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Whether you are visiting HCMC or Hanoi here are two excursions you should add to your bucket list. Cu Chi Tunnels Cu Chi Tunnel - the extensive labyrinth of underground tunnels made during the Vietnam war. The tunnels of Củ Chi are an immense network of connecting tunnels located in the Củ Chi District of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam. This incredible labyrinth of tunnels really stands out among all locations that appear to represent a tenacious Vietnamese spirit. A ride to underground tunnels would open a window into the rich past of this land, evoking scenes from the Vietnam War. After war ravages, Cu Chi is undeniably distinguished by its perseverance and resolve to restore itself. This region played a crucial role in US troops' wartime defeat and is known for its underground tunnel network. To camouflage Viet Cong forces, a labyrinthian network of tunnels was used to pass secret messages and stage clandestine attacks. They have become an enduring reminder of the Vietnam war and are a popular tourist attraction for those interested in exploring extraordinary steps taken by Viet Cong soldiers to escape and eventually kill their enemies. While Cu Chi tunnels have become world-famous, the entire scheme extends through Vietnam, unraveling under the cities and towns, in some areas extending as far as Cambodia. Cruising in style If you are planning to visit Northern Vietnam and are staying in Hanoi then you must include a side trip to one of the wonders of the world Halong Bay. Take an overnight Cruise in Halong Bay Halong Bay is a remarkable geographical formation with 1,900 islets with sandy beaches, freshwater lakes, granite caves, and floating villages. The best way to explore this landscape is by joining an overnight Halong cruise. For first timers, a two-day one-night cruise is the best choice to explore numerous islands, villages, and caves and enjoy exciting activities like swimming, kayaking, rowing boat. Cruise sundeck always is the first choice to enjoy the breathtaking scenery with panoramic sea view, taste a cocktail, or immerse yourself in the melodious music. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Angeles City is perhaps most famous for its raucous nightlife, making it effectively the Sin City of the Philippines. Angeles City is in Pampanga province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. The city is rich in history and heritage, with old and historically significant buildings dotting its landscape, but these days it is best known for its high concentration of casinos and the vibrant nightlife for men. Angeles City is a smaller but beautiful upcoming tourist destination that is worth a visit. You will be surprised by some of the unique things to do and places you can explore at this hidden destination. Angeles, officially the City of Angeles (Kapampangan: Lakanbalen ning Angeles; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Angeles), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the province of Pampanga, where it is geographically situated but remains politically independent. It is located in the region of Central Luzon, Philippines. The best time to visit the Philippines and Angeles is during the dry season between November and April, when the country's beautiful islands and remote areas are fully accessible. The shoulder months of May and November are also good, as it is less crowded, but the weather is still lovely. Staying in style Agoda was showing over 250 hotels and apartments in Angeles City and if you wanted a room at a 5-star hotel in November they had rates from only US$43 a night and condo-hotels for only US$16. Angeles City is well known as we have said for its raucous nightlife, however, that’s not the only string to its bow. Particularly in downtown Angeles, away from the entertainment districts, you’ll find a number of extraordinary historical places to visit. Some of the older buildings have been at the crossroads of the country’s history and continue to stand the test of time. The Clark Freeport area of the city, around the international airport, also has its share of interesting attractions. Most notable is the tax-free shopping that gives the area its name. Clark Sunvalley GC If you are into your golf, the area is rich in several first-class golf courses all within a 30 -60 minutes drive. There are also a couple of theme parks for the kids. Where is the red-light district? Fields Avenue also known as Walking Street, is the name of a major street running through Balibago area of Angeles City. It is the center of the red-light district and the bar scene of the biggest entertainment district of the Philippines. The girls love to line dance on masse here and there are a few bars with similar names as found in Pattaya’s Walking Street. Getting There You can of course fly to Manila and then go by bus or taxi to Angeles. The fastest way to get from Manila Airport (MNL) to Angeles City is by taxi which takes 1h 18m and costs around ₱1,500 - ₱1,800. There are also direct buses between Manila Airport (MNL) and Angeles City. Clark International Airport which has recently been upgraded is only 24 minutes to Angeles and there are buses and taxis available. Clark's airport Here is a list of the international flights into Clark at the moment: 1. Cebu Pacific. One of the Philippines’ major airline companies, it flies to almost ten local destinations and five international destinations. If you’re looking to fly cheap but comfortable, this is the perfect airline for you. This airline is also one of the locals’ favorite as it offers popular destinations such as Clark to Singapore direct flights in its international variety. Here’s a full list of its direct flights through Clark Airport: · International Destinations: Narita – Tokyo, Hongkong, Guangzhou, Singapore · Local Destinations: Bacolod, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa 2. Philippine Airlines. The Philippines’ flag carrier airline – this is perfect for travelers who want a premier experience when flying. It is the only airline to offer direct flight to Basco, Batanes from Clark Airport but has a wide variety of flights offered under its operations. Here’s a complete list: · International Destinations: Seoul – Incheon · Local Destinations: Cebu, Bacolod, Basco, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, San Vicente, Siargao, San Jose (Antique) 3. AirAsia. Another emerging airline in the Philippines but already established with Asian routes, this airline has become more active in Clark Airport in recent years. See a full list of its destination offerings: · International Destinations: Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban · Local Destinations: Taipei – Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, Seoul – Incheon 4. South-Korea Bound Airlines. With the increasing number of South Koreans wanting to visit the Philippines to experience the tropical weather and even learning English, these airlines have expanded their operations to Clark Airport. The most common route is from Clark to Incheon. If you’re planning to experience the Korean culture for your vacation, check out these airlines and specific routes via Clark Airport. · Jin Air. Provides direct flights from Clark to Seoul – Incheon, and Clark to Busan, South Korea. · T’Way Airlines. Provides direct flights from Clark to Seoul – Incheon. · Korean Air. It also operates direct flights from Clark to Seoul – Incheon. · Jeju Air. Provides direct flights from Clark to Seoul – Incheon. · Pan-Pacific Airlines. A Philippine-based airline that concentrates on Clark to Seoul-Incheon flights. 