape Town on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/south-africa-walking-safari/">South Africa Walking Safari</a>, there’s reason to return again and again.
Our Africa experts can help design the trip of your dreams. Get in touch with our dream weavers, a.k.a. Trip Designers <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/michele-harvey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michele Harvey</a> and <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/christine-tucker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christine Tucker</a>.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40758 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cape-town-960.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="402" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cape-town-960.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cape-town-960-480x201.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cape-town-960-768x322.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3> 
Adventure your way through Costa Rica</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40759 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/costa-rica-horse-400.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="279" />Costa Rica’s a green paradise year-round, filled as it is with rainforests, a symphony of nocturnal animals at nightfall, and plenty of activities during the day to satisfy the thrill-seeker in you. Make the most out of life, Tico-style on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/costa-rica-active-expedition/">Costa Rica Active Expedition</a> or a <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/costa-rica-family-private/">Costa Rica Family Adventure</a> which will have you horseback riding along the beach, zip lining through the rainforest, and kayaking through mangroves!
Prefer to go private in Costa Rica? We know a guy: our oh-so-talented Trip Designer, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/steve-wilson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steve Wilson</a>, can call in a few favours.
<h3> 
Yucatan Peninsula and Baja</h3>
After over a decade, we’re back to explore the offbeat regions of Mexico. Brand new, head on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/baja-family-adventure/">Baja Family Adventure</a> to snorkel, surf, and swim (perhaps along gentle giants, whale sharks) along the wild coastline of Baja California. Our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/yucatan-active-expedition/">Yucatan Active Expedition</a> brings you on a pilgrimage to ancient Mayan ruins, marvelling at the spectacular Chichen Itza, swimming in cenotes and ending in chic Tulum.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-40760 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/izamal-732.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="488" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/izamal-732.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/izamal-732-450x300.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />

Ask The Experts: Advice on Holiday Travel

Eat &amp; Drink

Travel Tips

Portfolio

30 Best Hotel Bars Around the World

<h2>Your New Favourite Cuisine</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-38703 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cooking-350px.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="233" />Vietnamese food is delicious, fresh, tasty, and something familiar to most people in large cities, from the humble spring roll to pho noodle soup or my favourite sandwich in the world, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A1nh_m%C3%AC" target="_blank" rel="noopener">banh mi</a>. There’s so much more to dig into, though, from the wonders of the <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/08/27/mi-quang/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mi quang noodle</a> to our favourite restaurants in <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2018/03/12/10-best-restaurants-saigon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saigon</a>, Hanoi, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2017/07/20/insiders-guide-restaurants-hoi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hoi An</a>, and the unique qualities of <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/08/18/vietnamese-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vietnamese tea</a>.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37879 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Cuch-Gach-Quan-Google-732px.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="555" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Cuch-Gach-Quan-Google-732px.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Cuch-Gach-Quan-Google-732px-396x300.jpg 396w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h2><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-38704 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Two-bikers-350px.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="389" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Two-bikers-350px.jpg 350w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Two-bikers-350px-270x300.jpg 270w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" />The Biking is Awesome</h2>
Pedalling around Vietnam is safe and relatively fuss-free—especially if you’re a first-time bike traveller, or if you are on the road with little ones. And Vietnam offers some lovely country roads to ride upon, paved, through villages, rice paddies (scented with jasmine rice&#8230;blowing in the wind)&#8230;and friendly faces encouraging you along the way.
If you’re more than just an occasional biker, you’ll also be pleased to know that <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2017/03/15/6-best-bike-routes-southeast-asia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">several bike routes in Vietnam</a> are among our top in Southeast Asia, too.
<h2><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-38715 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Man-with-Viet-Kids-732px.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="488" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Man-with-Viet-Kids-732px.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Man-with-Viet-Kids-732px-450x300.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" /> 
Hotels to Write Home About</h2>
From north to south, Vietnam is <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2017/12/05/best-luxury-hotels-vietnam/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filled with stunning hotels</a> that suit every style, from the crisp colonial feel of the Metropole Hanoi to secluded beachside getaways, mountain spa hideouts, and even a family-run resort that will make you feel like home.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-36833 size-large" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Four-Seasons-Nam-Hai-1600x1000-px-compressed-960x600.png" alt="" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Four-Seasons-Nam-Hai-1600x1000-px-compressed-960x600.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Four-Seasons-Nam-Hai-1600x1000-px-compressed-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Four-Seasons-Nam-Hai-1600x1000-px-compressed-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Four-Seasons-Nam-Hai-1600x1000-px-compressed-768x480.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Four-Seasons-Nam-Hai-1600x1000-px-compressed.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
&nbsp;

Why I Love Guiding (And Travelling) In Vietnam

best restaurants

Denmark

Europe

<h2>The Best Bars, Cafes &amp; Markets in Copenhagen</h2>
<h3 aria-level="3"><a href="https://reffen.dk/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reffen Streetfood Market</a> </h3>
Housed on wharves with a backdrop of warehouses in the port of Copenhagen, Reffen is a creative hub that now includes a diverse streetfood market with over 40 stands. Many seasonal events are hosted throughout the year in this perennially festive atmosphere.  Here, you can also visit Werkstatt, an urban bar and nightclub. 
<h3><a href="http://barvin.dk/?lang=en">Bar Vin</a></h3>
For a little bit of France in the middle of Copenhagen, this warm and cozy restaurant and wine bar has a large selection of (mostly) biodynamic wines, although organic and conventional wines make their way on to the list as well. Leaning on French tradition (with a hint of Italian), you may find bouillabaisse, risotto, moules or foie gras on hand if you order from the menu.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-38225 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Bar-Vin-CPH-960.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="366" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Bar-Vin-CPH-960.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Bar-Vin-CPH-960-480x240.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h3 aria-level="3"><a href="https://empirical.co/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Empirical Distillery Tour and Tasting Room</a> </h3>
This highly innovative distillery produces distillates and cocktails with outlandish ingredients, exotic concepts, and dazzling flavours! The founders honed their skills at the Nordic Food Lab, an experimental space founded by Noma chef René Redzepi. Head to their website to book a tour, or just show up at their location on the artificial island of Refshaleøen (near Reffen street food market, above) for a tasting. 
<h3><a href="http://mikkeller.dk/location/mikkeller-bar-viktoriagade-copenhagen/"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-38226 size-full alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Mikkeller-glasses-350px.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="263" /></a><a href="https://mikkeller.com/news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mikkeller Bar, Vesterbro</a></h3>
For cutting-edge microbrews, make your way to Mikkeller &amp; Friends, a basement bar with an awesome streetside patio (I swear it’s nicer than I just described it). Join the hipsters of Vesterbro and get into over 30 Mikkeller taps, breweries from around the world, bottled selections, craft sodas, spirits, and snacks. You never know what’s on tap; with wild names and intriguing flavours, it’s always a good time.<span class="EOP SCXW174293077 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> 
<h3><a href="https://torvehallernekbh.dk/">Torvehallerne</a> </h3>
This traditional market, located in a vibrant part of town close to the Botanical Gardens, is always a go-to for snacks, lunch, and produce, and is also a great place to engage in the local life of Copenhagen and people-watch!<span class="EOP SCXW169655938 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-38227 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Torvehallerne-960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Torvehallerne-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Torvehallerne-960px-480x270.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Torvehallerne-960px-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3><a href="https://paludan-cafe.dk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paludan Bogcafe</a></h3>
An excellent café that looks like an old library, located beside the university. It’s also a bookstore and publishing company—the perfect ambience for a relaxing morning or afternoon stop. A full menu from breakfast and brunch to sandwiches, snacks and mains, beer, wine, and cocktails are also served if your morning stretches onwards. A great thing to note about Copenhagen is that every café and bar has outdoor seating and blankets to offer so people can still sit outside during the winter—the Danes are not afraid of the cold!<span class="EOP SCXW266226451 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> 
&nbsp;

My Favourite Restaurants & Bars in Copenhagen

<h3><a href="http://www.maisonmarou.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maison Marou</a></h3>
Marou is bringing chocolate to the forefront in Vietnam. Marou is the first large-scale producer of single-origin dark chocolate from the Mekong Delta. Their focus on fresh ingredients, rich flavours, and chic design has gained them international acclaim, and their products can now be found in 25 countries, including Canada and the United States, Maison Marou is their dessert café in the centre of District 1. While it may be scorching hot outside, the fresh mint hot chocolate will still blow you away.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-37886 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Maison-Marou-Choco-960px.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="594" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Maison-Marou-Choco-960px.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Maison-Marou-Choco-960px-250x156.jpg 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Maison-Marou-Choco-960px-480x297.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Maison-Marou-Choco-960px-768x475.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2>Bars, Brews, and Brunch</h2>
<h3><a href="http://www.hoteldesartssaigon.com/restaurants-bars/social-club-rooftop-bar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-52154 alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Social-Club-Rooftop1-1-455x300.jpg" alt="" width="372" height="245" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Social-Club-Rooftop1-1-455x300.jpg 455w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Social-Club-Rooftop1-1-911x600.jpg 911w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Social-Club-Rooftop1-1-768x506.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Social-Club-Rooftop1-1-1536x1012.jpg 1536w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Social-Club-Rooftop1-1.jpg 1800w" sizes="(max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px" />Hotel des Arts Social Club Rooftop Bar</a></h3>
No visit to Ho Chi Minh City is complete without soaking in the view from a rooftop bar, and Sofitel’s MGallery Hotel des Arts Social Club is the best of the best. Standing high above District 1, there’s no better spot to watch the city’s skyline put on a glittering light show. Grab a couch, dip your feet in the pool, and mingle with Saigon’s elite as the city sparkles all around you.
<h3><a href="https://heartofdarknessbrewery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heart of Darkness </a></h3>
Heart of Darkness is a pioneering craft brewery based in Saigon, among many in <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/get-inspired/travel-journal/an-insider-guide-to-vietnamese-beer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vietnam&#8217;s burgeoning craft beer scene</a>. If you&#8217;re up for a change of culinary pace, try their brewpub. The roster of fantastic beers is matched with a variety of pub classics, Mexican food and tapas, each with its own unique twists (yes, salads and veggie burger patties are also well-represented). 
Want more expert insight? Experience Designer <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/experts/nathan-lane/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nathan Lane</a> has been named a Condé Nast Top Travel Expert for Vietnam three years in a row. He&#8217;d love to bring your travel dreams to life.

