Lao PDR: Community-Based Tourism
Laos’ communities provide unique experiences in all forms, from exposure to Laos’ traditional crafts to ziplining above an extinct volcano. 1.1. Homestay Ban Naduang Village, Vang Vieng District The village of Ban Naduang is as close as you can get to living the Lao farming life: an immersive overnight stay at a local’s house, eating […]
ASEAN World Heritage Sites Off The Beaten Track In Laos and Thailand
The definition of a World Heritage Site is quite straightforward, notably a place, of outstanding cultural and/or natural value to humankind. Most tourists to SE Asia are aware of the concept and able to mention one or more sites, though mostly limited to the famed ones. Quite a few sites, like the National Parks Mount Lorentz in Papua (Indonesia) or the Subterranean […]
Secluded World Heritage Sites in Cambodia, Indonesia & Malaysia
Irrespective the geographic area or country of interest, a tourist browsing through a guidebook almost certainly will come across what is called a “World Heritage Site”. This is a cultural or natural heritage considered by UNESCO to be of ‘outstanding value to humanity’ and as such an appealing tourism destination. To date, some 1,000 have […]
Myanmar: Community-Based Tourism
These community activities allow visitors to see tribal and countryside life in Myanmar – with magnificent natural wonders as a backdrop. 1.1. Kyaing Tong, Eastern Shan State The capital of Myanmar’s Golden Triangle Region is also a cultural hub for 13 tribal communities. At Kyaing Tong, travelers can encounter tribespeople from the Ahku, Ahka, Palaung, […]
“Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao”
A small Vietnamese girl flies high, kicks and uses both legs to grasp and trip an enemy’s soldier: one of the catchiest scenes from the Vietnamese movie ‘The Rebel’. The technique the young girl used, “flying scissors”, is one of the most recognizable tactics of “Vovinam”. Vovinam is a genuine Vietnamese Martial Art (“Vo” means “Martial […]
More Extraordinary ASEAN Culinary Delicacies
Within the context of a continuing search for South East Asian dishes that are a bit more out of the ordinary, lesser known and not everywhere available, in a previous article a dying out fish preparation (“Ikan Masak Tanah Liat), a rare breed of crab (“Talangka”) and a protein rich meal (“Cha Ruoi”), respectively from […]
National Museums of Southeast Asia
National museums offer travelers a great way to understand in broad stokes the history and culture of a nation and especially how that nation tells its own story and views its place in the universe. Southeast Asian nations are immensely proud of their histories and their national museums are well worth a visit. The Brunei […]
Southeast Asia’s Top National Museums
No two countries in Southeast Asia share the same exact origin story, and each country bears a narrative unique to itself. True, there are broad similarities: a noble past, colonial subjugation, and a successful independence struggle whose ideals live on to the present day. But these themes vary in intensity, color and direction as you […]
Viet Nam: Cultural & Heritage Tourism
Between ancient Ha Noi and the Nguyen dynasty in Hue, travelers will find a thousand years of history waiting to be retold in these cultural sites in Vietnam. 1.1. Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Ha Noi The 18-hectare Imperial Citadel in Ha Noi is the last remnant of what used to be a massive […]
Viet Nam: Community-Based Tourism
To experience Vietnam at its friendliest, go way off the beaten path to its villages in the countryside, where community-based travel experiences will show you a different side of the local culture. 1.1. Dong Van Karst Plateau Even more compelling than the karst landscape that serves as the Dong Van Karst Plateau’s backdrop are the […]