5. Chinese Based Airlines. Chinese tourists have enjoyed the stronger relationship between China and the Philippines under the current administration, hence there are more airlines investing on direct flights via Clark Airport. See the list below: · Cathay Pacific. Operates Clark to Hongkong direct flights. · China Eastern Airlines. Provides Clark to Shanghai-Pudong flights. · XiamenAir. Operates Clark to Quanzhou flights. 6. Middle East-Based Airlines. Many Filipinos working as Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East are regulars on these airlines as well as tourists who like to enjoy the Arab culture. The airlines who are operating in Clark Airport are some of the world’s premier airlines – offering ultimate comfort and world-class service. Try it now: · Qatar Airways. Operates Clark to Doha, Qatar flights. · Emirates. Operates Clark to Dubai flights. 7. Other Asian-Bound Airlines. There are other two airlines that offer direct Clark to Singapore flights. 1. Scoot. This low-cost Singapore airline is known for its Clark to Singapore flights. 2. JetStar Airlines. Operates from Clark to Osaka – Kansai and Clark to Singapore. 8. Other Philippine Local Airlines. Here are some local airlines that cater to some popular destinations in the Philippines to alleviate the tourists from traveling by land for many hours. Check it out: · Royal Air Philippines. A new airline company in the Philipines, its focus are the local destinations which include flights from Clark to Caticlan and Puerto Princesa. · AirSWIFT. This is the only airline from Clark that flies directly to El Nido. Enjoy your visit. Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Following on from last week’s post, it seems many of you are keen to stay away from the main touristy attractions and prefer to explore by yourself. So here are another three places to add to your list. Ha Giang: Great forested limestone and granite mountains Ha Giang is a land with many magnificent landscapes: Dong Van Geopark, Quan Ba Twin Ranges, Ma Pi Leng Pass, 16 ethnic brotherhoods with their cultural features and vibrant traditional dresses in residential areas. The beauty of pristine natural scenery of the Rocky Mountains, deep valleys & spectacular rice terraces is a unique point of this; a must-visited & off-the-beaten-path destination for adventure lovers & nature. Along with the magnificence of the landscape, travelers will hear about the rich culture and lifestyle of local ethnic groups living in this Vietnamese highland. Great forested limestone & granite mountains in Ha Giang As rice terraces change their natural color from green to yellow at the beginning of October, it's so lovely to have breathtaking captures of stepped rice fields down the valleys with their numerous golden layers. It is also fascinating to see local ethnic groups happily gathering rice in their colorful clothes, placing it on the sack, and carrying it home. How lovely to see local rice-stepped farming practices with buffalo plowing, harrowing & planting on the high mountain slope terrains. Then you are intrigued by the purple & pink colors of buckwheat flowers blooming everywhere in Ha Giang between late October & early November. Buckwheat is considered a symbolic flower in the northern mountainous regions of Vietnam and its finest beauty that you can only find in Ha Giang province. The only way how to get to Ha Giang is to travel by bus/van/motorbike. The closest airport to Ha Giang is Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, about 260 km south of Ha Giang. In the future there should be opening a new airport in Lao Cai. Con Dao: prison island In the past, people always thought of frightening jails when discussing Con Dao and felt the agony of history. But in recent years, voted by a popular Travel & Leisure magazine as one of the 10 most stunning and enigmatic archipelagos globally, Con Dao is now being picked as a paradise for leisure travel nature discovery. Firstly, Con Dao's elegance is undoubted, as it is fortunate to have all the best for a beach destination. People also said it is a "compensation" from God for his grim past. Con Dao is the biggest of sixteen islands, with 200 km of perfect coastline with a sparkling emerald sea and fine white sandy beaches. Con Dao Island looks like a mighty hunting sea bear from the air, amidst the USA's unbelievable blue. Con Dao Island Additionally, any tourist who comes to this gorgeous island has the same fresh air sensation and a pristine environment. Natural biodiversity is unspoiled enough that tourists can also see wild animals up in forested mountains, such as beautiful chamois, and all kinds of birds leisurely hopping on the trees. Con Dao Island, the setting for Six Senses Con Dao, is 140 miles (230 kilometers) from Ho Chi Minh City. It takes a 45-minute domestic flight from Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao Airport (VCS), then a 10-minute drive to the resort. Hanoi Old Quarter: the spiritual symbol of Hanoi The Hanoi Old Quarter is a top tourist destination with its stunning architecture, Buddhist temples, and long, narrow-styled shops. If you have ever explored the back streets in Paris you will love the old quarter. It would easily be one of the most unforgettable moments of your journey to Vietnam to experience Hanoi’s Old Quarter's architecture. In this part, the French colonial has made an enormous influence on houses. On several corners in Old Quarter, you will notice a collection of small houses with tile roof blocks after blocks featuring French themes. Each house is just a few meters tall, but about 10 meters long and has two to three floors. Artisans or merchants manufacturing their items in the same places they sell made a cooperative structure for delivering goods to specific streets. For instance, Hang Gai Street offers ready-made and personalized silk garments, embroidery, and silver items. Wherever you wander you will come across interesting sites and some unusual and unique items to take home. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php