The 10 Best Saigon Restaurants

Laos

<h3>Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos</h3>
A symbol of Lao nationalism and the most important national monument in the country, this golden Buddhist stupa is surrounded by legend: that Indian missionaries created the structure to house a piece of the Buddha’s breastbone in the 3rd c. It has been reconstructed several times, most recently after the Second World War. There is also a large statue of King Jayavarman VII from the Khmer empire here.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-37584 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golden-temple-laos-960px-compressed.jpg" alt="Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golden-temple-laos-960px-compressed.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golden-temple-laos-960px-compressed-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golden-temple-laos-960px-compressed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/golden-temple-laos-960px-compressed-900x600.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3>Wat Xieng Thong, Laos</h3>
An intricately constructed Buddhist temple initially built in the 1550s, this &#8216;golden temple&#8217; is revered throughout the country for its importance in Laotian history. The site of many festivities and of the coronation of all the Lao kings, this gateway to Luang Prabang spectacularly borders the Mekong River. With about twenty structures on site, you will find a massive 12-metre funerary carriage, golden-covered walls, rare buddhas, and mythical naga serpents guarding nearly every corner, augmented by beautiful ornamental gardens. Here, this intertwining of religion and spirituality, artistry and royal history makes it one of my favourite places to visit time and time again.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-50186 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Wat-Xieng-Thong-Laos.png" alt="Wat Xieng Thong, Laos" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Wat-Xieng-Thong-Laos.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Wat-Xieng-Thong-Laos-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Wat-Xieng-Thong-Laos-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Wat-Xieng-Thong-Laos-768x480.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h3>Bayon Temple, Cambodia</h3>
Built at the end of the 12th c. by the most powerful Khmer monarch of all, King Jayavarman VII, who converted the entire Khmer empire to Buddhism, this spectacular site is renowned for its stone-carved ‘face towers’ which are meant to represent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalokite%C5%9Bvara">Lokesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion</a>, but the faces also resemble the king himself! oversee the landscape, as well as bas-relief galleries depicting Cambodian life and history.   
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-50188 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia.png" alt="Bayon Temple, Cambodia" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-768x480.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
&nbsp;
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-50189 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-1.png" alt="Bayon Temple, Cambodia" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-1.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-1-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-1-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bayon-Temple-Cambodia-1-768x480.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></h3>
<h3>Ninh Binh, Vietnam</h3>
Truly one of Vietnam’s hidden jewels, the jaw-dropping rural beauty of Ninh Binh is truly some of the finest in Southeast Asia. If you&#8217;re into supernatural scenery, this northern coastal region has it all. Marvel at soaring limestone mountains, lush green hills amidst a wild profusion of nature: underground cave systems, emerald rivers snaking through valleys, steep stone steps winding through mountain paths, and temples carved out of mountainsides. Your camera won&#8217;t do it justice.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-50187 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ninh-Binh-Vietnam.png" alt="Ninh Binh, Vietnam" width="960" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ninh-Binh-Vietnam.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ninh-Binh-Vietnam-480x300.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ninh-Binh-Vietnam-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ninh-Binh-Vietnam-768x480.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
&nbsp;

7 Most Scenic Spots in Southeast Asia

France

Burgundy

<h4><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-37254" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BRGBS_20170702_TCA_015-picnic-732px-compressed.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="263" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BRGBS_20170702_TCA_015-picnic-732px-compressed.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BRGBS_20170702_TCA_015-picnic-732px-compressed-400x300.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" /></h4>
<h2>Come For the Wine, Stay for the Cuisine</h2>
Let’s be honest, though: you’ve come to Burgundy for the sumptuous cuisine and the wine, right? (Or perhaps those legendary B&amp;R picnics you may have heard about?) I’ll leave the wine rhapsodizing <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2016/01/14/best-burgundy-wines/">to our experts</a>, but will add a few of my observations about some local delicacies: did you know the oh-so-French specialty, escargot, originated here? The Burgundian snail, Helix pomatia, is the most sought-after, as they’re the biggest and the sweetest-tasting variety. They’re also difficult to farm, so wild-caught snails are the ones to eat. Don&#8217;t miss out.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37256 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BRGBS_20160919_SVI_019-wines-ontable-732px-comrpessed.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="488" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BRGBS_20160919_SVI_019-wines-ontable-732px-comrpessed.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BRGBS_20160919_SVI_019-wines-ontable-732px-comrpessed-450x300.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h2>Pass the (Burgundian) Mustard, Please</h2>
There’s also the matter of that quintessential French condiment: mustard. While most mustard seeds are actually grown in North America and imported, this <a href="https://www.fallot.com/en/">local moutarderie’s</a> Burgundy mustard is made with local mustard seed and combined with Burgundy wine. It’s intensely flavourful and even better than anything you’ve ever tasted. (You may even ride through mustard fields depending on the season you come in). Another local delicacy that pairs nicely with mustard is the terrine known as jambon persillé (literally, ‘parsleyed ham’). A slice of it with a dab of mustard and a torn-off chunk of fresh bread? Heavenly.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37257 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BRGBS_05272013_SBO_019-MustardField-732px-compressed.jpg" alt="" width="732" height="355" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BRGBS_05272013_SBO_019-MustardField-732px-compressed.jpg 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BRGBS_05272013_SBO_019-MustardField-732px-compressed-480x233.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
I also fell in love with the charming little candy, Anis de Flavigny, another locally-made treat. At the heart of these candies lie green anise seeds, tumbled in thin layers of tumbled sugar. Originating in 1591, initially by monks, these local candies are famous countrywide, and are still being made on site at the abbey, although no longer by ascetics. The flavours and beautiful illustrations on each tin make these a sweet souvenir, too.
<h2>Another Divine Place To Rest</h2>
Speaking of monks, one of our most beloved hotels, Abbaye de la Bussière, occupies a former 12thC monastery. Run by <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/2017/07/15/abbaye-de-la-bussiere-2/">our good friends Clive and Tanith</a>, this Relais &amp; Chateaux property has been beautifully restored. With a superb Michelin-starred restaurant and a secluded atmosphere with lovely grounds, it’s a place where you’ll feel welcome, and at ease.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-37252 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Abbaye-Bussiere-960px-compressed.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="720" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Abbaye-Bussiere-960px-compressed.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Abbaye-Bussiere-960px-compressed-400x300.jpg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Abbaye-Bussiere-960px-compressed-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Abbaye-Bussiere-960px-compressed-800x600.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2>Let Burgundy Cast Its Spell</h2>
All good things must come to an end, but the journey didn’t stop after I came home: I bought a touring bike to continue my own exploration of the ‘slow road’ back home in Toronto, and I can’t wait to see how far my two wheels will take me this year. Long story short: once you open your heart to Burgundy, only time will tell what magic it will work upon you, long after you’ve returned.

Hotels

<h4>Metropole Hanoi: Colonial Flair</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36831 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-room-350px-cmopressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="262" />With an unmistakable neoclassical vibe, this old-world hotel, built in 1901 and designed by the French, graces Vietnam’s capital city with colonial elegance. From its twinkling lanterns, original wrought iron exterior and green wooden shutters to the crisp interiors, rich in mahogany and teak contrasted against crisp white linens and rich furnishings, there’s no question that your stay will be impeccable. (Ambassadors and foreign dignitaries, actors, authors, and royals are among those who have stayed here).
Located in the French Quarter of Hanoi, steps from the Opera House and from the banks of the Red River, you’re free to explore the best of the city from this ideal home base. A curious side note: the Metropole recently rediscovered and re-opened its subterranean air raid shelter, its tightly packed tunnels (Joan Baez spent time here during the Christmas air raids of 1972) are now open for tours, to hotel guests only.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36825 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-Big-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="696" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-Big-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-Big-960px-compressed-414x300.png 414w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-Big-960px-compressed-768x557.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Metropole-Hanoi-Big-960px-compressed-828x600.png 828w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h4>Emeralda Ninh Binh: A Hidden Gem</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36846 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Emeralda-Pavilion-350px-compressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="234" />Truly one of Vietnam’s hidden jewels, the jaw-dropping rural beauty of Ninh Binh is amongst the finest in Southeast Asia.
It’s the scenery that you’re here for: set amidst the soaring green limestone mountains, you’ll find temples and pagodas, amidst a wild profusion of nature: underground cave systems, emerald rivers snaking through valleys, steep stone steps winding through mountain paths, and temples carved out of mountainsides. (Its cinematic wonders aren’t lost on Hollywood: the region served as a backdrop for the recent Kong: Skull Island movie). The richness of this area with its unexpected beauty and drama makes the hotel an ideal upscale hideaway with a casual and family-friendly feel.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36847 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/trang-an-2767455_1920-ninhbinh-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/trang-an-2767455_1920-ninhbinh-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/trang-an-2767455_1920-ninhbinh-960px-compressed-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/trang-an-2767455_1920-ninhbinh-960px-compressed-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/trang-an-2767455_1920-ninhbinh-960px-compressed-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h4>We Also Love: Pilgrimage Village</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36828 alignright" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Pilgrimage-Village3-Pool-350px-compressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="235" />A resort located just outside of the city of Hue, this family-run resort is one of our favourites for its welcoming atmosphere and charming staff, even if it isn’t the fanciest. Just a short drive away from town, this welcoming and family-friendly resort features a variety of lodging styles, from multi-bedroom villas to individual rooms.
Relax at the mirrored pool amidst thatched umbrellas, or head into the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hue, the old imperial capital, resplendent with its ‘forbidden city’ of old, and rich in royal traditions (from some of Vietnam’s most delicious regional foods, to the invention of the Vietnamese national dress for women, the ao dai).
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-36851 aligncenter" src="https://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/vietnam-1235938_1920-HUE-960px-compressed.png" alt="" width="960" height="436" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/vietnam-1235938_1920-HUE-960px-compressed.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/vietnam-1235938_1920-HUE-960px-compressed-480x218.png 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/vietnam-1235938_1920-HUE-960px-compressed-768x349.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

<h2>A Clash of Kingdoms</h2>
Over the years, Lan Xang armies won and lost territory from the Khmer, Burmese, Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese in Yunnan. By the 17th century, its holdings were quite sizable. However, its power began to crumble in 1694 when King Souligna Vongsa died without an heir. Internal strife, spurred on by various neighbours, ultimately split Lan Xang into three kingdoms: Luang Prabang in the north, Vientiane in the centre and Champassak in the south. The rivals never stopped quarrelling and were easily invaded and overrun, particularly by the Siamese who, by the end of the 18th century, controlled most of present-day Laos and Cambodia.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-35956 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/kinganouvong-flickr-732px-compressed.png" alt="" width="732" height="515" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/kinganouvong-flickr-732px-compressed.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/kinganouvong-flickr-732px-compressed-426x300.png 426w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
Siam ultimately ceded the territory of Lan Xang (and of the Khmer) to French Indochina in a bid to maintain its own independence—which worked. The French reunited the three territories and called the new protectorate Laos, from les Laos, the plural form of the Lao people. Siam retained what is now Northeast Thailand, or Issan, where many Lao people lived then and still do. Today, there are more Lao people living in Issan than in Laos itself.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-35949 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/lao-2561534_1280-waterfall-freestock-960px-compressed-1.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/lao-2561534_1280-waterfall-freestock-960px-compressed-1.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/lao-2561534_1280-waterfall-freestock-960px-compressed-1-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/lao-2561534_1280-waterfall-freestock-960px-compressed-1-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/lao-2561534_1280-waterfall-freestock-960px-compressed-1-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2>French Colonization</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-35951 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/poppyseed-2557339_640-freestock-350x-compressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="233" />Under the French, there was little real development in what they called the “land of the lotus-eaters.” Few roads were built, no universities were opened and there was little improvement in health care. The mountains posed a barrier to plantation farming and the Mekong was not suitable for merchant vessels. About the only real commercial activity was the export of opium. In all of Laos, there were only a few hundred French. The colonizers preferred to import Vietnamese to staff the administration while the Chinese engaged in trade. For the average Lao peasant farmer, life was little changed.
French Indochina fell briefly to the Japanese in World War II. When Japan surrendered in 1945, the Lao Issara (“Free Laos”) movement, led by the king’s nephew, declared independence. The king, however, sided with the French and the experiment quickly ended with the French returning. In 1953, the French granted independence to the Royal Lao Government, but an offshoot of the Lao Issara, called Pathet Laos, felt it was only a puppet government so it created a resistance group backed by communist North Vietnam. When the French suffered a final defeat in Vietnam in 1954 and withdrew from Indochina, the U.S. started supplying the Royal Lao Government with arms.
<h2>Role in the Vietnam War</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-35946 size-thumbnail" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/international-2693256_640-flag-laos-350px-compressed-250x156.png" alt="" width="250" height="156" />At the second Geneva conference in 1961-1962, Laos declared itself neutral in the hope of avoiding future international conflicts, but this too was not to be. By the 1960s Laos was dragged into the Cold War, mostly because of its geopolitical position beside Vietnam.
While the entire world watched the U.S.-Vietnam war, few knew that a “secret war” was also being waged in Laos—with even more devastating results. Laos suffered the heaviest bombings of any country in history.
At the end of the wars, there was an attempt at a coalition government between the communist Pathet Lao and the royal government, but as soon as Saigon fell in April 1975, the Pathet Lao, backed by North Vietnam, took control of Laos with little opposition. On December 2, 1975, the king was deposed from Luang Prabang, Buddhism was removed as the state religion and the communist Lao People’s Democratic Republic was established and remains the only party. In the 1990s, Buddhism was reformed and reinstated as a way to promote Lao nationalism.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-35948 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/luang-prabang-2561536_1280-freestock-732p-compressed.png" alt="" width="732" height="488" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/luang-prabang-2561536_1280-freestock-732p-compressed.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/luang-prabang-2561536_1280-freestock-732p-compressed-450x300.png 450w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />

<h3><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35994 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cat-ba-island-flickr-250px-compressed.png" alt="" width="250" height="333" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cat-ba-island-flickr-250px-compressed.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cat-ba-island-flickr-250px-compressed-225x300.png 225w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" />Cát Bà Island</h3>
To the south of the city of Halong sits the 140 square kilometre island of Cát Bà, the largest island in Halong Bay. Marked by amazing limestone formations and a high biodiversity, Cát Bà has become an increasingly important tourist destination in Vietnam. Traditionally, its nearly 8,000 inhabitants relied on pearl farming or shrimp farming, but increasingly, the locals are discovering tourism as a major industry—especially since approximately half of the island is covered by a National Park.
<h3>Cát Bà Langur</h3>
The highly endangered golden-headed Cát Bà langur exists only on the Cát Bà Island, and there are fewer than 100 alive today. The species is one of the most endangered primates in the world; its population diminished to 53 individuals in 2000. Poached for the preparation of traditional medicine known as “monkey balm,” the animal is only rarely caught for food, as their meat has a very unpleasant smell.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35988 alignleft" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/cat-ba-langur-350px-compressed.png" alt="" width="350" height="266" />Scientists believe that the Cát Bà langur immigrated to the island long before the sea level rose from melting glacial ice, and that they have lived here for some 10,000 years. The langur lives in limestone forests and sleeps in as many as 12 different resting caves over the course of a year.
The daily life of a Cát Bà langur is devoted to foraging and resting, and its diet consists mainly of leaves, fresh shoots, flowers, bark and some fruits that are not palatable to human beings.
The good news is that with all the attention on tourism, there seems to be a well-organized conservation program under way, with a conscientious effort to preserve the langur’s existence. UNESCO recognized the island as a World Biosphere Reserve in 2004.

<h2>Cambodia</h2>
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Cambodia is similar to Saigon in that the temperature doesn’t change so much throughout the year. That said, you’ll find more consistent thunderstorms in the afternoon; one can almost guarantee afternoon rain from April through November.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as <a href="https://weatherspark.com/y/114683/Average-Weather-in-Siem-Reap-Cambodia">Siem Reap</a> can feel pretty dusty and hot by the end of March. The much-needed showers add gorgeous green to the atmosphere and even freshens up the air temperature for a couple hours before the next day clouds overdevelop and shower again. 
Best trip: <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/trip/cambodia-bistro-biking-private/">Cambodia Biking</a>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35496 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cambodia-2388090_1920-freestock-960c.png" alt="" width="960" height="643" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cambodia-2388090_1920-freestock-960c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cambodia-2388090_1920-freestock-960c-448x300.png 448w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cambodia-2388090_1920-freestock-960c-768x514.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cambodia-2388090_1920-freestock-960c-896x600.png 896w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<h2>Laos</h2>
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3886070.5672901063!2d100.9613580191376!3d17.979165556731015!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x31149057b0824589%3A0xec592481f99cd81!2sLaos!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sca!4v1502379472111" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
The residents of <a href="https://weatherspark.com/y/114340/Average-Weather-in-Luang-Prabang-Laos">Luang Prabang</a> prepare for rain to start falling in mid-April. If you’re lucky enough to be there in April, don’t miss <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkran_(Lao)">Songkran</a>, a water festival to celebrate the Lao New Year and the imminent arrival of rain. The whole town, travellers included, participates in a massive three-day water fight. With your phone in a Ziploc bag and Super Soaker water gun in hand, it’s great fun! The fall in Luang Prabang is ideal for travel. In the winter months, the town can get a bit foggy and cooler in the mornings, but still great for biking. By the time March and April roll around, it gets hot, humid, and muggy. 
Best trip: <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/trip/laos-biking-private/">Laos Biking</a>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35499 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/luang-prabang-flickr-1600c.png" alt="" width="960" height="625" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/luang-prabang-flickr-1600c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/luang-prabang-flickr-1600c-461x300.png 461w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/luang-prabang-flickr-1600c-768x500.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/luang-prabang-flickr-1600c-922x600.png 922w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

Food and Travel

Restaurants

The best way to see Southeast Asia: by bike!
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-34540 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sea_kids-350c.png" alt="" width="350" height="374" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sea_kids-350c.png 350w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sea_kids-350c-281x300.png 281w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" />I’d be amiss to skip over B&amp;R’s favourite way to explore the world, by two wheels, so here are a few of my favourite routes and rides. If you’re trying to decide where to go, ask yourself what your activity level is, or what type of ride you’re seeking – hilly, flat, scenic, or with a lot of spots along the way to stop at?
If you want a mellow ride that’s relatively flat, my favourite ride in the Mekong Delta features a jaunt through local markets, rice paddies blowing in the breeze, and sometimes even joining along in the commute with local kids on their way to school!
For something hilly that will challenge your legs further, one of my favourite climbs is in Luang Prabang, Laos, as well as along the Hai Van Pass between Hoi An and Hue, Vietnam. The Hai Van Pass is particularly scenic with its twisting road, and was of strategic importance in Vietnamese military history. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-34554 alignleft" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/haivan-350-c.png" alt="" width="350" height="234" />
Biking the terrain in Northern Vietnam is also something I’m particular to: you will cross rivers, pass through rural villages, and even travel amongst towering limestone peaks. Feel like an adventurer and supplement your rides by taking a local boat through tunnels or hiking dramatic ‘dragon spine’ mountains for the full experience.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-34548 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ricefields_beggs-960-c.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ricefields_beggs-960-c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ricefields_beggs-960-c-450x300.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ricefields_beggs-960-c-768x512.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ricefields_beggs-960-c-900x600.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
I’ve already touched upon this if you head to Cambodia, but the loveliest scenic bike routes are, unsurprisingly, found when you leisurely pedal from one splendid temple to another. The roads are flat, and you’ll find some nice 10 to 15 km stretches that will give you some room to open up and speed up. (Also, there are less chickens along the road to slow you down!)
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-34551 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cambodia-stock-960-c.png" alt="" width="960" height="638" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cambodia-stock-960-c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cambodia-stock-960-c-451x300.png 451w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cambodia-stock-960-c-768x510.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cambodia-stock-960-c-903x600.png 903w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />

Must Sees

Best Places to Cycle in Southeast Asia

<h2>22 Temples</h2>
I’m pretty sure if you combine the two rides below you’ll pass at least 22 temples – but feel free to try it for yourself and check my math!
<h4>5. Grand Circuit, Cambodia</h4>
<a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/09/05/angkor-wat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angkor Wat</a><a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/09/05/angkor-wat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-33604" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cambodia-biking.png" width="350" height="467" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cambodia-biking.png 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cambodia-biking-225x300.png 225w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" /></a> is the largest religious structure in the world and a site to behold, but travellers are often surprised to learn there are tons of temples around the area.
My favorite ride starts at Bayon Temple in the heart of Angkor Thom and heads north before making a large loop back towards town.
Along the way you pass many temples and can stop for a visit or just enjoy the ambiance by biking past. My favourite of the temples is Preah Khan, which was <a href="https://www.wmf.org/project/preah-khan-temple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently restored by our friends at the World Monuments Fund</a>.
<h4>6. Across the Nam Khan in Laos</h4>
I consider Laos to be Asia’s undiscovered paradise.
There aren’t many tourists here, the people are kind, the Buddhist legacy is strong and interesting, and the colonial architecture is dilapidated and romantic.
My favourite ride in Laos is one I often do when I arrive with travellers on a morning flight. We jump on our bikes just after baggage claim and bike straight from the airport.
Crossing the tranquil Nam Khan river on a bikes-only bridge, we head into town and ride past the many temples for which the town is famous, including the gilded Wat Xieng Thong. I like to stop at Wat Mai for a talk on Lao Buddhism.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-33606 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/namkhan752x600.png" alt="" width="752" height="600" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/namkhan752x600.png 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/namkhan752x600-376x300.png 376w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />

family

<h3>Got kids? You’re invited!</h3>
Spontaneity is abundant in Vietnam, and kids thrive upon randomness and unexpected moments.  Rest assured that on your trip, a great many serendipities and wonderful things will happen.  You might bike past a wedding and get invited for a dance. You might pass a field of children playing soccer and get invited to join. You might even jump into a group tai chi class at the last minute, all thanks to the little ones.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-33645 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sunset2_752_com.png" alt="" width="752" height="425" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sunset2_752_com.png 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sunset2_752_com-480x271.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-33639 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/basketboat_comp.png" alt="" width="350" height="263" />You can indulge your inner child, too.</h3>
Your guides will set up fun events, from basket boat racing to a scavenger hunt through the flower market. What is basket boat racing, you ask?
These large, lacquered, round basket boats, about five feet in diameter, are traditionally used by in-shore fishermen. While the design looks simple enough, it isn’t quite that easy to steer. I can tell you by experience that it takes a pretty fancy figure-eight stroke to paddle straight.  As it is literally round, the uninitiated and unpracticed just go in circles when they first try—hysterical to watch!
<h3>Everyone will love the food.</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-33658 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/vietnam_food_350_comp.png" alt="" width="350" height="237" />Simply put, Vietnamese food is great. There&#8217;s an abundance of fresh vegetables, fragrant herbs and palate-pleasing flavours. Try your hand at making a few Vietnamese dishes in a cooking class with the family and be surprised at your delicious creations!
You’ll also find the unmistakable influence of French cuisine here if you look closely. Baguettes are sold on every corner, and good croissants aren&#8217;t hard to come by. For the quintessential Vietnamese-French fusion food, my favourite is the traditional (since colonial times) bánh mì sandwich, which combines Vietnamese fillings, cold cuts and pâté in a crusty French baguette.
<h3>Safe and abundant biking is a rule, not an exception.</h3>
A number of years ago, in order to promote rural living as opposed to everyone moving into the big cities (a sadly common occurrence in developing nations), the Vietnamese went and paved over many of the rural dirt paths &#8211; a boon for bikers.
So get ready for wonderfully paved bike paths all over the countryside, taking you through rice paddies and beautiful fields of lotus flowers. It’s a magical combination of immersive (and safe for all ages!) biking, and something I never tire of.

<h2>Specialty Markets</h2>
<h3>Flower Markets</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-full wp-image-32900" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-Flowers.png" alt="" width="400" height="533" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-Flowers.png 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-Flowers-225x300.png 225w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />Maybe I’m a hopeless romantic, but I love flower markets. (Or maybe I’d just rather look at flowers than raw chickens.)
The all-day and often visited flower market in <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/03/31/ho-chi-minh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ho Chi Minh City</a> remains wonderful, but my favourite is the 4 a.m. market in <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/09/05/deep-hanoi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hanoi</a>. It’s at the terminus of the bike bridge over the Red River and is a wholesale market with local villagers coming in and selling to vendors that will re-sell around the city. It’s fantastic.
<h3>Votive Markets</h3>
I also like the votive offering markets. These are the paper displays of money, clothes and other items that are burned as an offering to ancestors that they can use in the afterlife.
In the weeks leading up to Tet (more on that below), these markets triple in size, and it’s fascinating and fun to walk through them and appreciate the scale of this, taking in paper versions of cars, mopes, cigarettes and more.
<hr />
<h2>Spontaneous Stops</h2>
<h3>A Random River Float</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-full wp-image-32902" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-Rafts.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" />One of my favourite spontaneous stops was on a bike ride in Ninh Binh, in northern Vietnam.
I was biking with six travellers and we were having a good time riding along a river.
We stopped to drink water and there were some bamboo rafts parked in front of us on the river bank. One of the travellers jokingly said, “Wouldn’t it be fun to ride those rafts?”
After some quick negotiating, we were each onboard a raft and floating down the river with our bikes floating on a separate raft beside us. We floated to the next bridge, where we continued our ride, and this became the running joke for the rest of the week.
<h3>A Quick Dip</h3>
I am also a big fan of swimming if the water looks good. I always have a good supply of towels in the van and if it’s hot, the biking clothes dry fast.
Biking along a great coastal road on the far side of Hai Van Pass was a place I often swam when I was on my research trips.
<figure id="attachment_32904" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32904" style="width: 752px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-32904" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-beach.png" alt="" width="752" height="499" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-beach.png 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-beach-452x300.png 452w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-32904" class="wp-caption-text">Body surfing, anyone?</figcaption></figure>
On this one trip, the waves were good and I convinced 18 fully clothed travellers to body surf in the waves of Lang Co Beach (pictured above). The body surfing was followed by a great lunch, and lots of wet clothes that dried during our bike ride.
<hr />
<h2>Tet</h2>
<h3>A New Year I&#8217;ll Never Forget</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-32906 size-full alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Vietnam-Hidden-Treasures-monkey.png" width="350" height="231" />
Travelling in Vietnam during Tet (the Vietnamese New Year, which takes place in late January) is a total blast.
The whole country is like one big street party. On one of my favourite trips, we were hiking in a remote village on the Ninh Van Penninsula.
We stumbled across a travelling troop of performers doing flips and pranks. I think they just roam villages during Tet and collect money from tips.
They were dressed up as the Hanuman and his friend, the mischievous monkey who goes on adventures through Nepal, India and China. We watched the random show in this tiny fishing village, hugged the monkey and had a great day. (To read more about the experience, check out <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Dolce_Story_Web.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this article</a> I wrote for Dolce magazine.)

Hanoi

<h2>The Youth Movement</h2>
<h3><a href="https://legout-degia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-52050 alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Le-Gout-de-Gia-240x300.jpeg" alt="" width="240" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Le-Gout-de-Gia-240x300.jpeg 240w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Le-Gout-de-Gia-480x600.jpeg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Le-Gout-de-Gia-768x960.jpeg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Le-Gout-de-Gia-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Le-Gout-de-Gia.jpeg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px" />Le Goût de Gia</a></h3>
Le Goût de Gia is the gastronomic creation of three young Vietnamese: a sommelier, a chef, and a restaurant manager, each of whom gained extensive experience in high-end restaurants abroad and in Vietnam before founding this elegant, refined fusion offering that has broadened the rich palette of dining options in Hanoi. With a focus on organic ingredients and bio-dynamic wines, the eclectic dishes at Le Goût de Gia have something for all tastes, vaulting it quickly into our list of favourites.
<h2>The Wild Card – Street Style</h2>
<h3>Quan An Ngon</h3>
This one will be a bit of a wild card. Quan An Ngon is, to me, the best way to experience street food without being on the street. If you want to be in one place where you can try all sorts of delicious and wonderfully varied local cuisine then this is your spot. Whenever I choose to go here I am never disappointed.
I walk into the large courtyard-type atmosphere full of locals and the odd back-packer and I slowly take in the scene to realize that now, after all of these years of coming in and out of Vietnam—to a foreign country with a language that still beguiles me and ingredients that in my childhood would look like something out of a Doctor Seuss book and a pace that can feel frantic and elegant all at the same time—it feels like home. To get close, or at least within proximity, of all of my feelings above, head to 18 Phan Boi Chau Street, Hoan Kiem District.
<h2>Capital Cafes</h2>
Vietnam is the second-largest producer of coffee in the world, and every Vietnamese city, town and hamlet boasts numerous relaxing cafes, where locals trade morning gossip or relax in the shade during the afternoon heat. We’d be remiss if we didn’t include some of our favourite cafes on the list. Among the many, many worthy choices in Hanoi, here are some of our favourites:
<h3><a href="https://www.facebook.com/rengrengcafe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reng Reng</a> </h3>
For coffee connoisseurs, this is the place to go! Much of Vietnam’s coffee is Robusta, but there are Arabica producers north of Hanoi. Reng Reng serves only this fine Vietnamese Arabica coffee with just a few variations. What more could you want, after all? As a bonus, the walk through the old quarter to the alleyway coffee shop is a joyful stimulant in itself. Sit in the minimalist second-floor room, look out on the local life, and savour that fragrance. Do one thing, and do it well; that’s the Reng Reng philosophy!
<h3><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/bMm4y9yFkgtbi8n58" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Đinh Cafe</a></h3>
Enter this old-style café via a deep, narrow alleyway and set of stairs. The interior looks like it hasn’t been remodeled in decades, and in this case, that’s the whole point. If you go early, you can be there among the locals and enjoy the view of Hoan Kiem Lake and the Temple of the Jade Mountain. The menu includes regular coffees, egg coffee (a Hanoi specialty first concocted by a resourceful bartender in the 1940s at the B&amp;R stalwart Metropole Hotel), as well as refreshing smoothies and fruit juices.
<h3><a href="https://www.facebook.com/cafephocohanggai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-51630 alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/cafe-pho-co-400x300.jpeg" alt="" width="400" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/cafe-pho-co-400x300.jpeg 400w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/cafe-pho-co-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/cafe-pho-co-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/cafe-pho-co.jpeg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />Café Phố Cố</a> </h3>
Like Dinh Café above, this is an immersive atmosphere, but a completely different one: Café Pho Co is beautifully decorated as a classic upper-class home, with immaculate furnishings and artwork throughout. This is another option for a variety of drinks (including egg coffee) right near Hoan Kiem Lake. Three levels of seating areas, including the rooftop, overlook the airy courtyard full of bright flowers. 
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<h2>The Contemporary &amp; Family Friendly</h2>
<h3><a href="http://pizza4ps.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pizza 4p&#8217;s</a></h3>
<figure id="attachment_32513" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32513" style="width: 451px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-32513 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/pizza-4ps-451x300.jpg" alt="Best Restaurants in Hanoi" width="451" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/pizza-4ps-451x300.jpg 451w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/pizza-4ps.jpg 752w" sizes="(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-32513" class="wp-caption-text">Homemade cheese from dairy cows in the highlands</figcaption></figure>
No matter where I travel there is always one day in a week when I am overcome with a need for good pizza. And I am not talking about throwing processed cheese onto some dough and tossing it mindlessly into a fire! No, I am talking about Pizza: traditional Italian pizza that is usually only found in Italy proper. Luckily, there are, in my opinion, more and more places throughout the world that are no longer satisfied with presenting the poorer cousin to pizza, the international imitator, as I call it. Pizza 4p’s in Hanoi would make an old man with white hair and a curled mustache in Naples proud.
Located at 24 Lý Quốc Sư, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Pizza 4p’s makes its own cheese using dairy cows that graze in the highlands around Dalat. Focusing on the freshest local ingredients, each pizza tastes like it has been made with love and care and extreme attention to ratios. My favourite (if you’re looking for suggestions) is the Shrimp Mayo pizza on half and the four cheeses on the other. Then, I take the spicy oil and pour it onto my pizza (careful, it is quite spicy). I follow this with a sip of Chianti and this, my friends, I promise you, is a satisfying night out!
<h2>The Lake View</h2>
<h3><a href="http://www.caugorestaurant.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cau Go</a></h3>
Situated on the sixth floor overlooking the watery oasis of Hoàn Kiem lake, you&#8217;ll be rewarded with sweeping views of Hanoi at Cau Go. Located in the old quarter, its interior gives off an eclectic French Colonial vibe without trying too hard to be fussy. Currently, their menu is restricted to Vietnamese hot pot (lẩu) due to renovations. However, this should change soon! Drinks, snacks, and entrees are served daily from 10 a.m. If you can, request an outdoor table for a lovely patio view of Turtle Tower and Hanoi’s glittering lakeside.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-36101 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cau-Go-Restaurant-Hanoi-Lake-732px-compressed.png" alt="Best Restaurants in Hanoi" width="732" height="436" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cau-Go-Restaurant-Hanoi-Lake-732px-compressed.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cau-Go-Restaurant-Hanoi-Lake-732px-compressed-480x286.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h2>The Authentic</h2>
<h3>Pho Thin</h3>
When I want pho, I also want what comes with pho. I want the shared tables and the loud crowds, the chopsticks on the tables and the bowls of chillies and limes and the fish sauce that came from an old family recipe passed down from generation to generation.  I want to hear slurping, and laughing and children, and I want my shoulders to be side by side with a local as we lean forward and savour our bowls noodle at a time.  I want to make conspiratorial eye contact with the old woman across the table as I bring the bowl up to my mouth at the completion of the noodles and drink the remaining broth.  Located on 13 Lo Duc, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam.  Come here for the Pho and leave a changed person….or at least a satiated one!

<h2>The Colonial</h2>
<h3><a href="http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-1555-sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi/index.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bamboo Bar at the Sofitel Metropole</a></h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-32522 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/bamboo-bar-sofitel-legend-450x300.jpg" alt="Best Restaurants in Hanoi" width="450" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/bamboo-bar-sofitel-legend-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/bamboo-bar-sofitel-legend.jpg 550w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" />Sometimes the colonial vibe of the city is so strong that I am pulled without choice towards the epicentre of it all—the Bamboo Bar at the Sofitel Metropole. This bar to me sums up colonial elegance and makes me feel like I am someone a little more important than I am, a little more attractive, a little worldlier.
Poolside, I usually order some light tapas off the bar menu which includes popcorn shrimp served with a spicy red chilli dipping sauce, some crudities and a cheese plate full of French cheeses that are just sharp enough to force me to follow my martini with a glass of rich French red wine. I like this bar. I like this bar a lot.

Insider's Guide: The Best Restaurants in Hanoi

<h2>5. Dolomites</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-32919 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/dolomites-family-300x400.png" alt="mountain climbing in the Dolomites" width="300" height="400" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/dolomites-family-300x400.png 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/dolomites-family-300x400-225x300.png 225w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Uncover Italy&#8217;s best-kept secret with the family and explore the incredible Dolomites mountain region. Perfect for large families, the activity can be dialled up or down for people of all abilities and you&#8217;re sure to be in good hands with the local mountain guides to assist.
Shoot up the mountain on an e-bike, head out on a leisurely walk or opt for a challenging trek. Looking for a new and exciting activity? Try paragliding, rock climbing or heli-hiking. In the Dolomites, the options are endless and the views are outstanding. Combine this region with Venice on our <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/trip/dolomites-family-private/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dolomites to Venice Family Adventure</a> for a truly unforgettable family experience.
<h2>6. Arizona</h2>
Whether horseback riding among iconic Saguaro cacti, flying over the wonder that is the Grand Canyon or learning about the unique flora and fauna (or, as you can put it to the kids: cool cacti and awesome animals), Arizona offers an amazing array of activities for the whole family. Ride horses, hike through deserts and enjoy desserts under the stars. Here, adventure awaits at every turn.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-32348 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cool-family-vacation-ideas-Arizona.jpg" alt="" width="752" height="350" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cool-family-vacation-ideas-Arizona.jpg 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Cool-family-vacation-ideas-Arizona-480x223.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
<h2>7. Iceland<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-32230 size-medium" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iceland-600x600-300x300.jpg" alt="iceland-600x600" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iceland-600x600-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iceland-600x600.jpg 600w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/iceland-600x600-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></h2>
Done family reunion picnics to death?
Iceland is especially perfect for those seeking adventure.
Push the boundaries with epic waterfalls, Northern Lights, otherworldly vistas and hidden hot springs. By journey’s end, even your surliest niece will plead to stay longer.
But don&#8217;t take my word for it. Instead, check out photos from traveller Ken Finkelstein&#8217;s <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/08/24/in-pictures-a-perfect-icelandic-itinerary/">family trip to Iceland</a>.
The trip was such a success that they went back a second time (in the same year!) for a winter adventure.
<h2>8. Ireland</h2>
Want to get everyone together but worried about the stress of logistics, moving around and keeping everybody happy?
Consider a <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/custom/ireland-bespoke/">private castle stay in Ireland</a>.
Ideal for families or private groups, you and your clan will unpack once and explore from a home base.
Whether you’re heading back to your Irish roots or simply looking to immerse yourself in true Celtic culture, the kids will never forget that time they slept in a <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2016/10/31/best-hotels-ireland/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medieval castle</a> and honed their skills with an archery lesson.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-31860 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Best-Hotels-Ireland-Ashford2.jpg" alt="" width="752" height="400" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Best-Hotels-Ireland-Ashford2.jpg 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Best-Hotels-Ireland-Ashford2-480x255.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
<h2>9. Tuscany</h2>
A villa stay in Tuscany is another perfect setting for families wanting to unpack once with access to a broad range of activities delivered straight to your door. From painting to flag throwing, pizza making to cooking demonstrations, Tuscany is the perfect home base for you to sit back and relax while the kids jump from activity to activity.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-32917 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/tuscany-family-752x500.png" alt="" width="752" height="500" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/tuscany-family-752x500.png 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/tuscany-family-752x500-451x300.png 451w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
Set off each day with an active morning with your group then unwind by the pool in the afternoon. Mid-day meals are as many events as they are refuelling and dinners at the villa in the evening allow for super convenient meals with flexible menus to please everyone in the family. Talk to a seasoned Trip Designer about <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/tuscany-bespoke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tuscany Bespoke</a> options for your family.
<h2>10. Galapagos</h2>
Bring the family to explore the land that stirred Darwin and turned science on its ear.
Here, you can sail into a turquoise cove with no other boats in sight, sit yourself down on a lava rock, and watch a baby sea lion sneak up for a closer inspection.
Spot <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/08/15/5-must-see-galapagos-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rare animals </a>with the kids, like the Galapagos tortoise and blue-footed boobies. Then, walk barefoot down a powdery white beach while they distractedly snorkel in the crystal-clear waters.
An <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/ecuador-galapagos-bespoke">Ecuador &amp; Galapagos Family Adventure</a> is sure to provide your family with memories they’ll treasure endlessly.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-32801 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/galapagos-2-752x500.png" alt="" width="752" height="500" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/galapagos-2-752x500.png 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/galapagos-2-752x500-451x300.png 451w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
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10 of the Coolest Places on Earth to Take Your Entire Family

Chef Q&amp;A

Thailand

In your book, Hot Sour Salty Sweet, you explore the cuisine in multiple countries along the Mekong River and recognize that the flavours and tastes from the surrounding countries were all closely related. How does Northern Thai cuisine differentiate itself from the rest?
In one region you can find the food of another, but they all have very distinct cuisines.
Northern Thailand has strong regional traditions and very intense flavours. There’s a pushiness and intensity of the flavours and spices that you don’t find in other regions.
In Northern Thai cuisine many things are steamed to cook and the grill is primarily used to flavour dishes. Chilies, garlic and shallots are all grilled first, then combined into a sauce or salsa, similarly to how it’s done in Mexico.
Since the grill is used to flavour, they grill over charcoal to create these lovely and intense sauces, like nam prik pao, for example.
Your latest cookbook on Persian cuisine focuses on a number of countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Kurdistan. Can you define this cuisine and how it differs from Thai cuisine?
The food in the Persian culinary region is representative of more temperament climate conditions. They use nuts more, to give meaning to food through the sauces.
There is much less fish in the culinary world of the Caucasus Mountains, and fruit plays a big role in the culinary flavours. In Thailand, the focus is more on bitter and aromatic leaves. In the Persian region, they use tart fruits and fresh herbs, because of the desert and drier climate in places like Southern Iran.
Similar to Thailand, rice is a big part of the cuisine. It differs in many ways though. In Thailand and most of Southeast Asia, jasmine rice is served as bread, used to balance out dishes and accompany the strong flavours of the main dish.
In Persian culinary tradition, basmati rice is important and flavoured while it cooks with salt and seasoning. They typically use flatbread as their plain dish to be served alongside strong flavours.
What’s your best advice for getting past the fear travellers sometimes have of eating in markets. It can be an overwhelming place, so how does one start?
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-32391 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Thai-Market.png" alt="thai-market" width="350" height="234" />There are typically a few reasons people struggle with eating in markets; the concern for cleanliness and the overwhelming variety of choices.
Generally, in Thailand, there is a huge emphasis on cleanliness. There’s plenty of water in Thailand and the locals are known for showering to refresh themselves from the heat multiple times a day!
Many times I’ve entered friends’ homes and they ask if I’d like to refresh myself with a shower. It also helps to rest your body temperature.
This emphasis on cleanliness means that you don’t smell rotting fish in the markets, and the clean-up is so thorough that when they’re done for the day you can’t even tell there was a market there! This is especially impressive given the tropical climate.
Addressing the amount of choice, I’d recommend you don’t bother trying things you know you don’t like and don’t waste any eating opportunity on a western dish you could get back home. It’s important to try the local cuisine to help get an appreciation for the region and a true sense of the food landscape.
When travelling from Northern Vietnam to Southern Vietnam, the classic Vietnamese Pho dish changes along the way. What dishes change in a similar fashion from Myanmar into Chiang Mai? Is there a specific dish travellers should look for?
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-32393 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Khao-soi.png" alt="khao-soi" width="350" height="263" />Khao soi (see recipe, below) is a dish widely served in Northern Thailand that is Burmese-influenced. It’s similar to Ohno khao swe, the Burmese noodle dish that is also a coconut milk-based dish.
These dishes are very different but are related, as you can even see by their names. Also, generally, there is much less chilli heat used in Myanmar than in Northern Thailand so most dishes are different for that reason.
How do you think food helps one understand a place?
I’ve always seen the world through food, it’s the best window into a culture. I love taking groups into a region and focusing not on hands-on cooking but on seeing the world through food.
If you had one tip for travellers heading into the region, what would it be?
What’s most important is that you look at a topographic map to get an understanding of where you’re going.
Look at the mountains. Acknowledge where the Burma border lies. Observe where the Mekong winds.
In Chiang Mai, you’re at a meeting place of cultures, where the lowlands meet the mountains. From town, you can see the hills, and it’s remarkable to think that Myanmar is just across the mountains.
It may seem close, but back in the day, those were very hard to cross. When you travel by plane sometimes you forget where you are and how you got there.
Understanding by taking the time to look at a map beforehand will leave you with a real appreciation for the region and a sense of wonder to see where you are in relation to the rest of Southeast Asia.
Editor&#8217;s Note: Naomi was kind enough to share the below recipe and excerpt from her book, <a href="http://www.longitudebooks.com/find/p/104862/mcms.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hot Sour Salty Sweet</a>, coauthored with Jeffrey Alford.

<h2>Recipe: Chiang Mai Curry Noodles</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-32395 size-medium alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Chiang-Mai-Curry-339x300.jpg" alt="" width="339" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Chiang-Mai-Curry-339x300.jpg 339w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Chiang-Mai-Curry-768x681.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Chiang-Mai-Curry-677x600.jpg 677w" sizes="(max-width: 339px) 100vw, 339px" />
We&#8217;re told by friends in Chiang Mai, Thailand&#8217;s northern capital, that this noodle dish is originally from the Shan State of Burma; others say it came with Muslim traders from Yunnan.
Whatever the story, khao soi is now known as a Chiang Mai specialty. It&#8217;s an easy-to-make, very rich and delicious one-dish meal.
The broth that bathes the noodles is flavoured with a little curry paste, turmeric, and garlic and is smooth and thick with coconut milk. Traditionally khao soi is made, as it is here, with beef; you can also make it with chicken.
The recipe calls for Chinese egg noodles, available from most Chinese groceries. They come in one-pound packages and are about linguine width and pale yellow. The cooked noodles are placed in large individual bowls and the curry sauce is poured over them when the dish is served.
Khao soi is usually topped with a small nest of crispy noodles, egg noodles that have been briefly deep-fried; they add a delightful contrasting texture. There is a small array of condiments traditionally served with khao soi; don&#8217;t worry if you don&#8217;t have pickled cabbage.
<h3>Khao soi &#8211; Northern Thailand</h3>
<h5>Serves 4</h5>
<h5>Ingredients:</h5>
2 to 3 cloves garlic, peeled 
1-inch piece fresh turmeric, minced, or 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 
1 teaspoon salt, plus a pinch 
1 tablespoon Red Curry Paste (page 210 or store-bought) 
1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil 
3 cups canned or fresh coconut milk, with 2 cup of the thickest milk set aside 
2 pound boneless flavorful beef (sirloin tip or trimmed stewing beef), cut into 2-inch chunks 
1 tablespoon sugar 
1 cup water 
3 tablespoons Thai fish sauce 
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 
Peanut oil for deep-frying noodles (optional) 
1 pound Chinese egg noodles (bamee)
<h5>Toppings &amp; Condiments</h5>
Fried noodle nests (optional; see below) 
2 cup coarsely chopped shallots 
2 cup minced scallions 
2 cup Pickled Cabbage, Thai Style 
1 lime, cut into wedges
<h5>Directions:</h5>
Place the garlic in a mortar with the turmeric and the pinch of salt and pound to a paste. Alternatively, finely mince the garlic and whole turmeric, if using, and place the garlic and turmeric in a small bowl with a pinch of salt.
Stir in the red curry paste and set aside.
Place a large heavy pot or wok over high heat.
Add the 1 tablespoon oil and, when it is hot, toss in the curry paste mixture.
Stir-fry for 3 seconds, then add the reserved 1/2 cup thick coconut milk and lower the heat to medium-high.
Add the meat and sugar and cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 5 minutes, until the meat has 
changed colour all over.
Add the remaining 1/2 cups coconut milk, the water, fish sauce, and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook at a strong simmer 
for about 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice. (The soup can be prepared up to an hour ahead, then reheated just before serving.)
Meanwhile, make the optional crispy noodles:
Place a plate lined with several layers of paper towels by your stove. Place a large wok or heavy pot over high heat and add about 1 cup peanut oil.
When the oil is hot, drop in a strand of uncooked noodles to test the temperature. It should sizzle slightly as it falls to the bottom, then immediately puff and rise to the surface; adjust the heat slightly, if necessary.
Toss a handful (about 1 cup) of noodles into the oil and watch as they puff up. Use a spatula or long tongs to turn them over and expose all of them to the hot oil. They will crisp up very quickly, in less than 1 minute.
Lift the crisped noodles out of the oil and place on the paper towel-lined plate. Give the oil a moment to come back to temperature, and then repeat with a second handful of noodles. (The noodles can be fried ahead and left standing for several hours.)
To serve, bring a large pot of water to a vigorous boil over high heat. Drop in the remaining noodles (or all noodles, if you didn&#8217;t make crispy noodles), bring back to a boil, and cook until tender but not mushy, about 6 minutes. Drain well.
Divide the drained noodles among four large bowls. Ladle over the broth and meat. Top with crispy noodles, if you have them, and a pinch each of shallots and scallions.
Serve with the remaining condiments set out in small bowls so guests can garnish their soup as they wish. Provide each guest with chopsticks and a large spoon.
<hr />
Excerpted from Hot Sour Salty Sweet by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid. Copyright © 2000 Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid. Excerpted with permission from Random House Canada, an imprint of RH Canadian Publishing., a division of Penguin Random House of Canada Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Taste Your Way Through Thailand: An Interview with Author Naomi Duguid

Local Experts

Is there a particular site, dish or cultural element that you most enjoy introducing people to? 
The citadel in <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/12/01/deep-hue-vietnam/">Hue</a>, the city of Hoi An, local markets and the beauty of the countryside, <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/08/27/mi-quang/">Mi Quang</a>, Banh Xeo (a local pancake), Pho &amp; different veggie salads, and Vietnam&#8217;s rich family tradition.
Favourite trip you’ve ever taken?  
A Vietnam Biking trip I guided in February 2009 with <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/04/22/experts-insiders-karen-macrae/">Karen MacRae</a>. There were eight couples of travellers. We had so much fun from the beginning to the end of the trip.
Favourite hotel in your region? 
Definitely <a href="http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/ninh-van-bay/destination">Six Senses Ninh Van Bay</a>.
<figure id="attachment_30814" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30814" style="width: 975px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-30814" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Six-Senses.jpg" alt="Six Senses Ninh Van Bay" width="975" height="660" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Six-Senses.jpg 975w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Six-Senses-443x300.jpg 443w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Six-Senses-768x520.jpg 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Six-Senses-886x600.jpg 886w" sizes="(max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-30814" class="wp-caption-text">Six Senses Ninh Van Bay</figcaption></figure>
Favourite restaurant in your region? 
<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g293926-d4209848-Reviews-Vinh_Tu-Hue_Thua_Thien_Hue_Province.html">Mr Vinh&#8217;s house restaurant</a> in Hue.
Do you have a favourite travel quote, mantra or words to live by? 
Yes, from Saint Augustine: &#8220;The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.&#8221;
Top destination you haven’t been to, but would like to visit. (And why?) 
The United States (New York, California, Washington) because of the history and different culture.
What’s your preferred method for immersing yourself in a country or region?  
Learn its culture and customs through reading and watching movies before you go, and then by meeting people while you&#8217;re there.
<hr />
<blockquote>&#8220;The world is a book, and those who do not 
travel read only a page.&#8221;</blockquote>
<h5 style="text-align: right;">&#8211; Saint Augustine</h5>
<hr />
What’s the best thing that ever happened to you while travelling? 
Feeling safe and having hospitality of the people where I have gone to.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had? (And where was it?) 
Crab with tamarind at <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g298085-d2183588-r136826052-Ba_Thoi_Restaurant-Da_Nang_Quang_Nam_Province.html">Ba Thoi</a> (a local restaurant) in Danang.Where are you headed in the next 12 months? 
Cambodia and Laos
What items are absolute musts on your packing list? 
Maps, first aid kit , notebook, pens, water bottle, rain jacket, umbrella, dry and wet tissues.
Someone has just landed in your region, where they don’t speak the language. What’s your number one piece of advice for them? 
Have a local guide, of course! But if not, bring an English-Vietnamese dictionary (or Vietnamese phrase book), or have one loaded on your phone.
&nbsp;
*Note: We didn’t actually ask Tam for his marital status, but he felt 
it was important to include anyway. (Sorry, ladies!)

Experts & Insiders: Vietnam Guide Tam Dinh

Resto

<h5></h5>
<h3><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-30569 size-medium alignright" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Khmer-Kitchen-450x300.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="300" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Khmer-Kitchen-450x300.jpg 450w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Khmer-Kitchen.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" /><a style="font-size: 16px;" href="http://www.khmerkitchens.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khmer Kitchen</a></h3>
“Local” restaurants are a dime a dozen these days, but 15 years ago the Khemer Kitchen was the only game in town.
And ever since, it has remained a shining light of friendly service in a casual setting. You can leave your credit card at home, just be sure to come with at least ten dollars – you&#8217;ll likely spend less than that per person!
<h3><a href="https://www.thesugarpalm.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sugar Palm</a></h3>
A traditional home-style comfort food spot that&#8217;s famous for it&#8217;s Amok.
They have a big menu with lots of vegetarian options and the food is great.
<h3><a href="http://www.chanreytree.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chanrey Tree</a></h3>
Chanrey Tree has been around for a couple of years now and probably offers the best balance between fancy and good in town. They&#8217;re in a great location on the river and have terrific, friendly service.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-30574 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Chanrey-Tree.jpg" alt="best restaurants in Siem Reap - Chanrey Tree" width="855" height="350" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Chanrey-Tree.jpg 855w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Chanrey-Tree-480x196.jpg 480w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Chanrey-Tree-768x314.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px" />
<h3><a href="http://www.cuisinewatdamnak.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cuisine Wat Damnak</a></h3>
After many years of trying, I finally got to eat at the most famous game in town. And let me tell you, it was worth the wait – I will definitely be heading back.
Fantastic Cambodian food cooked by a top French chef and served by his lovely partner. The whole thing is set in a traditional Khmer home and it just works.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-30575 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Cuisine-Wat-Damnak.jpg" alt="best restaurants in Siem Reap - Cuisine Wat Damnak" width="750" height="495" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Cuisine-Wat-Damnak.jpg 750w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Siem-Reap-Restaurants-Cuisine-Wat-Damnak-455x300.jpg 455w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" />
<h3><a href="https://www.spoonscambodia.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spoons</a></h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-45125 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/spoons.jpg" alt="Best Restaurants in Siem Reap" width="380" height="253" />This special local restaurant not only serves delicious Cambodian food but is also driven by an important social purpose. Spoons is part of an organization that trains underserved young Cambodians for careers in hospitality. Yes, it&#8217;s a training restaurant, but under the tutelage of experts, they produce excellent cuisine!
Beneath a bamboo canopy, sample a wide array of Khmer dishes, including their scrumptious chicken wings with amok sauce!
<hr />
<h3>The Verdict</h3>
After sampling amok and many other tasty delicacies at (what I consider) to be the best restaurants in Siem Reap, I have to confess that for my money, the best dinner option in the city is the three-dollar (that&#8217;s right – three dollars!) curry from Khmer Kitchen.
Feeling inspired to taste your way through Siem Reap? Get inspired and start planning your trip with Nathan.

Accolades

TravelAge West

Butterfield and Robinson's New Luxury Mekong Voyage

Experts + Insiders: Dane Tredway

Need to Know

<h5>Seeking Nirvana</h5>
The ultimate goal of Buddhism is the cessation of suffering and the attainment of Nirvana. Nirvana can be achieved through a lifetime of strict adherence to the Eightfold Path, also known as the Middle Path, because it steers a course between materialism and asceticism. The Path is gleaned from the teachings of Siddhārtha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. Many Buddhists believe they inherit bad karma from previous lives, and ridding oneself of bad karma is accomplished by performing good deeds. Karma is based on a simple system of cause and effect: good deeds have good effects, and bad deeds have bad effects.
<h5>What You&#8217;ll See at Buddhist Temples</h5>
<figure id="attachment_24084" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-24084" style="width: 212px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-24084" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Buddhism_inset-212x320.jpg" alt="Guan Yin, also known as Quán Thế Âm" width="212" height="320" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-24084" class="wp-caption-text">Guan Yin, also known as Quán Thế Âm</figcaption></figure>
Here’s some background information to help you better understand the layout of typical Mahayana Buddhist temples and pagodas. Outside the pagoda, you’ll often find Guan Yin (the Goddess of Mercy), a white statue representing fertility and mercy. A variation of Guan Yin shows her with multiple arms and sometimes multiple eyes and ears, permitting her to touch, see and hear all. Inside the main sanctuary are representations of the three Buddhas: A Di Da (Buddha of the Past, pronounced “Ah-zee-dah”), Thich Ca Mau Ni (The Historical Buddha, the representation of Siddhārtha Gautama) and Di Lac (Buddha of the Future, pronounced “Zee-lock”). Nearby are often statues of the eight Kim Cang (Genies of the Cardinal Directions), various other Bodhisattvas and an altar for funerary tablets memorializing deceased Buddhist monks and lay people.

Buddhism in Vietnam: An Education in Enlightenment

Traffic Jam

Vietnam Trip Designer & Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist

We climb the hill to the shouts of jealous French and Australian travellers trapped in tour buses. They all want out and ask where we got the lift. We smile and wave, and move on.
It&#8217;s a convoluted Tour de France-esque climb; the spectators are all trucks, vans and buses, and we have a clear path down the centre of the road. We finally come to the accident itself and discover that it is actually a beer truck that has tipped; a couple thousand broken bottles line the road.
Very sad.
We sail past the accident and down the other side of the pass where we thought we would meet the second fleet of vans we have called from Hue, but the traffic is bad on this side of the pass as well, so we have to continue another 10 kilometres by motorbike.
<hr />
<blockquote>We climb the hill to the shouts of jealous tourists trapped in buses. They all ask where we got the lift. We smile and wave, and move on.</blockquote>
<hr />
Just imagine the spectacle: 15 folks with funny bike helmets driving down the side of a blocked road on the backs of motorbikes, surrounded by big trucks and buses full of disgruntled commuters. Funniest thing you ever did see.
Moments later we arrive at our new vans, free of traffic and gridlock—we&#8217;re FREE! Many hugs and thanks from travellers for the adventure. Lots of laughs all around, as this was also the first time many of the drivers were hugged like high school girls by Westerners. Yee ha!
The next day, the newspaper wrote that the traffic stretched for 30 kilometres and that it was the worst traffic jam EVER in central Vietnam.
But for 15 B&amp;R travellers, it was just another day on trip. (I&#8217;m still pretty sad about the beer, though.)

How We Turned the Worst Traffic Jam in Vietnam's History into a Poolside Jamboree

Cities

In Deep

<h2>After the Vietnam War</h2>
Later, from 1954 to 1975, Saigon was the capital of the independent state of South Vietnam. At the conclusion of the Vietnam War, on April 30, 1975, the city came under the control of the Vietnamese People&#8217;s Army, and in 1976, upon the establishment of the unified communist Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the city of Saigon was renamed Ho Chí Minh City in honour of the late communist leader Ho Chí Minh. The former name Saigon is still widely used by many Vietnamese, especially in informal contexts, and the word &#8220;Saigon&#8221; can also be found on shop signs all over the country, even in <a title="Hanoi" href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/09/05/deep-hanoi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hanoi</a>. (It&#8217;s also worth noting that one of the city&#8217;s boroughs, District 1, is still named Saigon. Often the entire city will be referred to as Saigon when speaking of this district, much as the name New York is often used when people refer to Manhattan.)
<h2>The Man Himself: Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969)</h2>
Born in 1890, Ho Chí Minh spent more than 30 years of his life outside of Vietnam. He spent time working in New York and studying in Moscow and Paris, giving him an intimate understanding of both the Americans and the French. Perhaps this is why he was able to defeat both. His communist activities began early on with his studies of Marxism after the end of the First World War. Not only was he the founder of the Viet Minh (Vietnamese Communist Party), he was also a founding member of the French Communist Party in Paris. In 1925, he established the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League in Canton, China, thereby beginning his long struggle for Vietnamese independence. Twenty years later, Ho Chí Minh declared the independence of the Republic of Vietnam in Ba Dinh Square shortly after the defeat of the Japanese forces in China. Ironically, he based his famous speech on the American Declaration of Independence.
The French surrendered to the Viet Minh after the battle of Dien Bien Phu on May 7, 1954, thereby ending French Colonial rule. The Geneva Accords were signed in 1956, dividing the country into the North and the South at the 17th parallel. The Americans were determined not to allow the South to fall to Ho’s communist forces. Ho died in 1969, so when Saigon fell to the Viet Cong in 1975, he was not there to see his dream of a unified Vietnam come true. His body was preserved by the same doctor who worked on both Lenin in Moscow and Mao in Beijing. Ho lies in state in a glass case within the <a title="Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum" href="http://www.bqllang.gov.vn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mausoleum</a> in <a title="Hanoi" href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2014/09/05/deep-hanoi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hanoi</a>, which is open for visitation in the mornings only.

In Deep: Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon)

Family Travel

MD Magazine

Latin America

Costa Rica

All in the Family

Travel Insight

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

<h5><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-20672 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Temple3.jpg" alt="Temple3" width="625" height="414" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Temple3.jpg 625w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Temple3-320x211.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px" />Vat Xieng Thong</h5>
A beautiful temple dating from the 16th century, the roof of its main chapel sweeps low to the ground and coloured-glass panels adorn its walls, making it a staple in the photo albums of curious travellers to Luang Prabang.
Built by King Setthathirath circa 1560, Vat Xieng Thong served as a royal temple and the site of Lao king&#8217;s crowning for more than four centuries. Its architecture and intricate accessories make it an excellent example of Laotian craftwork: intricately carved gilded doors depict the life story of Buddha, while its ceilings display Dharmachakras, or dharma wheels, representing Buddha&#8217;s path to Nirvana. Many of the temples outer walls also depict Lao legends and other representations of Buddha, while its rear (pictured above) boasts an impression of the tree of life, under which the Buddha sat when he attained enlightenment.
<h4>Just Outside of Town:</h4>
<figure id="attachment_20666" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20666" style="width: 230px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-20666" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Falls-200x320.jpg" alt="Kuang Si Falls " width="230" height="368" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Falls-200x320.jpg 200w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Falls.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20666" class="wp-caption-text">Kuang Si Falls</figcaption></figure>
<h5>Kuang Si Waterfalls</h5>
About 30 kilometres south of the city lie the Kuang Si Waterfalls, a favourite destination for travellers to Luang Prabang. The turquoise waters of the collecting ponds and peaceful sound of running water offer tranquility and relaxation, a geological expression of Buddhist serenity.
<h5>Pak Ou Caves</h5>
Located about 20 kilometres upriver from Luang Prabang on the Mekong, these caves are said to have been inhabited by a hermit who achieved enlightenment. The upper and lower sanctuaries contain more than 4,200 wood and gilded statues of Buddha, portraying him in various positions relevant to Buddhism, including teaching, peace and meditation.

In Deep: What You Need to Know About Luang Prabang

<h5>Tų Đuc (4th Nguyen Emperor, ruling 1847–83)</h5>
Oddly, this tomb was constructed during the reign of Emperor Tų Đuc. More than 3,000 labourers were hired by the emperor in 1864 to build the lakeside pavilion, plant the gardens and pine forests, and construct the surrounding walls. The 12-hectare (30-acre) gardens and tomb took three years to complete.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-24979" src="http://stag.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Hue-inset-new-blog.jpg" alt="Hue-inset-new-blog" width="752" height="500" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Hue-inset-new-blog.jpg 752w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Hue-inset-new-blog-451x300.jpg 451w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" />
Tų Đuc, who ruled for the longest of any of the Nguyen monarchs, used the gardens as a place to self-indulge—and probably also to escape his 104 wives and countless concubines! He fished, listened to music, ate elaborately prepared meals and wrote poetry (although many of his poems were written in praise of himself). Curiously, Tų Đuc was not even buried here after his death. His remains were buried along with treasures in a location deemed so sacred that the 200 servants that buried the emperor were beheaded so its location would remain a mystery. He died a disgraced man, however, having lost Vietnam to the French and also leaving no children to take his place on the throne.
<h5>Khai Dinh</h5>
Completed in 1931, this is one of the more recently constructed tombs. Its design builds on both European and Vietnamese elements. A point of interest at this tomb is the little man selling postcards in the main building. He is known to be the last living eunuch of the Nguyen Dynasty. He is more than happy to pose for a photograph or two.
<h4>Forbidden Purple City</h4>
The Royal Citadel was originally modelled after the “Forbidden City” in Beijing, China. Its construction began in 1804 under Gia Long, the first emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. It is composed of three walled ramparts, each enclosing the other and, in essence, forming a city within a city. Once inside the first set of walls, you will notice nine ceremonial cannons that were placed there in 1802. The Nine Cannons are named after each of the five elements and the four seasons.
<h4>The Tet Offensive</h4>
<figure id="attachment_20566" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20566" style="width: 320px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-20566 size-medium" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Tet-Offensive-320x213.jpg" alt="Hue, Vietnam " width="320" height="213" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Tet-Offensive-320x213.jpg 320w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Tet-Offensive.jpg 625w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20566" class="wp-caption-text">ARVN soldiers during the Tet Offensive, 1968</figcaption></figure>
Hué was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War, the Tet Offensive. Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army forces (NVA) marched into the city during the Tet Festival of 1968. They seized control of the ancient Citadel and transformed it into the base from which they would rule over the next 24 days. Over 3,000 suspected sympathisers of the Saigon government were massacred in the wake of the invading North. In all, over 10,000 people were killed by the time the American forces were able to regain control of the city.

In Deep: Hue, Vietnam

Christmas vacations

Yahoo Travel

Taking a Walking Tour...

Cu Chi Tunnels

History

<figure id="attachment_19972" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19972" style="width: 240px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-19972 size-full" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Tunnel_Rat.jpg" alt="Cu Chi Tunnels" width="240" height="320" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-19972" class="wp-caption-text">Sgt. Ronald Payne, a &#8220;tunnel rat&#8217; moves through a tunnel in search of Viet Cong in this U.S. Army photo.</figcaption></figure>
<h5>Invading the Tunnels</h5>
Reeling from an ineffective bombing campaign over the Cu Chi Tunnels, U.S. command realized that they needed a new way to approach the dilemma of the underground tunnel activity. They began training an elite group of volunteers in the art of tunnel warfare, armed only with a gun, a knife, a flashlight and a piece of string. These specialists, commonly known as “tunnel rats,” would enter a tunnel by themselves and travel inch-by-inch, cautiously looking ahead for booby traps or cornered Viet Cong.
<h5>What the Americans Found</h5>
On January 18, tunnel rats from the 1st and 5th Infantry uncovered the Viet Cong district headquarters of Cu Chi containing half a million documents concerning all types of military strategy. Among the documents were maps of U.S. bases, detailed accounts of troop movement from Cambodia into Vietnam, lists of political sympathizers and even plans for a failed assassination attempt on Robert McNamara.
<figure id="attachment_24215" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-24215" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-24215" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Tunnel-inset-320x212.jpg" alt="Today the tunnels are a popular fixture of a large war memorial . " width="300" height="199" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-24215" class="wp-caption-text">Today the tunnels are a popular fixture of a large war memorial .</figcaption></figure>
<h5>The Tunnels Today</h5>
The tunnels were preserved after the war and have been converted into a large war memorial complex. The complex consists of two main display sites at Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. The Ben Duoc site contains part of the original tunnel system, while the Ben Dinh site features tunnel reconstructions that provide an accurate idea of what using the tunnels must have been like.

An Army Underground: The Cu Chi Tunnels

<h4> 
“Hanoi Hilton” (Hoa Lo) Prison</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35466 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/hoa-lo-prison-flickr-350c.png" alt="" width="350" height="233" />All that remains today of what was officially known as the Hoa Lo Prison are a portion of the original ramparts and the former entrance. Built in the early 1920s by the French, it was dubbed the “Hanoi Hilton” by the U.S. aviators who were captured and held there during the Vietnam War. It continued to be used as a prison until a few years ago when it was purchased by the developers of the Hanoi Towers Hotel. Fortunately, they have kept a portion of the historical building intact.
<h4>Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum</h4>
This is the final resting place of the former Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam, whose name was also given to <a href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/03/31/ho-chi-minh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the city formerly known as Saigon</a>. Inspired by the design of Lenin&#8217;s mausoleum in Moscow, but with distinctly Vietnamese design elements incorporated within, the mausoleum was named the <a href="http://english.cntv.cn/20120914/101903_5.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sixth ugliest building in the world</a> by CNN International.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-35463" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-freestock-hochiminh-960c.png" alt="" width="732" height="522" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-freestock-hochiminh-960c.png 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-freestock-hochiminh-960c-421x300.png 421w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-freestock-hochiminh-960c-768x547.png 768w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-freestock-hochiminh-960c-842x600.png 842w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h4>Vietnam Women’s Museum</h4>
First established in 1987, the <a href="http://www.womenmuseum.org.vn/">Vietnam Women’s Museum</a> (newly reopened in 2010 after a four-year modernization) highlights three themes: Women in Family, Women in History and Women’s Fashion. With more than 28,000 items in the museum’s collection, immerse yourself in the culture and contributions of women and the role they play in Vietnamese society.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35457 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-women-tripadvisor-732c.png" alt="" width="732" height="460" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-women-tripadvisor-732c.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-women-tripadvisor-732c-250x156.png 250w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-women-tripadvisor-732c-477x300.png 477w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h4>Hang Gai and Hang Bong Streets </h4>
Set along the edge of Hanoi’s old quarter, close to Hoan Kiem Lake, take a stroll down Hang Gai and Hang Bong streets to explore some fantastic art galleries along the way. In contrast to the shiny, new high-rise buildings, get a colourful dose of local life as you watch people going about their daily business, buying, selling, eating and getting around the city.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35468 aligncenter" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/scooter-freestock-732c.png" alt="" width="732" height="428" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/scooter-freestock-732c.png 732w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/scooter-freestock-732c-480x281.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px" />
<h4>Vietnam Museum of Ethnology</h4>
<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-35454 alignright" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-ethnology-350c.png" alt="" width="350" height="348" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-ethnology-350c.png 350w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-ethnology-350c-302x300.png 302w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/vietnam-ethnology-350c-150x150.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" />Opened in 1997, the <a href="http://www.vme.org.vn/home/">Vietnam Museum of Ethnology</a> dives into the cultural significance, daily life and ritual of 54 recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam. Discover traditional village life, costumes, jewelry, the performing arts, textiles and religion at one of the most fascinating museums in Southeast Asia. There&#8217;s also an outdoor exhibit that features some of the traditional architecture of various groups, with full-sized examples of homes and additional structures.

In Deep: Hanoi

<h4>Vietnamese Green Tea</h4>
Typical Vietnamese green tea is known as “hook-shaped curly tea,” because the leaves curl up after roasting. Some people claim that the correct term is moc cau or “areca mould” tea, because the curly dried leaves have a thin white coat, like the mould on an areca palm leaf. Top-quality tea is called “Thai Nguyen tea,” since the plantations of Thái Nguyen province were said to produce the best tea in Vietnam. Today, tea from other areas—Hà Giang, Yèn Bái, Suoi Giang—rivals that from Thái Nguyen. A skilled tea plucker can gather 30 to 50 kg (66 to 110 lbs.) of green leaf tea in one day, enough to produce between 7.5 and 9 kg (16.5 to 20 lbs.) of dried tea.

Morning, Noon or Night: Vietnamese Tea

Trip Tales

How About a New Lang Syne?

Profiles

Italy

Favourite hotel in the world? 
<a title="Six Sense Ninh Van Bay " href="http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/ninh-van-bay/destination" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Six Sense Ninh Van Bay</a> in Vietnam is a fun one. I love the isolation, using a bike to get around on the property, the personal pools for each bungalow, the personal butlers and the beautiful scenery.
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-18692 size-full" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Christina_1.jpg" alt="Christina Cain" width="320" height="212" />
Favourite restaurant in the world? 
I’m a big fan of the simple, local food spots. One that comes to mind is in Nha Trang, Vietnam. They literally pull up plastic seats and a grill on the sidewalk and cook up the freshest catch right in front of you. It’s the simplest thing sitting on the sidewalk watching the world go by like the locals do, but it’s meals like this that stay in my memory.
Favourite bar/wine bar/watering hole in the world? 
I love little old enotecas (wine bars). One of my favourites is in Le Marche and is run by the local Sommelier association. It’s like stepping into a library of wine from the region. I also love the small old-style ones you find in the south of Italy where you can sit outside on the piazza and enjoy a glass of wine and people-watch.
Favourite bottle of wine? 
Depends on the season. When it’s cold outside, I love a good <a title="Vines 101: Piemonte Wine " href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/03/25/vines-101-piemonte-wine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barbaresco from Piemonte </a>. In the summer, I love a crisp white from the Südtirol and Alto Adige region in northern Italy, or a Rosato from the Salento in Puglia.
Do you have a favourite travel quote, mantra or words to live by? 
&#8220;Go with the flow&#8221; is the first. Be open, invite conversation, notice things.
Someone has just landed in a country they’ve never been to, where they don’t speak the language. What’s your number one piece of advice for them? 
Enjoy, turn off your cell phone, live in the moment.
And finally, what’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or done while on a trip? 
Ah man, you can’t ask that! You know the golden rule: what happens on a trip stays on trip. (Ed. Note: <a title="Tom Abraham" href="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/2013/09/26/experts-insiders-tom-abraham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I get that a lot</a>, but I keep asking. Tough crowd, these guides turned Trip Designers.)

Experts + Insiders: Christina Cain

OK, time for the lightning round. What&#8217;s your favourite trip you’ve ever taken? (I know, I know, but try to narrow it down to one!) 
Syria.
Favourite trip you’ve ever designed? 
Myanmar and Bhutan is a fantastic trip. Very similar countries in many ways but the contrasts that do exist are stark and fascinating.
Favourite hotel in the world? 
Difficult question! I have so many favourites, but if I&#8217;m forced to choose, Amankora Punakha – a converted Bhutanese farmhouse. It&#8217;s small and intimate, only eight or nine rooms, and the setting overlooking the valley is incredible.
Favourite restaurant in the world? 
It ranges from holes-in-the-wall to street stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants. But taste is subjective and my favourite restaurant is generally where ever I ate the last meal I loved.
Favourite bottle of wine? 
I love Cakebread Sav Blanc.
Someone has just landed in a country they’ve never been to, where they don’t speak the language. What’s your number one piece of advice for them? 
Change money and have the hotel address written in the language of the country you are in. Have fun.
What&#8217;s one destination you haven&#8217;t visited, but want to visit? 
Iran. I am obsessed with visiting Iran. The history, the incredible friendliness of the people, the culture. I can&#8217;t wait to go!
What trips do you have in store for yourself: where are you headed in the next 12 months? 
Hopefully back to India and Bhutan—and Iran!
We all mistakes. What’s your most embarrassing travel story? 
What happens on trip, stays on trip.
OK, fair enough. But what&#8217;s the craziest thing you&#8217;ve seen on trip? Probably the monkey with a mustache and toy gun in Varanasi. Don’t ask.

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